by Michelle A. Finkel MD, Insider Medical Admissions
I've received several emails asking how to best answer the secondary essay question, "Why do you want to attend our school?"
Medical schools want to be assured that you know their institution, are seriously considering it and will fit in well there. I recommend doing your research on the school and linking something specific about you with the institution.
For example, if you tutored high school students in math, you might link your use of the Socratic method with the school's tutorial-based learning. In that way, you demonstrate a knowledge of the school, show that you connect with it and showcase an accomplishment.
Contact me for secondary essay help.
Insights, Ideas, News From Insider Medical Admissions
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
IMG Observership Letters of Recommendation
IMGs, be aware that working in a physician's office getting hands-on experience may be viewed as illegal. The Medical Board of California July newsletter has an interesting article on page five warning physicians that allowing IMGs to work in offices treating patients is "only lawful if the scope of the work is no more than a medical assistant would perform."
The article goes on to focus on letters of recommendation for residency written by physicians who work with IMGs. "While the Board understands the desire to assist the international graduate, letters written by physicians that indicate they have allowed the unlicensed international graduate to perform examinations and assist with patient care activities in their offices can result in a charge of aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine."
The article never explicitly defines a "medical assistant" but refers to the fact that this role only requires a high school diploma.
The article goes on to focus on letters of recommendation for residency written by physicians who work with IMGs. "While the Board understands the desire to assist the international graduate, letters written by physicians that indicate they have allowed the unlicensed international graduate to perform examinations and assist with patient care activities in their offices can result in a charge of aiding and abetting the unlicensed practice of medicine."
The article never explicitly defines a "medical assistant" but refers to the fact that this role only requires a high school diploma.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Plagiarism
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
In a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, investigators report finding “evidence of plagiarism” in personal statements in 5.2% of residency applicants to Brigham and Women’s anesthesiology, general surgery, internal medicine, OB-GYN and emergency medicine residency programs between Sept. 2005 and March 2007.
Applicants should be aware of this type of scrutiny. (I hope that candidates won't consider plagiarizing material for obvious ethical reasons!)
In a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, investigators report finding “evidence of plagiarism” in personal statements in 5.2% of residency applicants to Brigham and Women’s anesthesiology, general surgery, internal medicine, OB-GYN and emergency medicine residency programs between Sept. 2005 and March 2007.
Applicants should be aware of this type of scrutiny. (I hope that candidates won't consider plagiarizing material for obvious ethical reasons!)
Thursday, July 15, 2010
ECFMG ERAS Tutorials
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) has developed four tutorials to assist international medical graduates (IMGs) with the ERAS 2011 application process. Topics covered include
a) requesting a 2011 ERAS Token,
b) uploading a digital photograph,
c) completing an on-line Document Submission Form and
d) re-using letters of recommendation for Repeat Applicants.
You can access the tutorials here.
.
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) has developed four tutorials to assist international medical graduates (IMGs) with the ERAS 2011 application process. Topics covered include
a) requesting a 2011 ERAS Token,
b) uploading a digital photograph,
c) completing an on-line Document Submission Form and
d) re-using letters of recommendation for Repeat Applicants.
You can access the tutorials here.
.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
MSAR Update
by Michelle A Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
I've been searching for a more updated summary of the MSAR; I still regularly use the one noted in this blog entry, but it is not this year's version. I have a summary that's more current but less clear; email me (insidermedical@gmail.com) if you're interested in it.
Bottom line: The numbers are virtually the same - only a bit higher, meaning it's gotten a little harder to get into medical school (no surprise).
Contact me for secondary essay editing.
I've been searching for a more updated summary of the MSAR; I still regularly use the one noted in this blog entry, but it is not this year's version. I have a summary that's more current but less clear; email me (insidermedical@gmail.com) if you're interested in it.
Bottom line: The numbers are virtually the same - only a bit higher, meaning it's gotten a little harder to get into medical school (no surprise).
Contact me for secondary essay editing.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Good Writing Means Never Having to Say, "I Want to be a Doctor"
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, Insider Medical Admissions
It's important to express to medical school admissions officers why you want to be a physician, but the key - as always - is to show, rather than tell. The content of your accomplishments and the skills and insight you have gained from them are compelling. Stating that you really, really want to be a doctor is not. (This is true for post bacc, residency and fellowship applicants too.)
Contact me for help with your medical school personal statement and secondary essays. Unlike other consultants, I do all of my own work - while maintaining quick turn around times. Here are copious testimonials about my work.
