The importance of relationship building

I was just speaking to a mentee and one thing that I would urge you all to do as you research medical schools is to contact the schools and work to develop relationships with the admissions staff. As an example of how this can be important, after I received the results of my September MCAT, I called one of the schools that I’d applied to, Burrell School of Osteopathic Medicine. I’d gotten to know the director & assistant director of admissions and was able to share my story with the two of them via emails and a couple of visits to the school over the last few years. Anyway, when I got the results of my September MCAT back, my numerical MCAT score exceeded Burrell’s minimums, but on one section, I did not hit the 15th percentile mark that that they require across the board. Normally, this would mean being automatically screened out and a denial for a secondary application, but when I called the director and explained how all of the uncertainty with COVID in relationship to my MCAT had affected me, they went ahead and sent me a secondary and I got an application review. While I was still denied an interview, I was at least given a chance to have my application reviewed as opposed to being denied flat out. Coming out of undergrad, many URM students don't understand the importance of and the power of relationship building. I was taught this lesson in the Army and its been reinforced in my PhD program. Do not underestimate the importance of building relationships with those who may have the ability to open a door for you…