Why You Shouldn’t Take Advice from Pre-Meds Who Haven’t Been Accepted

The journey to medical school is challenging, competitive, and filled with misinformation. Many pre-med students turn to their peers for guidance—other pre-meds who are also applying but haven’t been accepted yet. While it might seem beneficial to exchange strategies, taking advice from the wrong sources can seriously harm your chances of getting into medical school.

The truth is, most pre-meds lack the necessary knowledge about medical school admissions. They often repeat myths, exaggerate their experiences, and spread misinformation that leads to wasted time, poor application decisions, and unnecessary stress.

So, why should you never take advice from other pre-meds who haven’t been accepted yet? Here’s why.

They Have No Proven Success

• Would you take business advice from someone who hasn’t started a business?
• Would you let someone teach you how to drive when they’ve never passed a driving test?
• Then why would you take medical school advice from someone who hasn’t been accepted yet?

Many pre-meds confidently discuss how to get into medical school without having successfully gone through the admissions process themselves.

If someone hasn’t been accepted yet, they don’t actually know if their strategies work. Their advice is based on assumptions, not experience.

The best advice comes from:

• Medical students who have already been accepted.
• Doctors who successfully completed medical school.
• Admissions advisors with real experience.

If a pre-med is still waiting for interview invites or dealing with rejections, their advice is untested and unreliable.

They Repeat Medical School Myths
Pre-meds love to share “insider secrets” about admissions, but many of these are completely false.

Common pre-med myths that get passed around:

• You need a 4.0 GPA and a perfect MCAT score to get in. This is not true—many successful applicants have lower GPAs but strong experiences.
• Medical schools only accept science majors. False—many humanities majors get accepted.
• If you fail one class, you’re doomed. Wrong—upward trends matter more than one bad grade.
• You need 1,000+ hours of research to be competitive. No—some schools value clinical experience and leadership more.
• If you don’t have connections, you won’t get in. Completely false—medical school admissions are based on merit, not nepotism.

Taking advice from misinformed pre-meds can lead you to waste time, stress unnecessarily, and focus on the wrong priorities.

They Overestimate Their Own Knowledge
Many pre-meds act like experts because they’ve watched YouTube videos, read Reddit posts, or talked to other pre-meds. But:

• Watching others apply doesn’t make them an expert.
• Reading about the process isn’t the same as experiencing it.
• Every applicant is different—what works for one person might not work for another.

A pre-med who hasn’t been accepted yet is still figuring things out. Their advice is based on guesswork, not experience.

Real admissions advice should come from people who have already gone through the process and succeeded.

They Might Be Giving You Bad Advice on Purpose
Not all pre-meds want to help you succeed. Some are secretly competitive and give bad advice on purpose to reduce the competition.

Common intentional bad advice includes:

• Don’t apply this year; just wait. They don’t want you to be their competition.
• That school doesn’t like your major. False—they just want fewer applicants.
• You don’t have enough research, don’t bother applying. Completely wrong—many applicants get in without research.

Some pre-meds subtly discourage others to increase their own chances. Be careful who you trust.

They Focus on the Wrong Priorities
Many pre-meds obsess over minor details while ignoring major application factors.

Bad pre-med advice often includes:

• Focusing only on grades. GPA is important, but clinical experience, leadership, and personal statements matter too.
• Applying to too few schools. The average applicant applies to 15-20 schools.
• Avoiding DO schools because of stigma. DOs are fully licensed physicians, and many DO grads match into competitive specialties.
• Thinking medical school rank is the most important thing. Getting into any accredited medical school is the goal.

Successful applicants prioritize wisely—bad advice can waste time on unnecessary things.

They Haven’t Experienced the Interview Process Yet
Medical school interviews are one of the most important parts of the application process. Many pre-meds haven’t even been invited for interviews yet but still try to give interview advice.

If they haven’t successfully passed an interview, how can they:

• Teach you how to answer tough ethical questions?
• Prepare you for multiple mini interviews (MMI)?
• Explain how to connect with admissions committees?

Only those who have gone through interviews and been accepted can give reliable interview strategies.

They Don’t Understand How Admissions Committees Think
Admissions committees evaluate thousands of applications every year. They look for well-rounded candidates, not just students with high GPAs.

Bad pre-med advice often misses what admissions committees actually care about, such as:

• Emotional intelligence and communication skills.
• Resilience and ability to handle failure.
• A strong, authentic personal statement.

Instead of listening to pre-meds, talk to medical students, doctors, or admissions advisors—people who understand what schools actually want.

They Might Be Giving Advice Based on Rejection
Some pre-meds who got rejected give advice out of frustration. Instead of analyzing their own mistakes, they blame the system and spread negativity.

Examples of bad advice from rejected pre-meds:

• Medical school is impossible to get into unless you’re rich or have connections. Not true.
• Don’t even try applying if you don’t have a perfect GPA. Wrong.
• Medical schools are unfair. Medical schools choose well-rounded applicants, not just high scorers.

Listening to bitter, rejected applicants can discourage you from applying when you actually have a great chance of getting in.

They Aren’t Thinking About the Long-Term Journey
Applying to medical school isn’t just about getting in—it’s about becoming a great doctor.

Many pre-meds obsess over getting accepted but don’t think about:

• Choosing the right school for their goals.
• Balancing personal life with medical training.
• Building a strong foundation for residency matching.

Successful applicants think long-term, not just about admissions.

The Best Advice Comes from Those Who Have Been Accepted
If you want real medical school advice, talk to:

• Medical students who got accepted recently.
• Doctors who have completed medical training.
• Professional advisors who understand admissions data.

Instead of listening to random pre-meds, focus on those who have successfully gone through the process.

Final Thoughts
Getting into medical school is too important to trust bad advice. Pre-meds who haven’t been accepted yet are not reliable sources of information. Instead, seek advice from medical students, doctors, and admissions experts who have already succeeded.

The wrong advice can delay your acceptance, waste your time, or even make you give up completely. Choose your mentors wisely, and you’ll increase your chances of medical school success.