How To Decide What Medical School is Right for You

Pre-meds, check out my latest guest entry on the Varsity Tutors' blog about choosing the best med school for you. Many applicants find themselves ill-prepared to make a decision that will play such a major role in their professional and personal lives. Don't let that be you!

Check out the Complete Packages for Medical School and Residency Applicants

For those of you who have friends or family applying to medical school and residency in the next year, make sure they check out my Complete Packages for pre-meds and residency candidates. These packages flew off the shelves last year. They are a great way for me to help from the beginning to the end of the application process.

Create your Medical School or Residency Interview Elevator Pitch

You may have heard the term "elevator pitch," a short summary a business person uses to describe and - hopefully - sell her product or service. In preparing for medical school and residency interviews, you, too, should create an elevator pitch to sell - you.

Create a 1-2 minute "summary statement" that recaps your candidacy. If you have this elevator pitch at the tip of your tongue, you'll be at a great advantage, ready to answer questions like "Tell me about yourself" and prepared to showcase your accomplishments in other answers throughout the interview session.

Unforgettable

Need some help making a strong impression after your interview day? Take a look at my most recent Varsity Tutors guest blog here. This entry is directed toward pre-meds but the principles translate well for residency applicants too.

Considering or Currently in Osteopathic Medical School?

This is an important article for any pre-meds considering osteopathic (DO) medical school or current DO students, especially those considering a career in emergency medicine. These failed negotiations among the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) are disappointing. I am still a big fan of DO school as an option for pre-meds, but it is worth understanding what kind of challenges DOs can face.

Call me anytime

I recommend that if you have not heard from medical school, residency or fellowship programs to which you've applied, that you contact the institutions to inquire about your status.

After offering that advice to a client recently, she emailed me this week to say she obtained an interview in a competitive specialty with a call. Another said she received two preliminary interviews with simple emails. (I recommend calls over emails, however, because it's hard to ignore someone on the other end of a phone line.
Still, if you simply can't bring yourself to call, an email can be effective.) In years' past I've seen this phone call strategy work for fellowship and medical school interviews as well.

Of course, if the school or program explicitly asks in written materials that you don't contact them about your status, then calling is not a good idea.

Understanding the Admissions Game

In the most recent Stanford Magazine, I encountered a piece called "What It Takes: How Does Stanford'sUndergraduate Admissions Staff Decide Who Gets Accepted? Short Answer: It'sComplicated." Although the article focuses on college admissions, it's instructive for medical school and residency applicants as well.

A take home point is uncovered when Stanford Dean of Admission Richard Shaw says he is seeking "intellectual vitality" and "passion." He remarks, "We want to hear a 'voice' - that's a critical component."

These comments directly support the point I drill into those I mentor: Make sure your candidacy is distinctive by showcasing your accomplishments. Make sure you can be distinguished from all of the competing applicants.

Take a look at the piece. It's worth the short read.

FREIDA Rocks

If you're applying for residency, make sure to check out FREIDA, which has a lot of improvements. As a reminder, FREIDA Online® is a database with over 9,400 graduate medical education programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), plus 100 combined specialty programs.

General information about programs - percentage of residents who are international medical graduates (IMGs), percentage who are doctors of osteopathy (DOs), and minimum Step scores (to name a few) - are all useful in deciding where to assign your application in September. But now that we're into November, you can search the system for other factors that might affect how you rank programs - work schedule, salary, whether a night float system exists, etc.

FREIDA is an amazing, free resource that you should not overlook.

Can't Get Enough of that Med School and Residency Interview Help

For more useful medical school and residency interview tips, check out my latest Varsity Tutors guest blog here.

Medical School and Residency Interview Thank You Note Etiquette

See my last blog on the low cost and high potential gain of writing thank you notes after your interviews.

I get asked by clients what the best way to send post-interview thank you notes is - email or snail mail. I strongly advise sending your thank you note by good old USPS. The reasons are:

1) Email may be viewed as lazy. Hand-written notes demonstrate you've put some time into being appreciative.
2) Email can be deleted without much thought. Emotionally, it's harder to throw someone's hand written note in the trash.

Get your handwritten thank you notes in quickly. The night after you've completed your interview or the next day is a good time to write and send.

Medical School and Residency Interview Thank You Notes - So Easy for You to Do

Two years ago a medical school applicant wrote me to say that the dean of the school at which she had recently interviewed called her to tell her that he was impressed with her candidacy and the hand-written thank you note she had sent. The client thanked me for my help and the thank you note tip I had given her. As you might have guessed, she was admitted to that med school.

