The Worst Advice Ever Given to Premed Students

The process of applying to medical school can be confusing, often leaving students unsure about their application and ways to maximize their success. In addition, many students receive wrong advice from school advisers or read misleading guidance online.

Here are some examples of advice medical school applicants have received that often is inaccurate.

You Will Never Be Accepted to Medical School

For some reason, many applicants have been told by their premed adviser that they will never receive an acceptance to med school and become a doctor.

Although many of these applicants have lower GPAs or poor scores on the Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, this does not necessarily preclude them from achieving their dream of medical school admission. There are many ways to address these disparities in an application, including completing a postbaccalaureate or master's program, retaking the MCAT and improving extracurricular activities.

[Read: 4 Ways to Make Up for a Low MCAT Score.]

In addition, many applicants who have been rejected from allopathic, or M.D., schools may be competitive for an osteopathic, or D.O., school and should strongly consider this route to becoming a doctor.

You Are Only Allowed to Take the MCAT Twice

This advice often misleads applicants to think that they can never overcome a bad MCAT score, or that they are limited by their previous exams.

Although for med school admissions it is best to have one strong score rather than multiple test attempts, you can take the MCAT up to seven times total. You may not take the test more than three times in one year.

Instead of worrying about the number of tests, it is best to focus on thoroughly preparing and scoring well. If you have to retake the exam, consult a specialist who can help decide on the best preparation program for you and how to time the exam to maximize the score.

You Have to Apply to Only a Few Schools

This advice must come from those extrapolating from their experience applying to undergrad. Applying to medical school is a whole different ballgame, and with overall more than half of all applicants to U.S. medical schools being rejected, hopefuls should apply to a large number of schools -- within the range of 30 to 40, depending on the applicant.

This number may seem alarming, but it is completely doable. You should start planning your application early and getting materials ready so that you will be able to comfortably complete this number of applications.

You Don't Have to Prepare for Medical School Interviews

This advice could not be more wrong. The interview is a crucial part of the medical school admission process, and it is important to take it seriously. If you feel that you can converse well with others, that's great, but the interview still requires a lot of preparation.

[Read: Everything You Need to Know About Medical School Interviews.]

Often students are intimidated and nervous for the interview, so preparation is key. In addition, many med schools now use the m ultiple mini interview, or MMI, which involves applicants addressing various ethical and moral scenarios to gauge qualities such as maturity, empathy and self-awareness and skills such as collaboration, communication and critical thinking.

Even if you feel comfortable in a traditional interview setting, you should still practice. If you have an MMI, you should practice various ethical scenarios to be ready to discuss different issues at length.

Taking a Gap Year Is Bad

Med school applicants who take one or more gap years are becoming increasingly common. As long as the applicant is doing something that will contribute to his or her application, taking a gap year should not negatively affect his or her chances.

In fact, this time could actually improve chances of getting accepted to med school. For instance, if an applicant spends a year doing clinical research, that experience could really enhance his or her application.

You Have to Major in Biology

Although majoring in biology or one of the life sciences can be truly helpful for premed students, you do not have to make this subject your major. Most med schools require or strongly recommend several science courses, and majoring in science can help you get your degree requirements and med school requirements out of the way at the same time.

[Read: How to Choose a College Major If You Plan to Attend Medical School.]

However, if you have an interest in another field, it is totally fine to pursue that. You will still have to complete the medical school prerequisites, but undergrad can be a time to explore other academic interests. Also, med schools like to see students who come from different backgrounds, as they often bring a unique perspective and experience to the med school class.

You Must Go to a Top-Tier Medical School to Succeed

Getting into med school is hard and getting into a top-tier one is even harder. Acceptance into any U.S. medical school is a huge accomplishment, and any U.S. med school can prepare you to be a successful physician. The fact of the matter is, if you do well in med school, you will be well-equipped to pursue a residency in the specialty that you choose.

With the extensive and diverse resources available to those on the journey to med school, it is imperative that potential applicants focus on receiving credible and reliable information.

If you receive some advice that has you doubting the legitimacy of it at all, seek another source. Ask someone who has been through the process or consult a professional. Getting correct advice and putting together an exceptional application will set you on the right trajectory for acceptance.