Medical School Reapplicant Advice

The number one mistake I see in clients who come to me for help as re-applicants to medical school is that their original list of schools is not congruent with their GPAs and MCATs.

In choosing schools for reapplication (or for first-time submission) ensure that you have at least ten to twenty schools whose average MCAT scores and GPAs are lower than or the same as your numbers are. Having no "safety schools" is - as it were - not safe. Check out this summary of the MSAR for a quick reference. Consider international schools if your numbers are lower than those on the MSAR summary.

Step 2 Deadline

I recently received a notification from the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates regarding the step 2 deadline. For those planning to apply for the 2010 Match please note the following testing deadline information per ECFMG:

...As indicated in the 2009 Schedule for Reporting Step 2 CS Results, if you do not take Step 2 CS
by December 31, 2009, your result will not be available in time to
participate in the 2010 Match.

At the time of this writing, the earliest available test date at any
test center was in September 2009. Demand for the Step 2 CS examination
is already heavy for test dates in the latter part of 2009.
Additionally, test sessions at all test centers may be subject to
scheduling restrictions that limit the number of test dates available to
you.

All test sessions for the remainder of 2009 have been opened and no new
test sessions will be added through the end of the year. To maximize
your chances of obtaining a 2009 test date,

- Apply for Step 2 CS now, provided you meet the eligibility
requirements.

- Once registered, schedule your testing appointment immediately.

- If you cannot obtain a testing appointment at your preferred test
center, check for availability at other test centers.

Registering and scheduling now offer a number of benefits:

- Applicants registered for Step 2 CS can schedule immediately if a
preferred testing appointment is available.

- Applicants who schedule a testing appointment can change the testing
appointment without cost, provided they give more than 14 days' notice.
See Rescheduling in the ECFMG Information Booklet.

If you are planning to take Step 2 CS but are not planning to
participate in the 2010 Match, please consider scheduling a Step 2 CS
testing appointment that is after December 31, 2009. This will maximize
the number of testing appointments available for those who must take
Step 2 CS by December 31, 2009 to obtain their results in time to
participate in the 2010 Match.

Updated information on Step 2 CS scheduling will be posted to the ECFMG
website as it becomes available. Individuals planning to take Step 2 CS
should monitor the ECFMG and USMLE websites for the latest information.

Physician-in-Training Wellness

There's an article by Pauline Chen, M.D. in the NYT regarding the need for doctors-in-training to take better care of themselves. The piece is touching, but I think a major point is missed. A good part of the caregiver burnout that Chen talks about is related to lack of sleep,which is not addressed in the article. Take a look.

AMCAS Sequencing Activities: My Error

I want to apologize for a large error I made. The AMCAS cannot be sequenced in a preferred order despite the - apparently outdated - information I gave in a previous entry. If the applicant attempts to reorder, AMCAS will force a chronological order. I spoke to AMCAS and they indicate there is no way around this. Great apologies for my error.

Alternatives to Overscheduling the Doctor

There's an interesting NYT article on the lack of time doctors have to see their patients and alternative systems to alleviate the problem. These systems may be the wave of the future for physicians.

AMCAS: Brevity is the Soul of Wit

The AMCAS application consists of a maximum of fifteen work/activity descriptions, all of which must be maintained within a 1325 character requirement (including spaces). Do not fall into the trap of trying to fill the space. A brief, streamlined AMCAS is much more likely to be read - not scanned.

Imagine yourself as an admissions committee member who has scores - maybe hundreds - of AMCAS to review. You start to review an AMCAS that fills all of the allotted space. You are not going to look upon this favorably! You are seeking well-written, brief summaries of applicants' accomplishments.

For help with your AMCAS descriptors please contact me. Showcasing your accomplishments optimally is essential.

NRMP 2009 Data

The NRMP has published data from the 2009 Match, including "PGY-1 Match Rates" and "Number of PGY-1 Positions Offered and Filled for Selected Specialties." It's almost too much information for future residency applicants, but candidates can look through the doc to see what interests them most.

Here's it is: "Results and Data: 2009 Main Residency Match."

Physician Work Hours - Maybe Not So Bad... Eventually

Check out this comforting article about work-life balance. I've only had a label for my posts called "physician dissatisfaction," but now I'm adding "physician satisfaction." This article begs the question, though, of how much more competitive medical school admissions will become as bright students flee business.