In Their Own Words: A Comparison of Medical School Applications in Low and Exceptional Performers

Current medical school admissions processes are unable to consistently predict which applicants will excel and which will struggle through the four years of medical school. Previous research has assessed whether standardized test scores, grade point averages, or letters of recommendation can portend success, but an applicants description of their past experiences and extracurricular activities has not been well studied. The purpose of this research was to determine if exceptional and low performing medical students differed in how they wrote about themselves and their experiences in their medical school applications. This could be useful to admissions committees when making selection decisions.