It's important to express to medical school admissions officers why you want to be a physician, but the key - as always - is to show, rather than tell. The content of your accomplishments and the skills and insight you have gained from them are compelling. Stating that you really, really want to be a doctor is not. (This is true for post bacc, residency and fellowship applicants too.)
Contact me for help with your medical school personal statement and secondary essays. Unlike other consultants, I do all of my own work - while maintaining quick turn around times. Here are copious testimonials about my work.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Clarifying Your Honors
By Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
A word to the wise: Be explicit about the honors you have earned. Although you may be aware that a position you garnered was competitive, the reader may not. For example, you could write
As an intern at the American Nonexistent Foundation, I completed two research projects.
Or you could write
Out of a pool of ninety applicants, I was awarded the selective American Nonexistent Foundation’s annual internship, where I completed two research projects.
See the difference?
Contact me for AMCAS and ERAS help. I do all of my own work (no outside, anonymous editors) and expedite my clients’ edits.
A word to the wise: Be explicit about the honors you have earned. Although you may be aware that a position you garnered was competitive, the reader may not. For example, you could write
As an intern at the American Nonexistent Foundation, I completed two research projects.
Or you could write
Out of a pool of ninety applicants, I was awarded the selective American Nonexistent Foundation’s annual internship, where I completed two research projects.
See the difference?
Contact me for AMCAS and ERAS help. I do all of my own work (no outside, anonymous editors) and expedite my clients’ edits.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
New ACGME Recommendations for Work Hours
By Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
The New England Journal of Medicine released last week the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)'s latest duty hour recommendations. They are more stringent, providing more compassionate training for doctors and, hopefully, better care for patients. This table may be an easier way to visualize the changes.
I recall very clearly the week I worked one hundred and thirty-eight hours during my surgical rotation. I am still recovering :(.
The New England Journal of Medicine released last week the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)'s latest duty hour recommendations. They are more stringent, providing more compassionate training for doctors and, hopefully, better care for patients. This table may be an easier way to visualize the changes.
I recall very clearly the week I worked one hundred and thirty-eight hours during my surgical rotation. I am still recovering :(.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Critical Care Certification
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) have agreed that Emergency Physicians will be able to certify in Critical Care. Currently, Emergency Physicians (EPs) can complete Critical Care fellowships, but they cannot qualify for U.S. board certification. The new certification examination program still requires approval from the American Board of Medical Specialties but hopes are high. If all goes well, the first examination should be available in 2012.
Please contact me early for Strategy Sessions and editing. The medical school, residency and fellowship application seasons continue to heat up.
The American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) have agreed that Emergency Physicians will be able to certify in Critical Care. Currently, Emergency Physicians (EPs) can complete Critical Care fellowships, but they cannot qualify for U.S. board certification. The new certification examination program still requires approval from the American Board of Medical Specialties but hopes are high. If all goes well, the first examination should be available in 2012.
Please contact me early for Strategy Sessions and editing. The medical school, residency and fellowship application seasons continue to heat up.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Grade Inflation
Here's a really interesting article about law school grade inflation. Apparently, some schools are simply increasing their students' numbers to improve job prospects and the institutions' reputations.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Ranking Medical Schools
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, Insider Medical Admissions
Pauline Chen MD has an interesting article in last week's NYT regarding medical school rankings. Probably neither research nor social mission should be the way we rank schools.
And maybe we shouldn't judge doctors on where they attended medical school. But the current system does reward those at more competitive schools with better options for residency. Within the medical field, it's not a system that would be easily dismantled.
Contact me for medical school admissions help.
Pauline Chen MD has an interesting article in last week's NYT regarding medical school rankings. Probably neither research nor social mission should be the way we rank schools.
And maybe we shouldn't judge doctors on where they attended medical school. But the current system does reward those at more competitive schools with better options for residency. Within the medical field, it's not a system that would be easily dismantled.
Contact me for medical school admissions help.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Pre-Med Clinical Experience: Think Ahead
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, Insider Medical Admissions
For those of you pre-meds seeking clinical experience, I recommend getting started early. Although you might think free clinics would be thrilled to have a pre-med volunteer, many understandably require one-year commitments.
Getting good advice early (freshman or sophomore year) can make a difference in your medical school candidacy. Contact me early to schedule a Strategy Session.
For those of you pre-meds seeking clinical experience, I recommend getting started early. Although you might think free clinics would be thrilled to have a pre-med volunteer, many understandably require one-year commitments.
