Podcasts about aacomas

Show Summary In this episode, Linda Abraham discusses successful secondary applications for medical school. She highlights the key differences between primary and secondary applications and provides 6 tips for submitting a successful secondary application. Additionally, Linda offers practical advice on when to submit and how to write concisely to meet word or character limits as well as how to check these crucial documents before you hit SUBMIT.  Show Notes Welcome to the 578th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Thanks for tuning in. Are you ready to apply to your dream medical schools? Are you competitive at your target programs? Accepted's Med School Admissions Quiz will give you a quick reality check. Just go to accepted.com/medquiz, complete the quiz, and you will not only get an assessment of your chances, but tips on how to improve them. And it's all free.  Today is going to be a solo show, and we're going to be discussing successful secondaries. Given that the show is airing on May 28th and AMCAS is just starting to process the primary applications today, I think the show is extraordinarily timely. You can't submit your secondaries yet if you don't have them, but for those of you who submitted or will submit early, in other words, your primary application sometime in June, this show really couldn't be better timed. For those of you planning to submit later in the cycle, you can take advantage of it as soon as you submit your primary applications, and there may be even a tip or two for you regarding the primary in the course of the show. So if you are in either group, perhaps you submit it today or will submit very shortly, or perhaps you're the parent or significant other of someone in either of these two groups, in other words, somebody submitting early or somebody submitting later in this cycle, congratulations, you or a very important person to you is progressing down the path to medical school and achievement of his or her career dreams. Now, applicants still have a long, grueling journey in front of them, but the next leg consists of the secondary applications, and that's the topic of today's show, which as I mentioned, I'm going to present. It's going to be a solo show. Going back to the timeliness part of the show, once you have submitted your primary, give yourself a day or two off. Don't even think about medical school applications. If you have to study, study for school. If you can take a break, take a break, go to the beach, go for a hike, do whatever you love to do, and then start pre-writing your secondaries. You had your break, get back to business. Secondary application questions tend to change little from year to year, and one thing that is very consistent is that they come in a deluge, and if you can have drafts of essays ready for final tweaks for the programs that you are most interested in, especially if those programs automatically send out secondaries without any screening, you'll have a much easier time when those secondary applications start raining down upon you. And your essay responses – your applications – will probably be of better quality if at least some or most of those essays are pre-written and written at a time when you don't have the time pressure you're inevitably going to experience when the deluge starts. Primary vs. secondary applications [3:51] Now, let's start by discussing conceptually what secondary applications are and the similarities and differences between them and the primary applications that you have been working so hard on or will be shortly working so hard on. For those of you new to the process, for MD applicants, secondary applications are sent out after medical schools have received your AMCAS or your primary application. It could be the AACOMAS, the TMDSAS... Actually, I think TDMDSAS doesn't send secondaries. It does it simultaneously. But for MD applicants, secondary applications are sent out after medical scho...

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Episode 96. This episode is based on the 2024 application cycle. Some dates for deadlines may change from year to year; however, many of the details of the application itself will remain the same, so this episode is helpful if you applying during future application years as well! Pay attention to the date when schools can start reviewing your application. Aim to have your application submitted and verified by that date so that you can be in the first batch of applications. It may take weeks for your application to be verified, so the earlier you can submit, the better. If you don't have everything ready in time for that date, it is still worth applying that cycle, but you are likely not to receive as many invitations for secondaries and interviews. Most schools have rolling deadlines and will continue to review applications after the initial release. Work on your personal comments essay (personal statement) and the work & activities section ahead of time. You don't have to wait for the application to open before drafting these statements. These essays are one of the most important if not the most important part of your application, so it is very much worth it to invest in professional services to look over this part of your application. See episode 92 for more tips for the personal statement and a timeline of the application season. Make sure you enter your coursework correctly by referring to your official transcript so that there are no errors that could delay your application's verification. Works & Activities on AMCAS: 15 experiences, 700 characters each (select 3 as most meaningful with an extra 1325 characters) Experience types: Clinical Community Service, Non-Clinical Community Service, Extracurricular Activities, Leadership, Clinical Employment, Non-Clinical Employment, Shadowing, Research, Presentations/Posters, Publications, Advocacy, Teaching/Tutoring, Hobbies, Artistic Endeavors, Honors/Awards, Athletics, Conferences, Military Service, Other AACOMAS Experiences section: unlimited experiences, maximum 5 achievements, 600 characters each Experience types: Healthcare experience, Non-Healthcare Employment, Non-Healthcare Volunteering, Extracurriculars, Research, Teaching For more info, visit AAMC.org and AACOM.org Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod First Line is created and hosted by Dr. Aubrey Ann Jackson. Visit First Line's website where you can view blog posts: https://poddcaststudios.wixsite.com/firstlinepodcast For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline First Line is on Instagram @firstlinepodcast and on Facebook www.facebook.com/firstlinepodcast You can also reach First Line via email at firstlinepodcast@yahoo.com Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.

This week's episode is a talk-through guide for Penn State students to request their Penn State transcripts and how to send them to Liaison-based common application services such as CASPA, AACOMAS, PTCAS, AADSAS, OptomCAS, AACPMAS, etc. This is a super short episode.

This week's episode is a talk-through guide for Penn State students to request their Penn State transcripts and how to send them to AMCAS. This is a super short episode. Next week, we will have another super short episode walking through this same process but for Liaison-based application systems (CASPA, AACOMAS, PTCAS, AADSAS, OptomCAS, AACPMAS, etc.).AUDIO:INTRO Song was Fun Life by FASSoundsOUTRO Song was Best Time by FASSoundsACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The Penn State PreHealth Podcast is a production of the PreHealth Advising Office in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. It is produced, edited, and promoted by the PreHealth Advising Team. The views, opinions, and advice shared during this podcast are that of the hosts and any guests only and do not necessarily reflect the best advice for every student at every institution for every health profession. This is a non-profit podcast made for the purpose of better serving pre-health students across the university system.

