MedEdits Podcast

How to get off a medical school waitlist medical school admissions consulting 00:59 More and more medical schools are offering waitlist decisions to students rather than acceptances.   01:42 If you're at a medical school interview and you know communications are encouraged send a letter of intent.   02:21 Simple guidelines to get off a medical school waitlist.   02:51 October 15 are when initial acceptances go out. 03:15 The most common thing you know that students do is to write a letter of intent. 5:05 Why are these letters of intent so influential 05:43 What should you write in a letter of intent. 07:31 Do not write more than one letter of intent. Remember, the letter of intent is NOT legally binding 08:18 So paragraph number one: let the reader know when you interviewed you want to remind them about who you are. 08:31 Next, in this paragraph state clearly that the school is your top choice. 08:44 Paragraphs two and three: express why you were interested in the medical school and how you will contribute to the community. 09:18 Paragraph four: update the school on any recent accomplishments of which they might not be aware. 09:30 Paragraph five, close your letter briefly reiterating your enthusiasm for the school and expressing again that you will attend if accepted. 09:39 To whom should you address the letter 10:27 Send in additional letters of reference. So many students over the course of the application year meet new professors or mentors. 11:49 What you do over the course of that year can really help you get in to the medical school of your choice. 12:32 So most waitlist conversions to acceptances won't happen until late May even June. Okay, so we definitely find that for students. 12:44 March to June is is an especially difficult time in the medical school admissions process. 13:05 Medical students are required to only hold one medical school acceptance offer.   14:55 Follow the guidelines i've outlined here and send letters of intent.   15:01 Send in additional letters of reference   Related Articles:   Increase Your Chances of Medical School Admissions in the Winter Months, https://bit.ly/348r3PK     Website: www.mededits.com   Social Media   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedEdits/  Twitter:   https://bit.ly/2W3Q8H9 Instagram: https://bit.ly/2q4Acdb Subscribe to the MedEdits' YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2u63WER The MedEdits’ Podcast: https://apple.co/2OhtdG3   FREE Advising Consultation Free 15 minute consultation: https://mededits.com/free-15-sign-up/        

01:07  It is important to provide medical schools with more evidence that you are an excellent candidate. What can you do to try to get more medical school interviews and to convince a medical school that you are a great candidate?     01:26  The first thing you can do is you can send a medical school update letter.    01:45  You can have additional letters of reference sent into your medical schools.    01:51  Recruit a “medical school applicant advocate.”     02:02  Medical school update letters.    02:13  UPDATE letters and letter's of interest always come together.     02:44  Are volunteering somewhere? Have you had interesting observations? All of this can potentially influence a medical schools decision.    03:01  Tell the medical schools about your recent accomplishments and you also want to express your specific interest in the medical school.    03:38  Maybe you want to write something about the clinical sites or the clinical departments that really interest you.    03:45  Maybe there are some researchers who are doing research in your area of interest.    05:15  New letters of reference. If you're in school. That's usually an easy place to get additional letters of reference.    05:26  If you're doing research and your principal investigator has not yet sent in the letter of reference. That's a great person to ask.     06:09  To try to get more medical school interviews. Recruit an advocate, somebody who is going to call medical school admissions offices.    06:56  We find that these types of advocacy phone calls are actually the most influential in terms of getting applicants additional medical school interviews.       08:21  Now, when should you start worrying about not having any medical school interviews?    08:32  If you don't have any medical school interviews after the new year, it’s time to reevaluate.     09:08  We have an evaluation of students: what can be done differently such as you need to broaden your school list.    10:04  In early winter send letters of interest, update letters and additional letters of reference. Get advocates to call admissions offices.This will get students additional medical school interviews     10:24   There is definitely a lot you can do to get more interviews.    11:17  How to improve your candidacy for the following year.    11:23  So we always welcome questions from our audiences and from our students. So always feel free to email us at info@mededits.com, and visit our website at www.mededits.com    Related Articles:    Interview Season Strategy: Calling Other Medical Schools Or Residency Programs If You Will Be “In The Area” For Another Interview, https://bit.ly/2qrETxT    Increase Your Chances of Medical School Admissions in the Winter Months, https://bit.ly/348r3PK      Social Media    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedEdits/    Twitter:   https://bit.ly/2W3Q8H9  Instagram: https://bit.ly/2q4Acdb  Subscribe to the MedEdits' YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2u63WER  The MedEdits’ Podcast: https://apple.co/2OhtdG3     FREE Advising Consultation    Free 15 minute consultation: https://mededits.com/free-15-sign-up/ 

