Successful Book Opening!

Thank you to all the family, friends, and clients who attended the DC book opening for The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Handbook at lovely Bar Dupont on Friday night. It was quite a turnout with festivities extending from evening to night to morning!

Interested in buying The Medical School Admissions Guide? Follow the link above to purchase.

The Medical School Admissions Guide!

Board of Advisors members Scott Talan and Chris Kiple with Drs. Suzie Miller and Tara Sheets

Joe, Tracy, and Cindy - RN/NP's extraordinaire!

Sharon Kim, Dr. Suzie Miller, book editor Jen Abbott and husband Erik

Jillian Orfeo, Nicole and Dave Krug, and Dr. Suzie Miller

Fairfax Crew

Medical School Interviews – Current Events

Many interviews now include questions regarding ethics, policy, and current events. During interview season, be sure to stay up-to-date on all current events, but especially those related to health care. Health care reform is again in the headlines given the recent election – do you know the specifics of the debate? What do you think about the healthcare reform bill passed by the Obama administration? What do you think about some of the Republican ideas to change it? You don’t have to be an expert, but you should know the lingo and be able to intelligently express your opinion. Ethics questions on issues such as abortion, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, and stem cell research have also become popular.

How can you prepare? I suggest reading your local paper but also browse national papers such as the New York Times. The Economist politics and business in review sections at the beginning of every magazine provide excellent current event summaries. Subscribing to The Economist is pricey but you can read these two sections at the library in less than ten minutes.

Want to practice your medical school ethics and policy interview answers? MDadmit offers mock interview sessions to help maximize your chances of success. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Interviews – Final Prep

It’s game time. You’ve polished the shoes, reviewed the application, and practiced and practiced and practiced questions. Before you leave, remember these final details:

1. Pack all clothes in a carry-on. Airlines lose baggage – frequently. Always carry on your luggage.
2. Bring copies of all publications in case the interviewer would like to see them. You can keep them safe in the pocket of leather legal pad. The legal pad can be used to take notes.
3. Ensure you have all directions or public transit options mapped out. Being late to a medical school interview is NOT an option.
4. Bring:
Blank thank you notes
A snack
Extra pantyhose/stockings in case of runs (if you are wearing hose)
Dental floss (very handy for post-lunch interviews)
5. Ensure a good night sleep not just the night before the interview but the “night before the night before.” Studies have shown that sleep two nights before an event most dramatically affects performance.

Nervous about your interviews? A MDadmit mock interview can give you that advantage. E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Medical School Interviews – Practice, Practice, Practice Questions

Whether you are preparing for your first medical school interview or your tenth, practice is the key to a successful interview experience. Practice the most typical questions asked in medical school interviews. There are many lists out there on the Internet.

Practice answering questions out loud in front of a mirror. You will be surprised by the habits you will discover, such as playing with a ring, wrying hands, or foot tapping. Practice limiting such distracting movements. Practice by tape recording your answers. Isn’t it amazing how many times your say “like” and “um.” Practice not using those unprofessional, filler words.

Ideally, you should arrange for a mock interview with an admissions consultant or medical school counselor. This mock interview should be as close to real as possible – do everything you will do on interview day including wearing your suit, using an office setting, and answering each question to the best of your ability.

Want more practice? Medical school mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Interviews – Review AMCAS and Secondary Applications

Everything on the AMCAS and secondary applications is fair game in the medical school interview. This includes every course and activity listed. You may have taken some of those classes four years ago (or, for some of you, 10 years ago). Review each class and activity to ensure that you recall enough details to answer any question on the topic. Also be sure to read over the personal statement and secondary essays to remember how you specifically spun yourself to a particular school.

Want to practice your medical school interview answers? Mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

NPR Flexner Report Piece

NPR talks about the recent Flexner Report anniversary and the future of medical education with Paul Starr.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122702668

Medical School Interviews – Why Do You Want to Be a Doctor?

Many premeds worry about the content of the medical school interview. The most important content to conquer is about you. You already know all about yourself but the key is figuring out how to present that to the interviewer.

Start your interview prep by answering this question:

“Why do you want to be a doctor?”

Simple, huh? Go ahead and try to answer it right now.

Harder than it seems, isn’t it?

This question will be asked in some form in every interview. You answered it in the AMCAS primary essay, but interviewers want to hear it again. It is the essential question, right?

Your goal is to answer the question clearly and concisely with no more than three talking points. Tying these three reasons to brief anecdotes will help the interviewer remember your reasons.

Want to practice your medical school interview answers? Mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Interviews – The First Twelve Inches

To help you pull it all together on your interview day, etiquette experts have a simple rule to ensure you are looking your best. It’s the first 12 inches that matter most (head, hands, feet):

Head
• Hair clean and well-groomed
• Be clean-shaven
• Check nothing is stuck in your teeth

Hands
• Groom the nails short and clean
• No chipped nail polish

Feet
• Polish the shoes
• Guys - be sure your socks match
• Ladies – no runs in panty hose or stockings

Mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for a one-on-one practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Interviews – Hair and Accessories

The medical school interview season is not the time to experiment with that mohawk you always wanted. Keep the hair clean and simple. Men with long hair do not need to cut it all off, just keep it clean and out of your face. The same rules apply to women.