Episode 92. What should I be doing each month for my application and preparation for interviews? What topics should I write about in my personal statement? How can I stick out as an applicant? Medical School Application Personal Statement Editing Service: ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/share/8YmpP4⁠ The Princeton Review has stated that at some schools the personal statement accounts for over 60% of your total admission score. AMCAS: opens May 2nd for 2024 cycle. Submission begins May 30th. Transmission to medical schools June 30th. AACOMAS: opens May 4th. Schools start to receive apps June 15th. Application season calendar: April- write your personal statement and think about what you want to include in your work and activities section  May- finalize your personal statement and get multiple rounds of editing and proofreading if you haven't already, work on getting letters of recommendations in and getting a copy of your transcript, finalize the list of schools you'll be applying to June- finalize your application (if you haven't already), prepare for secondary essays July- write secondary essays and submit them as quickly as possible, start preparing for interviews by doing a few mock sessions August (to as late as April)- interviews My personal statement tips: You have 5300 characters. Use them wisely! If you are describing a patient, stick to 2 sentences max. If you are using a quote, it shouldn't take up more than one line of text. The statement should truly answer the question of why you want to be a physician. Back this up with your qualities and experience while telling your unique story. Be cautious about reading samples online. Use stream of consciousness writing. If you're an external processor, it may help to brainstorm with someone.  Don't think you need to have a 3-pronged thesis or a 5 paragraph format. It should be in whatever format makes the most sense. Reflect on your experiences instead of just stating things that you've done.  You need a separate statement if you are applying to MD and DO. You may be filtered out from DO schools if you don't address your interest in osteopathic medicine specifically. Don't be content with an average personal statement. Your essay is among thousands that each school is reading through. The editing process is crucial. Don't make the mistake of proofreading yourself when you could've invested in a professional or asked a mentor to take a look and made your statement that much better to land more interviews. Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠  First Line is created and hosted by Aubrey Ann Jackson. Website: https://poddcaststudios.wixsite.com/firstlinepodcast Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and then rate and review the show!  For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/ and code: firstline First Line is on Instagram @firstlinepodcast and on Facebook www.facebook.com/firstlinepodcast You can also reach First Line via email at firstlinepodcast@yahoo.com Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Please see your primary care physician (DO or MD) for any medical concerns you have. All ideas expressed are individual ideas of the host and do not represent any organizations the host is linked to.

Episode 81. Listen for tips on crafting your resume or CV! You may need a CV while pre-med (for leadership positions, internships/co-ops, work-study, volunteering experiences with organizations, scholarship apps, and eventually the AMCAS and AACOMAS) and while in medical school (research, leadership, letters of recommendation, chair letters, applications for away rotations/audition rotations/sub-Is, award applications, MSPE (Dean's letter), and ERAS applications). Editing Service and One-on-One Consultation for Pre-Med and Medical Students (CV, personal statement, applications): ⁠https://www.fiverr.com/firstlinepod⁠  Visit First Line's website and blog: ⁠https://poddcaststudios.wixsite.com/firstlinepodcast⁠ For a discount off your TrueLearn subscription use link: ⁠https://truelearn.referralrock.com/l/firstline/⁠ and code: firstline Instagram: @firstlinepodcast Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/firstlinepodcast⁠ Email: firstlinepodcast@yahoo.com Content on First Line is for educational and informational purposes only, not as medical advice. Views expressed are my own and do not represent any organizations I am associated with.

The AACOMAS personal statement is required as part of your DO school application. Your personal statement gives admissions committees information about why you chose osteopathic medicine and why you want to be a doctor. Before you sit down to write your own statement, learn how to craft a perfect AACOMAS personal statement with this podcast and take time to listen to some outstanding AACOMAS personal statement examples to get inspiration for your own!

An inside look at the NYMC MD program and how to get accepted [Show Summary] New York Medical College's MD program offers students robust clinical experiences and ongoing academic and career mentoring. Dr. Karen Murray, Associate Dean of Admissions, gives an inside scoop on how students can get accepted to this competitive program. Interview with Dr. Karen Murray, Associate Dean of Admissions for the SOM at NYMC [Show Notes] Welcome to the 474th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Thanks for tuning in. Calculating your GPA for med school can be difficult, especially if you are applying via AMCAS, AACOMAS and/or TMDSAS. However, Accepted has a free tool that can really help you. Using our brand new and free GPA calculator, just enter your classes and credits to calculate your GPA. If you are a couple of years away from applying, you can download the GPA calculator spreadsheet and assess the impact of your grades as you earn them. Or you can calculate the impact of different anticipated grades and see what your GPA will be if you ace that course, or if you take a hit. Just download the spreadsheet template at accepted.com/medgpa, and you can use and update it as needed. Plus it's free. Try the Premed GPA Calculator Our guest today is Dr. Karen Murray, Associate Dean of Admissions for the School of Medicine at New York Medical College. Dr. Murray graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's in Biology and Biological Sciences. She immediately started medical school at NYMC and graduated in 1991. She then did her residency in OB/GYN also at NYMC and has been an attending physician and Associate Professor at NYMC since 2003. She became the Associate Dean for Admissions for the School of Medicine at NYMC in 2018.  Can you give us an overview of NYMC's approach to medical education focusing on its more distinctive elements? [2:23] New York Medical College has recently undergone a revamping of its curriculum. This was geared toward the changes that are happening with the USMLE. Unlike the traditional medical school where you had two years of full, straight lecture courses followed by two years of clinical, we are actually starting our clinicals early.  They start out during the first year with the fundamentals, which go from August to March. Then, starting in March of your first year, you start your systems. Your systems-based learning goes from April of your first year and continues through to February of your second year. Usually somewhere between the end of February and March, you take the Step 1, and immediately after that, you start your clinicals. Your clinicals start in April of your second year and run through into your fourth year and graduation. We've put a little bit more clinical in there and start the clinical a little earlier. A lot of students go to medical school because they really want to put that white coat on and get out and start seeing patients. You do see some of that in your first year during your fundamentals. You may have a preceptor you meet with once a week. Then your core clinical rotations start at the end of your second year like prior to getting into the third year. So students have a little bit more than two years of clinical rotations? [3:54] Absolutely. Yes. Is there anything that you would like listeners to know about New York Medical College or perhaps a myth that you would like to dispel? [4:10] New York Medical College follows a holistic review of the application and the applicant. This is something that comes from AMCAS where we use the E-A-M model which stands for Experience-Attributes-Metrics and each is weighted equally. Your experience comes from whatever kind of medical research clinical experience you may have that you put in your application. Your metrics are pretty obvious. That would be your MCAT or your GPA. Your attributes come from your personal statement, the MMI interview, and any letters of recommendation that you have.

Hello Medsters, today we go over the three different medical school applications AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS.  Tune in for information on what you need in the applications and helpful tips when applying.

