Medical School Admissions: Medical School Choice – Financial Aid (2011 - 2012)

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 5^th 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 aid options are available?

Do you have interest in joining the military or public service corps and having the government pay?

Remember – the FAFSA (financial aid 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.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school, check out The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD’s Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook. If you’d like personalized help from Dr. Miller, please visit www.MDadmit.com/solutions, e-mail info@MDadmit.com, or call 415.939.5251.

Updated Medical School Admissions Guide NOW AVAILABLE

The 2nd Edition of the Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook is now available!

This is the newly updated 2nd Edition of Dr. Suzanne M. Miller's acclaimed Medical School Admissions Guide. This guide contains the weekly, step-by-step plan Dr. Miller used to get into Harvard Medical School. She has since utilized the strategy to help hundreds of applicants gain entry into medical school first as a Harvard pre-med tutor and then as CEO of MDadmit, a medical school admissions consulting service. Following this handbook's advice will provide you a distinct advantage in the competitive medical school admissions process as it prepares you for every step and helps create your best application. Book Highlights include: 1. Weekly, easy-to-follow advice on navigating the complex admissions process. 2. Multiple examples of successful personal statements, AMCAS and TMDSAS work/activities, secondary essays, and letter of intent/update letters. 3. Special sections on reapplicants, non-traditional applicants, DO schools, foreign schools, and military/public health service options.

Medical School Admissions Recommendations: How Do I Ask?

Asking for recommendations is an art that takes preparation and practice. Here’s a step-by-step approach to asking for a recommendation:

1. Set up a face-to face meeting
2. Bring your current resume, transcript copy, personal statement (if complete), recommendation deadline (two to three weeks before the actual deadline), instructions on how to submit recommendation
3. Ask for a strong recommendation
4. Once you have obtained a resounding “Yes, it would be my pleasure to write you a strong recommendation for medical school,” be sure to give appropriate thanks. Obtain updated contact information from the recommender so that you can check with them as the deadline nears and send a thank you note. Recommenders miss deadlines more than you’d like to think, and this is why I suggest giving a deadline two to three weeks before the actual deadline.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and more recommendation tips, check out The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD’s Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook. If you’d like to communicate directly with Dr. Miller, medical school admissions expert, please email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251.

Currently Applying for Medical School? 

Make sure to follow along every week as we post these great tips to give you an edge!

Medical School Admissions: Medical School Choice – Curriculum (2011 - 2012)

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.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school, check out The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD’s Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook. If you’d like personalized help from Dr. Miller, please visit www.MDadmit.com/solutions, e-mail info@MDadmit.com, or call 415.939.5251.

Medical School Admissions: Medical School Choice – People (2011 - 2012)

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.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school, check out The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD’s Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook. If you’d like personalized help from Dr. Miller, please visit www.MDadmit.com/solutions, e-mail info@MDadmit.com, or call 415.939.5251.

The Medical School Admissions Guide Author Page is Up!

Check out http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-M-Miller/e/B004H6JO96
to see updates on The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook and Dr. Miller's new writing ventures!