As college application season heats up, one group of students faces an especially high-stakes process: future doctors. Whether you’re aiming for a traditional pre-med track or the highly selective BS/MD programs, your application needs to do more than show off grades and test scores—it needs to tell a story that admissions officers won’t forget.

To help students and families navigate this journey, Future Forward hosted an exclusive fireside chat with Joshua Ward, a Cornell pre-med alum now pursuing his MD at Washington University in St. Louis on a full-tuition scholarship. Drawing from years of admissions coaching and his own journey through top programs, Josh offered a roadmap for writing standout applications that go beyond the basics.

🎥 Watch the full recording of our Fireside Chat with Joshua Ward below:

1. Your Personal Statement Is Your Superpower

According to Ward, your personal statement is the most important part of your application. It’s what makes you memorable. Grades and scores are the baseline—but your story is the differentiator.

For pre-med students, the essay can explore a wide range of interests, as long as it reflects authenticity. For BS/MD applicants, it’s important to address your desire to pursue medicine, along with traits like empathy, maturity, and service.

“Perfect academics won’t get you in if your story is missing,” Josh shared. “But a compelling story can push a good student into a great school.”

2. Focus on Depth in Extracurriculars

Admissions officers aren’t impressed by resumes stacked with surface-level activities. One passion-driven initiative with real impact is more powerful than ten minor involvements.

Have you:

• Founded a nonprofit?
• Spent years researching Alzheimer’s?
• Built something useful with tech?

That shows commitment and purpose—exactly what top schools want to see.

3. Fit Over Fame: Choosing the Right College

While Ward is an Ivy League grad himself, he cautions against obsessing over brand names. The best college for pre-med is the one where you’ll:

• Excel academically
• Receive strong support
• Maintain a high GPA

That could be a state university, a small liberal arts school, or an Ivy. Prestige matters far less than performance when it comes to med school admissions.

4. Don’t Assume On-Campus Hospitals = Access

A hospital on campus doesn’t guarantee clinical exposure. At Cornell, for example, the affiliated medical center was hours away from the undergrad campus.

Instead of relying on proximity, Josh recommends:

• Networking
• Volunteering locally
• Cold-emailing doctors for meaningful shadowing opportunities

5. The BS/MD Path: Relief and Risk

The biggest advantage? Peace of mind. You lock in med school admission, may skip the MCAT, and finish early.
The tradeoff? Loss of flexibility.

If you’re not 100% sure about medicine at 17 or 18, a BS/MD might feel limiting. It’s a fast track—but not one to rush into without clarity and commitment.

6. How to Stand Out in BS/MD Applications

Josh shared his 3-part formula:

• Early Exposure: Clinical or research experience as early as freshman year
• Maturity: A real understanding of the weight of a medical career
• Consistency: Long-term dedication to meaningful work—not just checkbox activities

These qualities should echo throughout your application—from essays to interviews.

7. Passion Projects Make You Memorable

Gopi Prashanth, Future Forward’s co-founder, added that passion projects create both structure and story across your application. Whether they lead to awards, research, or publications, they give admissions officers a reason to remember you—and believe in your future.

Avoid filling the awards section with generic honors like “AP Scholar.” Instead, highlight:

• Competitions
• Olympiads
• Research
• Real-world impact

8. Tailor Every Application

Each BS/MD program has its own DNA. Some are research-heavy, others focus on community service or education. Align your application with their values.

And don’t hide your unique interests. Whether you’re into music, writing, or art—those dimensions help you stand out in a sea of science-focused applicants.

9. Prepare for Professional Interviews

BS/MD interviews are in a different league. Expect questions about:

• Medical ethics
• Teamwork
• Failure

And always be ready for the big one:

“Why medicine?”

You’ll need to answer clearly, concisely, and confidently—in 30 seconds or less.
Mock interviews and practice scenarios are essential.

10. Med School Tier and Residency: What Actually Matters

Top-tier med schools may offer stronger networks and resources, especially for competitive residencies. But again—performance trumps prestige.

Whether you’re from a BS/MD or traditional path, what truly matters is:

• Your Step 2 score
• Letters of recommendation
• Clinical excellence

Fast Forward

Whether you’re a future physician aiming for a BS/MD spot or planning to take the traditional pre-med route, your application must reflect clarity, depth, and direction.

Let your story show who you are—and why you belong in medicine—not just that you ticked the right boxes.

Future Forward’s advisors and coaches are here to help. From choosing the right colleges to reviewing essays and preparing for interviews, we’ve helped students gain admission to top programs across the U.S.

👉 Start your journey by filling out the form below