Interested in a spot in Tulane SOM? Hear all about what the program has to offer [Show Summary] Set in vibrant New Orleans, the Tulane School of Medicine offers students an outstanding medical education with opportunities for community involvement and research. Mike Woodson, Director of Admissions, explains what it takes to get accepted to this competitive program. Mike Woodson, Director Of Admissions at Tulane University School of Medicine talks about how to get accepted [Show Notes] Welcome to the 469th episode of Admissions Straight Talk, thanks for tuning in. Calculating your GPA for medical school can be difficult. You've got the science GPA, the overall GPA, and it's particularly difficult if you're applying via AMCAS, AACOMAS and/or TMDSAS. However, Accepted has you covered. Our free tool can really help you. It's brand new and it's a free GPA calculator. You can download the template to your computer or laptop and use it as you wish. You simply enter your classes and credits to calculate your GPA and sign GPA. If you're a couple of years away from applying, you can download the GPA calculator spreadsheet, enter your classes and assess the impact of your grades as you earn them, or you can calculate the impact of different anticipated grades. Just download the spreadsheet template at accepted.com/medgpa and you can use and update it as needed. Plus it's all free. Our guest today is Mike Woodson, Director of Admissions at Tulane University School of Medicine. Mike earned his BA at Elon University and an MS in Sports Management from Virginia Commonwealth. He's very close to earning his PhD in Higher Education Administration from Liberty University. After working for several years in high school athletics, Mike moved into the admissions world at Randolph-Macon College. He then was Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Houston and came to Tulane Medical in 2017 as Assistant Director of Admissions. In 2019, he became the Director of Admissions.  Can you give us an overview of Tulane Medical's approach to med ed, focusing on the more distinctive elements? [2:26] Every medical school has its own features, characteristics, mission, values, etc. Tulane University School of Medicine really focuses on whole body preventative medicine. We're in the heart of New Orleans and we focus on serving the underserved population. Our school has 20+ student-run clinics. We have a culinary medicine center that helps our students learn and also has ties with the community. We conduct research that also helps the population here in New Orleans. Our tagline is, “We heal communities, we heal people” and all of that fits strongly into our mission.  What would you like listeners to know about Tulane Medical that many applicants don't realize? Are there any myths that you would like to dispel? [3:28] If you're known for one thing, people just assume that you don't do the other thing. We are known for our community service and our student-run clinics so people just assume we don't have any research opportunities. That's far from the truth. As I said earlier, we do have a lot of research that really focuses on the populations we serve here. We have an aging center, a cancer center, and also the Louisiana Cancer Centers right across the street from us. Our students really get opportunities in both those areas. We do have a primate center where we have a lot of primary research going on there. Our latest thing that we just got a huge grant for is developing a whooping cough vaccine. How does New Orleans impact the student experience at Tulane Medical? [5:18] It's interesting because if anyone has been to New Orleans, they'll know it is a very culturally diverse city. It's very laid-back. The culture of the city actually seeps into our medical school. We don't take ourselves too seriously here. During Mardi Gras festivals, you'll see faculty members and students having fun together.

What to do if you have no interviews [Show summary] What do you do if you still haven't heard back from medical schools by Thanksgiving? In this episode, podcast host Linda Abraham shares how students can pursue parallel tracks to expand their opportunities. Linda Abraham's advice for med school applicants who still haven't received interview invitations [Show notes] Welcome to the 445th episode of Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted's podcast. Thanks for tuning in.  I decided to do a solo show today. This is my second in a row, but don't worry we're going to go back to normal interview programming next week. This show is aimed at our premed listeners, but I think there is value to other applicant groups as well in listening in. But the focus today will be on medical school this time.  As I mentioned, this is Thanksgiving week, a short week, and I have something timely to discuss, so I'm going to share it. I'm also going to keep this podcast a little shorter than usual in honor of the short week and also because I think I can cover the topic in less time and I'm not going to keep you on the podcast for no good reason. I'm going to dive into our timely topic in just a second.  The freebie we're offering with today's show couldn't be more relevant to today's topic. One common reason for no interviews or ultimately rejection for medical school applicants is that they simply aimed too high. And you have to ask yourself, were you really competitive at your target programs? If you're aiming ahead, are you competitive at your target programs? Accepted's Med School Admissions Calculator can give you a quick reality check. Just go to accepted.com/medquiz, complete the quiz, and you not only get an assessment, but tips on how to improve your chances of acceptance. Plus, it's all free. Recent admission stats [2:38] Now, let's face it. It's hard to get into medical school. The process is long, difficult and grueling. In my opinion, of all the graduate and professional programs, it has the most demanding process. One of the difficult parts of it, by the way, is the utter silence at this stage of the game. But leaving that aside for the moment, acceptance rates support my contention. The AAMC reports applicants aiming for the class that entered in 2020, where I strongly suspect acceptance rates were higher than this past cycle that entered in 2021, enjoyed a 41.9% acceptance rate overall. That means that most applicants were rejected. And the news from AACOMAS is even worse. The most recent data, which is only for 2018, shows that of 20,981 applicants to 20 DO programs, 7,415 were accepted. That's a 35.34% acceptance rate. In other words, almost two thirds were rejected. Now, this data is all for the classes that applied before COVID. It is not for the class that applied through the pandemic when the so-called Fauci effect is believed to have contributed to a surge in medical school applications, the recession probably also had some role to play. What medical schools are looking for beyond grades [3:57] Most admissions directors whom I have spoken with are still seeing a high level of applications this year, but AMC data is not yet available for last year's cycle or for this one. Of course, while we're talking about stats and numbers, the focus tends to be on GPA and MCAT but medical school admissions aren't just about stats. Medical school admissions offices are very serious about holistic review. In my many interviews with medical school Admissions Directors and Deans, when I ask them, "How do you winnow it down? How do you choose from the thousands who apply to the few hundred who get interviewed and then maybe one or two hundred who are accepted?" The answer almost always is: your essays, your experiences, and your writing. They're looking at what you've put in the application, not just the grades and the stats. So in addition to competitive grades and MCAT, which you definitely do need,