Getting good advice early (freshman or sophomore year) can make a difference in your medical school candidacy. Contact me early to schedule a Strategy Session.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Update Letters
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
Recently I've helped a few clients who want to submit their AMCAS now, but are starting compelling extracurricular activities this summer. I do not recommend describing an activity in your AMCAS that you have not yet started. Doing so can make the reader think you feel your candidacy is weak - that you are grasping at straws. One thing you can do is send an update letter later. You cannot, however, submit one through AMCAS; it has to be sent individually to each institution.
Contact me for editing help. I complete all of my own work quickly and effectively.
Recently I've helped a few clients who want to submit their AMCAS now, but are starting compelling extracurricular activities this summer. I do not recommend describing an activity in your AMCAS that you have not yet started. Doing so can make the reader think you feel your candidacy is weak - that you are grasping at straws. One thing you can do is send an update letter later. You cannot, however, submit one through AMCAS; it has to be sent individually to each institution.
Contact me for editing help. I complete all of my own work quickly and effectively.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
My Services
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
As the medical school application cycle heats up, I wanted to make a plug for my work and describe what distinguishes Insider Medical Admissions from other residency and medical school consulting companies:
1) Relevance - I'm a former Harvard Medical School faculty member with admissions experience and a professional journalism background.
2) Value - Your medical education will cost over $100K (possibly closer to $200K). Why entrust your future to underqualified or anonymous editors? I personally edit every essay and conduct every Strategy Session and Mock Interview myself.
3) Experience - I have helped hundreds of Insider Medical Admissions clients from the strongly competitive to the sink or swim candidate.
4) Discretion - I maintain strict confidentiality.
5) Speed - I offer quick turn around times.
Please see my robust testimonials page for client comments.
As the medical school application cycle heats up, I wanted to make a plug for my work and describe what distinguishes Insider Medical Admissions from other residency and medical school consulting companies:
1) Relevance - I'm a former Harvard Medical School faculty member with admissions experience and a professional journalism background.
2) Value - Your medical education will cost over $100K (possibly closer to $200K). Why entrust your future to underqualified or anonymous editors? I personally edit every essay and conduct every Strategy Session and Mock Interview myself.
3) Experience - I have helped hundreds of Insider Medical Admissions clients from the strongly competitive to the sink or swim candidate.
4) Discretion - I maintain strict confidentiality.
5) Speed - I offer quick turn around times.
Please see my robust testimonials page for client comments.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
AMCAS 2011 Open
by Michelle A. Finkel, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
You can now submit your 2011 AMCAS. Here is the web site.
Please contact me for medical school personal statement and AMCAS editing. For rolling admissions schools, the sooner you apply the better.
You can now submit your 2011 AMCAS. Here is the web site.
Please contact me for medical school personal statement and AMCAS editing. For rolling admissions schools, the sooner you apply the better.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
You Only Have One Chance to Make a First Impression
by Michelle A. Finkel, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
Quick tip: Ensure your personal statement can stand alone and doesn't rely on your AMCAS or ERAS activities' section for clarification. I see some personal statement drafts that subtly refer to a candidate's big accomplishment without fleshing it out. You need to assume that the reader is seeing your essay first and independent of your AMCAS/ERAS.
For medical school admissions consulting help, please contact me as soon as possible. The season is heating up. Submission to AMCAS starts June 1.
Have a great holiday weekend!
Quick tip: Ensure your personal statement can stand alone and doesn't rely on your AMCAS or ERAS activities' section for clarification. I see some personal statement drafts that subtly refer to a candidate's big accomplishment without fleshing it out. You need to assume that the reader is seeing your essay first and independent of your AMCAS/ERAS.
For medical school admissions consulting help, please contact me as soon as possible. The season is heating up. Submission to AMCAS starts June 1.
Have a great holiday weekend!
Monday, May 24, 2010
Post Baccalaureate Programs versus Supplemental Undergraduate Courses
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
Whether you matriculate into a formal post baccalaureate program or simply take supplementary courses independently, AMCAS calculates your GPA similarly: Undergraduate courses are undergraduate courses to AMCAS. So what is the advantage of a post baccalaureate program?
1. Reputation. These programs are known quantities to medical school admissions committees.
2. Ability to get quality letters of recommendation (LOR). Most post bacc professors are very familiar with writing medical school LORs.
3. Link programs. Some schools have partnerships with medical schools, so that if you maintain a certain GPA and score well on the MCAT, your application is facilitated by your participation in the post bacc program.
4. Organization and pre-med help. Not all post bacc schools have this, but many of the good ones do.
The drawbacks to these programs are a) competitive admissions and b) the cost, which can be significant.
Contact me for post baccalaureate application help. I assist with post baccalaureate personal statements and resumes/CVs.
