Physician Salaries, Compared by Specialty

Here's a very interesting Medscape piece (with clear graphics) on current physician compensation, compared by specialty.

Is Osteopathic Medical School Right for You?

Osteopathic medical schools are a good option for many applicants. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes helping each patient achieve wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention. Osteopathy teaches that a strong foundation in primary care makes one a better physician, regardless of a doctor's specialty.

Here is a great article from last summer's New York Times on osteopathic schools and their influence on American medicine. There are also some useful statistics about admissions in the article.

Medical School and Residency Personal Statements

It's time to get moving on your medical school or residency personal statement. (It's actually late to start on your medical school essay; if you don't already have a good draft, I'd recommend starting immediately.)

The goal of the personal statement is to distinguish yourself from everyone else and demonstrate your worthiness as a candidate. Here's a piece I wrote for Student Doctor Network (I did not choose the title ;)) that will guide you.

AMCAS Upcoming Dates and the Advantage of an Early Application

Here's a reminder that AMCAS 2016 opens on May 5, and you can submit your application starting June 2. Because of rolling admissions, submitting a complete application early in the cycle has distinct advantages at many schools.That doesn't mean you should submit suboptimal written materials; it means you should start early enough that you are offering your best work.

Rolling admissions means that a school takes applications in the order in which they are received and makes decisions about interviews and then acceptances, accordingly. So, as times goes by, there are fewer interview and admissions offers remaining to be made.

If your application is not complete, your candidacy may not be evaluated early when there are more opportunities for interviews and admissions. So, if you have not already, get started immediately. It could make a huge difference in your available opportunities.