With AMCAS and AACOMAS opening this week, we wish everyone who is applying this cycle the best of luck!  In this episode, Viji sits down with Carmen Zavala, an incoming MD/PhD student. Carmen describes her motivation for pursuing this rigorous dual degree, including having participated in neuroscience research during undergrad. She describes the process of applying to MD/PhD programs and how it compares to regular MD and DO programs. She also discusses the structure of MD/PhD programs and gives tips for success for students interested in this dual degree. Listen to this episode to learn all about MD/PhD programs, and the resilience needed to become a physician scientist!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lasya-marla/message

The medical school interview process is filled with fear and doubt. Take a listen to hear 5 common questions and learn how to answer them so you're prepared. Links:https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-232-struggling-to-choose-a-specialty-he-started-podcasting/ (Full Episode Blog Post) http://www.undifferentiatedmedicalstudent.com/ (The Undifferentiated Medical Student) may be heard on https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-undifferentiated-medical-student/id1173721448?mt=2 (iTunes), http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ian-drummond/the-undifferentiated-medical-student (Stitcher), and https://player.fm/series/the-undifferentiated-medical-student (Google Play). http://mededmedia.com/ (MedEd Media Network) https://www.aamc.org/cim/ (Careers in Medicine – AAMC) https://www.extension.harvard.edu/ (Harvard University Extension School) https://www.examkrackers.com/ (Examkrackers) https://www.khanacademy.org/ (Khan Academy) https://case.edu/medicine/ (Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine) https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/applying-medical-school-amcas/ (AMCAS) http://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/applying (AACOMAS) ryan@medicalschoolhq.net

Ian is a 4th year med student who didn't know what he wanted to do when he grew up, so he created a podcast to help him and others with the same struggles. Links:https://medicalschoolhq.net/pmy-231-how-to-prepare-for-your-medical-school-interview/ (Full Episode Blog Post) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-premed-playbook-guide-to-the-medical-school-interview-ryan-gray-md/1124599867?ean=9781683502159 (The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview) (Pre-order the paperback version of the The Premed Playbook on Barnes and Noble before June 6. Upload the receipt here and we will give you one-month free access to the Anytime Mock Interview platform.) http://cramfighter.com/ (Cram Fighter) (Create custom MCAT study schedule specific to your needs, your materials, your schedule. Use the Promo Code PREMED25 to save 25% off any of their regularly priced plans until May 7, 2017.) https://medicalschoolhq.net/mshq-019-interview-with-a-medical-school-interview-and-admissions-expert/ (The Premed Years Podcast Session 19: Interview with a Medical School Interview and Admissions Expert) https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/applying-medical-school-amcas/ (AMCAS) http://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/applying (AACOMAS) https://www.tmdsas.com/ (TMDSAS Application) http://www.mtsac.edu/hpc/ (Mt. SAC Pre-Health Conference)

With the AMCAS and the AACOMAS now open, the team is back on Zoom with PBJ Med to spill all the tea on how to choose your schools for both MD and DO programs. We get into how to choose a school that’s good for you, the importance of aligning your mission with a school, and the competitive pre-med mentality. Indulge! Follow us on Instagram @nsecpodcast, and DM us if you need help with your medical school application! Make sure to also follow Prema, Bethie, and Jacob on Instagram @pbj_med to keep track with their med school journeys!

How should you select where to apply to medical school? Accepted founder Linda Abraham sheds light on this important question. [Show summary] AACOMAS opens in May, and AMCAS opens in June, which means the new medical school application cycle is just around the corner. How should you decide where to apply? Accepted’s founder, Linda Abraham, will tell you in this podcast! What factors should you consider when deciding where to apply? [Show notes] Welcome to the 353rd episode of Admissions Straight Talk. I’ve decided to do a solo show for this podcast and address something that I’ve been thinking a lot about. I am so glad you decided to join me for this really important and fundamental show if you are considering or even committed to earning an MD or DO. Today I will address the topic of where to apply, the foundation of an effective medical school application. Imagine a Venn diagram with two circles overlapping. One circle label Schools You Want to Attend and the other circle is labeled Schools Likely to Want You. The schools where those circles overlap are the schools where you should apply. If it was just that simple, the podcast would be over. Taking a 30,000 foot view, it IS that simple, but I’d like to unwrap both those ideas and give you suggestions as to what you should consider in selecting the schools you would like to attend and also researching the schools to determine which are likely to want you. Naturally there is some overlap between the two, but I still think it’s instructive to approach the topic from this angle. I’d also like to touch on how many schools you should apply to. We typically recommend around 20 because individual school acceptance rates are so low - typically under 20% and in some cases under 10%. If you apply wisely to around 20 programs, you should have at least one and maybe more acceptances come next spring. Obviously, you also have to submit impressive primary and secondary applications and interview well, but we’re not going to discuss the application itself today. We’re going to focus on where to apply. What will make medical schools want you Medical schools where your stats align Stats are really important to consider. Look at the MSAR for MCAT and GPA ranges to see if you meet the general threshold. Ideally you want to be at or above averages across the board for at least 3-5 of the schools you apply to. You should try to be at or above the 25th percentile for most stats at 50%, or 10 if you apply to 20, of the schools you apply to. You can apply to 3-5 programs where your stats are weak, but you really want to attend and have strong fit, which I’ll get more into in a minute. Schools where you show you identify with their mission Make sure you read each school’s mission and/or values statement so that you can show you share them in secondaries and IVs. See what relevant clinical experience is necessary for MD programs, and DO exposure for DO programs. Look into the research some programs require, as well as their approach to medical education - PBL, team based, system-based, etc. Think about when have you enjoyed learning in that way or why you think you will like it. Look at their strengths and your interests – where do grads go into residencies? Admittedly your interests could change, but if they don’t you’ll be ahead of the game by coming from a program with strengths in your area of interest. hbspt.cta.load(58291, 'ac360b0f-fe6d-4846-8573-f8705e225171', {}); Make sure the schools’ values and your values mesh. For some programs, especially public state universities, there are requirements for percentages of in-state vs out-of-state students. Look at the more detailed stats in MSAR where you can see which programs have that preference. If there is a whopping difference between in-state and out-of-state acceptance rates, avoid those with a strong preference for in-state residents if you’re don’t have residency in that state.

The AMCAS and AACOMAS are slightly different application services. Do you need to tailor your personal statement to each of them? Links: Full Episode Blog Post Meded Media The Premed Years Podcast MSHQ Facebook Hangout Group Specialty Stories Podcast The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Deciding where to apply for medical school involves different processes and results in different consequences. How do you sort through them all?