As for jewelry, earrings in men are always a point of controversy. If your earring is an important part of who you are, leave it in. But if it’s just a piece of jewelry, I would take it out. Body piercings that show (nose ring, tongue ring, eyebrow ring, etc) fall under the same general guidelines as earrings. Wear it if it is a huge part of who you are. Lose it for a day if it isn’t.

Mock interview sessions are filling quickly. E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for a one-on-one interview practice session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Interviews – The Suit and Shoes

All interviews start with a first impression. This means you need to be well dressed and well groomed. Once you are a physician, your patients will want you to look put together. And so do the interviewers. It may seem cliché and shallow, but you need to look good.

The suit is the staple of anyone heading out on the medical school interview trail. Despite popular opinion, it does not have to be black and boring! Yes, dark/neutral color is likely best (blue, grey, camel) but you don’t have to give up all style for interviews. Your goal is to look sharp and professional instead of boring and drab.

Don’t forget the importance of shoes. These shoes need to be incredibly comfortable, work in various climates, and look classy. At some schools, the majority of your interview time will be spent walking. Make sure the shoes are clean and shined. Yes, I mean go out and buy real shoe polish and scrub the shoes before every interview. Shined, well-kept shoes show a person is detail-oriented and dedicated to an overall polished look.

Need help with your interview style? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Interviews – Scheduling

Though you still may be swamped with secondary applications, it is time to begin thinking about interview season. It is actually more than a season as interviews generally span from September to February. Rolling admissions schools tend to interview earlier than others (and let you know of acceptance earlier as well). Don’t be surprised if your first interview is scheduled as early as September.

Be sure to plan sufficient time off for interview travel. Does time of interview really affect chance of acceptance? In rolling admissions schools, yes! Rolling admissions schools often offer acceptances only weeks after an interview session. The later in the season you interview, the less acceptances there are to offer. Interview timing is less critical for regular admissions schools. You will see pages and pages on medical school admissions blogs discussing the best strategic time to interview. Here’s the bottom line: interview when you will be well-rested and well-prepared.

Want a leg up on your competition? A MDadmit mock interview can give you that advantage. E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: “Other” Information

Please share with us something about yourself that is not addressed elsewhere in your application and which may help the Admissions Committee as we review your file.

The “other” information question often causes great stress amongst candidates. Given that it is usually an optional essay, the big issue is whether or not to answer it. The only reason to answer the questions is if you have personal information that is not provided on the AMCAS that will affect your application. Here are a few examples of appropriate topics for this essay:

1. Extenuating circumstances led to a dip in your grades sophomore year and you want to explain
2. Your band cut its first record after the AMCAS submission
3. You have a paper accepted for publication that occurred after AMCAS submission
4. You just received an offer to travel to Africa with a public health project

Do NOT fill the space just to fill the space. Only answer the question if you really have something important to say that will positively affect your application.

Looking for help on how to answer secondary essay questions? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: Long-Term Goals

Another favorite secondary question revolves around long-term goals (ie. what you want to be when you grow up).

For example:

Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment.

Though you are certainly not expected to have picked out your specialty and fellowship before even entering medical school, admissions committees like know where you are leaning. Do you see yourself working as a general surgeon at a large academic center? Or perhaps you’d like to run a small, rural family medicine clinic? Or maybe you want to be a Navy flight doctor. The sky is the limit. But be sure to be honest and ready to back up your dream job.

Exhausted? Overwhelmed with secondaries? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: After-College Activities

Now that taking time off before medical school is completely accepted (and often encouraged), many secondaries ask about after-college activities:

Please indicate your activities for the xxxx-yyyy year. If you are in school, please list your courses. If you are working, please describe the nature of your job.

If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.

If you are still in college when applying to medical school, you will leave this question blank unless instructed otherwise. If you have just graduated, feel free to discuss your summer activities and upcoming plans before matriculation into medical school. And if you have taken time off, use this section to flesh out what you have done more fully than was allowed on the AMCAS activities list.

Overwhelmed by secondary applications? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and expert editor to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: Qualities/Characteristics

Medical schools love to ask you about what qualities you possess that will make you a great physician:

Describe the distinguishable characteristics you possess and tell us how you think these characteristics will enhance your success as a medical student and future physician.

Start by brainstorming a list of characteristics that you think great physicians possess. Here’s a short list from the top of my head in no particular order:

Psychological maturity
Character and integrity
Self-discipline
Judgment
Compassion and empathy
Communication skills
Concern for helping others
Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm
Analytical and problem-solving ability
Motivation and persistence
Reliability and dependability
Resilience and adaptability
Accountability
Leadership skills
Teamwork skills
Experience with and knowledge of medicine

Choose the qualities that you possess and that can be backed up with examples from your own life. For example, if you that you have leadership skills, be sure that you have leadership experiences to prove it.

Looking for help on how to answer secondary essay questions? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: Research

Some secondary questions focus specifically on research or scholarly activities:

Although research is not a pre-requisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in a scholarly project please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non medically-related investigations.

