Admissions Red Flags (& How to Avoid Them) : Part 2
Last week we talked about common red flags in law school and medical school applications. This week there's another thing we want every law and medical school applicant to understand, for their admissions considerations to top law and med schools and beyond:
Your professional career doesn’t begin when you graduate. It begins long before that, possibly with your first interaction with an admissions office.
When you're applying to professional school, it's easy to think of yourself solely as an applicant. You're focused on your GPA, LSAT or MCAT score, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and getting that coveted acceptance.
But you're also beginning to establish a professional reputation.
Every email you send, interview you attend, campus you visit, person you interact with, and social media post you share contributes to the impression you're making. And while you certainly don't need to walk around terrified that every interaction is being evaluated, you should recognize that professionalism shouldn't be something you turn on when you know you're being watched.
It should become your default.
Here are four professionalism lessons we want every future lawyer and physician to take seriously, before they turn in to red flags.
1. Your Social Media Is Part of Your Professional Reputation
Your Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and other social media accounts may feel completely separate from your professional life.
They're not always.
Admissions professionals are people, too, and schools have rescinded admissions offers based on social media content. That doesn't mean you need to erase your personality from the internet or become afraid to post anything remotely controversial.
It does mean you should take a moment to consider what your online presence communicates about you.
Ask yourself:
Would I be comfortable with an admissions dean, future employer, professor, or colleague seeing this?
If the answer is no, that's probably worth paying attention to.
And this isn't about being perfect. It's about judgment.
As a future lawyer or physician, you're entering professions built on trust, responsibility, and professionalism. Your online presence is one small piece of the reputation you're beginning to build.
When in doubt,err on the side of decorum and respect.
2. Every Person You Meet at a School Matters
When you visit a law or medical school, it's natural to focus on the people you think have the most influence over your application.
The dean.
The admissions director.
The faculty member.
The person conducting your interview.
But what about the administrative professional who checks you in? The student who gives you a tour? The staff member who answers your question? The person helping coordinate your visit?
Treat every person you encounter with professionalism and respect.
Admissions deans may ask administrative professionals about applicants they've interacted with. Your behavior during a school visit can become part of the impression you leave behind.
This is also why we encourage applicants to err on the side of formality.
If someone introduces themselves as Dean or Doctor, use that title unless they invite you to do otherwise. If someone says, “Please call me Jane,” you've been given permission to use their first name.
These might seem like tiny details, but they demonstrate something much bigger: awareness of professional norms.
And remember, being kind and respectful to everyone isn't just an admissions strategy. It's the right thing to do.
3. Your Interview Is a Professional Interaction, Even When It's Virtual
A virtual interview is still an interview.
We know that sounds obvious, but the shift to Zoom and other virtual platforms has made it easier for some applicants to forget that they're participating in a professional interaction.
We've seen applicants show up to virtual interviews without adequately preparing their environment, technology, appearance, or presentation.
Don't let convenience undermine professionalism.
Before your interview, think about:
Is your technology working?
Is your background appropriate and free of distractions?
Are you dressed professionally?
Have you tested your camera and microphone?
Do you know enough about the school to have a meaningful conversation?
Have you prepared thoughtful questions?
Have you practiced discussing your experiences without sounding rehearsed?
And then there's the actual conversation: Listen carefully, don't interrupt, make eye contact, stay engaged, and be prepared to talk about yourself without dominating the conversation.
And most importantly, be yourself, but be the professional version of yourself.
Your interview isn't about proving that you're perfect. It's about demonstrating that you're prepared, thoughtful, mature, and someone the school can envision joining its professional community.
4. Stop Thinking Like an Applicant. Start Thinking Like a Professional.
This might be the most important lesson of all.
When you're applying to law or medical school, it's easy to think: “What do I need to do to get accepted?” We want you to start asking a slightly different question: “What kind of professional am I becoming?”
Instead of thinking, “Do I have to be polite to the receptionist?” think,“Of course I'm going to treat every person with respect.”
Instead of thinking, “Can I post this because admissions probably won't see it?” think,“Is this consistent with the professional reputation I want to build?”
Instead of thinking, “How little preparation can I get away with for this interview?” think,“How do I want to show up when someone gives me an opportunity to speak with them?”
Instead of thinking, “I'm just an applicant,” recognize that you're already beginning to enter a professional community. And if you're applying to law or medical school, this is a great time to start treating yourself like the professional you're working so hard to become.
We'd love to meet with you and strategize not only admissions strategy, but life as a future physician or attorney. Book a FREE 20-minute call with our team today.