Writing a thank you note after a medical school or residency interview is so easy for you to do, and it can go a long way. More on thank you notes in future posts.

Online, Free Practice MCAT Questions

For those looking for MCAT practice, Varsity Tutors recently launched a suite of free practice tests, digital flashcards, and questions-of-the-day for standardized tests, including the MCAT. (Disclosure: I am an invited monthly guest blogger for Varsity Tutors, but I have no financial affiliation with them.) The site looks like an interesting addition to your armamentarium of study options.

Residency Match: Ready...Set...Go

Last week was the ERAS MSPE (Medical School Performance Evaluation) release date (October 1). Some programs will not send invitations until the MSPE is out, so residency applicants frequently start to receive interview invitations around this time of the year. Please remember that an invitation should be met with a quick response. Doing so is polite, shows interest, and oftentimes permits you to get a convenient date before it is taken.

Your Medical School Admission or Residency Match May Boil Down to How You Sit at Your Interview

For those of you who have never watched this TED talk, hunker down with a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy. Professor Amy Cuddy is Harvard Business School faculty, and her TED talk reached 2 million views within 2 months of being posted. Dr. Cuddy argues that your body language affects how people (interviewers) perceive you. This video is instructive, funny, and sad. It's worth the 21 minutes.

Medical School and Residency Interview Tips

For those of you starting to prepare for interviews, check out my entry here on the Varsity Tutors blog.

Don't Rush that Residency Application

As of yesterday, applicants can begin applying to ACGME accredited residency programs through myERAS. Getting your application in early is a help, but make sure you don't rush it if it's not in its final form. Take an extra week to make sure you submit your best work.

Residency Match Data

The National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) has recently updated their website. It's still easy to navigate, but some web pages have been replaced with newer ones. Here is the NRMP data page, which includes some current reports on the 2013 residency Match.

Getting Into Med School and the Residency Match Can Hinge on a Single Day

Make sure to watch this - the third of the Insider Medical Admissions Guru on the Go© stop motion video series on interview tips. This one, called “Dine but Don’t Wine,” helps pre-meds and medical students avoid a common, painful error when navigating the interview day. Check out my Youtube station for more of these videos.

Does Getting Into Medical School Mean Losing Your Heart?

Here is a nice piece called "Beautiful Pathologies" by Nathaniel Morris, a student at my alma mater Harvard Medical School. I can just imagine everyone in the lecture hall as this happened.

Get More Med School and Residency Interview Help

Make sure to watch this - a new Insider Medical Admissions Guru on the Go© stop motion video. These under-one-minute videos give you professional admissions tips for free... and they are fun to watch! This one, called “Stars are Made, Not Born,” guides pre-meds and residency applicants toward some good interview advice.

Your Residency Application Starts Way Before Your Fourth Year... USMLE News

Just a quick tip that updated Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) practice materials are now available on the USMLE website. The website, by the way, is worth keeping your eye on because there are useful announcements posted regularly.

Med School and Residency Interview Advice

Early this year I launched the Insider Medical Admissions Guru on the Go© stop motion video series with residency application and medical school admissions tips. Now, as medical school and residency interview seasons approach, I'm posting the first of three original Guru on the Go© videos called "No Ring, No Thing." Take a peek.

Medical School and Residency Interview Tips

Early this year I launched the Insider Medical Admissions Guru on the Go© stop motion video series. These super speedy videos, offering expert admissions advice, give great tips in under a minute. Now, as medical school and residency interview seasons approach, I'm posting three original Guru on the Go© videos over the next few weeks. Keep your eye out for the first one, "No Ring, No Thing."

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

2014 Residency Application Timeline

The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) offers a very cool interactive timeline for the residency application process on the ECFMG website. Here is the link. It's useful for international/ foreign medical graduates and U.S. medical students as well.

AMCAS is Done. Now Prepare for Your Next Big Step.

By Michelle Finkel MD, Insider Medical Admissions

Pre-meds, now that your AMCAS personal statement writing is completed, are you starting to worry about your medical school admissions interview?

Have no fear! I've just started a series of interview blog entries as an invited guest writer on the Varsity Tutors blog. Take a look at the first in the series "How to Prepare for Your Med School Admission Interview" here.