Don’t panic if you have not published in Nature or performed amazing bench research. “Research” is a broad term and can include investigations in public health, health policy, and international health. You can even include non-medically oriented research.

Exhausted? Overwhelmed with secondaries? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Interesting article on medical scribes

Becoming a medical scribe is a fantastic way to gain clinical experience and boost your application. See article below.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/06/health/la-he-medical-scribes-20100906

Medical School Secondary Applications: Most Important Activity

Many secondary applications ask you to highlight one particular experience listed on the AMCAS. They often want to hear about clinical exposure. Examples of most important activity questions include:

From among the activities and experiences listed in your AMCAS application, please select one activity or experience that has most impacted your decision to undertake a career in health care. Please describe your role in the activity/experience and how this activity helped you make the decision to apply to medical school.

Though it may feel repetitive, you will often be describing activities already listed in the application. This is a chance to explain these activities more fully and highlight those most important to you. Focus on experiences that show dedication, leadership, or unique skills.

Overwhelmed by secondary applications? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and expert editor to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: Personal Challenge

Medicine is a challenging profession. Admission committees want to ensure you know how to meet challenges and handle ethical dilemmas. For example:

Please describe an experience or situation that you found personally challenging and discuss how it helped to shape you as a person. You may discuss a moral or ethical dilemma, situation of personal adversity, or other life-event you believe to have been important in your personal development.

Everyone has overcome a challenge. It is not acceptable to state that your life has been peachy keen and nothing has ever gone wrong. In others words, you can’t leave this one blank. You can provide an answer from any area of your life – personal, professional, extracurricular, etc. The key is to show how you came to a decision during a challenging situation and what you learned from it.

Don’t know where to start with secondaries? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and expert editor to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Can Rain Prevent You From Getting Into Medical School?

Interesting New York Times article on a quirky physician who seeks to answer interesting questions, such as if interviewing on a rainy day decreases your chances of admission to medical school.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/science/31profile.html

Medical School Secondary Applications: Diversity

Diversity is one of the most popular secondary essay topics. The point of these types of questions is to prove how you will make a unique contribution to the medical school class.

For example:

At the XXX Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community?

If Applicable, describe a situation where you were not in the majority.

When the word “diversity” is used, many think of racial diversity. But this is a very limited view. Think outside the box. Do you speak a foreign language? Are you a non-traditional applicant with significant “real world” experience? Other possibilities include athletic achievements, musical/art/dance talent, and international experience. Everyone can add diversity to a class.

Looking for help on how to answer secondary essay questions? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications: General Strategy

Though schools change their secondary essays from year to year, most of the questions fall into eight broad categories:

Diversity
Personal Challenge
Most Important Activity
Research
Qualities/Characteristics
After College Activities
Long Term Goals
“Other” Information

Instead of writing a new answer to each question for every school, I suggest that you compose general answers to each of these eight questions and change them as needed to a particular application. This will save you an incredible amount of time and energy. It also gives you a chance to write exceptional essays that, with minor tweaking, can be used multiple times. Most of the secondary essays range from 250 to 500 words. I suggest writing each essay listed below in 500 words or less than editing as needed to fit each particular word requirement. Each essay listed has been taken from real secondary applications. Get that literary mind going, you may have hundreds of secondary essays to write in the next few months!

Overwhelmed by secondary applications? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and expert editor to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

Medical School Secondary Applications

“Secondaries,” or medical school secondary applications, are sent individually from each medical school once the AMCAS application has been received and reviewed. Many schools use the AMCAS as an initial screening then send secondaries to obtain more information from applicants in order to determine who receives an interview. Sometimes secondaries are sent to applicants who meet certain requirements (often based on GPA and MCAT scores). More and more these days, schools automatically generate a secondary upon receipt of your AMCAS application with no screening performed.

Secondaries vary greatly in substance. Some require nothing more than your name and a check (average secondary charge is $75). Others entail up to 10 essays and are very time consuming. The due date varies by school. It is best to turn in a secondary as soon as possible after receiving it in order to move the admissions process along.

Overwhelmed by secondary applications? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and expert editor to work for you!

Check out www.MDadmit.com for more information.

AMCAS Personal Statement: Copy Edit and Recommendation Check

Before submitting your AMCAS, be sure to copy edit EVERY WORD for typos. You will have looked at this application so many times, it may be impossible to do a meticulous edit yourself. Ask family, friends, colleagues, etc. to edit not for content but for grammar and typos.

Now that you are ready to submit the AMCAS application, remember to contact all of your recommenders/premed committees to ensure the recommendations have been sent out and received. Many schools will not process your AMCAS application until all recommendations are in hand.

Want a final edit of your medical school admissions personal statement?
E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, admissions expert, and published author to work for you!

AMCAS Personal Statement: Get Help

After the sixth draft, it is time to send out the essay for an expert opinion – choose two or three people with experience in writing personal statements and gather their thoughts on three things: content, grammar, and flow (how easily the essay reads).

Afraid you don’t know anyone who can edit the essay for you? Don’t be – you are surrounded by them. Try your parents, spouse, friend who majored in English, cousin in medical school, career counselor, university writing service, writing instructor, family physician, coach, admissions consultant, etc. etc. Don’t be afraid to ask.

