by Joy Blaser
Almost every law school will ask for a personal statement as part of your admissions application. These statements are an integral part of your application, but what about the optional essays? Should you write these or not? They do say “optional,” after all. Bottom line: View these as additional opportunities to showcase your writing skills, …
What does it take to get accepted to a top medical school like Baylor College of Medicine, and what should applicants really know about the program? In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted consultant Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Dr. Jesus Vallejo, senior associate dean of admissions at Baylor College of Medicine, to …
by Kelly Wilson
If you are reading this, you are most likely considering applying to business school or are in the process of applying. Your goal is to be admitted, of course, which requires eliminating any obvious reasons the adcom might reject your application. In this post, we highlight many of the common reasons MBA applicants might not …
“Why medicine?” This is the question admissions teams ask every medical school applicant during interviews. However, the personal statement is an ideal opportunity to answer this seemingly nebulous, overwhelming, and multifaceted question. Table of Contents: What Is a Medical School Personal Statement? The personal statement remains a critical component of applications from the American Medical …
by Mary Mahoney
A BS/MD program is a direct pathway from high school into medicine. In these programs, high school seniors are accepted into college and medical school at the same time (though conditions apply, based on success in college, academic metrics, leadership, maturity, and clarity of commitment to medicine). BS/MD programs are highly competitive, with acceptance rates …
by Steven Tagle
For creative programs in the visual arts, photography, film, and creative writing, the statement of purpose is a vital part of the application package that many applicants don’t dedicate enough time and attention to. This essay is generally 500 to 1,000 words long, which is equal to roughly one or two double-spaced pages. It serves …
Each March, after years of study and hours of completing applications and interviewing, thousands of medical school students and graduates discover where they will begin their specialty training. On this year’s Match Day – March 20 – 48,050 applicants got their answer. The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), which oversees the matching process to pair …
by Joy Blaser
Many law school applicants are recent immigrants or have parents who are immigrants and plan to write about this aspect of their life in a personal statement or lived experience/statement of perspective. Certainly, having this life experience makes you distinctive and can add to your appeal at any school, but these essays often miss the …
The Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) offers a common application that simplifies the process of applying to schools of veterinary medicine. The VMCAS application cycle opened on January 21, 2026, and the application deadline is September 15. With advanced planning, knowledge of the new and changed aspects of the VMCAS, and a competitive, holistic …
What does it take to stand out as a competitive applicant to the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, and what makes the program unique among U.S. medical schools? In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted consultant and podcast host Dr. Valerie Wherley speaks with Dr. Rona Woldenberg, associate dean for admissions and interim …
If you have retaken classes in the past – or expect to need to retake a class in the future – this post will help you understand this element of your profile, in general, for the AMCAS application, and for the AACOMAS application, as needed. 1. All grades earned are calculated into the cumulative GPA. …
by Steven Tagle
Obtaining scholarships and fellowships for graduate school is more complicated than finding scholarships for an undergraduate degree, and more is expected from your application. This makes sense, given that you are training to be an expert in your field, which will undoubtedly be reflected in your CV and other application materials. However, before you can …
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