Thanks for joining me for the 411th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. I am taking a week off for family time this week. As a result I decided to air an encore of our most popular podcast so far in 2021. It actually is a solo podcast that I did for our 400th episode back…
Application Trends to Watch in 2021, and a Look Back at 2020 [Episode 400]
Can the lessons of 2020 help us forge a better 2021? [Show summary] For Admissions Straight Talk’s 400th episode, Linda Abraham reflects on a turbulent year and identifies the most important trends in higher ed admissions to watch in 2021. Applying to graduate school: A journey of self-improvement [Show notes] We’ve reached Episode 400! I…
Who Gets Accepted to Medical School?
So you want to become a doctor. You have definitely had an aunt at a family dinner tell you, “Medical school? It is way too competitive; try something easier!” Your aunt is right. Getting into medical school is notoriously difficult. In the 2020-2021 application cycle, there were 53,030 people who applied to medical school, but…
How to Answer Med School Questions about COVID-19 and Other Major Events of 2020 [Video]
2020 has been a dark, dismal year, but as it draws to a close there’s light at the end of the tunnel. A vaccine is on the horizon. The election is behind us. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll soon be able to gather, hug, meet, and travel. Maybe we’ll be able to largely return to the…
How to Address COVID-19 and the Events of 2020 in Your Application [Episode 387]
Wondering how to write about the tumultuous events of 2020 in your application essays? [Show summary] Accepted Founder Linda Abraham offers a framework for discussing COVID-19, the events of 2020, and their impact on your life in your undergraduate or graduate program applications. Your application should include information about your experience of and response to…
Nervous about Med School Interviews in the Time of COVID-19? Help Is Here!
Our recent live Q&A session, Med School Interviews During COVID-19, was incredibly informative. Dr. Rothman and Dr. Gordon, two of Accepted’s med school admissions experts, provided clear and helpful answers to attendees’ questions about how to successfully navigate med school interviews in a virtual environment. Just because you might not have been able to join…
How Loyola Stritch Is Adapting to COVID-19 [Episode 381]
An inside look at the impact of COVID with Darrell Nabers [Show summary] Darrell Nabers, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment at Loyola University of Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine, shares how the school is adapting its program and admissions policies to life in the time of COVID-19. Changes to Loyola Stritch’s program and admissions…
Medical School Interviews During COVID-19: What You Need to Know
This is a particularly challenging year for med school interviews, not least due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unavailability of testing in the spring. Now comes the newest change, entirely virtual interviews and in some cases a video interview: AAMC’s Video Tool for Admissions (VITA) program, which launched this year to…
How This Dell Med Student Is Fighting Hunger [Episode 379]
Zack Timmons integrated business and medicine to take on a social problem facing his community. [Show summary] Zack Timmons, a fourth-year medical student at Dell Medical School at UT Austin, combined his passion for medicine with his background in business to create Good Apple, an Austin-based produce delivery company on a mission to end food…
A Medical School Admissions Expert’s Guide to Postbacs and Med Schools [Episode 376]
Could a postbac program boost your chances of acceptance to medical school?[Show summary] Dr. Barry Rothman, an Accepted consultant with 19 years of experience in health professions advising, shares his expert guidance for applicants considering postbac programs and medical school. Learn how this admissions cycle will differ from other cycles, and how you can best…
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…
What a Career in Medicine Means to This Columbia Medical Grad [Episode 374]
A Columbia Med School student’s incredible response to COVID-19 [Show summary] Dr. David Edelman, a recent graduate of Columbia Medical School, shares his perspective on pursuing a career in medicine during these exceptional times, as well as what led him to co-found the COVID-19 Student Service Corps. The journey of a Columbia MD/MPH who is…
Applying to Med School During COVID-19 [Episode 372]
What unique challenges can this year’s med school applicants expect to face, and how can they be overcome? [Show summary] Dr. Herman “Flash” Gordon, Accepted medical admissions consultant, walks med school applicants through applying during COVID-19, as well as disclosing thorny issues like academic discipline or a criminal record. How COVID-19 is impacting medical school…
Considering Graduate School? First, Figure Out Your Ideal Career Path.
The coronavirus pandemic has created a tough job landscape, but it has also created an opportunity for career “rethinking” as well. Many people are considering pivots and turning towards skill development and learning opportunities like graduate school. But how do you decide what’s next? How do you think about what you want, and also, how…
Harvard Med Student Finds Volunteer Opportunities Despite COVID-19 [Episode 370]
Can students make a difference during the current pandemic? [Show summary] Jalen Benson, founder of the National Student Response Network and first-year med student at Harvard, discusses what health care volunteer opportunities are out there and how to find them during the Coronavirus outbreak. Listen in. Finding volunteer opportunities for premeds despite COVID-19 [Show notes]…
Changes in MCAT Exam Administrations: May 29-September 28, 2020
According to the AAMC website, there have been changes to the MCAT exam for those testing between May 29 and September 28, 2020. What you need to know about the temporary shortened MCAT A shortened version of the MCAT will be administered from May 29 through the end of the 2020 testing year. This change…
Need Answers on COVID-19 and How It Will Affect Your Med School Application and MCAT?
In the time of COVID-19, it’s easy to feel like you’re adrift, with more questions than answers when it comes to admissions timelines, MCAT dates, and even your overall med school career goals. But answers are out there — and our medical school admissions experts, along with the MCAT pros at Magoosh, want to help…
UPDATES: How Does Corona Continue to Impact Testing? [GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, ACT, SAT, TOEFL, EA]
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect schools and businesses worldwide. The health and safety of testing candidates and staff remain priorities as testing organizations continue to offer online testing while finding ways to safely reopen testing centers. Here is the most up-to-date information on admission tests and their response to coronavirus. GRE ETS is offering…
How Can I Continue Volunteering in the Age of COVID-19?
Many of our Accepted clients are asking how they can continue their volunteering given that many of their previous positions now only allow essential personnel in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We’ve put together the table below to help in your efforts to find new volunteering positions. If you know of other helpful…
ETS Announces At-Home TOEFL and GRE
According to the ETS website, the TOEFL iBT™ Special Home Edition and GRE™ General Test at-home solutions are now accessible to international test-takers who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These tests are currently available wherever the computer-delivered TOEFL iBT™ and GRE General test are usually available, except for Mainland China and Iran. ETS…
