Application Advice

Apr 15 2018

5 Tips Every Pre-Med Needs To Hear Now

The process of applying to medical school is long and complicated. It requires pre-med students to use their undergraduate years wisely to build up a good application. As a pre-med it is important to know what to focus your time on and to have a game plan on how to accomplish what you need to. After applying to medical school, these are my 5 most important tips I can give to pre-medical students.

1.GPA and MCAT are not everything. Don’t underestimate the value of your extracurriculars

Many pre-med students fall into the trap of thinking that their MCAT and GPA are the only factors that matter to whether they get accepted into medical school. This is definitely not the case! Your GPA and MCAT are certainly important but they are not everything. Your extracurricular can be even more important to some schools than your GPA or MCAT. This will be especially obvious when you are filling out your primary and secondary applications. Medical schools care about your shadowing, research, and volunteering! If you don’t have a good list of activities you have done, you will have a very hard time impressing any medical school even with a good GPA or MCAT. Remember, GPA and MCAT are just one component of your medical application. Don’t get so caught up in them that you forget to do your extracurricular activities! In fact, if you have a bad GPA or low MCAT score, your extracurricular activities can be what still give you a chance at getting accepted!

2. Start early on building your “pre-med resume”

What I mean by “pre-med resume” is your list of activities and extracurriculars that you can write about on your primary and secondary applications. You should begin working on building up your pre-medical resume as soon as possible. It is much easier to get in a variety of volunteering, extracurricular activities, and shadowing in when you have 3-4 years before applying than if you waited till the last year. My advice is START EARLY on building your pre-medical resume. Start looking for physicians to shadow as soon as possible and getting those volunteer hours in. It looks better to medical schools as well if you have a long history of volunteering than if you just tried to grind it out over a month or two. Another advantage of starting early is that you will have more time to build relationships that can lead to quality letters of recommendation.

3.Try to start finding opportunities that will present you with memorable experiences

Medical schools love to ask about memorable experiences that you have had that is related to medicine or motivated you to pursue medicine. There will be questions about this all over your secondary applications and during your interview. That is why it is important you seek out opportunities that other pre-med students probably aren’t doing. This could be things such as a volunteer trip to help serve people in an underserved area or country, volunteering for hospice, being involved in some non-profit organization, going on a trip to present your research at a conference, or even just something memorable from shadowing.

4.Learn about the school’s you plan on applying to

If you haven’t done this, do it right now. Knowing about the schools you are applying to will help you realize what the ideal applicant is for their school. If the school you are applying to values research a lot, you better make sure to get some research experience under your belt. You will have a big advantage by knowing what the schools you are applying to are looking for in applicants. This will help you tailor your application to the schools you are interested in applying to.

5. Plan out your pre-med years

Take the time to plan out your pre-med years ahead of you. Figure out what your goals are for your freshmen, sophmore, junior, and senior year as a pre-med. Come up with a game plan for how you are going to get in your shadowing, research, and volunteer hours. You also want to come up with a general timeline for when you want to take the MCAT and when you plan on actually applying for medical school. Take some time to create a document where you basically outline the way you want to allocate your time as a pre-med. This will help you stay organized and be on top of all your pre-med goals. Doing so will make your life much easier!

Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

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Mar 26 2018

8 Tips for Writing a Personal Statement For Medical School

8 Tips for Writing A Personal Statement for Medical School

So, you want to apply to medical school. We’re impressed already – this requires a tremendous amount of intelligence, dedication, and optimism, and will set you off on a journey which will doubtlessly lead to a long and highly rewarding career. However, to get to that place at the college of your choice, you’ll have a few hurdles to get over first.

You’ve already passed your exams with flying colors, and have proven your level of intelligence and ambition. You’ve thought carefully about which colleges, schools, or universities best suit your needs and aspirations. Now all that’s left is to score that interview and get that place; and for that to happen, you’re going to need a killer personal statement.

This aspect of the applications process is not to be overlooked, and in many ways, is one of the most important things you’ll have to produce to achieve your goals. Medical schools are looking for bright, intelligent, empathetic and communicative individuals for enrolment on their courses… and a correctly written medical personal statement is your key to showing you fit that bill perfectly. Check out our 8 top tips for personal statement success below!

1) Write, re-write, then write it again!

Your statement for medical school is not -, and we mean not – something you should be leaving to the last minute. It’s going to take some real time and concentration, and it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to nail it on your first go.

Produce a draft, and take some time to go through it with a fine-toothed comb. Imagine you’re the one receiving the statement: what impression does it make? Is there anything missing? Make sure you get at least one of your tutors to take a look through your statement and listen to their advice on what should be changed, added, or removed.

2) Be focused

It’s common for students to ramble a bit during their statements, and try to cram in as much about their life as possible. Remember – you aren’t writing your memoirs; this is a document with a specific purpose and needs to be sharp, focused, and relevant. Try to choose a particular theme or thread from your educational journey and onward ambitions. Stick with that theme, support it with examples, and you’ll be on to a winner.