One word of caution – do not send the essay to too many people for opinions. Comments will undoubtedly disagree and it can be very frustrating trying to please everyone. The only two people you have to please are yourself and the admissions officer.

Looking for expert help with arguably the most important part of your medical school application as this stage? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and expert editor to work for you!

USA Today Article - ER Myths

An excellent USA today article on some of the downsides of Obama's heathcare reform. 

ER Myths

AMCAS Personal Statement: Grammar and Word Choice

Now that you have the hook, structure, and conclusion done, it’s time to focus on grammar.

For your fifth draft, return to the essay focusing on grammar. Are you using too much passive voice (i.e. is, as, was, were, be). Active verbs are always better. Is every word needed? Can you discuss that same idea in fewer words? Correct your grammar, ensure correct word choice, and cut any repetitive ideas/words then set aside the essay.

Now it’s time for an overall read. Create a sixth draft after reading the essay out loud. How does it sound? Are there some sentences that sound awkward? If they sound awkward, they read awkward. Do you need to take multiple breaths when reading certain sentences? That usually means the sentence is a “run-on” and should be broken down into two or more separate lines. Does each thought flow smoothly into the next? If not, perhaps you need to restructure the essay or create better transition sentences.

Get professional help with your personal statement. E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider to work for you!

AMCAS Personal Statement: Draft After Draft After Draft

Once you have completed the brainstorming tasks, it is time to write your first draft. Don’t spend too much time on this – just write; don’t focus on grammar yet.

Put the essay away for a day then come back with a critical eye to your “hook”/thesis statement and write a second draft. Does your opening make you want to read on?

Put the essay away for another day and then write your third draft focusing on essay structure. Does each paragraph flow smoothly into the next? Is the essay easy to read or does it jump abruptly from topic to topic with no warning?

For the fourth draft, work on the conclusion. Does the last paragraph effectively summarize the essay and tie back into the thesis statement?

Whew! I warned you this is a lot of work! But it will pay off. Keep it up!

Looking for help with all these drafts of your medical school admissions personal statement?
E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD, admissions expert, and published author to work for you!

AMCAS Personal Statement: The Hook

Every great personal statement starts with an engaging introduction. I call this “the hook.”

How are you going to keep the admissions officer interested and make her want to read past the first paragraph?

Admissions officers read hundreds of personal statements a year. How will your essay stand out?

This all starts with the hook!

You are going to grab the reader’s interest with a compelling anecdote. Be creative, but be very careful with humor or over-the-top stories. Your hook also serves as a thesis and the jumping off point from which you will explain why you want to be a physician.

Need help writing a great hook for your medical school personal statement? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and admissions expert to work for you!

New York Times Article on Electronic Health Record Requirements for Docs

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/health/policy/14health.html

Great article on some negative aspects of Obamacare

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gXpdv63kNizbJ2hDiZJTNach1XjwD9GMRHT80

AMCAS Personal Statement: Delve Deeper

Volumes and volumes have been written on the art of crafting an excellent personal statement. I will not attempt to recreate such works here. However, I will provide you with the tips I give my students and clients.

Start by making a list of the reasons you want to attend medical school. Likely, some of your top reasons will include “I like science” and “I like helping people.” Hopefully, everyone going to medical school has these two motivations. The trick is holding onto these two reasons while delving deeper into why they are true. When writing your list, ask what life experiences prove the reasons you are giving. After writing the list, determine which reason and experience pairs make the strongest argument for why you want to be a physician. This will serve as the basis of your essay. Remember, the list doesn’t have to be fancy or use perfect grammar. You are just sketching out some ideas before starting to write

Here’s an example:

I want to be a physician because:

1. I want to use a team approach to solve problems
Experience:
- Captain of basketball team that won three league championships
- Showed how efforts of many can achieve great goals

2. I want to use cutting-edge technology to improve lives
Experience:
- Research assistant with Dr. Buck at Maryland State University
- Saw value of PET scanning as it guided diagnosis and treatment of various cancers

3. I want to work in international health and public policy
Experience:
- Realized a great passion for international health after a mission trip with church to San Juan Sacatapequez, Guatemala
- Built clinic and trained local nurses in basic sanitary measures
- Volunteered to raise money for Doctors without Borders
- Joined university’s public policy club

Get the point? Every reason for going to medical school has to be backed up with personal experience. The admissions officer who reads the essay (along with hundreds of other essays) may not remember that you want to be a doctor so that you can work in international health. But he will likely remember that you pursued this interest by organizing an aid trip to Indonesia after the tsunami.

Need help delving deeper and creating a unique medical school personal statement?

Want the best personal statement possible? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for personal advice from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

AMCAS Personal Statement: Intro

The personal statement is arguably the most important of your application and, at this point, one of the few aspects you can control. In this personal statement you are asked to consider the following questions:

• Why have you selected the field of medicine?
• What motivates you to learn more about the field of medicine?
• What do you want medical schools to know about you that has not been disclosed in another section of the application?

