Brevity is the Soul of Wit

Here's a NYT op-ed piece about learning to write concisely, an important skill in the admissions process.

Match!

Congratulations to so many clients who have written me about their Match successes. Here's a nice comment I received today:

"Hey Michelle, I wanted to thank you again for all of your advice in this year's Match, as I matched to my number one. I couldn't be happier and couldn't have been more prepared. You relieved a lot of the stress that accompanies such a demanding time. Thanks again!"

I would love to hear from all of you!

Being Classy

A client emailed me to say that after a recent interview, the medical school dean called her to say he was impressed with her candidacy and the hand-written thank you notes she had sent. The client thanked me for my help with her application and the thank you note tip. Needless to say, she was admitted.

Writing thank you notes is easy and goes a long way. Remember to hand-write the notes, keep them brief and send them immediately after your interview day.

AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

Just a reminder regarding the Association of American Medical Colleges' (AAMC) Fee Assistance Program (FAP). The FAP is designed to offer help to individuals with extreme financial limitations who cannot pay the MCAT registration or AMCAS application fees without financial support.

If you think you are eligible, it's worth applying for an FAP grant early: If an applicant submits his/her AMCAS prior to receiving a decision on his/her FAP application, that candidate will be ineligible to receive the FAP for the AMCAS. In other words, the candidate will not receive a refund.

For more information on the FAP, please click here. I offer reduced rates for applicants demonstrating financial hardship through the AAMC FAP grant. Once you have been granted the FAP, contact me for more information.

Learning to Doctor

Here's a NYT article about medical students at my alma mater. Frankly - as one of my friends and former classmates emailed me - it makes HMS students sound a bit socially inept. But this piece is written from a patient's perspective, and she should know best what does and does not make her feel comfortable.

It's a good lesson on doctoring well.