If you've applied to medical school, you have seen the annual aceptance rates to DO and MD schools. What does that tell you about your chances?

Having different requirements for each application service is stressful. Today we discuss everything you need to know about the AACOMAS Activites Section! Links: Full Episode Blog Post Meded Media The MCAT Podcast MCAT CARS Podcast Specialty Stories. Board Rounds Nontrad Premed Forum

Whether you're applying to medical school this year, or later, we're going to discuss what you should be doing to help your medical school applications. Links: Full Episode Blog Post MedEd Media Network Next Step Test Prep’s Medical School Admissions Consulting www.FindShadowing.com Interfolio ryan@medicalschoolhq.net The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement Check out Medical School HQ’s personal statement editing service www.SecondaryApps.com

Listen up premeds! I talk about this a lot, but I need to have a dedicated show on this. You have to be yourself in your med school applications and interviews. Links: Full Episode Blog Post MedEd Media Network Premed Diaries The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statements The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview The Premed Playbook: Guide to the MCAT PMY 288: This is How UICOM Reviews Your Medical School Application The Premed Hangout

This will hopefully be the most in-depth look at what medical schools you should apply to. Putting together your school list is an important part of your app. Links: Full Episode Blog Post MedEd Media Network Medical School Application Cost Estimator MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) Medical School Facebook Hangout Here’s a video of how you can research medical schools! MedSchoolReviews.com

Our student today wants to know about combining multiple jobs into one experience or if he should keep them all separate. What should you do on AMCAS? Links: Full Episode Blog Post Nontrad Premed Forum MedEd Media Network

Red flags seem to confuse a lot of students. They come up in applications and interviews and you need to be prepared to talk about them. Listen to this episode! Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post Check out my book about the medical school interview: The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview. Related episode: Will My Medical History Affect My Chances at Medical School? Related episode: Please, Don’t Lie on Your Medical School Applications. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” at Next Step Test Prep!

When this podcast goes out, the medical school application cycle for students wanting to start medical school in 2019 is opening. What do you need to do now? Links: Full Episode Blog Post The Premed Playbook: Guide to the MCAT The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service) AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service) PMY 245: Why Does Texas Have Its Own App and More TMDSAS Questions Interfolio Grammarly Mock Interview Prep The Hangout Group

The premed committee letter is supposed to help you with your application to med school. I think it does the opposite, but what is it? That's for today's show.

For your AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS applicatino to be verified, you need to turn in a transcript from every school. What happens if you can't get one?

Session 28 If you've taken classes previously and you've done poorly, some schools will give you options. For example, they will get rid of your old courses if you take a new set of classes. They will remove them from your transcript and expunge them. Or maybe your college has the ability to say that if you come to their school, they will remove the initial grade from your transcript. It sounds great and it looks great. It increases your GPA on that transcript. But there's something you're failing to recognize and what's very important to know. [01:25] You Still Have to Put In the Courses When you are applying to medical school, you need to put every single course that you've attempted. So if it's not in your official transcript, you need to put it into AMCAS. Those failures from community college or whenever you had them that you need to now expunge, you still need to put them in your AMCAS application. This means that those grades get counted towards your AMCAS GPA. This the GPA that medical schools are using to evaluate your ability to complete medical school. This is what they're using to evaluate you to see if they want to interview you. "If you've walked into that classroom, one day, you need to put in your transcript." Hence, all of your courses, regardless if they're on your transcript or not, if you had them removed, they still need to go to the AMCAS application. I'm pretty sure it's the same for AACOMAS. [02:41] Texas Application Texas has the fresh start program that gives a ten-year window. And the Texas Medical and Dental Application Service recognizes that. It allows you to ignore those initial grades. So when you apply for the Fresh Start Program through the TMDSAS, your GPA is going to be higher because those initial grades are gone. But if you are also applying to AMCAS and AACOMAS outside of Texas, all of those Fresh Start classes that were removed, need to go into the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications. "If you've taken classes more than ten years ago and did poorly in them, Texas has the Fresh Start Program where you get a do over." If you're a Texas resident and you applied for Fresh Start and you're applying broadly outside of Texas, your GPA on the TMDSAS is going to be much higher than it is on the AACOMAS or AMCAS application. [04:10] AACOMAS Grade Replacement (Before) This is very similar to prior years passed where AACOMAS had grade replacement. And if you took a class, the newer score was counted and the older score was not counted. So students applying to both MD and DO schools, their AMCAS and AACOMAS GPAs were significantly different due to the grade replacement. Now, that's gone away! The only significant difference is between Fresh Start versus AMCAS/AACOMAS. [04:50] Final Thoughts What you need to keep in mind at the end of the day is that if you're applying to medical school outside of Texas' Fresh Start Program, every class that you've taken needs to go in your application. That includes all the classes you've been incomplete on or you were at an American university overseas, all the college-level classes you've taken in high school This also includes every class where you withdrew in and every class that ha been expunged and removed from your transcript. Again, you have to put it on all there! So don't go through the process of spending how much money it costs to redo all the classes to expunge your records when at the end of the day, they're all going to be counted anyway. Did you know? Our episodes in this podcast are recordings of our Facebook Live that we do at 3pm Eastern on most weekdays. Check out our Facebook page and like the page to be notified. Also, listen to our other podcasts on MedEd Media. Links: AMCAS AACOMAS Texas Medical School Application - Fresh Start MedEd Media Medical School HQ Facebook page