Note: This series of entries will offer residency interview strategies too. Take a peek.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

NRMP® Data

Here's a reminder that the National Residency Matching Program® (NRMP) provides a cornucopia of Match data, which can be very useful in deciding how to approach your residency candidacy. It's impressive that the NRMP publishes this data, offering transparency in what can be a confusing process. Some newer reports are viewable here.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Emergency Medicine Should Not be your Back Up

I've recently heard from several residency applicants who are considering emergency medicine as a back up specialty for the coming Match. These candidates are interested in applying in their field of primary interest and using emergency medicine as a safety specialty. I would not recommend this strategy! Emergency medicine's popularity has waxed and waned over the years, but currently it is pretty hot. It's far from a back up.

For more information about emergency medicine candidacies and careers, take a look at my piece "Why Are Emergency Physicians Burning Out" on KevinMD.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Get Started on Your ERAS® Now

Every September a swarm of panicked residency applicants contacts me asking for urgent help. Don't be one of those harried people, approaching your future career goals in a frenzy! It's time to get started on your ERAS® personal statement and experiences section now. MyERAS® is already open for candidates to start working on their applications, and residency tokens are already available for International Medical Graduates (IMGs) through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates® (ECFMG).

Here is a list of the residency application services I provide and here is my comprehensive package.

And for those of you who don't think the personal statement matters, take a look at the (bizarrely) high percentage of residency directors who site the personal statement as a factor in selecting whom to interview in the 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey.

Finally, for fun, take a look at my under-one-minute Guru on the Go® stop-motion, animation video "Honors Won't Make It Write" about the import of the residency personal statement.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

The Complete Package

If you plan to hire me for the Complete Package for Residency Applicants, please do so very soon. The benefits of an early Strategy Session are numerous: I can assist you in furthering your candidacy and avoiding common missteps. Also, getting your written materials polished early will afford you a strong advantage in the residency application process.


Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Cutting for Stone

It's a stressful time right now for pre-meds, so I thought I would try to cut the anxiety by recommending a medically-related novel called "Cutting for Stone" by Dr. Abraham Verghese, Professor for the Theory and Practice of Medicine at Stanford University Medical School and Senior Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. The book follows twin brothers born to a nun and a surgeon at a mission hospital in Addis Ababa. The story is wonderful.

Try to kick back and enjoy this masterpiece.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Getting the Best Letters of Recommendation Part 2

Check out part two of my Varsity Tutors guest blog on getting the best letters of recommendation to strengthen your candidacy.


Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

How to Get Outstanding Letters of Recommendation

Click here to read my guest entry on the Varsity Tutors blog explaining how to obtain the best letters of recommendation possible to bolster your candidacy. The article focuses on medical school applicants, but contains very useful information for residency, fellowship, post-bacc, and dental applicants as well.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmsissions.com

AMCAS Calendar Change

AMCAS has announced that the opening for the 2014 AMCAS submission is being delayed until Monday, June 10 at 9:30 am EST because of technical difficulties. Check out this page for details.

AMCAS Calendar

Here's a quick reminder for med school applicants that 2014 AMCAS opens for submission tomorrow, June 4. For more information, check out this AMCAS web page for applicants.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Medical School Letters of Recommendation: You Get More Bees with Honey

Making the process of letter of recommendation (LOR) writing and submission smooth for your faculty recommenders will likely improve the content and turnaround time of your LORs. Your medical school LOR writers have several options for submitting to AMCAS. Because you want to make the process as convenient as possible, and because different faculty members may have varying preferences, you should offer each writer all feasible alternatives.

Below are the options. Note that your AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID (found on your Letter Request Form) are required, regardless of the means of submission:

1. AMCAS Letter Writer Application: This site enables letter writers to upload documents to AMCAS securely.

2. Interfolio: AMCAS can receive letters sent to Interfolio if the applicant is an Interfolio user or if the faculty member’s institution/organization uses the program.

3. Snail mail:
AMCAS, attn: AMCAS Letters
AAMC Medical School Application Services
P.O. Box 18958
Washington, DC 20036

(If your recommender plans to send the letter by snail mail, be courteous and provide him/her with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.)

4. VirtualEvals (VE): VE is available to members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP).

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

What Your Personal Statement Reader is Thinking

Please take a look at part 2 in my series of expert guest blog entries on the Varsity Tutors blog. This piece (and the one prior) are a good reminder of what to target and what to avoid when writing your personal statement for medical school, residency, fellowship, and post-baccalaureate programs.  Also, for "edutainment" take a look at my Guru on the Go® videos here (mid-page) on the same topic, called "Personal Statement Russian Roulette #1 and #2." 

