Use the following strategies to get organized and to help you write better secondary essays. Taking the time to think about how you will approach your secondaries can give you the “big picture” perspective you need to do your best work. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, trying a new approach can make all the difference in…
Track Your Secondary Application Progress with a Spreadsheet
After you have submitted your primary application, the real fun begins! Depending on how many schools you are applying to and the number of school systems, it can be challenging to keep track of all of your secondary applications and deadlines. To help you get organized, I’m sharing a spreadsheet I’ve created for you so…
The Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer)
In 2010, McMaster, the Canadian medical school that created the MMI (multiple mini interview) format, generated a new test, the CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics). Now, they’re finding that it can more accurately reveal key personal qualities in applicants, like collaboration, problem solving, empathy and ethics. Thirty-seven medical schools in the U.S. request…
5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Applying to Medical School as an Older Applicant
The average age for medical students has been steadily increasing over the years for several reasons. For one, medical schools cannot legally discriminate against applicants based on age. Furthermore, applicants with more life experience can be some of the best medical students as they are already established in their identity, maturity levels, and career goals….
Activity Descriptions for Med School: 4 Questions That Will Make Yours Awesome
Having worked in admissions for over a decade, I have probably read thousands of activity descriptions for medical school and related healthcare fields by now. While this part of the application may not seem very important, it can actually be the component that makes or breaks your chance of acceptance. It can be quite damaging…
5 Dont’s for Your Medical School Personal Statement
The personal statement is the only place in the AMCAS, AACOMAS and TMDSAS primary applications where you get to present yourself directly to the admissions committee. Here, you can persuade them to give you an interview, or – if you’re not careful – unknowingly reveal red flags that undermine your entire application. Since it plays…
Allopathic Medical School Interview Styles: From Traditional to New Approaches
Your interview is the next and hopefully final step in your journey to medical school acceptance. Are you ready for it? Before prepping for your interview, you’ll need to know what type of interview you’ll be having. There are four main types of medical school interviews that you can expect at an allopathic med school:…
Which Allopathic U.S. Medical Schools Require Pre-Health Committee Letters?
When preparing to apply to medical school, there are lots of details to consider! One major area of the application that causes a lot of stress is the letters of recommendation. To make the process of deciding which letters to collect easier for you, I did the research! (You’re welcome.) What is a pre-health committee…
Applying to Medical School Without a Committee Letter
Some medical schools like, Creighton University School of Medicine, require a committee letter if your undergraduate pre-professional health advising office provides them. In my experience managing a program that was initially connected to the Office of Admissions, it’s a small number of medical schools that prefer the committee letter. In reviewing applications, I found the…
4 Must Haves in a Med School Letter of Interest
If you’ve been placed on the medical school waitlist, then you should submit a letter of interest (or letter of intent) in early May. Most medical schools require that students notify them of their decision by mid-April. Selection committees will be deliberating over who to accept from the waitlist if they do not have a full…
Medical School Admissions: Why Applying in June is Critical
When you have spent years preparing to apply to medical school, the last thing you want to do is jeopardize your chances of acceptance. One way to reduce your chances of getting admitted is to apply late. 3 reasons applying late can hurt you Rolling admissions is based on the concept of first come, first…
How to Shadow a Doctor
When looking for activities to include on your AMCAS application, shadowing is a powerful way to demonstrate your interest in and realistic knowledge of the field of medicine. Shadowing as many different kinds of doctors as you can is helpful; the only way to know whether you will enjoy a career in a particular area…
How to Choose a Medical School: Numbers Aren’t Everything
After completing the first steps in determining which medical schools you should apply to by analyzing your scores, it is essential that you use these scores to guide your decision-making process (and not beat yourself up about the numbers!). Separate yourself as much as you can from those numbers; take some time to process any…
How to Discuss Failure in a Medical School Interview
Inevitably, you will be asked to describe a time when you have failed. It’s a common medical school interview question. This blog post will help you prepare for this question. It’s a tough one. When selecting an example to discuss, consider the following strategies: Choose a recent example. It’s almost always better to use examples…
Applying to Medical School: Selecting Extracurricular Activities
When considering your goal of attending medical school, you need to choose extracurricular activities that you will enjoy and that will also help you highlight the characteristics that med schools are seeking. 3 strategies for choosing the right extracurriculars Below we will provide you with strategies for finding and selecting activities that will set your…
How Your Academic Statistics Should Influence Your Medical School Choices
The most reliable source of information about allopathic medical schools is provided on the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) website, offered by the AAMC. It is worth purchasing access to this database because the statistics it contains can be extremely valuable in helping you decide where to apply. Before you begin exploring the school data,…
How to Use the MSAR to Choose the Best Medical Schools for You
If you are applying to allopathic medical schools, you will need to purchase access to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) website. It costs $28 for one year of access. It is published each spring, usually in April, by the AAMC and includes the admission statistics for all participating members – 152 U.S. and 17…
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Secondary Application Essay Tips
As one of the oldest medical schools in the United States—the fourth oldest—Geisel has a 200-year history of accomplishments. They are ranked #44 for research and #21 for primary care by U.S. News and World Report. Students love the smaller class sizes and the opportunity to gain clinical experience in the first year. The school…
Brown Alpert Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is the only medical school in the state of Rhode Island. For this reason, it offers unparalleled access to all types of clinical settings and hospitals. It has seven teaching hospitals near its medical school campus. Its mission is “The pursuit of health to benefit society.” First and…
UC Davis School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
According to the U.S. News and World Report, UCDSOM is ranked #10 for primary care and #39 for research. This medical school campus is unique in that they have seven student-run clinics: Paul Hom Asian Clinic, Clinica Tepati, Imani Clinic, Shifa Clinic, Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic, Bayanihan Clinic, and the Willow Clinic. Medical students can…
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