Questions?

Do you have burning questions about the pre-med, medical school admission, and residency process? Post a comment, and I will happily answer any and all questions.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Medical School Admissions: Medical School Choice – April 15 Deadline (2011 - 2012)


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.

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.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012


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. 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. 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, but you want to submit your application in June.
  • 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. You will need to prove a talent for research to the admissions committee and two extra essays detailing your research history and future plans must be submitted 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. 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.

Also check out The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD’s Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook for step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and excellent examples of personal statements, AMCAS work/activities, secondary essays and more.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Get into Medical School with a Low GPA

New ebook available for presale!

How to Get Into Medical School with a Low GPA

Medical School Admissions: Medical School Choice – Extracurricular Options (2011 - 2012)


Here another thing to look into when choosing a medical school – extracurricular 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 there any clubs you’d like to join? Will this school allow you the outlets you need to blow off steam? 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?

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.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Medical School Admissions Guide: Book Reviews

Another fabulous review for the new edition of The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook

5.0 out of 5 stars The best medical school admissions guide out there!
By
Adam This review is from: The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)
A must buy! This week-by-week guide sets itself apart from other books in this category, many of which seem mass produced using the same generic 'admissions' model. I have found the med school admissions process to be incredibly complex but this book has broken it down in to weekly steps that are easy to follow. This second edition has kept pace with the ever-changing requirements and deadlines of the admissions process. Dr. Miller's experience shines through; the examples provided - of personal statements, AMCAS work/activities, secondary essays, and letters of intent - are all from real-life applicants. This has been incredibly helpful. It even has sections on DO schools, foreign schools, military and public health service options. I recommend this book to anyone even considering applying to medical school!

Wednesday, March 14, 2012



Medical School Admissions: 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. 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.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school including examples of AMCAS applications, 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.

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.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012


Medical School Admissions: Before the MCAT


Two nights before the test:
·      Get a full eight hours of sleep. 
·      Sleep experts have shown that the “night before the night before” is the most critical night of sleep to ensure highest performance on exams.

The day before the test:
·      Do NOT study! You have done enough already and one day is not going to make or break you. Take the day off and try to relax. Rest your mind.
·      Review how to get to the exam site.
·      Pack snacks and a bag lunch.
·      Get to sleep early.

The morning of the test;
  • Do your normal morning routine. 
  • Ensure you have a valid ID containing both a signature and photo (passport or driver’s license). An expired ID will NOT be considered valid.
  • Wear layers in case the test center is hotter or colder than you like. 
  • Arrive at the test center 30 minutes before your appointment time. 
  • A locker will be provided to place your personal items. 
  • Unfortunately, you will not be able to choose your computer. 
  • Noise-reducing headsets/earplugs will be made available by the test center to help you concentrate.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and more MCAT 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.

Medical School Admissions: March 15 Deadline (2011 - 2012)


By March 15, all AMCAS schools are supposed to have offered the number of acceptances as space in the class. Unfortunately, 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.

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.

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Medical School Admissions Guide: Book Reviews

Another fabulous review for the new edition of The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for the Medical School Applicant
By
LM This review is from: The Medical School Admissions Guide: A Harvard MD's Week-by-Week Admissions Handbook, 2nd Edition (Paperback)
If you are considering medical school, read Dr. Miller's book. This week-by-week guide breaks down the complex and frequently daunting admissions process into easy to follow steps. It offers practical and often humorous advice on every aspect of your journey, from writing a standout personal statement to preparing for a stellar interview. The 2nd edition also provides examples of AMCAS work activities to meet the new requirements and has a new section on ways to pay for medical school including military and public health options. In over twenty years of advising applicants seeking educational opportunities, I have never read a more complete guide filled with so much practical information.