3) Avoid the cliches

Your future tutors and directors of study will be bored stiff from reading countless application letters from students claiming they love science and want to help people. Apparently, you shouldn’t be saying the opposite of these things, but just try and avoid the predictable and cliched. Find something new to say, and your statement will stand head and shoulders above the rest.

4) Find a unique angle

You are an individual. You are unique. You have experiences, hopes, dreams, memories, and skills which are entirely your own. In your statement, you need to be putting this across in the most reliable ways possible – it’ll help your document catch the eye of the people receiving it.

Write in your voice, and include personalized examples of times you’ve succeeded, or failed and learned from your mistakes. It could make all the difference.

5) Don’t be flowery

It’s sometimes tempting to write a personal statement in a highly elaborate or impressive way. Our advice? Steer well clear of this. You aren’t going to be accepted on the strength of your poetic skills, but rather on your ability to be clear, concise, and appropriately communicative. Write in direct, simple language, and avoid anything which might confuse.

6) Stick to the word count

Your medical school personal statement will come with its word count. Make sure you keep an eye on this and stick to it as closely as possible (within 10%, at a minimum). Your recipient doesn’t want to have to wade through page after page of information, and following precise instructions is a crucial skill for future medics, so demonstrate you’re capable of doing this from the beginning!

Remember the 5-point essay format.

The 5 point essay format exists for a good reason: it works.

Your first paragraph should be snappy, concise, and catch the attention of the reader.

Paragraphs 2-4 should introduce who you are personally, with one reflecting your clinical experience or understanding, and one dedicated to medical service and aspirations.

Your final paragraph should be a neat conclusion; one which reflects your introduction, summarises you as an applicant, and ends with your thoughts on future challenges.

I hope you found this advice helpful! Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

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Feb 01 2018

Medical School Interview Tips

Medical School Interview Do’s & Don’ts

Hey Pre-Meds! I got a simple article for you today! These are some of the Do’s and Don’ts for a successful interview day!

Do:

Always smile and be on your best behavior. (Make sure to be nice and on your best behavior throughout the whole day. You are being judged every moment you are on campus)
Be nice to everyone. (This includes receptionists, other candidates, and anyone else you run into. Your interaction with them could either benefit or hurt how the admission committee sees you.)
Be professionally dressed.
Arrive to the interview at least half an hour early. (Try to scope out the interview location the day before so you are prepared.)
Ask meaningful questions during your interview.
Understand current events in medicine and health care policy.
Memorize what you wrote for your secondary and primary applications.
Research the school thoroughly.
Practice answers to common medical school interview questions ahead of time.
Be confident when you speak.
Be attentive and interactive with others.
Pay attention to your interviewer’s body language.

Don’t:

Be late to your interviews!
Check your cell phones during the interview day
Ask how well you did in the interview or if you got accepted.
Be biased in answers you give about ethical or political questions.
Ignore body language cues from your interviewer.
Talk too little or too much to the interviewer.

If you would like more help for your interview, check out our other articles for more tips on preparing for a medical school interview!

Seven keys to being ready for your medical school interview.

45 common medical school interview questions

Making a great medical school interview cheatsheet

Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

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Feb 01 2018

You need to do this before your medical school interview!

You need to do this before your medical school interview

A medical school interview cheatsheet can be incredibly helpful in your preparation for your interview. This will help you collect your thoughts for what you want to say, as well as being a convenient way to “study” for your interview. The interview cheatsheet was my main method of preparing for my interview! I made a cheatsheet which contained answers to questions specific to the school I interviewed at, it also had questions I wanted to ask them, and important information about the school. I used this to study for my interview, which allowed me to be really prepared for anything I was going to be asked on interview day. At the end of this article I am going to give you a free interview cheatsheet outline download!

What is a Medical school interview cheatsheet?

A medical school interview cheatsheet is essentially what it sounds like. It is a cheatsheet that has all of the information you will need to know for your interview in one simple document. I used microsoft word to make my cheatsheet. Inside of this cheatsheet you should include your specific answers to common medical school interview questions for that medical school, a list of questions you want to ask that school, and information about the school you are interviewing at.

Example:

*Note: This document is free to download at the end of the article!

Inside of your cheatsheet you should answer common interview questions such as these. For a list of 45 common medical school interview questions, check this article out.
Make sure your answers to these questions are specific to the school you are interviewing at. Make your answers show that you have researched the school thoroughly. Whenever possible choose answers that relate to a personal experience you had. Remember, “show don’t tell” when giving answers.

Your cheatsheet should have multiple sections such as this. I recommend having the same sections as I mentioned earlier

Tips for making your cheatsheet:

Remember, this is a cheatsheet. So it should be quick and easy to use.
Make sure you research the school you are interviewing at thoroughly. This way your questions and answers for the school will reflect that you have researched them and you are serious. Showing the school you understand them well looks professional.
Try to not include too much unnecessary information in your cheatsheet. Only the most important things for each section

How to use the cheatsheet:

After making the cheatsheet the best way to use it is to study it every day if possible. You want to memorize everything you put into your cheatsheet. You should be able to tell people the answers to any questions you have written there, give important information about the school you are interviewing at, and memorized the questions you are going to ask the school. Once you have studied the cheatsheet and memorized everything on it, start practicing mock interviews. You can now just use the cheatsheet as a reference for if you forget what you planned to say.