Whether you matriculate into a formal post baccalaureate program or simply take supplementary courses independently, AMCAS calculates your GPA similarly: Undergraduate courses are undergraduate courses to AMCAS. So what is the advantage of a post baccalaureate program?
1. Reputation. These programs are known quantities to medical school admissions committees.
2. Ability to get quality letters of recommendation (LOR). Most post bacc professors are very familiar with writing medical school LORs.
3. Link programs. Some schools have partnerships with medical schools, so that if you maintain a certain GPA and score well on the MCAT, your application is facilitated by your participation in the post bacc program.
4. Organization and pre-med help. Not all post bacc schools have this, but many of the good ones do.
The drawbacks to these programs are a) competitive admissions and b) the cost, which can be significant.
Contact me for post baccalaureate application help. I assist with post baccalaureate personal statements and resumes/CVs.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Emergency Medicine Fellowships for Family Practitioners
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
Here's an article from an Emergency Medicine news magazine on the advent of Emergency Medicine Fellowships for Family Practitioners. As you can imagine, these training programs are rather controversial, especially amongst current Emergency Physicians. (Note that the link listed in the article is not valid.)
For residency admissions consulting help, contact me.
Here's an article from an Emergency Medicine news magazine on the advent of Emergency Medicine Fellowships for Family Practitioners. As you can imagine, these training programs are rather controversial, especially amongst current Emergency Physicians. (Note that the link listed in the article is not valid.)
For residency admissions consulting help, contact me.
Friday, May 14, 2010
What is the Cost of that CT?
by Michelle A. Finkel, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
Check out this interesting NYT's article "Teaching Physicians the Price of Care." When I was in residency we were taught to consider whether a test would change management before ordering it, but we never explicitly reviewed prices.
What's provocative is that some systems reward physicians financially for expensive testing. That topic is notably missing from the article.
Check out this interesting NYT's article "Teaching Physicians the Price of Care." When I was in residency we were taught to consider whether a test would change management before ordering it, but we never explicitly reviewed prices.
What's provocative is that some systems reward physicians financially for expensive testing. That topic is notably missing from the article.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Submitting your Medical School Letters of Recommendation
by Michelle A. Finkel MD, InsiderMedicalAdmissions.com
Your medical school recommenders have several options for submitting their letters to AMCAS. You want to make the process as convenient as possible for the writers, and different ones may have different preferences. So offer each writer all feasible alternatives. If your recommender plans to send the letter by snail mail, provide him or her with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Here are the options:
1. AMCAS Letter Writer Application: This application enables letter writers to upload documents securely to AMCAS rather than send letters via the mail. If you are interested in this option, and can upload a PDF version of your letter, make note of the requesting applicant's AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID included above and go to https://services.aamc.org/letterwriter. You will need to register for your own AAMC account in order to use this service.
2. Interfolio: AMCAS can receive letters sent to Interfolio if the student requesting this letter is an Interfolio user or your
institution/organization uses Interfolio to deliver letters of evaluation/recommendation.
3. Mail your letter: If you select this option, please attach this form to your letter(s) and mail to:
AMCAS, attn: AMCAS Letters
AAMC Medical School Application Services
P.O. Box 18958
Washington, DC 20036
4. VirtualEvals (VE): VE is available to members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP). If you are a VE user, make note of the requesting student's AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID included above and upload your letter(s) to VE.
Your medical school recommenders have several options for submitting their letters to AMCAS. You want to make the process as convenient as possible for the writers, and different ones may have different preferences. So offer each writer all feasible alternatives. If your recommender plans to send the letter by snail mail, provide him or her with a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Here are the options:
1. AMCAS Letter Writer Application: This application enables letter writers to upload documents securely to AMCAS rather than send letters via the mail. If you are interested in this option, and can upload a PDF version of your letter, make note of the requesting applicant's AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID included above and go to https://services.aamc.org/letterwriter. You will need to register for your own AAMC account in order to use this service.
2. Interfolio: AMCAS can receive letters sent to Interfolio if the student requesting this letter is an Interfolio user or your
institution/organization uses Interfolio to deliver letters of evaluation/recommendation.
3. Mail your letter: If you select this option, please attach this form to your letter(s) and mail to:
AMCAS, attn: AMCAS Letters
AAMC Medical School Application Services
P.O. Box 18958
Washington, DC 20036
4. VirtualEvals (VE): VE is available to members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP). If you are a VE user, make note of the requesting student's AAMC ID and AMCAS Letter ID included above and upload your letter(s) to VE.
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