Friday, March 9, 2012


January 21


Medical School Admissions: MCAT Tips


A few things to know before you hit the books to study for the MCATs:

  • As of 2007, the MCAT is only offered on computer.
  • The test includes four sections
1.     Physical Sciences (PS)
2.     Verbal Reasoning (VR)
3.     Writing Sample (WS)
4.     Biological Sciences (BS)
  • The test is a little over 5 hours long including breaks. Total content time is approximately 4.5 hours.
  • The test is self-paced (ie., you choose when to take a break) but each section has a time limit.
  • You are able to review a change answers within a section until you reach the time limit for that particular section. Unfortunately, once you have completed a section, you cannot go back and change answers.
  • The Writing Sample section is typed and you can edit, cut, paste, and copy just like in a Word document. However, spell check is not available. 
  • Scores will be available in 30 days or less after exam completion. Scores are sent directly to AMCAS. Be sure to select sending them to your pre-med advisor as well (it’s free).
  • The PS, VR, and BS sections are scored on a scale of 15 (15 being the highest score possible). The writing section is score by letters J to T. You will see scores reported as: PS 15 WS T VR 15 BS 15 or 45T.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and more MCAT 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.

Thursday, March 8, 2012


Medical School Admissions: Should I Take an MCAT Class?


Taking an MCAT prep course is often a difficult decision. Whether or not to take a class depends on your economic situation and time management skills. If you have the money and excel in a structured learning environment, a class can be quite helpful. But you do not need a course to ace the exam. You can easily obtain used study materials and set up a study plan on your own. Also, you can now purchase online review courses that provides increased scheduling flexibility. 

Pre-meds often ask my opinion on the best MCAT classes available. As I did not take a class, I cannot speak from personal experience. But I have heard good things about Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Examkrackers.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and more details on MCAT strategy, 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.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012


Medical School Admissions: MCAT Scheduling


The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a hurdle every physician must cross. For those of you with amazing grades, you simply need to show those marks were not a fluke. For those of you who may have faltered in certain classes or are taking a non-traditional path to medical school, MCATs are your chance to prove that you have mastered the required basic science and language skills. 

The MCAT is computer-based and offered on 19 different days spread out over the year. Select a day that maximizes your study time and fits into your overall admissions timeline. For exact details on exam times and registration requirements, visit www.aamc.org/mcat. MCAT Essentials provided free online at www.aamc.org/mcat provides useful information as well. January is likely the best time to schedule the exam and map out sufficient preparation time. If you plan to apply in the current cycle, I suggest you take the exam before May in order to receive your scores prior to turning in the AMCAS application in June. 

 

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and more details on MCAT strategy, 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.

Medical School Admissions: Important Websites



Most technical medical school questions www.aamc.org
AMCAS and personal statement www.aamc.org/amcas
Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) www.utsystem.edu/mdsas
Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) www.ouac.on.cal
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) http://aacomas.aacom.org/

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school including examples of AMCAS applications, 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.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012


Medical School Admissions: Money


We start this journey discussing an unmentionable – money!  Getting into medical school takes more than top-tier grades, cutting-edge research, and saving-the-world community service. The medical school admission process is obscenely expensive (as is medical school itself), and I want to ensure that you have the appropriate amount of cash (or credit or government loans) available before proceeding with the process. Applying to medical school will cost you anywhere for $2000-$10,000. When you take into account the cost of a MCAT course/books, the AMCAS application, about $75 for each secondary application, interview travel, interview clothes, and the possible use of an admission consultant, you can rack up a large bill quickly.  Given that you will likely spend over $200,000 attending medical school (not to mention the opportunity cost of not working during that time), the money is a drop in the bucket. If you want to be a physician, do not let the cost of applying dissuade you. But be an educated consumer and set aside the appropriate amount of savings before you start applying.


Medical School Admissions: More MCAT Tips

 

·      Don’t waste time studying things you already know. Mastered Van der Waal’s forces and Zeroth’s law? Why study them again? What’s the point of studying if you aren’t going to learn anything new.

·      Answers with extremes such as “always” and “never” are rarely correct.

·      If two answers are very similar, one is likely to be the right answer.

·      Eliminate (cross out) any questions that you know are wrong immediately. This will often leave you with two answers to decide from and a 50/50 shot at getting the question correct.

·      If you think of an answer before you see the list and that answer is present, it is likely to be correct

  • Practice, practice, practice. Do as many practice tests as possible and be sure to time yourself. Time management is a huge factor in doing well on the MCAT.

For step-by-step advice on how to get into medical school and more MCAT 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.

Medical School Admissions: Medical School Choice – Residency Success (2011 - 2012)


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.

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.