The application also states that you

“May wish to include information such as:
‘Special hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.
Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record, which are not explained elsewhere in the application.’”

In other words, you have 5300 characters to say why you want to be a doctor and why an admissions committee should accept you into its medical school class. And you must do this in an interesting, creative, and honest way. Not an easy task.

MD/PhD candidates, please be aware that you have two additional essays to write. The first essay will discuss your reasons for wishing to pursue a MD/PhD (3,000 characters). The second asks for details on your significant research experience (10,000 characters).

Need help creating an outstanding medical school personal statement?

Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and admissions insider on your side!

Medical School Admissions: More AMCAS Work/Activities Tips

*You are allowed a maximum of 15 experiences with 1325 characters to describe each experience.
*Remember hard returns (enter) count as two characters.
*In general, medical school admission committees place more weight on activities that show dedication over a period of time and leadership.
*The admissions committees look down on repeats.
*Don’t fill the space just to fill the space. Ten stellar activities are better than 15 less-than-impressive activities.
*The AMCAS automatically lists the activities by date but you can be creative with how you list dates to have some control over activity order.

Looking for help deciding which activities to include on your AMCAS? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for personal advice from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

Medicare Policy

When applying to medical school, it is very important to stay up-to-date on health policy. Admissions committees want to know that you are aware of the policy that will affect your life as a physician. Here is an article that discusses a critical issue: Medicare funding.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/25/health/policy/25medicare.html

Medical School Admissions: AMCAS Work/Activities

As I mentioned in the previous post, the AMCAS Work/Activities section is more than a resume. Like a resume, it requires you to include the dates, location, and description of activities. But you will also need specifics on the average hours per week you spent on the activity and the name, title, phone number, and e-mail of a contact who can vouch that you did the activity. This contact can be a professor, coach, community service advisor, principal investigator, etc. It should not be a member of your family.

Want to discuss what activities to include on your AMCAS? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for personal AMCAS expert advice from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

LA Times Doctor Shortage Article

Great article in LA Times re doctor shortages.

It's never too early to start preparing for medical school interviews and your career in medicine by ready such articles.

Medical School Admissions: AMCAS Work/Activities

Did you know the AMCAS Work/Activities section is more than just a resume?

The Work/Activities section requires you to categorize your experiences by the following categories:

Paid Employment— Not Military
Paid Employment—Military
Community Service/Volunteer—Not Medical/Clinical
Community Service/Volunteer—Medical/Clinical
Research/Lab
Teaching/Tutoring
Honors/Awards/Recognition
Conferences Attended
Presentations/Posters
Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations
Leadership—Not Listed ElsewhereOther

This allows you to include many experiences not listed on a normal resume. Some examples:

Guitarist in a band that created an album
Attended a toxicology conference in Berlin
Won a creative writing contest in college
Completed an Ironman triathlon

Want help deciding which activities to include on your AMCAS? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for AMCAS expert advice from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

Medical School Admissions: Where to Apply

Did you know there are 149 accredited medical schools – 132 in the United States and 17 in Canada? Where are you applying?

The number of schools you should apply to depends on the strength of your application. I generally suggest 10-15 for strong applicants, 15-25 for average applicants, and 25-40 for applicants with low grades/MCAT scores and reapplicants.

As for where to apply, that depends on what you. Every accredited medical school will give you a good education. The decision often comes down to location, curriculum, special programs offered, financial aid/cost, and overall vibe.

Need help deciding where to apply? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Admissions: AMCAS Open!

The AMCAS is now open and accepting submissions. However, transmission of applications to medical schools will not begin until June 25, 2010. If your AMCAS activities and personal statements are not perfect, take more time on them! Then turn in the completed application by the end of June. You can still turn in transcripts now as they will be processed even if the application is not complete.

Having trouble with your AMCAS application? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to gain the insight of a published author, experienced editor, medical school admissions expert.

Medical School Admissions: Program Options

Are you applying EDP? How about MD/JD? Wondering what I am talking about? Read on…

Before starting on your personal statement and list of activities for AMCAS, you need to decide what general program you will apply to. Do you want to be a MD/PhD? How about getting a dual MD/MBA? Or perhaps you know exactly where you want to apply and hope to be accepted early. No matter what path you choose, it will require some research to learn the exact rules and requirements for each path. Here are some general guidelines:

Early Decision Program (EDP): You can only apply to one school and will find out by October 1 if you are accepted. If don’t get in, you can then turn in a regular AMCAS application. This approach is fantastic if you are a stellar candidate and know exactly where you want to go to school. However, it is risky for most. If you are not accepted, you will be submitting an application much later than the rest of the pre-meds, a huge detriment when it comes to rolling admissions schools. You are not allowed to apply to the EDP and AMCAS at the same time. The EDP deadline is August 1.
Regular MD: Follow the AMCAS guidelines. The application deadlines vary by school and range from mid-October to mid-December.
MD/PhD: This program is for candidates who want to focus on research. MD/PhD students generally complete their first two years of medical school then head off to lab for 3-7 years and return to complete medical school upon finishing their PhD research. Many are drawn to the MD/PhD path because tuition is subsidized by the school. However, money is certainly not a reason to pursue this course. Schools expect you to enter this program because you love research. You will need to prove a talent for research to the admissions committee. MD/PhD candidates are required to submit two extra essays through AMCAS.
Other combined programs: Many schools are starting to offer combined programs such as MD/MBA, MD/JD, MD/MPH, and MD/MPA. Such programs often shave a year off of the regular requirements. Joint degree programs are becoming more popular so be sure to check with each school to see if any such programs exist or will exist in the near future. You will have to contact each school separately for the specific application. Many schools will have you apply to the joint program once accepted into the medical school.

