The PREview exam is a type of situational judgment test designed to help admissions committees assess applicants’ pre-professional competencies. Unlike quantitative measures, such as the MCAT and one’s GPA, the PREview exam attempts to evaluate the qualitative, or “soft,” skills believed to be just as important for future physicians. Thus, used in conjunction with other…
AMCAS Traffic Rules: How to Use the “Choose Your Medical School” Tool
Everyone is probably aware that this is an “unprecedented time” for medical school applications. With applicant numbers at an all-time high, admissions staff working remotely, and interview dates stretching into the spring and possibly later, this application season has been like nothing we’ve seen before. But there is one constant in the application process –…
How to Approach VITA, AAMC’s New Video Interview
To address the novel challenges the pandemic has created, the AAMC will be using a video recording in place of in-person interviews. They are calling it the AAMC Video Interview Tool for Admissions (AAMC VITA). It is being offered at no cost to applicants since it is a pilot program and will be available from…
The AAMC Fee Assistance Program: Information for 2019
Applying to med school isn’t cheap (see our breakdown of costs here), and the AAMC understands that not all applicants will be able to cover these costs. AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program was created with the conviction that application fees shouldn’t prevent serious aspiring doctors from pursuing their dreams because of financial obstacles. Let’s take a…
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…
History Made: More Women Than Men in 2017 Entering Med School Class
According to data recently released by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), for the first time in history there are more women than men enrolled in US medical schools. Of the 21,338 matriculants in 2017, 50.7% were women, compared with 49.8% in 2016. This represents a 3.2% increase in females enrolling in med school…
Med Schools Increase Enrollment by 25% Since 2002
Enrollment at U.S. medical schools has increased by 25% since 2002, according to the results of the annual American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) report. This increase translates to an additional 4,143 new students annually. Here are the highlights of the report: • According to AAMC President and CEO Darrell G Kirch, MD, the nation’s…
The New MCAT Topic that Nobody is Talking About
When the AAMC revamped the MCAT in April 2015, there was a lot of discussion and hype surrounding new subjects on the exam: biochemistry, sociology and psychology. While those new topics are important, the AAMC actually added another new topic to the exam that most students are unaware of: the design and implications of scientific…
Why Are Psychology And Sociology On The New MCAT?
Until this year, the MCAT hadn’t had any major revisions since 1991. Since then, lots has changed in the medical world, and the new MCAT2015 aims to address some of those dramatic changes with its new Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section. In today’s world, physicians need to know how to communicate with…
Medical Minority Applicant Registry: Who, How, & Why?
AAMC’s Medical Minority Applicant Registry (Med-MAR) is specifically designed to improve admissions opportunities for students from groups underrepresented in the medical field or who have an economically disadvantaged background. Who: Med-MAR is for U.S. citizens or Permanent Resident Visa holders who identify as economically disadvantaged or who come from the following historically underrepresented ethnic or…