What If You Don't Get In This Year?
MMIMediumMotivation · 6 minSelf-marked
How to use this: start the timer and answer the question out loud (or type it). Then grade yourself 0–3 on each skill with a note of your evidence — exactly as our examiners do. Hit Reveal benchmark & score to see what a model answer scores and how you compare. Everything saves to your browser automatically.
Answer timer
6:00/ 6 min suggested
1
Answer the question
What If You Don't Get In This Year?
What would you do if you didn't get into medical school this year?
Likely follow-ups
1
How many cycles would you reapply for?
2
What would you do in a gap year to strengthen your application?
3
Would you consider an alternative healthcare route as a back-up?
Your answer
Speak it out loud and we'll type it for you (free), or type your own notes — then mark yourself below.
Resources & frameworks
- Structure: why medicine → concrete evidence → honest reflection.
- Be specific about what medicine uniquely offers — avoid "I want to help people".
What strong answers doReveal the benchmark
Hidden so they don't bias your answer. Score yourself first, then reveal them to compare.
- Show resilience and a concrete plan - this is a question about persistence as much as motivation.
- Naming a specific gap-year plan (HCA work, lab placement, foundation degree) is stronger than 'I'd just try again'.
- It's fine to acknowledge a back-up is sensible - rigid 'medicine or nothing' answers can read as immature.
2
Mark yourself
Score each skill against the rubric, then add a line of evidence. Scale:
0Not shown1Limited2Good3Excellent
Quick mark:Completion: 0%
Motivation
0/3Robust and tested by hypothetical setback
Resilience
0/3Demonstrates planning in the face of rejection
Realism
0/3Acknowledges the competitive landscape
Self-awareness
0/3Aware of own limits and back-ups
3
Reflect & score
What would you change next time?
Your overall score / 10
Total: 0/12(Core 0/6 • Extra 0/6 • Score 0/10)
Saved to your browser