Session 03 Applying to medical school is expensive. There’s the cost of applications, travel, accommodations, food, and a suit. Make sure that you plan accordingly. This is a question from Tyrell who called in to ask about the cost of applying to medical school. She's still very early on in her prereqs but she wants to start saving now. This is a smart thing to do. So how much should you be saving? What does it look like when it comes to applying to medical school. If you have any question you want answered, call 617-410-6747. [01:07] Question from Tyrell Tyrell is an old premed calling from Columbus Ohio. She said she has seen data on the cost of application fees and secondaries. But she hasn't found any formal data that looks at the other kinds of expenses involved such as travel, lodging, food, attire, etc. She's trying to figure out how to start setting aside money to save up for this future expense. [02:18] The Cost of Applying to Medical School: The Basics Looking at the basic cost of applications, AMCAS is $160 for the application that includes one school. The average number of schools is fifteen. To add additional schools to your application, that's $38 for AMCAS. So that's a total of $692 to apply to fifteen schools for the AMCAS application. That's just the primary application. Now some students apply to both AMCAS and AACOMAS and some apply to fifteen at each. AACOMAS costs $195 for the initial primary application and $45 for every application after the first one. So if you apply to fifteen, that's $895. This is just the primary application. [04:15] The Cost of Secondaries Assuming the cost of secondaries is $100 (some are $50 and some are $75), and assuming you apply to 30 schools (15 DO and 15 MD) and you turn them all in. That's $3,000 for secondary applications. So you're looking at $3,000 for secondaries, $692 for AMCAS, $895 for the AACOMAS -  a total of $4,587 (let's round this up to $4,600) just to apply to medical school. That's not including what Tyrell was worried about. [05:30] Travel, Lodging, and Food The average cost in 2016 of a domestic roundtrip flight in the U.S. according to airlines.org was $366. And one thing you have to take into account with flying for interview is that you may get an interview at a school that's a week from now. And you have to travel to all of them. "When it's interview season, you may not be afforded that option of buying way in advance." The average for hotel cost (in 2014) is $140. Let's round that up to $150 for an average hotel night. Assuming you're going to stay for two nights. You don't want to rush out of the interview. You want to be there the night before. Maybe, too, there's pre-interview stuff going on the day before. And you don't want to rush out of the interview to catch a flight. So stay the extra night and fly out the next day. That's $300 for two hotel nights plus the $366 fare - total of $666. Adding some food expenses, let's say $45 per day for two days. That's $90 and let's round it up to $100 for meals. Now, you're looking at $750 for hotel, flight, and food when you're traveling. This is just for one interview. Assuming you get three interviews, that's $750 x 3 = $2,250. Plus the $4,600 you're already spent for the applications. That's excluding travel cost when you're renting a car And say you need a new suit which is another $150-$200. Now you're in the range of around $8,000 assuming you apply to all 30 schools, you submit all 30 secondaries (where the bulk of the money comes from), plus all the other expenses. [09:56] Who Collects the Application Fees It's a lot of money and it's something that students will be concerned about and so they don't apply to as many schools. The initial application is not that much but the secondaries are what hurt you. And if you know the behind of the scenes of the application game, there's an application service that runs these applications. The service gets all of those initial fees. And the school collects the secondary fees. But you're getting drained every which way. "The application service gets the primary fees. The school gets the secondary fees. But you're getting drained every which way." [10:42] Other Extra Costs You also have to think about the reduction in income during that time when you're not working because you're taking the time off. Maybe you need to pay boarding for a pet. Or a babysitter. So it's expensive. But if you start planning now, it's doable. If you're two years out from applying, it's going to cost $8,000 Divide that by 24 months is $333 per month. So it's doable. "It's expensive but it's doable. Don't let the cost of this scare you away." You also have to think about whether you're paying for mock interviews. I do mock interviews with students. Are you going to pay to have somebody edit your personal statement or your secondaries? Those are extra costs that are nice to have as they will help you along the way. Again, the application process is expensive but don't let that scare you away from applying to medical school. It's very worth it. Any questions? Call 617-410-6747. Leave a voicemail and I'll answer it here on the podcast. Links: The Hangout Group airlines.org

Our poster this week wants to know if working as a volunteer dispatcher for EMS will count towards clinical experience for his applications to medical school. Links: Full Episode Blog Post The MCAT Podcast The Premed Years Podcast Specialty Stories www.medicalschoolhq.net/group ryan@medicalschoolhq.net AMSA PremedFest (Use the promo code MSHQ17 to save some money off the registration)

This week Dr. Gray got the chance to speak to the executive director of the TMDSAS, Dr. Scott Wright. We got behind the scenes at the TMDSAS for you! Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post The TMDSAS Podcast List of the ten medical schools in Texas Related episode: What Do You Need to Do When Med School Applications Open? Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” at Next Step Test Prep!

Allison and Ryan tackle several questions from the Hangout, our private Facebook group. We cover everything from motivation to residency status. Check it out! Links: Full Episode Blog Post UC Davis Pre-Health Conference Premed Fest Medical School HQ Hangout Facebook Group Follow me on Instagram @medicalschoolhq The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview AMCAS AACOMASMSAR

Session 67 This week’s question is all about shadowing, basically some do’s and don’ts to make sure you get the most out of your shadowing experience. We take questions directly from the OldPreMeds.org forums. If you haven't yet, go register for an account. It's free and easy. Feel free to ask questions. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: From Lydia: "I'm preparing for my first shadowing experience. I'll be shadowing a heme/oncologist MD. Does anyone have any suggestions for how to make the most of my experience. I'm planning on bringing a notebook and some good questions. Any other ideas or suggestions or must-ask questions? Thanks!" Here are my insights: [01:34] Shadowing and Clinical Experience Shadowing is so important in the game of premed life in order for you to understand what medicine is like. However, please note that shadowing and clinical experience are two different things. Clinical experience involves hands-on interaction with patients where you help them do things and talk to them. Hence, you are really interacting with them. Shadowing, on the other hand, is supposed to be a very passive experience where you're literally a shadow because you're there standing in a corner or behind the physician or beside the physician to just watch and observe. You're not there to ask questions during the patient interaction. You're not there to talk to the patients. Some physicians, however, are okay with students who shadow to do exams on the patient, if the patient allows it obviously. Some physicians will ask your thoughts during an exam or during taking a patient's history.  Basically, every physician is different. So just go in with the assumption that you're only going to stand there, watch, and be silent. Your opportunity to ask questions to the physician happens afters the patient encounter  but only if they allow you to. Some physicians won't give you any time to ask questions while other physicians will let you ask questions in between every patients. But just go in with the assumption that you won't be able to ask questions or interact in any way and that you're just going to be following the physician around. Anything else that is above and beyond that assumption is great. [03:57] What to Bring Don't go in with anything (notebook, pens, paper, etc.) unless it's a tiny book that will fit in your pocket. You're going in dressed up in business casual unless you're told something else by the physician or the clinic where you're shadowing. Go in with as little as possible so that you are not burdening the clinic with needing to store your stuff. Leave your backpack or purse in the car. Go in with nothing. The less you have, the better. [05:05] Questions to Ask Let the questions come to you naturally as you leave. Don't go in with a list of questions with what medicine is like and what life is like. Just ask questions at the end of the day about what you saw that day or the process  you saw during that day. As you build that relationship, more and more of these questions can come. Ask questions about the patient at the end of the day. Do not ask a generic list of questions because that is not necessary. [05:50] Taking Notes As you're done for the day, you may now get your notebook out and start journaling -physician's name, dates and times, what you saw, what left an impression on you, what made an impact on you, diseases you've seen, the kind of patient interaction the physician had, what you liked or not liked about what you saw that day, what could have been done better or different. Write those things down and be sure to keep a journal of all your interactions of shadowing, volunteering  (even including the non-medical stuff). Keep a journal of all your experiences because this can help you with filling out your AMCAS application, AACOMAS application, or the Texas Medical and Dental Application Service in that you have these memories and notes to go back to. Links: OldPreMeds.org The Premed Years Podcast MedEd Media Network AMCAS application ACOMAS application Texas Medical and Dental Application Serviced Media Network