I hope this tip helps! Having a cheatsheet for your medical school interview will really help you with getting prepared and giving you some extra confidence when interview day comes around. Make sure to always give answers that show the school you have researched them thoroughly. For more tips about preparing for your interview check out this article: Seven keys to being prepared for your medical school interview.

And as promised, download your interview cheatsheet outline.

Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

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Jan 31 2018

Seven keys to being ready for your medical school interview

The interview is the last step between you and that oh so sweet acceptance to a medical school! If you were offered an interview at a medical school, I would like to congratulate you on that accomplishment. Getting offered an interview is not easy and is a great sign that the school is interested in you. Once you are offered an interview, you have a much higher chance of getting accepted to that medical school. That is why it is really important that you are prepared and do everything you can to put your best foot forward. In this article I will go over the most important keys to being ready for any medical school interview!

1. Research the school

This is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your interview goes the right way. Its an absolutely necessary step and one that will completely ruin your interview if you don’t do it. Make sure to research the school you are being interviewed at thoroughly. You want to be able to give a presentation on that school if you have to. Also knowing some interesting things about the city that the school is in can be a nice touch to many interviewers. Its super important to have specific reasons why you want to attend their school. I repeat myself, make sure you know exactly why you want to go to their school. Is it their awesome clinical locations? Is there something about their curriculum you like? Do you value their mission statement as a school? It is up to you to convince the school that you love their school for what it uniquely is!

2. Study your own Primary and Secondary application

Often times you will have to do an open-file interview, which means that you will be asked questions about either your primary or secondary application. Anything written in there is fair game! So make sure you know everything you said and be prepared for any questions. That is also why its important to only add things to your application that you are passionate about and can talk about with confidence. If you dont remember something you put on your application, that actually could be the difference between you getting accepted or not depending on what it is. You don’t want to give the admissions committee any reasons to not accept you.

3. Prepare for common interview questions

This one seems like a no brainer but many people dont actually practice for common questions they might be asked. Would you give a powerpoint presentation without ever practicing? Probably not. You want to be prepared to answer any question they might ask you in a professional way. Of course you dont want your answers to sound like they are canned and rehearsed, but by practicing them ahead of time it will actually come out way more professionally. When you answer these common interview questions, give answers that have some real substance to them and if possible relate it to specific things about that school.

Here is what I suggest: To prepare for common interview questions, check out our list of interview questions and copy them into a word document. Then type out the best answers you can to each of them. Then once you have answered all the interview questions, practice them.

Check out 45 common interview questions that medical schools might ask you!

4. Prepare proper clothing attire ahead of time

This also seems obvious but you would be surprised at how some of the other candidates dress to their interview. You dont want to be that one candidate who comes wearing something that is too casual. You are here to impress and be professional. There really is no downside to dressing as professionally as you can. Make sure you try on any suit or dress before taking it to the interview. If possible get it fitted to you. You want to do this several weeks ahead of the interview date if possible. Having your proper attire read ahead of time also allows you to do more realistic mock interviews, which we will talk about in a bit. If you dont dress to impress then you are hurting your chances!

5. Create a list of questions you want to ask

This is one of the things that is least considered by pre-meds who are interviewing. Having a list of questions to ask not only helps you to learn more about the school, it also shows the interviewers that you have took the time to come up with questions and that you are serious about their school. Make sure the questions are not too broad but instead are very specific to their program. Once again, showing that you have researched their school looks good on you.

6. Create a medical school interview cheatsheet for that school

This is actually my personal secret to medical school interview success! I make a “cheat sheet” for each school I am interviewed at that helps me be prepared for that specific interview. This cheatsheet is supposed to help you remember the most important things about that school and to say. A medical school cheatsheet would be a document that contains the answers to all of the common medical school interview questions specific to that school, important facts and information about the medical school, questions to ask during your interview, and any other relevant information. For more information on making a good medical school interview cheatsheet read this article!

Download an outline cheatsheet for your interview now!

7. Do mock interviews

The last way to be prepared for your medical school interview is to do a mock interview! You should do this after you have done all the other steps, especially after creating your interview cheat sheet. Now is the time to put it all together and learn what you need to fix for interview day. Are you too fidgety as you sit? Do you make good eye contact? Do you speak with confidence? How well do your answers come out? Make sure to identify your weaknesses and fix them before your interview! Make sure that your mock interviews are done in as realistic environment as possible. Find a formal location to do it at, wear your business attire, and have your interviewer also act and dress professionally. The more realistic the mock interview, the more of a benefit.

If you do all of these preparations, I am confident that your interview will go smooth! Its all about preparation. Never ever underestimate the value and power of preparation. You will know when you are ready for your interview. You will feel prepared and confident going into it. So until you feel prepared and confident, keep preparing more! And remember, you deserve to be at this interview! Now go and let those schools know why you are going to be an incredible doctor!

Tell us what you think by leaving a comment down below! For more pre-med tips and advice, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, twitter, and pinterest!

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