For this section of our What to Expect After Medical School series, I’ll provide a brief rundown of what happens after you graduate from medical school. As you have probably realized by now, medicine requires a commitment to lifelong learning. There will always be new procedures, new medications, and new lab tests to learn about….
Why Should I Consider Allied Health Careers?
If the road to medical school seems too long, or you have financial constraints that prevent you from applying, you might want to consider a career that offers many of the same experiences a physician has but without the extensive (and expensive) schooling. Weighing your options: Pros & cons of allied health careers While the…
Allopathic vs. Osteopathic: Which Med School Program Is Right for YOU?
What is osteopathic medicine? Osteopathic medicine (OM) has a distinct philosophy, emphasizing a whole-person approach, partnering with patients, and wellness. The four tenets of the osteopathic approach are as follows, according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: While allopathic schools have begun integrating these concepts into their curriculum, they are long-standing core…
What to Expect During Medical School
You’re about to embark on four years of learning, working, socializing, and then learning and working some more. The best way to prepare for the long road ahead is to know what to expect. This post will walk you through the various avenues of medical school education, from reviewing what and how you’ll learn to…
The AAMC’s PREview: Everything You Need to Know
What is AAMC’s PREview exam? This assessment tool is called PREview, and it is a type of situational judgment test. The AAMC’s new exam, PREview, was beta tested in the 2019-2020 cycle by two medical schools (the University of California, Davis, and the University of Minnesota). This group expanded in 2020-2021 to include Geisinger, Morehouse,…
How Should I Prepare for Medical School in College? [Timeline]
Follow the guidelines offered here to create a winning medical school application! (If you are starting the process later than your first year of college, use this key to enable you to follow the advice presented here.) Freshman year Lay a foundation in your science coursework. Look for mentors. Volunteer. Explore research opportunities. Maintain personal…
The Best Timeline for Applying to Medical School
When premed students contact us about guiding them through the medical school application process, many of their questions are related to timing. “When should I…” is a frequent question-starter. While there is no one answer that applies to everyone, here are guidelines we use when advising our medical school applicant clients. The common thread throughout…
Yale School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]
“The mission of Yale School of Medicine is to educate and inspire scholars and future leaders who will advance the practice of medicine and the biomedical sciences.” As a top research institution, Yale is not simply interested in training students to practice good medicine. It is searching for physician-scientists who will take medical knowledge to…
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022-2023]
UC San Francisco is the leading university dedicated to advancing health worldwide through preeminent biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care The feeling that applicants often get from a UCSF interview is that the school is looking for interesting people, not just smart ones. Sure, your…
Keck School of Medicine of USC Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]
“For more than a century, the doctors of the Keck School of Medicine of USC have cared for those of us who are most vulnerable. We accomplish this through excellence in research, clinical care and education.” The Keck School of Medicine of USC is one of the largest teaching centers in the United States, with…
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine maintains a strong emphasis on integrating scientific innovation with patient care. Their “Genes to Society” curriculum moves medical students from a basic understanding of the human genome project all the way through risk, prevention, and disease outcomes. They also give students a grounding in public health, health policy and…
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secondary Application Essay Tips [2022 – 2023]
“At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, we are dramatically advancing the art and science of medical care through an atmosphere of intense collaborative learning, social concern, and scholarly inquiry.” – Icahn SOM website: Our Vision Icahn is known for its progressive stance towards education. They have an early admission program for sophomores…
Teamwork in Medical School Admissions: How to Show You’ve Got It
In this post: Why do medical schools value teamwork? What is teamwork in medicine? Patients and families as team members Teamwork and safety How to show teamwork in your application 10 ways to show your teamwork skills Why do medical schools value teamwork? When the Institute of Medicine published their 2000 report, “To Err Is…
Practicing for Your Med School Interview: Conversation 101
Most applicants come away from their first med school interview saying, “that wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.” As in many areas of life, the anticipation of a stressful event can be worse than the event itself. Although many med schools work hard to make applicants feels relaxed, this doesn’t mean you…
All You Need to Know About Residency Applications and Matching
You’re busy juggling med school and life, and if you don’t stay organized, one of those balls is going to come crashing down. Let’s take a look at what you need to do so you can stay focused, motivated, and completely on top of your juggling act. What are the Components of a Residency Application?…
What Do Medical Schools Look for in Applicants
Do you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Your undergrad career is coming to an end, and it’s time to start applying to med schools. Having done your research, you know where you’d like to apply. But what are med schools looking for in an applicant? Here are the 14 things that…
7 Tips for Matching at an Ob-Gyn Residency
One of the best things about being an Ob-Gyn is that you get to be both a surgeon and a primary care doctor. If you are having trouble choosing between these two areas, Ob-Gyn is the only specialty where you can do both. On the flip side, the hardest things about this specialty is that…
How Can Introverts (And Anyone Else) Do Well on the MMI?
The Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) was designed at McMaster University in Canada to better evaluate an applicant’s interpersonal skills and predict performance in medical school. Like all other interviewers, MMI interviewers are looking for problem solving, communications skills, and the ability to listen to and respond to another person. The benefit of the MMI (to…