The ethnicities that are considered Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) include: Latino, African American, Native American, Laotian and Hmong, as well as a few other groups. If you are from one of these groups, it would help your application to demonstrate your connection to these communities and your fluency in the languages which are most sought…
How to Write the Statement of Disadvantage
If you have experienced any form of social, economic or educational disadvantage—at any time in your life—you can apply to medical school as a disadvantaged applicant. To receive this designation means that you will need to complete an additional essay on the AMCAS application. The character limit for this short essay is 1,325. Examples of…
What Life at Icahn Is Like as a Med Student, Parent, and More [Episode 399]
How this non-traditional medical student transitioned into medicine as a second career [Show summary] Efrat Bruck is an M4 at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as well as a parent and MCAT video creator for Khan Academy with a nontraditional path to medicine. She shares how the program has given her the flexibility…
Facing Adversity as a Med School Applicant [Episode 390]
M2 Sotonye Douglas shares how she never lost sight of her dream to become a doctor. [Show summary] Sotonye Douglas describes herself as an “imperfect” medical school applicant who nevertheless became a student at Quinnipiac Netter School of Medicine, overcoming tremendous barriers in the process. An “imperfect” applicant discusses her path to medical school. [Show…
7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay
What is the diversity question in a school application, and more importantly, why does it matter when applying to leading programs and universities? A diversity essay is an essay that encourages applicants with minority backgrounds, unusual education, distinctive experience, or unique family histories to write about how these elements will contribute to the diversity of…
8 To-Dos for Canadians Applying to U.S. Med Schools
Each year, Canadian medical school hopefuls look across the border for their medical education. While there are obvious challenges (adapting to a different health care system, returning to a Canadian residency, and much higher education costs), the higher acceptance rates at U.S. programs (about 41.9% overall, as compared to just 20% in Canada) can make…
From Engineering PhD to Med Student [Episode 364]
A career-changer’s path to med school [Show summary] Valerie Fuchs holds a PhD in environmental engineering and spent eight years as a water resources engineer. This summer, however, she’ll start medical school. Hear how Valerie navigated med school admissions as an older, nontraditional applicant and got into her first-choice school. From engineering PhD to med…
A Physician’s Nontraditional Path from Law Enforcement to Medical School [Episode 363]
Dr. Joe Bardinelli shares his journey from cop to doc [Show summary] Not everyone follows a traditional path to a career in medicine. Today’s guest, emergency physician Dr. Joe Bardinelli, was a police officer for six years before deciding to enter medical school. In this episode, he shares how and why he went from being…
Dr. Calvin Sun, ER Resident, Entrepreneur, and Adventurer [Episode 254]
Warning: Our guest today has done so much that it’s going to be really hard to give his background succinctly, but here goes. Dr. Calvin Sun earned his bachelors in 2008 at Columbia where he held numerous leadership positions. In 2014, he graduated from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine and served as graduating class president….
Yoga Instructor, Holistic Health Coach, M4: Clare Brady Fits it All In [Episode 270]
Yoga Instructor, Holistic Health Coach, M4: Clare Brady Fits it All In [Show Summary] Clare Brady is currently a fourth year med student at St. Louis University, though she got to med school in a roundabout way. During her recovery from an eating disorder in college, she learned a lot about the human body and…
5 Pitfalls to Avoid When Applying to Medical School as an Older Applicant
The average age for medical students has been steadily increasing over the years for several reasons. For one, medical schools cannot legally discriminate against applicants based on age. Furthermore, applicants with more life experience can be some of the best medical students as they are already established in their identity, maturity levels, and career goals….
Be a Happy Doc! [Episode 224]
Our guest today is an intern at Einstein Healthcare Network. He recently graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also has his own web site and podcast called The Happy Doc. Let’s learn more about Dr. Taylor Brana and how you too can be a happy doc. Let’s talk to the Happy Doc! Can…
Rejected From Medical School 3x – Today a Pediatric Resident and Mom [Episode 238]
You’ve taken the MCAT, maybe even applied and been rejected. Discouraged? Don’t be. Hear Dr. Allie’s story. Allie Lyle had wanted to be a doctor since she was 14. More specifically she wanted to be a pediatrician. And she pursued this path diligently. But the MCAT and a few mistakes got in her way. She…
Amy Ho: An ER Resident Who Connects with Patients and Society [Episode 203]
I would like to share with you the email that made me believe that today’s guest, Dr. Amy Faith Ho, a third year ER resident, will be simply outstanding: I love the mission of your site, and the Match was something that endlessly agonized me (see my article in Forbes). It is a great passion…
Pediatrician and Social Entrepreneur: Meet Dr. Anne Steptoe [Episode 246]
Our guest today, Dr. Anne Steptoe, earned her BA in Classics and English at Harvard in 2009. She then worked for two years as a Health Policy Senior Analyst at Mass General Hospital and attended medical school at Brown. Along the way to her current position as a pediatrics resident at UNC Chapel Hill, she…
10 Reasons Why You Should Consider Participating in a Special Masters Program (SMP)
You’ve completed your undergraduate degree and are looking forward to attending medical school, but are looking for a way to set your application apart. If you have a strong undergrad science GPA, pursuing an SMP can be a fantastic way to do just that. There are currently more than 75 different science-based SMPs nationwide. There…
How to Get into Medical School for Non-Science Majors
Will your undergraduate degree in Music, English, or Economics put you at a disadvantage when the time comes to apply to medical school? Not at all! Medical schools want well-rounded students with the potential to become passionate, dedicated physicians, and following your heart into art or another non-science discipline can demonstrate that you have varied…
The Military: One Way to Get an MD Debt-Free [Episode 266]
Become an MD Through the Army, Debt Free! [Show Summary] Are you interested in practicing medicine in an environment that allows you to focus on clinical excellence? Do you want to have the option of practicing medicine in a host of different environments? Is it important for you to emerge from medical school debt-free? Do…
Med School Admissions: Challenges and Solutions for Older Applicants
“You’re going back to medical school? Why would you do that? Are you crazy?” Hopefully most people won’t react so strongly to your decision, but the question is probably still on their minds. And similar reservations are bound to pop into the heads of medical school admissions committee members reviewing your application. While the experiences…
Med School Admissions Advice for Nontraditional Applicants: The Experts Speak
Are you a nontraditional medical school applicant? If you’re not fresh out of college, or have a more distinctive background, then the answer is yes, but don’t despair – a medical education and career can still be in your future! Here’s some advice for you from the experts: • Consultant Dr. Barry S. Rothman, PhD…
