MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC

Medical School Admissions: Your Premed Advisor is Important!

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:23:41 +0000

Some undergraduate and postbaccalaureate premed advisors are excellent and experienced while others don’t really understand the medical school admissions process and are overwhelmed with the number of students they must help. Nonetheless, if you have a premed advisor who will be responsible for writing your committee letter or sending our your letter packet, you must keep her “in the loop” and involved in your application process, whatever her skill set and insight.

Premed advisors may also advocate for students both on the premedical committee and during the admissions process. Therefore, even if you don’t think highly of your premed advisor, you must still be respectful and considerate towards her and be sure she is aware of your plans. Meet with your premed advisor periodically during your undergraduate career because your success will be partly dependent on her efforts.

This is an excerpt from The MedEdits Guide to Medical School Admissions, a best-seller on Amazon!

Medical School Reapplicant?

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:54:59 +0000

If you applied to medical school this past year and don’t yet have an acceptance, now is the time to decide if you will reapply. MedEdits provides Reapplication Analysis services which can offer tremendous insight, alleviate stress, and give you the direction you need as you consider a reapplication.

We also encourage you to read the previously published article and post, Why are medical school applicants rejected?

ERAS 2013 Changes

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:15:52 +0000

Beginning in the Fall of 2012, the Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE) release date and the Electronic Residency Application Service transmission opening date will be two weeks apart instead of the usual two months apart. The MSPE release is scheduled for October 1st instead of the usual November 1st, and programs can start downloading residency applications from ERAS on September 15th instead of the usual September 1st. Clients have been asking me how these changes might impact them and the overall competitive landscape for the residency match.

Traditionally, “less” competitive programs and specialties tended to review applications starting on the September 1st ERAS opening before they had the November 1st MSPE release so as to ensure they “locked in” the best applicants for interviews.

However, more competitive specialities, such as dermatology, orthopaedic surgery and otolaryngology, often waited until after the November 1st release of the MSPE to review applications. Applicants to these more competitive specialties therefore often delayed submitting their applications and letters of reference since they knew, in all likelihood, that doing so would not put them at a disadvantage.

By moving the ERAS transmission and MSPE release dates closer together, programs will be able to review applicants more “holistically” by using all applicant data. It will be interesting to see if the ERAS and MSPE date changes motivate even the most competitive specialty residency programs to review applications early.

Given these changes, I advise all 2012 residency applicants, regardless of specialty to submit their residency applications as close to September 15th as possible.

AMCAS 2013 Application

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:08:20 +0000

The AMCAS 2013 Application opens on May 1st!

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) has officially announced some important dates for 2013:

Tuesday, May 1st: 2013 AMCAS Application Opens
Tuesday, June 5th: Application Submission Begins
Friday, June 29th: Applicant Data Transmitted to Medical Schools

AMCAS must verify your application before it can be submitted to medical schools (the earliest date is June 29th). Therefore, you should submit your application, and all supporting materials such as transcripts and letters of reference, as close to June 5th as possible.

AMCAS has posted an extremely helpful video about the 2013 application. All medical school applicants should watch this before they apply!!!

Medical School Letter of Intent

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:46:26 +0000

If you are waitlisted at your top-choice medical school, it is important to write a persuasive letter of intentthat conveys your sincere interest. Read this previous post on letters of intent.

If you need help with your letter of intent, we are happy to help. You can purchase letter of intent editing here: http://www.mededits.com/document-editing/

Getting Into Medical School

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:31:37 +0000

Watch our video about Getting into Medical School on MedEdits YouTube channel, MedEdits Academy! Subscribe to MedEdits Academy to watch our growing suite of informative videos.

MedEdits Residency Matches

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:22:06 +0000

Congratulations to all MedEdits residency clients who matched this year. While many of our clients had “flawless” candidacies, we are also happy to report that those with challenges also did well. MedEdits residency clients this year included second and third time residency applicants, Caribbean medical students, non-US citizen international medical graduates, and students who had failed their USMLE exams. MedEdits applicants matched in specialties such as dermatology, orthopaedic surgery, general surgery, anesthesiology, ophthalmology, emergency medicine, and internal medicine. Our clients’ success reflects their dedication and commitment to compose the most effective personal statements and applications and to prepare well for interviews, taking nothing for granted in this competitive process. If you or someone you know wants similar results, please have them contact us for assistance.

Medical School Application: How to write effective documents

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:40:36 +0000

When composing your medical school application, remember that content is more important than writing skill.

Medical school admissions committees are not looking for the next literary prize winner and will not examine your written work with a fine tooth comb. While you should take pains to avoid obvious errors, submitting an essay fit for publication could even seem suspect unless you have a writing background. Medical school admissions committees are most concerned with your overall message and meaning, and submitting materials that are over-edited or beyond your verbal abilities might do more harm than good because your actual abilities could become evident during interviews.

A few tips to improve your personal statement and application entries:

1) Don’t use cliches.

2) Avoid flowery language.

3) Don’t use “big” words to sound impressive when simpler language will communicate your points as effectively.

4) Write sparingly. Analyze each word and sentence and make sure it adds value to your work.

5) “Show” by using examples and anecdotes rather than “telling” about experiences.

6) Use an active voice. Avoid a passive voice.

This is an excerpt from The MedEdits Guide to Medical School Admissions where you will find many more useful tips and examples of personal statements, application entries, secondary essays, and letters of intent.

If you need help with your admissions documents, consider working with MedEdits.

Match Day!

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:31:59 +0000

It’s Match Day! Congratulations to everyone matching today from MedEdits!

If you worked with us this year, please let us know where you match!

AMCAS Application: What will you write?

MedEdits Medical Admissions, LLC — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 11:39:12 +0000

As we approach the June opening of the AMCAS application, you may find yourself thinking about what you will write and trying to formulate how you will express why you want to become a physician. Go ahead and start journaling, or jotting, in whatever format suits you. Even several words scribbled on a scrap of paper can lead to your personal statement. For the technophiles out there, there are tons of writer’s apps (Evernote, Infinote Pinboard, Private Journal) that can aid you. If you are old fashioned, use Post-its or whatever is available, but whatever the format keep a folder with all these thoughts. Or if your ideas crystallize during a run or drive, call and leave yourself a voicemail. Often the very best ideas come in the night or during a bike ride or yoga class so make sure to be diligent about capturing them over the upcoming weeks. Just get the words down and keep them coming.

Having this cache of thoughts makes it much easier to create your medical school personal statement, application entries, and secondary essays. If you start scribbling early, you will have several pertinent ideas to work from—a better situation than having to sit down in front of a blank screen.

In many ways this preparation for medical school is good practice for medical school itself as well as your future career. As a medical student, the ability to reflect on your interactions with your patients – through writing or journaling – leads to deeper understanding of them and the doctor-patient relationship. Writing about these insights is a valuable skill that will enhance your education and your ability to communicate with your patients and colleagues.

Read examples of personal statements, application entries, and secondary essays in The MedEdits Guide to Medical School Admissions.

Good luck from MedEdits.

By Laurie Tansey, MA