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Emergency Medicine: Can a Sizzling Hot Specialty Burn You to a Crisp?

Please take a look at my recent guest entry on the KevinMD blog exploring the disconnect between emergency medicine's immense popularity in the Match and an Archives of Internal Medicine study documenting severe burnout among emergency physicians. (According to the research, emergency physicians experience burnout at a rate of more than three times that of the average doctor and more than anyone else inside or outside of the medical field.) Pre-meds and medical students will find useful information in my guest blog entry, as they consider their future fields and lifestyles.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

How Do International Medical Graduates (IMGs) Perform in the Match and How Can that Information Guide Future Applicants?

I've reviewed data here in my blog regarding IMGs' performance in the 2013 Match, but here are some graphics and additional data published by the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates). Again, the numbers are a reminder of the challenges IMGs face.

Also, for those interested in how IMGs have performed in specific specialty Matches, here is the NRMP's (National Residency Match Program) data for 2012. Check out page 5 for "Matches by Specialty and Applicant Type."

One of the pieces of data I find interesting here is that a greater number (more positions) and percentage of non-US IMGs matched to Internal Medicine Categorical (IM) over Family Practice (FP), but in looking at "Charting Outcomes of the Match," IM applicants require higher board scores and generally tougher credentials to match to their specialty versus FP. It's hard to interpret this data, but it may mean that non-US IMGs who have higher board scores and stronger credentials have a shot at IM positions, whereas those who have lesser credentials have a better chance with FP. Something to consider.

Sleep Deprivation is a Form of Torture

As a resident, I spent one horrific week on my surgical rotation clocking 138 hours in the hospital...and I slept only 6 1/2 of those. By the end of the week, I had decided to quit residency. Fortunately, a good night's sleep helped me turn that decision around.

Pauline Chen MD recently wrote a piece in the New York Times called "The Impossible Workload for Doctors in Training" in which she argued that the ACGME's (Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education) work hour improvements over the last decade have not been effective. After the Libby Zion case, the ACGME started mandating fewer work hours for residents for their safety and the safety of their patients. The most recent (2011) rules do not allow interns to work more than 16 consecutive hours.

Dr. Chen's point is that because the volume of work has increased, limiting the number of hours has not been an adequate way to address the problem of over-tired residents. In other words, even if someone is working fewer hours, if she's managing many more patients in a shorter time period, safety is still a major concern. There are studies and anecdotes to support her assertion that are cited within the article.

Of course, the solution is not to go back to the previous work hours -  nor to continue as is. More funding needs to be allotted to residency positions. Not only would this alleviate the workload problem, it would mitigate the physician shortage crisis. We have a lot of medical students; the bottle neck comes in residency positions. If we had more training spots, we could train more doctors and consequently, offer more primary and preventive care, while providing increased safety to residents and their patients. It would be a win-win-win.

That week on my surgical rotation was particularly bad, but I had many, many others that were also minimally human. We would not accept heavy or dangerous work loads for pilots or police officers. We need to reject them for doctors-in-training as well.

On Your Reading List

Every once in a while I make a book or film recommendation for those starting their medical careers. I recently found an old book that positively influenced me years ago: A Leg to Stand On by Dr. Oliver Sacks. Many of us know Sacks' popular works (The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Awakenings), but this is a lesser known book that has a lot to offer. In it, Sacks is the patient, and he describes being a physician in the uncomfortable sick role, exploring this vulnerable position. It's worth a read.

On a different note, I am currently booking several weeks in advance for Strategy Sessions. If you are planning to schedule one with me, I would recommend you do so very soon, so you can secure an appointment time that works best for you.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Writing Your Own Residency or Medical School Letter of Recommendation: Is it Ethical?

It's not infrequent that an applicant tells me that a letter of recommendation (LOR) writer has asked the candidate to draft his/her own letter because the writer is "too busy." I notice that medical school and residency applicants are a bit sheepish as they tell me about this arrangement. Have no fear: You are not doing anything unethical. (Here is a piece by the New York Times ethicist Ariel Kaminer regarding this exact topic.)

