Medical School Applications for Non-Traditional Premeds:
One of the most common messages I get from premeds is some version of:
“I don’t fit the mold — does that mean medical school isn’t for me?”
I recently hosted an Ask Me Anything (AMA) on Reddit for premeds, and many of the questions centered around applying to medical school as a non-traditional applicant — from extracurriculars and gap years to letters of recommendation, partners, work–life balance, and choosing medicine over other paths like psychology or nursing.
This post pulls together those questions and my answers in one place, with the hope that it helps you see that there is no single correct way to become a physician.
Check out the Medical School Application Workbook which has helped dozens of Pre-meds get into Medical school
Q: What Did Your Extracurriculars Look Like?
A: Because I needed to work to afford college, my extracurriculars were intentionally aligned with medicine.
Instead of unpaid experiences only, I focused on:
Medical-focused jobs to support myself financially as a caregiver for older adults (during undergrad) & as a bilingual case manager for children with disabilities (during gap year)
Volunteering & Leadership including leading community health fairs doing phlebotomy, both as a volunteer and job
Shadowing, often with physicians I met through work and volunteering
For research, I didn’t follow the traditional lab-only path. Instead, I learned to turn what I was already doing into projects, which allowed me to build scholarly work without stepping away from paid employment.
I go into much more detail here: Extracurriculars for Medical School (Video coming soon)
Q: Why Do You Consider Yourself “Non-Traditional”?
A: This question comes up a lot — and often sparks debate.
I consider myself non-traditional because I am:
A first-generation physician
Raised by immigrant parents
From a low-income household
Someone who worked full-time through college and relied on Pell Grants
A Psychology major, not a hard science major
A Dance and Leadership minor
A caregiver during college and later a bilingual case manager for children with disabilities
Someone with invisible health conditions
To me, non-traditional is not just about timeline. It’s about deviation from the norm.
And the norm in U.S. medical education is still largely:
Family members in medicine
Financial support through college
White, able-bodied, single, and without caregiving responsibilities
Medical schools and residencies define “non-traditional” as not fitting the dominant pathway — and that includes identity, socioeconomic background, disability, and lived experience.
I’ve written more about this here: Racial Identities in Medicine
Q: What Did You Do During Your Gap Year to Rebuild Application?
A: Because academics and standardized testing were always difficult for me — and because I hold stigmatized identities (Latina, neurodivergent) — I knew my application needed to be holistic and strong beyond numbers.
Building extensive leadership roles
Meaningful service tied to my lived experience
Strong storytelling in my personal statement
Clear articulation of why medicine
I couldn’t rely on GPA or test scores alone — so I made sure the rest of my application told a compelling, coherent story.
For a deeper breakdown of how I intentionally built my application: How I Built My Medical School Application & Extracurriculars
Q: Since you were a Psychology Major, How was your GPA & MCAT?
A: My GPA was all As and Bs, but I don’t remember the exact number — and that’s intentional.
Grades help you get an interview --> Your story is what gets you accepted.
As long as you do all the pre-med course requirements then you will be fine for applications and have the basics for the MCAT.
MCAT Comprehensive Course Through UWorld!
UWorld is the #1 Used & Required element to successfully complete medical school & USMLE board exams. Did you know they have a Pre-med course for the MCAT? Learn more here and use code STEPH50 for $50 Savings a 180 day or 360 day study course
If your science GPA is below a 3.0 then consider doing a post-bac program to increase your GPA.
Check out this Video on Applying with "Red Flags" (Still applicable to Premeds)
Q: How Do You Find "Clinical Work" That Counts?
A: There are many pathways to clinical hours.
I trained as an EMT, but struggled to find a job
Became a caregiver, which provided direct patient care
EMT training included phlebotomy, which I then used for:
Clinical experience does not have to look one specific way. What matters is:
Nursing, Medicine, and Work–Life Balance
For more check out the Extracurricular Blog Post Here.
Q: How did you handle Work-Life Balance as a Pre-med and Med Student?
A: A nursing student asked an incredibly important question about work–life balance and having a family.
Here is the honest answer:
Work–life balance is very limited in medical training
Medical school (4 years) + residency (3–6 years) is intense
Balance usually improves after residency or if you have an amazing specialty (Psychiatry) and program (like myself)
Some people do have children during medical school or residency — but they often have:
Significant family support
I had a partner throughout training, and even then, we chose to delay family planning until the end of residency.
It’s not impossible — but it is something to plan intentionally and realistically.
Here is a more on our (Not good) work-life during our first year of medical school
Q: What Advice Do You Wish Someone Had Given You as a Non-Trad Premed
A: I wish someone had told me to slow down and take care of my mental health.
So many of the challenges I faced later — including:
— might have been prevented or lessened with earlier support.
Your mental health is not separate from your academic success. It is foundational.
Check out the Medical School Application Workbook Here
Q: Letters of Recommendation (LOR) especially When You’ve Been Out of School
This is a very common concern for non-traditional applicants.
Every medical school has different requirements
Some require a teacher/professor letter, others accept alternatives
Many schools have time limits on coursework (5–10 years)
If you’ve been out of school for many years:
A post-bacc or master’s program can help reset timelines and are COMMON to increase Science GPA
Professors from these programs and coursework can write letters
A recent MCAT score can help demonstrate current science readiness if you haven't done college classes for a while
Always check each school’s website carefully — requirements vary widely.
Q: How did you Apply to Medical School With a Partner
Unfortunatly, there is no couples match for medical school, which made this extremely challenging.
Applied broadly across the country
Focused on large cities with multiple schools
Ensured schools were within ~1 hour of each other
Sent update letters explaining we were applying together
In our case, this advocacy worked:
I received an interview first --> I reached out to the school --> They then offered my partner an interview (we did it on the same day!)
Applying with a partner requires strategy, communication, and persistence.
If you are applying with a partner/friend make sure you sign up for an advising appointment so I can help you with your strategy
Q: What do you recommend for MCAT timing:
A: Medical School Applications typically open in June and are on a rolling basis for interviews. Therefore, the quickest you get in your application, score, and LOR to then the quicker you get a secondary and then hopefully an interview offer!
You should NOT take the MCAT until: You are hitting your target score on timed practice exams
Latest to get Score back in time would be May
Rushing the MCAT is one of the most common mistakes pre-meds make that lead then to have to wait till the next cycle to apply or become re-applicants
Make sure you prioritize practice QUESTIONS! My favorite resource is UWorld since it is the resource made for medical schools and resident doctors for our USMLE Board exams.
UWorld has a Pre-MED MCAT Course: use code STEPH50 for $50 off a 180 day or 360 day study course!
Check out the Blog Post on MCAT & the Associated Video Below:
Q: Why Medicine Instead of Another Medical Profession, PHD, or Psyc/PsyD
A: This question is crucial — especially for psych majors.
For me I wanted to be a Medical Doctor over others professions because...
I wanted to understand the connection between the body, brain, and health
Medicine requires deep medical and scientific knowledge
Mental health does not exist separately from physical health
Medications, physiology, and systemic illness matter
Even now, as a psychiatrist, my medical training profoundly shapes how I care for patients.
If you are a non-traditional applicant:
Your path is not a weakness
Your lived experience matters
There is room in medicine for people who didn’t take the straight path.
And often, those are the physicians patients need most.
Holistic review is real — but only if you tell your story well. Personal Statement is KEY to getting that Interview
Medical School Application Workbook
Dr. Moss' Personal Statements for Medical School
Advising, Editing, & Mock Interviews with Dr. Moss
I provide individualized advising for medical school applications, including personal statement development and holistic application strategy. Learn more here.