AMSA Conference Featured Speaker Reminder

Just a reminder that I will be speaking at the 60th Annual American Medical Student Association national conference on Saturday, March 13 at 11:30am. The conference is being held in Anaheim. My lecture will cover insider tips for optimizing applications for residency. See you there!

The Medical School Wait List: Can Anything Be Done?

Just when you’ve completed your medical school interviews and feel that you can sit back and relax because – after all – the rest is out of your hands, you may be surprised by a wait list notification. What is the next step? What can you do?

First of all, realize that medical school admissions have become increasingly competitive of late – especially in this weaker economy. Competitive applicants who would have considered business or law school are now recognizing the stability of a medical career. The number of applicants has again increased this year. Being wait listed is better than being rejected, and thus a positive, despite the anxiety is causes.

A few things you can do:
1. Send a letter of intent. Let the school know of your continued interest and your new accomplishments. Ensure the letter is well written, streamlined and brief. Be explicit about your enthusiasm, and if the school is your first choice, let the admissions committee know that.
2. Ask the school if you can set up a second look. A second visit indicates to the institution that you are serious, and it offers you more data in making your decision if you are later offered a spot.
3. Do not neglect your other options. Don’t focus all of your attention on this institution to the exclusion of others: Ensure you are well-prepared for upcoming interviews at other medical schools.
4. Plan for last minute notice. At some schools applicants are offered slots off the wait list throughout the summer. I’ve even heard of acceptances being offered the day before medical school was to begin. Would you be able to change your living situation, move your personal belongings and uproot if this were to happen?

Finally, consider working with a professional who can substantially improve your letter of intent and assist you with mock interviews. I edit all of my clients' materials. I do not hire outside editors. I conduct all mock interviews myself.

New Options for Pre-Meds

Here is an interesting article from today's NYTs regarding the opening of several new American medical schools. These may be a reasonable option for those pre-meds with lesser GPAs and MCATs.

Match: My Last Posting

Unfortunately, I notice that if you click on the Medscape link I published in my last entry, Medscape requires you to input a password. Instead Google "Dan Egan Match" and click on "How Should I Rank Choices for the Match," which is the first entry on the page.

How to Create a Rank List for the Match

Here is a great article from my friend and ex-resident Dan Egan. He was just named the Associate Residency Director for the Emergency Medicine program at St. Luke's-Roosevelt.

AMCAS Science Calculations

I receive a lot of questions about AMCAS' GPA calculations. (Please see previous blog entries on this topic.) One question in particular for those considering post-undergraduate science GPA boosts is the following: How does AMCAS calculate science classes taken after college graduation? Are they placed in the BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math) undergraduate or graduate category?

Post bacc courses are counted as part of the undergraduate GPA. Courses taken after graduation - unless specified as graduate courses in transcripts - are considered post bacc courses, so they are also calculated as part of the undergraduate GPA.

Hope this helps. Contact me for admissions assistance.

Contacting Medical Schools

Recently, one of my clients, who had been invited for interviews at other institutions, was rejected from a medical school he wanted to attend. Much to his credit, he emailed the Dean of Admissions and wrote a cogent note expressing his interest and requesting a second consideration. Within twenty-four hours he had been offered an interview.

I'm not saying this is typical, but generally, I do recommend politely contacting institutions if you haven't heard anything or if you've been rejected from a school for which you think you are competitive.

Contact me for help.