The Medical School Application Calendar

Don't forget that May 1 is the first day AMCAS 2012 is available on the AAMC website and that June 1 is the earliest date for submission of the AMCAS.

Submitting a strong application early is important for your candidacy, particularly with rolling-admissions schools. Your personal statement should be closing in on its final form now. For those of you who don't know where to start with your essay, consider my new Writer's Block Package.

Letters of Intent: Don't Forget Your Purpose

In editing letters of intent (LOI), I note that applicants often make the mistake of focusing on their desired institution's virtues. Remember that the goal of the LOI is twofold:

1) Affirm your strong interest in the institution.
2) Distinguish yourself with your accomplishments.

These programs already know their strengths; unfortunately, you won't further your candidacy by reiterating them.

See my editing pages for information on my LOI services.

Is It Kosher?

My advisees often have questions about the ethics of letters of recommendation (LOR).

First, some applicants tell me they feel guilty because - although they waived their right to see their LORs - their writers gave them their letters to read. If your letter writer crafts your LOR understanding that s/he has no obligation to let you read it yet chooses to offer you a copy, you have done nothing unethical. That decision is the letter writer's.

Furthermore, I've had applicants tell me they feel uncomfortable because faculty have told them to write their own recommendation letters after which the letter "writers" will edit and sign. Again, totally kosher. This topic was recently addressed here by the ethicist in the New York Times.

Remember to start early in asking faculty to write your recommendations. LORs almost always take longer than you think.

New "Getting Into Residency" CD-ROM Available

I don't usually refer readers of this blog to my other blog, but with the launch of my new "Getting Into Residency" CD-ROM, I thought that might be easier. Here is the information. The CD includes video, audio, printable slides and a transcript.

Getting to Know Faculty

When I conduct Strategy Sessions with medical and dental school applicants, I notice a recurring problem: It's hard to get very strong academic letters of recommendation, especially at colleges with large classes.

So I'm here to offer a piece of advice to those just starting their university studies: Get to know your profs. In addition to keeping your grades up from the beginning of your college career, acquainting yourself well with your teachers is one of the most important pieces of advice I can give to the new pre-med. Go to office hours, send an email invite for a lunch meeting or approach the faculty member about working in his or her laboratory.

In addition to being strategic, these relationships can fill a mentorship role that is invaluable.