Starting May 1st, 2017 AACOM has announced that the grade replacement policy will no longer exist. All grades will count towards your GPA. Listen to hear more. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post AACOM.org’s policy change AACOMAS Related episode: If I Can’t Get a 3.0 GPA, What Should I Do Next? Related episode: What MCAT Score Do I Need If I Have a Low GPA? Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

Session 56 In this episode, Ryan breaks from what he usually does here on the podcast where he pulls up a questions directly from OldPreMeds.org forum as he talks about this HUGE announcement this past week from the AACOM that affects nontraditional students more than traditional students. Osteopathic medical schools are more favorable to non-traditional students, You may have struggled in the past, did poorly in undergrad or at a community college, gave up on your dream, only to find that passion again and want to try to fulfill that dream and become a physician. You've probably heard that as a nontrad applicant with poor grades in the past, applying to DO schools would be beneficial to you. Historically, that has been the case. NO MORE GRADE REPLACEMENT AACOMAS Application had a grade replacement policy for repeat coursework. However. effective May 1, 2017 (applying in 2017 to start school in 2018), AACOMAS will no longer replace your old grade with your new grade. As per AACOM.org: "Effective May 1, 2017, AACOMAS will include all course attempts in the GPA calculation. This change applies to students matriculating into the 2018-2019 academic year. In the event of multiple attempts of the same course, AACOMAS will no longer drop initial course attempts from the GPA calculation." Read full notice on AACOM.org Here are the insights from Ryan: This will affect a lot of you who are currently in school retaking classes because you were going to rely on this grade replacement policy. The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) did you wrong. If they were planning this policy change, they should have given you a transition period so students currently in school and in the process of repeating classes would have 2-3 years to apply to use the grade replacement policy before it changed. If you applied in 2016 to start in 2017 but you didn't get into medical school, when you reapply this year, your GPA will change according to the new policy assuming you had repeated coursework. The Silver Lining Osteopathic medical schools may continue recalculating weighing your GPA per established admissions practices. Problem: This puts the work onto each of the medical schools which have a lot of work to do to begin with. They usually have filters in place where they can filter out based on a GPA cutoff or MCAT cutoff. If you're a student where your GPA is going to drop from, say 3.6 to 2.6, guaranteed, your 2.6 is going to be filtered out. Solution: Advocate for yourself and speak out to the medical school and ask them to consider taking a look into your application. Major takeaway from this episode: If this is affecting you, keep your head up. Just keep doing well. Advocate for yourself. If this is truly what you want to do, you'll make it work. Links and Other Resources: Read the actual notice from AACOM. Check out the Specialty Stories podcast on www.medicalschoolhq.net

There are so many moving pieces to the medical school application. The most common mistake is waiting too long to start it. Don't be the one who misses out! Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post ryan@medicalschoolhq.net TMDSAS AACOMAS AMCAS MSAR College Information Book www.medicalschoolhq.net/group www.medicalschoolhq.net/coaching

Ryan talked about some of the most common questions that he answers for premed students, as well as common mistakes premed students make. Hear them now! Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post Check out my Premed Playbook series of books (available on Amazon), with installments on the personal statement, the medical school interview, and the MCAT. Related post: Premed 101: What You Need to Know to Get into Medical School. Related post: 10 Books Every Premed Should Read (While Not Studying). Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

Ryan answers some questions that were called and emailed in. One wanted to know about flight medic training, another about her chances and many other questions. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post www.medschoolinterviewbook.com AAMC website Table A-23  of the AAMC data AMCAS application Texas application AACOMAS application

Session 25 In today's episode, Ryan and Rich take a question pulled out directly from the forums over at OldPreMeds.org as they discuss getting a master's program versus postbac program. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: Poster, Megan, is a 27-year old professional with accumulative undergrad GPA of 3.04; currently enrolled in a master's degree program in molecular biology and biochemistry. She is now wondering if she should stop her master's degree program and go back and do more postbac work to help erase some of her other previous grades. Should she drop out of her master's program and go back and do undergrad classes for postbac? Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich: Go to AMCAS and AACOMAS to do grade conversions and get an idea of what you're year by year grade in science versus nonscience and get an idea of what your grade trends are. Master's programs are tricky in that their GPAs will not directly enhance a weak undergraduate GPA. They also have a reputation of awarding grades surely high for most graduate programs. Postbacs and SMPs designed specifically for a premed have more traction. If you're doing it part-time while working full-time, this is not something you can finish a year and go back and do something else. This all depends on what your undergraduate record looks like and what paths you may want to go, whether you need to do grade replacement and focus on a DO route, or have some good upward grade trends that can be salvageable for MD route or how far along are you from the master's to prevent the motivation and commitment question that will come out in some ad com's eyes. Major takeaway from this episode: A traditional master's program still is not going to be as acceptable or impactful as a special master's program or a postbac depending on your background. However, some schools may look at a master's degree more heavily. Some even use it to replace an undergrad GPA. Links and Other Resources: AACOMAS AMCAS www.mededmedia.com

Session 19 Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. This is a common question for non traditional students who have to juggle time taking care of family, test prep, classes, and so many other things that some of them might even get left out. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: Finished undergrad with a double major in English Literature and Spanish Language; decent GPA; struggled in the Science prerequisites; not getting a lot of volunteering and shadowing done. Should you apply with such little experience? Or should you take some time and get the experience you need under your belt before applying? Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich: A common assumption that the more you do as an undergrad in terms of academia, the better candidate you are - that's not always the case. All your grades for allopathic medical schools will count whether you retake them or not. Medical school want to see: Motivation Commitment Achievement Commitment must be shown through extracurriculars that you've committed to for some time You want to be the strongest applicant on your first application you can be. Not having sufficient volunteering, shadowing, extracurriculars will make you a weaker candidate. Consider taking time until you have those experiences under the belt to become a stronger, more competitive candidate. Shadowing vs. volunteering: Volunteering is when you're doing something for others (clinic, nursing home, geriatric care, etc.) Shadowing is something you do for yourself (following a doctor around) Links and Other Resources: The Premed Years podcast session 171 - Reapplying to Med School - What You Need to Know to Improve The Premed Years podcast session 75 - What Are My Chances of Getting into Med School? If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are. Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net. Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review. Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned! Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.

