Navigating Med School Applications: The Importance of Choosing the Right Team

Does it matter what day I submit my application?  When should I take the MCAT?  How do I write a good personal statement?  How many letters of recommendation should I have? 

Do these questions sound familiar?  Many people turn to application advisors and editors for help with the med school application process because the application has so many confusing aspects (primaries, secondaries, CASPER/PREview, MCAT, interviews, update letters, etc.). Getting good and accurate advice from people with knowledge and experience will be essential to your success because applying to med school is expensive (monetarily and emotionally) and you only want to do it once.  These are questions to consider before hiring a consultant to help with your med school application:

• How much experience do they have?

• What does working with them look like?

• What is their success rate? 

These are additional questions that Rosette Pathways recommends you also consider:

Are there any red flags?

Are the people invested in my success?  Everyone puts on a friendly demeanor, so how can I tell if they are genuine?

Do the advisors and editors you are talking to want to get to know you and the kind of person that you are?  Or, are you speaking to someone who only works in client recruitment (sales)?  Oftentimes, people like to talk about what they can do for you.  Since this is your application, it is crucial that the advisor and editor hear you and understand your interests and career goals.  Everyone has a unique story.  If they are not interested in learning it, then that is a major red flag.  Just like patient care should not be delivered as a one size fits all, future doctors should not be treated with this same mentality when they get help on their application.

Does the consultant focus on the quantifiable data?  In other words, is this just a numbers

game to them?

Numbers represent averages and, as we know, there are always outliers that run higher or lower than the average.  For this reason, it is important to not only look at statistics.  Some consultants stop listening as soon as they hear the MCAT score or GPA.  At Rosette Pathways, we consider the applicants’ strengths and weaknesses and help the candidate turn those perceived weaknesses into strengths, whether it is through the writing or diversifying activities. 

How much time and attention will they devote to my application?  

This question is really asking if the consultant is going to be pulled in multiple directions by various applicants, and if they could overlook or forget something when it comes to you.  We have seen consultants promise the moon and then, once they are paid, provide limited time and genuine thought.  Rosette Pathways offers packages based on hours without distinguishing between “advising” and “editing.”  For example, full support throughout the application process consists of 30 hours that can be designated towards whatever services are needed.  We feel this approach suits our clients, who don’t have to worry about how many edits or sessions they have left.

What is the turnaround time for feedback? 

Due to rolling admissions, timing during the application process plays an enormous role, especially when it comes to submitting the secondary essays.  If someone says they return essays within a week, a red flag should immediately pop up because that is way too slow.  (Remember that the turnaround time for secondaries should be quick; 2-3 days is optimal while a week is still good.)  Rosette Pathways is committed to a 24-48 hour turnaround because clients should not have to worry about whether or not they will receive feedback in time. 

Does the consultant make me feel bad about myself?  

This may seem like a strange question, but some consultants enjoy making their clients feel small. If the consultant agreed to work with you, then they should believe in you.  You should never have to apologize to someone you hired for not having a higher GPA or MCAT score; berating a client or making them cry is cruel.  Rosette Pathways creates a community for its clients and past clients, providing additional resources and emotional support because applying to medical school is stressful.

Does the consultant guarantee you an interview or an acceptance? 

Whenever anyone makes a promise about the outcome of the application cycle, they are pretending to have inside knowledge. This idea of “pay for play” is suspicious and should be met with great skepticism (and multiple red flags!).  For this reason, it is vital to have a team that considers your application holistically.  Rosette Pathways offers no guarantee. We do, however, promise to work relentlessly by your side throughout the process to help you achieve a desirable outcome.

Why should I hire Rosette Pathways?

We know that the application process is expensive, difficult and extremely competitive.  Applicants feel exposed and vulnerable as they prepare for an admissions committee to scrutinize their candidacy.  We do our best to provide each applicant with the personalized support they need to find success.  Rosette Pathways is not just a business; it is a community.  We have created a network for our clients and enjoy connecting them to one another, from pre-meds to medical students to residents.  This element is crucial because we see the value in having an experienced, outside observer speak about their own application experience or describe what their particular medical school is like before an interview.  

We have seen companies sell themselves as pairing clients with a "team," but in reality, it is often just a nice selling point.  We work as a true team and are in constant communication, recognizing that we possess different strengths. We have 20+ years of experience between us, and rely on our collective wisdom to guide our clients.

To hear more about how Rosette Pathways can help you with your application, book a FREE discovery meeting or connect with our advisor at stephanie.ripley@rosettepathways.com

Let’s get you into med school!