Dr Jessica Freedman discusses the fundamentals of writing a medical school personal statement and provides medical school personal statement examples on how to write a good medical school personal statement   How To: Master The Med School Personal Statement   Your medical school personal statement is a crucial opportunity to show medical schools who you are as an individual, the major influences and background that have shaped your interests and values, what inspired you to pursue medicine, and what kind of a physician you envision yourself becoming. But with tight limits on space, it can be tough trying to decide what to include. So think strategically about how you want to present your personal “big picture.”   When a medical school admissions reviewer finishes reading your personal statement, what are the most important things you want that person to remember about you? Does it sum up your personality, interests, and talents? Does it sound as if it’s written from the heart? It’s pretty obvious to most admissions reviewers when applicants are trying too hard to impress them. Being authentic and upfront about who you are is the best way to be a memorable applicant.   What Is The Medical School Personal Statement and how to write a medical school personal statement.   The medical school personal statement is the major essay portion of your primary application. In it, you should describe yourself and your background, as well as any important early exposures to medicine, how and why medicine first piqued your interest, and how you became increasingly fascinated with it. It’s also key to explain why medicine is the right career for you, in terms of both personal and intellectual fulfillment, and to show your commitment has continued to deepen as you learned more about the field.   The personal statement also offers you the opportunity to express who you are outside of medicine. What are your other interests? Where did you grow up? What did you enjoy about college? Figuring out what aspects of your background to highlight is important since this is one of your only chances to express to the admissions committee before your interview what is important to you and why.   The next paragraph should be reserved for describing any post-college activities, including employment, research, volunteer work, internships, etc. Make sure you leave room for a strong, upbeat conclusion that sums up all the highlights of your pursuit of medicine, and that clearly conveys your passion for and dedication to the field.   How to write a medical school personal statement   If possible, start your statement off with an anecdote that ties into your interest in medicine. This could be a medical event that happened to you or a family member, or a patient with whom you had a special bond. Other topics include an experience that challenged or changed your perspective about medicine; a mentor or another inspiring individual; a difficult personal experience; or obstacles that you’ve had to overcome. Whatever it is, turn it into a mini story, and make it personal and exciting, pulling the reader into your journey immediately.   In your writing, try to balance your intellectual curiosity about the clinical and scientific side of medicine – the “hard” side of medicine – with the “soft” side, the human element. Even if your main goal is to be a physician scientist, it’s absolutely critical to establish your compassion and empathy for patients, and to make it clear you can establish a connection with many different types of people. Along the same lines, it’s a good idea to offer some examples of your cultural competence – your openness to the different perspectives, cultures and backgrounds your patients will undoubtedly have.   Additional medical school personal statement tips:   Related Article: Best Medical Schools by State, https://mededits.com/state-medical-school-information/   Related Article: Successful Med School Personal Statement Examples Stand out from the crowd with these valuable tips. https://mededits.com/medical-school-personal-statement/medical-school-personal-statements-that-can-beat-52323-applications/   Related Article: How to Write: AMCAS Personal Statement, https://mededits.com/medical-school-admissions/personal-statement-amcas/   Related Article: How To: Master The Med School Personal Statement, https://mededits.com/medical-school-admissions/personal-statement/   MSAR:   https://bit.ly/2PoVN7E   MedEdits Blog: https://mededits.com/blog/   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MedEdits/ Twitter: https://bit.ly/2W3Q8H9 Instagram: https://bit.ly/2VX4d96   FREE Medical School Personal Statement Consultation Free 15 minute consultation: https://mededits.com/free-15-sign-up/ Subscribe to the MedEdits' YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2u63WER