Counseling the premedical applicant requires knowledge of the major steps in applying to medical school including self-assessment, career exploration and careful and knowledgable application. Students must be aware of what it means to "do" medicine on a day-to-day basis, the frustrations, the pain and the sorrow as well as the rewards, before making a meaningful decision. They must ask questions about the real reasons for aspiring to a medical career. For example, if they are interested in science and want to help people, why not consider nursing or medical technology? If they want more complete control over patient care, why not consider osteopathic as well as allopathic medicine? If status is important, then it is critical that they so admit and make decisions on that basis. In addition to these issues, the discussion centers around the problem of balancing realism with encouraging women to enter careers in medicine and counseling the rejected applicant. In the latter case, special attention must be paid to how to reassess reasons for unsuccessful candidacy, how to build a strong case, and how to consider an alternative career. (Author)