According to a 2019 study conducted by the American Medical Association, sixty-five percent of first-year medical students surveyed took gap years. Most students who took gap years did so for 1-2 years (44%), followed by those who did so for 3-4 years (13%), followed by those who did so for 5 plus years (8%). Clearly,…
Predoc & Premed Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
Often, top medical schools in the U.S. offer predoc and premed summer undergraduate research programs. We’ve compiled an all-you-need-to-know chart that includes school name, deadlines, and links to the specific predoc/premed programs for more information. Why do these undergraduate research programs exist? The purpose of these programs is to expose ambitious, talented college students to…
How This Premed Student Got Accepted to Medical School Early [Episode 394]
Med applicant Mary Thomas shares her path to medical school acceptance early in this year’s application cycle [Show summary] Mary Thomas will begin her medical school studies next summer after receiving an exceptionally early acceptance in October. She shares how she achieved that early acceptance, along with insights into her application process and the personal…
Tips for Getting Into Medical School When Your Parent is a Doctor
There has been an interesting shift in medical school admissions for applicants whose parents are doctors. In 1989, these applicants were 15% more likely to get into medical school. When I first became involved in admissions over ten years ago, students who had a physician for a parent were still more likely to get accepted…
How to Prepare for Medical School: 4 Important Things to Do Before You Get Started
As I become inundated with science coursework, buried under electronic books, and finally set into the rhythm of my first year of medical school, I can’t help but notice the things I am so thankful I did, and some things I wish I would have done. The importance of understanding your strengths and weaknesses When…
All About SDN, The Largest Online Premed Community [Episode 347]
Interview with Dr. Lee Burnett and Laura Turner of Student Doctor Network [Show Summary] Applying to medical school is a stressful process, and applicants understandably are looking for all the help and support they can get along the way. Student Doctor Network (SDN) is leading the way in providing that support. Celebrating its 20th anniversary,…
Accepted to Med School in Mid October: How Did He Do It? [Episode 288]
Interview with Ryan Crane, Entering Medical Student [Show Summary] Ryan Crane already knows he is going to medical school next fall, having been accepted at two schools in October! The medical school application process is long and ardurous, and Ryan knew he had some weaknesses to overcome. Listen to how Ryan overcame those weaknesses with…
What I Learned from My Shadowing Experiences
As a pre-med, I was grateful to shadow seven physicians in different medical environments. Some were primary care doctors, others were D.O. physicians. I even had the opportunity to learn alongside an orthopedic surgeon. People constantly say shadowing is important for resumes, applications, and medical school acceptances– and that’s true. But shadowing is more than…
How to Shadow a Doctor
When looking for activities to include on your AMCAS application, shadowing is a powerful way to demonstrate your interest in and realistic knowledge of the field of medicine. Shadowing as many different kinds of doctors as you can is helpful; the only way to know whether you will enjoy a career in a particular area…
How Important is Volunteering for Medical School Admissions?
Volunteering is crucial for medical school applicants. Here’s why: Med schools aren’t just looking for science geeks who’ve never stepped outside the lab. They’re looking for students who will not just succeed in the classroom, but who have also had rich and varied experiences that will make them stand out as interesting and passionate individuals…
How to Show that YOU Want to be a Doctor
“My mom is a doctor, my dad is a doctor. How can I prove to the med school admissions committees that I really want to be a doctor?” Concerned that your application doesn’t demonstrate the extent of your personal commitment to medicine? An experienced admissions consultant can guide you as you craft an application…
8 New Year’s Resolutions Med School Applicants Need to Keep
Everyone knows that New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken, but if you want to get into med school in 2020, then you’ll want to keep these New Year’s resolutions: Resolution #1: Sign up ASAP for an MCAT course so you’re completely prepared to take the test early. It’s preferable that you take the…
What do Medical Schools Look for in Your Application Essays?
After reading thousands of applications over the years, I’ve noticed that there are common strategies that successful applicants use in their application essays. You, too, can use these strategies to earn an interview and acceptance. The best application essays: 1. Avoid verbatim repetition It may be impossible not to mention the same activity or experience…
The BEST Advice for New Med School Applicants
We asked some of our consultants for the top piece of advice they would give to applicants just starting the med school admissions process. Here’s what they said… Cydney Foote: I often hear applicants say “I thought the admissions committee would want to hear about _____” (fill in the blank with research, a medical mission,…
Premed Planning: Does it Matter Where You Go to College?
On Twitter, a follower recently asked us: Do you have any posts on whether it is worth a premed paying $$$ for a degree at a top 20 college over a quality state university? For a short question, there’s a lot going on here, and we thought it would be worthwhile to discuss it. First,…
What Do Scribes Do – And How to Become One [Episode 191]
Medical schools across the board want to know that the people they admit know what they’re getting into and have an understanding of clinical practice based on personal experience. Clinical exposure is virtually a requirement for acceptance to ALL U.S. medical schools. A great way to get such exposure is by working as a scribe….
Is My Profile Competitive for Medical School Admission? [Navigate Med School Maze]
You’ve taken the MCAT, completed all the pre-reqs, and maybe shadowed a physician, done some research, and volunteered. Now it’s time to make sure you’re all in for the last legs of this long journey. In this series, we’ll discuss how you can continue to navigate your way to a med school acceptance by analyzing your profile, creating…
3 Tips for Applying to Early Admissions Programs for Medical School
If you are absolutely certain that you want to pursue a medical education, applying to early admissions programs (EAPs) can give you the freedom to pursue any major. The Icahn School of Medicine’s FlexMed Program accepts students in the second semester of their sophomore year from all majors—the more diverse, the better. Flexmed’s only requirements…
What Every Premed Student Needs to Know About Retaking Classes
AACOMAS has changed its grade forgiveness policy as of Feb 2017. For more about this, check out AACOMAS Changing Their Grade Forgiveness Policy. If you have retaken classes in the past or will need to retake a class in the future, reading this post will tell you what you need to know about how the…
5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Medical School Profile Early On
Are you planning to apply to med school this cycle? You can have a significant head start on your competition by beginning the application process now. Below are a few easy things you can already do to help ensure you get accepted: Easy & Early Tip #1: Volunteer! Med schools are definitely looking for students…