If a faculty member asks you to write your own letter, not only should you do it, but you should do it with zeal. Make sure you showcase the accomplishments that distinguish you from other candidates and highlight traits that are important for your future career path. Use honest - but bold - adjectives to describe your best qualities.

Remember that the letter writer has final say, so even a busy faculty member might modify the letter. Keeping this fact in mind might alleviate your (unnecessary) guilt and should encourage you to write the strongest letter you can. (It's harder to go from outstanding to mediocre than from outstanding to excellent.)

Contact me for Strategy Sessions and Complete Packages. The latter are very popular this season.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

IMG Performance in the 2013 Match - Good News and Bad News

The good news is that a greater number of IMGs (International Medical Graduates) matched to first-year positions in the 2013 Match compared to last year's. According to the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates® ), 6,311 of the 12,683 IMGs who participated matched, which was an increase of 1,425 compared to 2012. The bad news is that that number only translates into 49.8% of IMGs' matching to first year positions.

Although international medical schools are a good option for some candidates, it is worth noting these numbers if you are a pre-med considering an international school.

Check me out at www. InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

ROAD to Nowhere?

This New York Times article, "Job Prospects are Dimming for Radiology Trainees" is worth reading. It's interesting how seemingly outside forces (overused emergency departments) can lead to job losses in another specialty. It's also worth noting (and troubling to see) that despite declining job openings for radiologists, there is even more competition for many residency slots because the number of medical school graduates continues to grow. This relative dearth of residency positions represents the so-called bottle neck in the physician supply problem.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Medical School Personal Statement

For those of you getting butterflies in your stomach just thinking about the medical school personal statement that you're going to have to write soon, here is a recent article I wrote on the Varsity Tutors blog.


Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Busy Week

Wow! This past week has been crazy busy. Here we go:

1)  Congratulations to all of my residency applicant advisees: I am thrilled by the enormous success the Match brought to these candidates in a variety of fields. (For fun, here is a play list of Match Day videos from medical schools around the country.)

2) The AMSA national conference was a great, great success. "Interview Like a Ninja" sessions were really robust, and we had a full auditorium at my lecture. Thanks to a very engaged audience.

3) Please take a look at my headlining article on the Student Doctor Network home page, "Tales from an Insider...."

Whew! I'm ready for a rest.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Inaccuracies in Medical Student Grades Translate into Residency Application Strategy

Here's an interesting article by Dr. Pauline Chen on medical student grades. In reading the article, residency applicants should reflect on how important the content of their letters of recommendation is, especially in the setting of medical school grades that may be inflated or simply inaccurate. The 2012 NRMP Program Director Survey (yes, I do mention that document a lot because it's so helpful) supports the importance of letters, as well, with statistics. Make sure your letters are very strong; remember that mediocre letters should not be a part of your residency package.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

It's Never Too Early To Start Thinking about Applications

Last month I was an invited exhibitor at Student Doctor Network's Test Prep Week 2013. As an exhibitor, I received several good questions. Because I am always impressed with someone who thinks ahead, one of my favorites was

When do you suggest students begin preparing for residency applications?

The below was my response:

Good question. The simple answer is to start working on a personal statement and ERAS activities draft around March of the year you are planning to apply. Assume it will take multiple drafts to get your written materials into good shape. Once you've done your best, find someone with residency admissions experience (like me) to help you get your documents into outstanding shape.

In terms of your comprehensive residency candidacy, you should start planning a strategy toward the beginning of your first year of medical school. If you are applying in a very competitive field (derm, plastic surgery), you should get started on your first day of med school. (No joke.) Consider hiring me for a Strategy Session early.

I hope this helps current first-, second-, and third-year medical students who are thinking ahead!

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

NRMP Schedule of Dates

Now that rank lists are in, the next important date for residency applicants is March 11 at noon EST when both applicant matched/unmatched information and individual program filled/unfilled results are posted to the National Residency Match Program (NRMP) website. If you are not confident you will be matching, it's worth looking at the NRMP's schedule of dates, so you understand what the timeline of the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) - previously called the "Scramble" - is.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Compared to the Old Scramble, NRMP's SOAP Cleans Up the Match

For those interested in a comprehensive explanation of the NRMP's process for unmatched candidates, here is an article I wrote for Student Doctor Network with a step-by-step approach to the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP). Most residency applicants are hopeful about their Match prospects, but if you are not a strong candidate, it's not a bad idea to understand SOAP early.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

For IMGs Participating in the 2014 Match

International Medical Graduates who are planning to participate in this coming year’s match should note that the ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) ERAS Support Services will not longer accept paper documents. All of an applicant’s supporting documents must be submitted electronically. For more information about how different documents (transcripts, photographs, letters of recommendation) should be submitted, click here.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Re-Applicants, A Daunting Task Lies Ahead

Re-applying to medical school, residency, or any other medical program is painful. I saw "Secret Ingredient for Success," a New York Times piece about self-examination, a few weeks ago and thought of those candidates who will face re-application in the next few months. In re-approaching the admissions process, it helps to have someone with expertise, experience and perspective to assess candidates' weaknesses and to propose new approaches.