Want help deciding which program to apply to? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Admissions: Transcripts

The primary application to medical school, known as the AMCAS, will open for submission in 1-2 weeks. Are you ready?

Get started with transcripts. Did you know that you can request transcripts to be sent to AMCAS even before your application is complete?

Medical schools require transcripts from every post-secondary school you have attended. This includes all junior college, community college, trade school, or graduate school. You have to submit a transcript even if no credit was earned from a course.

AMCAS provides a transcript request form that you can complete online, print, and turn into each school’s registrar’s office. You can fill this form out and submit it even if the rest of the AMCAS application is incomplete. Go to www.aamc.org/amcas and get this done now as the process can often take weeks. Transcripts are notorious for holding up applications. It is also a good idea to obtain a transcript from each school for yourself and put it on file. You may need it later.

Do you want to increase your chances of medical school admissions? Contact info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for personalized advice from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

Medical School Admissions: Still Waitlisted?

The May 15th deadline has passed and you are still on the waitlist. You may still get into school but it is time to come up with a back-up plan. Are you going to apply again this cycle? Are you going to take a year off? How are you going to improve your application to increase your chances of acceptance when re-applying? Even though waitlists do not officially close until the first day of the school year, waiting until then to make a decision on next steps will put you at a disadvantage.

Trying to figure out what to do next and how to improve your application? Call 415.939.5251 or e-mail info@MDadmit.com to schedule a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Choice: May 15 Deadline

The day has arrived. By May 15, each applicant who has received an acceptance offer from more than one school must choose where he or she wishes to attend and withdraw applications from all other schools. Check with each school to determine how they want to be informed. Some require written correspondence by regular mail while others will accept an e-mail notification.

Making a last-minute decision? In the end, you can make a hundred pro-con lists but the decision should come down to gut. Where do you feel more comfortable? Where do you really want to train to become a doctor and spend the next (at least) four years of your life? I bet deep down you know. Decide now!

After May 15, many schools start making offers to those on the waitlist as applicants are no longer able to hold multiple acceptances. So if you are stuck on the waitlist, you may start hearing from schools soon.

Need help deciding which medical school is best for you? E-mail info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to get help from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Choice: Extracurricular, community service, and research options

Five days until you have to make your final decision on where to attend medical school. Here are a few other specifics to look into – extracurricular, community service, and research options. Remember, medical school is not all about academics. You want to stay well-rounded, just like you did in college. Does the school support your love of swimming? Are their any community service options you are interested in? Are their potential mentors in your research area? Do international opportunities exist? Think about what you do to relieve stress and keep yourself happy – will you be able to continue these activities in the medical schools you are considering?

Want help picking which medical school to attend? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

Medical School Choice: Residency Success

With the May 15 deadline fast approaching, it is near time to make a final decision on where you are attending medical school. We have already discussed the importance of location, people, curriculum, and cost in making your decision. Another less obvious area to look at – residency success.

Where and in what field do the students match? Each medical school should have this list readily available and it can often be found on the website. If not, just call up the admissions office and ask the see their “match list” from the past few years. This will give you an excellent sense of whether medical students from each school are going into areas of medicine and residency programs that you are interested in.

Still grappling with which school to attend? We can help you decide. Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Choice: Financial Aide

When deciding which school to attend, money will likely play a role. Beyond the obvious tuition and fee expenses, take a look at:

What are the living expenses (rent, food, gas, medical insurance)?
Does the school provide subsidized housing?
Do you need a car?
Can you take a 5th year to do research or travel without paying extra tuition?
Are resident advisor positions available that provide free room and board on campus in return for some service to the school?
Does the curriculum allow any time to hold a part-time job?
What financial aide options are available?
Do you have interest in joining the military or public service corps and having the government pay?

You may not believe it, but Harvard Medical School was my cheapest option because:
1. I didn’t need a car
2. I lived and ate for free as a resident advisor for four years

Remember – the FAFSA (financial aide information) is due June 30. But it’s better to get the FAFSA forms in as early as possible so that you can know your financial aide options early.

Looking for tips on how to make medical school more affordable? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider who paid for medical school herself!

Medical School Choice: Curriculum

For the past few weeks, we have been discussing how to choose a medical school. Location and people top the list. The curriculum is another important criteria to think about.

How do you learn? Do you prefer formal lectures or small group learning? Do you learn better on your own or with study partners? Are you motivated by grades or prefer a “pass-fail” environment? Though the trend in medical school education is toward “problem-based learning” in small groups, some schools still focus on the more traditional lecture-style. Be honest with yourself about how you best learn (it’s ok if you like traditional lectures better than small-group learning) and ensure you choose a school whose curriculum fits that learning style.

