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.

MDadmit Availability (2011-2012 Cycle)

Thank you to all of the MDadmit clients that have made us so successful over the years. In fact, we have become so popular that we are temporarily not accepting new clients. MDadmit will reopen its doors in mid-July. Feel free to contact Dr. Miller at that time: email info@MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251.

In the meantime, 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!

AMCAS Changes (2011-2012 Cycle)

AMCAS has made some changes to this year's work/activities section.

In previous years, AMCAS allowed 15 activities with descriptions totaling 1325 characters each.

This year, you still have 15 activity spaces but only 700 characters for description. To complicate matters, AMCAS now wants you to select three "most meaningful" activities out of those listed and allows an additional 1325 characters of description. Choose wisely!

Want help with your AMCAS application? 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!

Will New York Medical Schools Ban Carribbean Medical School Students?

Intriguing, and concerning for some, article on how New York medical schools are attempting to prevent Caribbean medical school students (such as students at St. George and Ross) from doing core third-year rotations in their hospitals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/nyregion/23caribbean.html

Stay on top of this story if you are applying in the Caribbean!

Looking for advice on where to apply to medical school? MDadmit can help! Visit www.MDadmit.com or call 415.939.5251 for your complementary consultation with Dr. Miller, a Harvard/Stanford MD and medical school admissions expert.

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

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

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.