A few years ago, I successfully assisted a medical school applicant who had previously been wait listed four years in a row! Here's her remark to me about her successful year after getting my input:

"Every...interview that I attended... offered [me] a spot in next year's class- including my number one school! And, remember, I had interviewed and was wait listed four times in previous application cycles!"
HD, medical school applicant

Consider contacting me for a Strategy Session and for editing assistance to avoid repeating mistakes during your next application cycle.

Who Says You Can't Have It All?

Pre-meds and 2014 ERAS applicants: Who says you can't have it all?

Every winter applicants contact me asking if I can work with them throughout the medical school and residency admissions processes. In the past, my help has been through a la carte services, but now I've created two packages (each with a $430 discount) for those applicants seeking my assistance from the beginning to the end of the admissions process.

The Complete Package for medical students covers a one-on-one Medical School Strategy Session, Editing Services (including the Medical School Personal Statement, AMCAS®, Medical School Secondary Essays, and a Letter of Intent) and Medical School Mock Interviews. Check it out here on my website!

The Complete Package for residency applicants (including IMGs) includes a one-on-one Residency Strategy Session, Editing Services (including the Residency Personal Statement, ERAS®, Curriculum Vitae, and a Letter of Intent) and Residency Mock Interviews. Check it out here on my website!

As always, feel free to email me with questions: insidermedical@gmail.com

New! Guru On the Go© Stop-Motion Video Series

Make sure to watch the first of the Insider Medical Admissions Guru on the Go© stop motion video series. These under-one-minute videos give you professional admissions tips for free... and they are cool to watch! The first one is geared toward residency applicants, but the graphics are so fun, it's worth seeing even if you aren't applying to residency. Check out the video below and subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more in the coming weeks.

Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

Interview Like a Ninja

In addition to my Friday, March 15th featured lecture, "Getting Into Residency: An Insider's Tips" at the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Annual Convention, I'll be leading "Interview Like a Ninja" sessions that Friday before my talk. The Ninja program allows interview practice in a one-on-one speed dating format. Take a look at this cool program and register here to get expert assistance from me.


Check me out at www.InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com

When Your Debt Affects Your Dates Part 2

The New York Times recently ran Perfect 10? Never Mind That. Ask Her for Her Credit Score, an article that might worry some single pre-meds.

Along those lines, here's an interesting piece by guest blogger David Z. Presser MD MPH that specifically addresses medical school debt and romance.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Check me out at www.insidermedicaladmissions.com

Accelerated Medical School Programs: Great Opportunity or Impending Mess?

I'm sure many of you read last week's news that NYU and other medical schools will be offering a three-year, accelerated medical school program to eligible applicants.

I greeted this news with both encouragement and concern. On the one hand, it's reassuring that low- and medium-income students who cannot afford the exorbitant costs of a medical education will have the option to pursue their career dreams with less (although still significant) financial burden. Shaving off $20 to $50,000 of tuition and living costs can mean opening up the medical career to those who are understandably terrified of decades of loan repayment.

On the other hand, the NYU accelerated medical students will need to choose their specialties when they apply to medical school. In return, they will be guaranteed a residency slot when they graduate, but presumably, these applicants would have matched successfully to a residency position if they had been in a traditional program. After all, they are being accepted to a strong medical school and are competitive applicants. (NYU expects these students to stay in the top half of their class academically in order to continue in the accelerated program.)

Asking students to pick a specialty prior to even completing one day of clinical rotations begs the question of whether these future physicians will be satisfied in their fields. Studies have shown that doctors who are more dissatisfied provide lesser patient care and are more likely to leave medicine, which will worsen the accelerating doctor dearth.

Take a look here to read the NYT's article regarding NYU's new program, and make your own conclusions.

Check me out at www.insidermedicaladmissions.com