Yes, your academic performance and MCAT score matter — a lot. But your medical school application is so much more than a list of stats. Strong academics might get your foot in the door, but what really makes you memorable are the things that show who you are beyond the classroom.

I applied to medical school during the 2024–2025 cycle and received 8 interviews and 4 acceptances. Here are three things my interviewers consistently brought up — and why I believe they helped me stand out:

1 – I Wasn’t Afraid to Experiment Outside of Medicine

Don’t be afraid to do something different! This was probably the most exciting (and unexpected) aspect of my application — from art to entrepreneurship, I showed the range of experiences I explored as a student. I minored in studio art, which allowed me to work on creative projects that had nothing to do with medicine, like designing artistic interventions to raise awareness for an endangered national park. I spoke in interviews about how studying art taught me to appreciate diverse ways of thinking, problem-solving, and communication, all of which translate into being a better future physician.

I also experimented with an entrepreneurial project aimed at helping other pre-med students. I applied for and successfully received funding to start it, too.

Do I have any experience with business or finance?

Not at all, but I still did it cause I had an idea I believed in. It pushed me to learn about pitching, grant writing, and collaboration — and I eventually presented my project at a pitch event. Interviewers were always curious about this experience. It helped me stand out as someone willing to take risks, follow curiosity, and learn through doing.

2 – I Took a Gap Year — And Didn’t Do Research or Scribing

Okay, this one was last minute, and I got super lucky with how it all worked out. But I ended up traveling Europe for a semester while studying art history, gender, and graffiti! For the rest of my gap year, I was in an art program in New York City, meeting and learning from amazing artists and visiting beautiful installations across the boroughs.

The interviewing season coincided with my time in Spain (where I studied abroad), and this was always something that stuck with my interviewers. They loved hearing about how I was just taking a year to do something FUN and explore myself and my other interests. They told me about how they loved to see students do something other than medicine or science during their time off. Therefore, this is your sign to take that plunge and do something completely different :)

3 – I Asked Friends to Write My Letters of Recommendation

I will admit, this one could go either way. But, if you have any close friends in the medical school you are applying to, ask them to write you an LOR if they could. I believe this made a significant difference in some of my applications. Having someone already admitted into the school vouch for you and talk about your character is a huge plus and only helps your application! The students can speak more personally about you and how you would resonate with the school’s values, and how you would fit into the class as a whole.

Final Thoughts

What helped me the most wasn’t being the “perfect” pre-med—it was being the most authentic one I could be. So if you’re applying, don’t be afraid to do something different. Lean into your weird hobbies. Explore that side interest. Travel. Paint. Build something. You don’t need to follow the most linear path — make sure it’s your path.