An LGBTQIA+ Pre-Med’s Guide to Medical School Applications
Applying to medical school is the hardest thing I’ve had to do so far in my professional life. From the time I started studying for the MCAT to the day I committed to a school, it took almost a year and a half. And that’s not including the 4 years of undergrad and additional 1.5 gap years I spent getting my Master’s degree before I started the application process. One thing I wish I’d had when I was applying was another queer or trans person going through the process with me. I had so many questions and uncertainties around being an LGBTQIA+ applicant, making an already difficult process even harder. I was very lucky to have the support of an incredible mentor who helped me through the process, but I’m well aware not everyone has this. Applying to medical school as an LGBTQIA+ applicant shouldn’t be harder because of who we are. Here’s a resource guide to help.
Alt text: Slide 1 is “An LGBTQIA+ Pre-Med’s Guide to Medical School Applications” in black letters on a teal background. There are eight different pride rainbows (Bi, Ace, Rainbow, Genderqueer, Lipstick Lesbian, Pansexual, Nonbinary, and Trans) across the square, as well as a heart stethoscope and the Rod of Asclepius.
Alt text: Slide 2 says “Do I have to come out in my application? Nope! If you are ready to be out in your application, great! If you aren’t, that’s okay too! Med schools just want to get to know you, and to a certain extent, you have control over what they do and do not get to know about you.” The letters are black on a teal background with the rainbow and trans pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 3 says “What are the different options for talking about my gender identity and/or sexual orientation on my application (if I want to)?” The letters are black on a teal background with the ace and pansexual pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 4 says “1. AMCAS: There is a section to indicate your gender identity and sexual orientation in AMCAS (though currently gender and gender identity are two separate categories with different options, which has led to frustration and mistrust within the trans community).
2. Personal Statement: If it’s an important part of your story and your “why” for going into medicine, you can absolutely talk about it in your personal statement.” The letters are black on a teal background with the bi and nonbinary pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 5 says “3. Secondaries: Many schools will have a question on their secondaries about whether a student is LGBTQIA+, and it does not count for or against you. They use this information to connect you with LGBTQIA+ students and ensure any questions you have are answered.
4. There is also plenty of room to talk about your experiences with gender and sexuality in your secondaries. Depending on the essay, there is plenty of room to talk about your experiences as an LGBTQIA+ person.” The letters are black on a teal background with the genderqueer and lipstick lesbian pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 6 says “What do I do if I get misgendered during an interview day or have a queerphobic or transphobic interviewer?” The letters are black on a teal background with the pansexual and trans pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 7 says “1. The first thing you’ll need to determine is whether you feel safe enough to report it. If it happens once, you can correct someone in the moment if you feel able to do so.
2. If it’s more serious and the person seems unreceptive to your feedback, many schools have a JEDI office to provide feedback to. They may talk with the person involved, they will likely offer you support, and they may even ask the interviewer to refrain from interviewing applicants the next cycle.
3. It’s understandable that you may not feel safe to do this. At the very least, it’s a good idea to reach out to a trusted person in your support system to debrief.” The text is black on a teal background with the ace and nonbinary pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 8 says “How do I decide what schools to apply to?” The text is black on a teal background with the bi and genderqueer pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 9 says “1. The AAMC has a directory on their website which lists the LGBTQIA+ resources (or lack thereof) every MD school in the US has.
2. Lots of schools will also have information about LGBTQ+ inclusion and representation on their websites. Some key things to look for are student organizations, JEDI offices, and community engagement.” The text is black on a teal background with the rainbow and lipstick lesbian pride rainbows.
Alt text: Slide 10 says “3. Once you have applied, it’s also worth asking more specific questions at your interview day. It can be really helpful for determining if a school is both safe and the right fit for you.
4. If possible, try to find current students to talk to from schools you’re interested in! You can ask the admissions offices or JEDI offices to put you in touch with current students, and usually they will be able to. You can also reach out to students through social media (though you may not always get a response).” The text is black on a teal background with the trans and rainbow pride flags.
Good luck, you’ve got this, and I believe in you!!!