Another tip – don’t be fooled by “pass-fail” schools that offer high pass, pass, and fail. That is basically an A, B, F grading system and creates competition for those few A slots. If you want pass-fail, be sure that’s what the school really offers. Schools will also often have different grading systems in the first two and last two years. Be sure you are informed.

Still grappling with which school to attend? We can help you decide. Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Choice: April 15 Deadline

If you are looking to attend a school whose first day of class is on or before July 30, you must make your final decision by April 15. This means that by April 15 you must have informed your top choice that you are accepting the acceptance and withdraw your application from all other schools. For schools whose first day of class is after July 30, the deadline is May 15 to make your final decision.

Want help picking which medical school to attend? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Choice: People

Still trying to decide which medical school to attend? After location, a top priority is the people.

Did you like the students, professors, and administrators you met one your visit? Did they seem happy, stressed, nerdy, delinquent, competitive, genuine, competitive, service-oriented, etc., etc.? Do you think you will fit in at this medical school? Would you enjoy doing a group project of a study group with the students you met? Medical school happiness is often based on the people who surround you. Be sure that you like them!

Unsure about the people at a certain school? Call up and ask the admissions office if there are students that you can talk to on the phone. Ask your medical school advisor if any alumni from your undergraduate institution went to this school so that you can contact them. Ask your family if they know anyone who went there. My point is – ask around. You will find a lot of information just talking with current and previous students about their experiences.

Looking for help picking which medical school to attend? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Choice: Location, Location, Location

April has arrived and many of you have received one or more acceptances to medical school. Congratulations! (For those of you still on the waitlist or waiting to hear from schools, check out the multiple waitlist posting or shoot us an e-mail for personalized help).

There are multiple factors that should guide choosing which medical school to attend. Location is paramount. You will be living in this place for at least the next four years. Do you like the city/town? Do you have family, friends, or other social supports there? How’s the weather? Is there anything to do outside of medicine? Does the location support your extracurricular and community service goals? Can you afford to live there?

As my father always says when we discuss real estate, “Location, location, location.” It’s just as important when deciding on a medical school. Choose wisely.

Want help picking which medical school to attend? Email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Admissions – Recommendation Calls to Admissions Committees

Now that the March 15th deadline has passed, you should know where you stand with most schools – accepted, waitlisted, or rejected. Some schools have a “hold” designation. Consider a “hold” to equal a waitlist spot at this point in the medical school admissions cycle.

Many clients come to me for help formulating a waitlist strategy. In addition to writing a letter of intent to the top choice school and update letters to other waitlisted schools (see January 25 and February 1 posts for more details on these letters), clients often ask if calls from recommenders or school alumni to the admissions office on their behalf are beneficial. In general, any glowing recommendations will help your case. But calls should only be from recommenders who know you well. A call from your uncle’s cousin’s wife who has met you once but happened to graduate from your waitlisted school will not be of much help and might even hurt you. So be smart. Don’t inundate the admissions staff with calls. One or two glowing phone calls, or even unsolicited written recommendations, can improve your application.

Stuck in medical school waitlist limbo? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to get your waitlist strategy going with help from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Admissions – March 15 Deadline

By March 15, all AMCAS schools are supposed to have offered the number of acceptances as space in the class. This often does not happen and some schools will not let you know your status until April. Check the websites of each school for information on when they send acceptances. If the website does not have the information, you may call the admissions office. Be sure to be polite to whoever answers the phone. A curt phone conversation can turn an acceptance into a rejection.

Would you like to discuss how to get off the waitlist or to decide which school to attend?

E-mail info@MDadmit.com to get help from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Admissions – Multiple Acceptances

By now, you will likely have heard from schools regarding your acceptance, waitlist, or rejection status. Many schools put a strict deadline on the acceptance, meaning that you will have to accept the acceptance within a certain period of time. The good news is that you can hold multiple acceptances, thus deferring your final decision until May 15, after which you must withdraw your application to all but one school.

Though it may boost your ego to hold multiple acceptances, please only say yes to schools you are seriously considering attending. Don’t confirm multiple acceptances just so that you can brag on Student Doctor Network. Try to make a decision early so that others can get off the waitlist.

Looking for help getting off the waitlist or deciding which school to attend? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to get help from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Admissions – It’s Not Personal

Many applicants to medical school are used to doing well in whatever they put their mind to – be it academics, extracurriculars, or research. One of the hardest parts of the medical school admissions process is being rejected. Remember that not getting into a certain medical school has no bearing on your self-worth. It also does not mean that you will not be accepted elsewhere. Though admissions committees don’t like to admit it, there is significant luck involved in the process. What if the person in charge of reading your AMCAS application had a bad day and didn’t give your essay full attention? What if your interviewer did not have time to stay in the committee meeting to push for your acceptance and instead only filled out the standard evaluation sheet? What if three stellar candidates with your same major and similar non-academic experiences all applied to the same school the same year? When you look at all the steps involved in getting into medical school, it is amazing that anyone gets in at all! If you receive a rejection, don’t despair. Pick your chin up and keep moving.

