- Chasing stats while neglecting meaningful experiences and thoughtful reflection.
- Writing a generic “Why Medicine?” essay that could have been written by anyone.
- Ignoring school fit by mass-applying with copy-and-paste essays.
- Building a long but superficial résumé with little or no meaningful clinical exposure.
- Treating people poorly—or coming across as cynical, entitled, or lacking empathy.
- Starting the application too late and rushing every component.
The cure for all six: Start early, go deep, stay honest, and become the kind of person others would be glad to sit next to in clinic.
