by Mary Mahoney
In the medical school admissions process, your MCAT score and GPA carry significant weight. If the rest of your application is stellar, having less-than-perfect stats likely won’t prevent you from being accepted. However, having low stats might. A “low” GPA or MCAT score is one that falls significantly below the average or median at the …
by Mary Mahoney
You know you want to become a doctor, but you also realize that you’re not quite ready for medical school. Whether that’s because your academic profile isn’t as competitive as it needs to be; your GPA or MCAT score needs attention; you’re low on clinical, volunteer, or research hours; or you’re a career changer (in …
by Mary Mahoney
Do you have a very clear picture of where you want to go with your career? Is medical school calling your name? If this is the case, then a combined BS/MD degree program might be for you! In this post, we explore the pros and cons of such programs and provide tips to help you …
by Mary Mahoney
The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) places special emphasis on the relationships students form during medical school with their classmates and professors. Students join one of four colleges on campus to participate in small group learning activities. In their first two years of medical school, students create their own project to self-direct their learning process, with …
by Mary Mahoney
Predictably, the rate at which aspiring medical school students are taking a gap year is rising. According to the AAMC’s 2024 student questionnaire, 74.3% of M1s took at least one gap year between their undergraduate education and starting medical school. That rate was 60% in 2017. Clearly, the takeaway from this data is that the …
by Mary Mahoney
After your medical school interview, it is appropriate to send thank-you notes to all the people who helped you throughout the day. These days, most people send a thank you via email. Here are some helpful guidelines for doing so effectively. A thank-you email begins and ends with gratitude. It contains many of the same formalities …
by Mary Mahoney
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine maintains a strong emphasis on integrating scientific innovation with patient care. In 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked the school #1 in multiple specialties (Internal Medicine, Surgery, Rheumatology), #2 in Anesthesiology, and #3 in Psychiatry. The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine follows a “Genes to Society” curriculum …
by Mary Mahoney
Your letters of recommendation for your medical school application are critical documents. Many premed students submit a letter of recommendation, called a committee letter, that is provided by a pre-health advisor (also called a health professions advisor) at their undergraduate school or post-baccalaureate program. This letter is a summary written by the pre-health advisor about …
by Mary Mahoney
1. What is the AMCAS application? AMCAS stands for the American Medical College Application Service, which is a centralized application service available through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). It allows candidates to apply to multiple allopathic (MD) medical schools using a single application. You can access the AMCAS application through the AAMC website. …
by Mary Mahoney
If you have been placed on a medical school’s waiting list, you can send the admissions committee a letter to reiterate your interest in the school. Keep in mind that this letter of interest (LOI) will not make or break your application. Where you are placed on the waiting list plays a much larger role. …
by Mary Mahoney
So you’ve made some decisions for your future, and those decisions include going to graduate school to help you arrive at the career of your dreams. But what if you have a less than competitive GPA from your undergraduate education? No worries; having a low GPA is not necessarily a deal-breaker. And there are things …
by Mary Mahoney
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. Ten years ago, students who had a physician for a parent were still more likely to get accepted into medical school. Ten years later, the opposite …
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