Is the medical school admissions process getting you down? E-mail info@MDadmit.com for expert advice from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider!

Medical School Admissions – Be On Your Best Behavior

This is the time of medical school admission decisions. You likely have and will continue to hear from schools regarding your acceptance status. Every school has a different time line for reviewing applications and offering acceptances. Naturally, you may feel inclined to check in with certain schools to see when final decisions will be made. Even though this is a time of high anxiety, please be sure to be polite when contacting schools. Angering the assistant answering the phone is a very easy way to sink your application. Also, remember to avoid slang, acronyms, and text shorthand in e-mails to schools. Every phone call and e-mail should use formal language.

Haven’t heard from schools yet and wondering what to do? Email info@MDadmit.com to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Interviews - Season Winding Down

This is often the last week of interviews. If you have not received an interview invite from a school at this point, you can consider that a rejection. Many schools, unfortunately, will never officially contact you to provide a rejection.

Now it is time to focus your energies on schools where you have been interviewed and are either waiting to hear or have been waitlisted. By this, I mean writing a letter of intent to your top choice or update letters to other schools that you are interested in (see last two posts for specifics on these letters).

This stage in the medical school admissions process is often a painful waiting game. It can be very difficult. Hang in there!

Need help getting off the waitlist? Email info@MDadmit.com to set up a consulting session with a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Interviews – Letter of Intent (Part 2)

Many medical school applicants ask if they can send a letter of intent to multiple schools. By strict definition, a letter of intent should only be sent to your top choice. However, this does not mean you cannot send an update letter to other schools that are in your top 5 or 10. Such a letter will follow a similar format to the letter of intent but will not state outright that the school is your top choice and will focus more on updating the school on your recent progress. Such updates can include a recent publication, new grades from a post-bac program, an international experience from the Fall, or a new leadership position you gained, just to name a few. Keep these letters short (definitely less than a page).

Unsure of what makes a good update letter? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to get help from a Harvard/Stanford MD, published author, and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Interviews – Letter of Intent

Some rolling admissions schools have already given you their decision. You may be on waitlists or have not heard anything from schools yet. This time of year, the question often arises: “Do I tell my top choice that they are my top choice?”

The answer is yes.

If you have an absolute top choice and have not been accepted, writing a “letter on intent” can improve your chances of acceptance. Medical schools want students who want them. You can only tell one school that they are “the one,” so be sure it really is your top choice.

Write a letter to the dean of admissions explaining why the school is your top choice. Include specifics on why the school is your top choice (curriculum, research opportunities, location, etc.) and reiterate your strengths. This should be a short letter and can be hand-written on a card or more formally typed.

Would you like help editing your letter of intent? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to get help from a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert!

Medical School Interviews – Avoid Burnout

Are you one of the few who have more interviews than you know what to do with? Are you finding school or work slipping because you are always flying off to an interview? Do you think your performance in interviews is slipping due to fatigue? If so, you should be very grateful. And you should also think about canceling some of the interviews to avoid burnout. Look at the list of interviews that you have left. Be sure to only attend interviews of schools that you will seriously consider attending if accepted. For example, you have already been accepted to one of your top choices and have a few “safety school” interviews in February. Do yourself and the admissions committees a favor and call to cancel those interviews.

Need help deciding which interviews to attend? Email info@MDadmit.com to set up a consulting session with a medical school admissions insider.

Medical School Interviews – No Interviews Yet?

Are you still waiting for a medical school interview invite? If so, it’s time to get to work. Here are some suggestions:

1. Call each school that you have applied to and returned a secondary application. Ask if your application is complete and if all interview invites have been given.
2. Call each school that you have applied to and not received a secondary from and ensure the school has everything it needs prior to sending a secondary application. Also inquire about whether any more secondaries will be sent out (quite unlikely at this stage in the interview process but it doesn’t hurt to ask).
3. Contact your undergraduate or post-baccalaureate pre-med advisor and update him/her on your situation. If there is a particular school that you are interested in and have not received an interview, some pre-med advisors will make a call on your behalf.

Worried about not receiving the interviews you want? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!

Medical School Interviews – Thank You Notes

Thank you notes often raise many questions for medical school applicants:

*Do I have to write thank you notes to every interviewer?
*Should I write hand-written notes?
*Can an e-mail serve as a sufficient thank you?

Every interviewer at any school you would attend if accepted should receive a hand-written thank you note. Thank you notes are a priceless way to remind the interviewer of who you are and why you should be accepted. Such an important communication should not be sent to someone’s already very full e-mail inbox. Here are some tips:

1. Bring thank you notes, envelopes, and stamps with you on the interview
2. Take notes after every interview noting interviewer name/title and the most interesting topics you discussed (be sure to get the exact spelling of the interviewer’s name)
3. While traveling home by plane, train, etc., write the thank you notes and then drop them in the mail immediately. If you travel by car, write them in the car before you leave. Leaving thank you notes until “later” means they will never get done. And it’s always best to write them while the interview is still fresh in your mind.

Need help writing thank you notes? E-mail info@MDadmit.com to put a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert to work for you!