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…
MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
It’s A Match 2025
On one eagerly anticipated day each March, after years of study and hours of applications and interviews, thousands of medical school students and graduates discover where they will begin their specialty training. This Match Day – March 21, 2025 – 47,208 applicants got their answer. The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), which oversees the matching…
Writing an Engaging Essay Introduction
In today’s world, where everything moves at lightning speed, we’re constantly making fast decisions. This applies to admissions committees, too. The pressure of their job forces them to make very quick decisions about whose applications they will invest more time in and whose will merit only an obligatory but cursory review before being set aside. …
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips [2024-2025]
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…
Should I Take a Gap Year Before Medical School?
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…
Writing Your PA School Personal Statement with Impact (includes PA personal statement example)
There are approximately 300 accredited PA (physician assistant) schools in the United States. In 2024, these schools received more than 27,000 applications. The matriculation rate for PA schools hovers near 30%, which is lower than the approximate 40% matriculation rate for medical schools. To stand out in this crowded applicant pool, you need to ensure…
Inside Pitt Med School: Innovations in Medical Education [Episode 602]
Show Summary: In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Dr. Beth Piraino, Associate Dean of Admissions at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM), explores the school’s innovative Three Rivers Curriculum, emphasizing small-group learning, early clinical exposure, and the integration of “Streams” (special interest areas) and Threads” (core competencies like leadership and clinical reasoning)….
Harvard Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024-2025]
Harvard Medical School (HMS) as “self-motivated, visionary in their ambition, and compassionate in their approach to the art of healing.” And the school highlights the importance of diversity in its mission statement, as both a critical component of campus culture and a factor in promoting excellence in medicine. As you approach your secondary application, aligning…
Retaking Classes For Med School: What Every Premed Needs to Know
If you have retaken classes in the past – or expect to need to retake a class in the future – this post will help you understand this element of your profile, in general, for the AMCAS application, and for the AACOMAS application, as needed. 1. All grades earned are calculated into the cumulative GPA….
The Resilience Factor: How Flaws and Failures Can Strengthen Your Application
A speaker recently told a story about traveling in Asia, where he saw a stunning emerald. Enchanted by the stone’s beauty, he decided to buy it on the spot. He returned home and took the emerald to a jeweler for appraisal. The jeweler began examining the stone through his magnifier, and as he did so,…
13 Tips for Your Residency Personal Statement
Residency applicants can submit applications via ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) starting September 7. Don’t wait until the last minute – get cracking on those residency essays now! Your personal statement is a vital part of your residency application; it’s where you explain why you’ve chosen your specialty and show the committee why you’re the…
University of Washington School of Medicine Secondary Application Tips and Deadlines [2024-2025]
Historically ranked among the country’s very top medical schools for primary care by U.S. News & World Report, the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM) looks for applicants who have demonstrated a strong interest in patient education and community health. It is committed to serving the needs of the citizens of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska,…
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