Many medical schools include an optional essay in their secondary applications. Obviously, this “optional” essay is not required, and the essay prompt sometimes emphasizes this point. Often, the question will include the stipulation that you cannot include anything that was already mentioned in your primary application or other essays. Some schools even state that most…
Why Should You Consider Becoming a PA?
Most of the clients I work with are dead set on becoming doctors. I believe this mindset exists because doctors have such a visible role in patient care historically, and in the media, are represented as being at the very top of the healthcare hierarchy. Physician assistants (PAs) are a relatively new member of the…
What to Look for When Selecting a Physician Assistant (PA) Program
One of the key requirements for choosing physician assistant (PA) programs is having information about the programs, including data on the programs’ matriculants. Unfortunately that’s more difficult to come by for PA applicants since the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants, (“CASPA”) simply does not provide data on applicants or matriculants for individual PA…
5 Qualities to Highlight in Your Physician Assistant Program Application
In addition to identifying students with academic promise, physician assistant programs are looking for students who have a wide range of specific personal characteristics. Based on the criteria for the most competitive PA programs, there are five general areas in which students are evaluated: 1. Academic potential This area includes the strength of your foundation…
How to Get Accepted to Physician Assistant (PA) Programs
Physician Assistants (PAs) are similar to doctors in many ways and serve as an important member of the healthcare team. They improve the ease and speed with which patients are able to see a healthcare provider. They take on about 80% of the same activities as doctors in patient care. They see patients to diagnose,…
What NOT to Do in a Statement of Disadvantage
If you have experienced any form of social, economic, or educational disadvantage at any time in your life, you can apply to medical school as a disadvantaged applicant. When you specify that you are applying as disadvantaged, you will have a new section to complete in your application. AMCAS will request information about your family…
What NOT to Do in the Activities Section of Your Medical School Application
Don’t underestimate the importance of the activities section! Let’s take a look at some of the biggest mistakes to avoid in your activities section so you can make sure that you’re doing it right: Mistake #1: Providing less than 15 activities Simply submitting an application with less than the required 15 activities can lead to…
Applying to Medical School with a Low Science GPA
The process of applying to medical school is stressful. Applying with a low science GPA can make the process even more nerve-wracking. For over five years with the UC Davis School of Medicine Postbaccalaureate Program, I specialized in helping students with low numbers apply successfully to medical schools across the country. In my last year…
What NOT to Do on the Medical School Coursework Section
This part of the medical school application can be time consuming since you will have to enter in the title, units, and grade as well as classification for every college level class you’ve ever taken. It’s easy to make mistakes here since there are so many to list. Besides entering in the basic information about…
4 Tips for Applying as an Underrepresented Applicant in Medicine
The ethnicities that are considered Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) include: Latino, African American, Native American, Laotian and Hmong, as well as a few other groups. If you are from one of these groups, it would help your application to demonstrate your connection to these communities and your fluency in the languages which are most sought…
Medical School Application Strategy: MD vs. DO Programs
Before you decide whether you want to apply to allopathic (MD) and/or osteopathic (DO) medical schools, I recommend that you shadow both types of doctors. They each represent dramatically different approaches to health and healing. Gaining exposure to both forms of medicine will help you make an informed decision about what types of treatment options you…
How Do You Compare to Last Year’s Admitted Medical School Applicants?
In reviewing the matriculation data for the 2017-18 cycle from AMCAS, there are several trends that can be used to inform your application strategy and increase your chances of acceptance. For last cycle, 816,153 applications were submitted by 51,680 applicants, and 21,338 were accepted. In other words, 41.3% of applicants matriculated. AAMC’s data about applicants…
10 Reasons Why You Should Consider Participating in a Special Masters Program (SMP)
You’ve completed your undergraduate degree and are looking forward to attending medical school, but are looking for a way to set your application apart. If you have a strong undergrad science GPA, pursuing an SMP can be a fantastic way to do just that. There are currently more than 75 different science-based SMPs nationwide. There…
What if Your Child is Rejected from Medical School?
While we always hope for the best, sometimes life does not go as we plan. If your child has received rejections from all of the medical schools that they applied to, it may seem like the end of the world. Here are 4 tips to help your future physician overcome this devastating experience: 1. Give them some time Our…
How to Improve Your Study Skills to Become a More Competitive Med School Applicant
As an aspiring doctor, you have a lot on your plate. Upgrading your study skills now can help you learn to be more efficient about how you study, save you time, help you improve your grades, and allow you to establish the skills that will see you through medical school. These strategies can make a…
3 Common Myths About Medical School Interviews
Have you received a med school interview invite? Nice job winning the attention of the adcom by writing persuasive essays! But you’re far from done…now you have a whole new set of challenges to prepare for in order to receive that golden acceptance. To help you prepare for your interview, I will dispel some of…
How Does the Med School Adcom View Multiple MCAT Scores?
In 2007, the MCAT was first offered electronically. Prior to this technological shift, the MCAT was only offered a limited number of times a year – as a paper and pencil exam. There was also a restriction placed on the number of times you could take the exam in one year as well as in…
Tips for Getting Into Medical School When Your Parent is a Doctor
There has been an interesting shift in medical school admissions for applicants whose parents are doctors. In 1989, these applicants were 15% more likely to get into medical school. When I first became involved in admissions over ten years ago, students who had a physician for a parent were still more likely to get accepted…
Tips for Visiting Med Schools: 3 Ways to Keep in Touch with the Adcom
This article is part of a series of tips about visiting medical schools. In this post we’ll explore things you should do after you’ve returned home from your school visit. You should send follow up emails as soon as you return home from visiting a medical school. The longer you wait, the less likely the…
Tips for Visiting Med Schools: What Questions to Ask
This article is part of a series of tips about visiting medical schools. In today’s post, we’ll cover the types of questions you should ask during your school visit. The kinds of questions that you ask when visiting medical schools will reveal a lot about you as an applicant. It’s a good idea to come with a…
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