You’re applying to medical school. You know the drill – you have the best chance of getting into your home state med programs AND they’ll be your most affordable option (usually). But what if you apply and don’t get into the in-state schools? Or what if your state doesn’t have the best programs for you?…
How to Choose a Medical School: Numbers Aren’t Everything
After completing the first steps in determining which medical schools you should apply to by analyzing your scores, it is essential that you use these scores to guide your decision-making process (and not beat yourself up about the numbers!). Separate yourself as much as you can from those numbers; take some time to process any…
How Your Academic Statistics Should Influence Your Medical School Choices
The most reliable source of information about allopathic medical schools is provided on the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) website, offered by the AAMC. It is worth purchasing access to this database because the statistics it contains can be extremely valuable in helping you decide where to apply. Before you begin exploring the school data,…
5 Questions to Help You Decide Where to Apply to Med School
There are literally hundreds of medical schools in the U.S. to choose from – how do you choose where to apply? Ask yourself the following five questions – their answers will help you narrow down your school selection list and choose the ones that are best for YOU. Question #1: Should you go in-state? This…
How to Use the MSAR to Choose the Best Medical Schools for You
If you are applying to allopathic medical schools, you will need to purchase access to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) website. It costs $28 for one year of access. It is published each spring, usually in April, by the AAMC and includes the admission statistics for all participating members – 152 U.S. and 17…
Should You Apply to a Safety School?
Many applicants who are targeting top ranked programs wonder if they should consider adding a lower-ranked school to their list as a “safety school.” Should you? And is there such a thing? What is a safety school? A safety school is one where you are highly competitive, that is strong in your area of interest,…
In-State vs. Out-of-State Med School Acceptance Rates: Why You Should Care
Applying to med school is an overwhelming experience. For starters, there’s choosing which med schools best fit your needs and wants – for example, do you want to stay in-state or go out-of-state? The opportunity to live in a new place and broaden your horizons seems tempting. However, there are definitely benefits to attending an…
Medical School Application Strategy: MD vs. DO Programs
Before you decide whether you want to apply to allopathic (MD) and/or osteopathic (DO) medical schools, I recommend that you shadow both types of doctors. They each represent dramatically different approaches to health and healing. Gaining exposure to both forms of medicine will help you make an informed decision about what types of treatment options you…
How Many Medical Schools Should You Apply To?
The 2018 AMCAS application will be available soon and the MCAT is looming. Have you chosen your schools yet? Which med schools are the best schools for you? How many should you apply to? Sounds like you have some big decisions to make! Consider the following: • Applying to medical school is expensive. The basic…
Where Should I Apply To Med School?
Which medical schools will be best for you? How should you go about selecting the medical schools to apply to? These are two of the most important and strategic questions you’ll have to answer during the application process. These decisions will directly impact how you navigate the med school maze and will increase your chances…
Choosing the Best Medical Schools for YOU
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…
