This post is the last in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. It can be…
5 Tips for Researching Medical Schools
This post is the fifth in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. In deciding which schools…
Determine Your Career Goals in Medicine
This post is the fourth in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. One of the…
Increase Your Chances of Acceptance While Waitlisted
You’ve taken the MCAT, completed all the pre-reqs, and maybe shadowed a physician, done some research, and volunteered. Now it’s time to make sure you’re all in for the last legs of this long journey. In this series, we’ll discuss how you can continue to navigate your way to a med school acceptance by analyzing…
How to Write a Med School Personal Statement that Captures Your Best Qualities
This is the third post in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. In preparing to…
What do Medical Schools Look for in Your Application Essays?
After reading thousands of applications over the years, I’ve noticed that there are common strategies that successful applicants use in their application essays. You, too, can use these strategies to earn an interview and acceptance. The best application essays: 1. Avoid verbatim repetition It may be impossible not to mention the same activity or experience…
Med Applicants: Be Strategic With Your Activities
This is the second post in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. In the time…
Do You Measure Up to the DO Applicants Who Got Accepted Last Year?
In reviewing the matriculation data for the 2016-17 cycle from AACOMAS, there are several trends that can inform your application strategy and increase your chances of acceptance. Last cycle, 185,602 applications were submitted by 20,720 applicants, and 6,778 were accepted. In other words, 32.7% of applicants matriculated at DO school. Let’s take a look at…
Assess Your Qualifications for Medical School
This is the first post in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. In the six…
How To Research Medical Schools
Considering that there are 125 allopathic medical schools in the U.S., deciding which schools to apply to can be overwhelming, especially since selecting the right schools can make or break your chances of acceptance. Factors to Consider When Narrowing Down Your Medical School Choices To help you choose the best medical schools to apply to,…
Researching Postbac Programs
Some postbac programs have their own websites and application systems. Other programs may be harder to find since they are small programs connected to a medical school, or they may be conditional acceptance programs that operate by invitation only. If you are preparing to apply to postbac programs, there are several resources that can help you…
8 Reasons Medical School Applicants are Rejected
Each medical school receives thousands of applications every year and most schools have less than a hundred spots available. That means that you need to be extremely careful when applying to medical school (as a first time applicant or a reapplicant) that you don’t transgress those common mistakes that will get you rejected. The most…
Which Type of Postbac Program is Best for You?
There are several critical areas of the application that you as an applicant have the power to improve. If you want to become a more competitive applicant to medical school, there are many different types of postbac programs that can help you. It’s simply a matter of determining where you need support and identifying the…
When Should I Apply to Medical School?
You’ve taken the MCAT, completed all the pre-reqs, and maybe shadowed a physician, done some research, and volunteered. Now it’s time to make sure you’re all in for the last legs of this long journey. In this series, we’ll discuss how you can continue to navigate your way to a med school acceptance by analyzing your profile, creating a strong…
Is My Profile Competitive for Medical School Admission? [Navigate Med School Maze]
You’ve taken the MCAT, completed all the pre-reqs, and maybe shadowed a physician, done some research, and volunteered. Now it’s time to make sure you’re all in for the last legs of this long journey. In this series, we’ll discuss how you can continue to navigate your way to a med school acceptance by analyzing your profile, creating…
Review of the Next Step Test Prep Online MCAT Course
After organizing and leading an MCAT summer prep program for five years with the UC Davis School of Medicine Postbaccalaureate Program, I worked with Kaplan and Princeton Review extensively. Those two companies were our best MCAT prep options at the time. The Berkeley Review wasn’t able to support programs outside of the bay area during…
Deciding When to Take the MCAT
If you are planning on applying to medical school Summer 2017 or 2018, it’s time to make some decisions about when you will take the MCAT, if you have not already done so. Since the exam carries so much weight, identifying and following through with a strategy that will work for you can help you…
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 2016-17 Secondary Application Essay Tips
Case Western is located in Cleveland, Ohio with four teaching hospitals in the area and a student run clinic. They are ranked #25 for research and #60 for primary care by U.S. News and World Reports. They accept 155 students each year. Classes are pass/fail in the first two years. Students are placed in one…
Vanderbilt University 2016-17 Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips
This medical school places special emphasis on the relationships formed during medical school with classmates and faculty. Students participate in small group learning activities through the four colleges. In the first two years of medical school, students create their own project to self-direct their learning process with mentorship. The school is seeking students who will…
Icahn School Of Medicine At Mount Sinai 2016-17 Secondary Application Essay Tips
According to U.S. News and World Report, Icahn SOM is ranked in the top 20 medical schools in the U.S. for research. In 2009, the school received the Spencer Foreman Award for Outstanding Community Service because it places special emphasis on recruiting students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate a strong dedication to community service through…