Session 18 Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. Today's question is quite interesting as it pertains to busy nontraditional students who may not have time to go to classes and the risk of taking online coursework over the in-campus classes. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: Can you use an online degree for medical school? The poster considers doing an online degree as an older nontraditional student. They've email premed consultants and directly to medical schools and thinking about doing a BA online at the University of Florida. Final 30 hours would be online and completing premed coursework at a local campus. Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich: Some places online courses but most schools do not accept that. MSAR lists which schools will accept or not accept online prerequisites Undergrad institutions providing online courses are putting their name on the course. These schools would argue that their online course is as good as any course that they teach in-campus so in all the transcripts you won't know whether it's an online class or not. Medical schools would like to see whether it's online or not. They may ask a question on your secondary to state if you're taking any online coursework. If you're doing the prerequisites in an actual campus and the rest of the degree online, there still could be some risks to it. It could limit you to what medical schools to apply to It may put you at a competitive disadvantage in the applicant pool Major takeaway from this episode: It is such a time-consuming and expensive process to apply to medical school so you wouldn't want to run such a risk. If taking an online course is a risk worth taking, go for it. Don't rely on one just one medical school to apply to. Do your research. Check out the MSAR or the CIB to arrive at the best decision possible. Links and Other Resources MSAR CIB If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are. Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net. Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review. Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned! Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.

Session 17 Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. Today, they cover tips you need to know when making your school list in narrowing down which medical schools to apply to. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: How do you sort through the 150+ medical schools out there and pick the ones that you apply to? Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich: Tips in creating your med school list: Get a copy of the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirement) published by AAMC) which summarizes each school of their class, their setup, requirements, and their average GPA and MCAT score. For the osteopathic schools, check the College Information Book to get the same information. Take a realistic look at your grades and see if you're going to fit within the range of the medical schools you're applying to. For nontraditional students consider to increase your overall GPA even though the actual may be a little bit lower. Consider all the schools in your state, both state schools and the private schools. Consider it a part of your normal broad application process. State schools look at the factor of being in-state or out of state. States will look at in-state applicants closer than out of state applicants. Some things you need to consider: Most students apply between 12 and 24 schools. City or more rural Specialty of the school you want to be associated with. Weather Major takeaway from this episode: Pick your schools wisely because it's a big part in the application process and a great deal of money is involved too. Links and Other Resources If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are. Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net. Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review. Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned! Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.

Session 16 Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. Today, the discussion touches on the secondaries, interviews, the timing, and the process of it all.  OldPreMeds Question of the Week: The poster has completed 9 secondaries and already has 2 scheduled interviews. If the school is not going to offer an interview, do they let you know or do they just leave you hanging? What kind of timeline do most schools work on?  Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich: The timeline of the secondary process: AMCAS application (not transmitted to the schools until starting July 1st) Many schools start sending the secondary before your primary application has been processed and transmitted to them AMCAS provides schools (upon request) contact information for applicants for them to be able to send unscreened secondaries to all students who select that school. You get many schools so when the application transmits for the secondary sent unscreened, you get other schools with very minimal screening and very low MCAT and GPA grade cutoff or formula. Virtually all students will be getting a secondary. Most schools will wait until the secondary gets in and then review it After interview, depending on the school, the status may vary according to: Rejection Hold status Leave you hanging Hence, all schools vary in terms of the secondaries so there is no general rule whatsoever. Most schools though, hold most students until later in the cycle when they decide to wait list or reject. If you don't hear about an interview, you may just have to wait to find out. The waiting game can be painful because they won't finalize it until April 30th. Get your applications early so things get reviewed early. However, medical schools may review applications not in a chronological fashion.  Major takeaway from this episode: Each school has their own culture and mission. Many schools will eye much more on the secondaries for soft answers, motivation, commitment, achievement than they do on the primary application. So a lot of schools look at the secondary more intensely than they do the primary. The application can be painful and slow but that is the game. School take in a lot of applications so it may take a long time to get through them all. So stay encouraged and motivated  while you're waiting for the answer (hopefully an interview invite).  Links and Other Resources: If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are. Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net. Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review. Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned! Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq.

Session 14 Your questions, answered here on the OldPreMeds Podcast. Ryan and Rich again dive into the forums over at OldPreMeds.org where they pull a question and deliver the answers right on to you. This week, the OPM duo takes on a dual-edged question about taking a post bacc at a community college. OldPreMeds Question of the Week: The poster needs to do some GPA-fixing, working full-time, and making pretty good money so quitting their job is not ideal. However, the only place to take classes in a DIY post bacc is at a community college. Are community college classes going to hurt? Here are the insights from Ryan & Rich: This depends on the applicant's overall background. In general, community colleges are not going to enhance your application as much as a 4-year school would. The negative impact can be minor to moderate depending on the medical school you're applying to and your background. Community colleges are definitely better than nothing. Take some upper level classes or additional classes at a 4-year school and show them that you can handle the work. If you are previously a non-science major and your first time taking your science classes, this will have less of an impact. Here are some questions to consider: Why are you at a community college now trying to fix your GPA? Were you a liberal arts major and just didn't care to study the romantic languages you were trying to learn? Have you not ever taken any science courses and this is your first time? Or are you just going to the community college because it's "easier" than the sciences courses you already took at your 4-year school you previously were at? Major takeaway from this episode: Everybody is unique so your story matters in the application. Links and Other Resources: If you have questions you want answered here on the OldPremeds Podcast, go to oldpremeds.org and register for an account. Go into the forums and ask a question. Listen to our first episode at OPMPodcast.com/1 to find out more about who we are. Also check out the Premed Years Podcast at www.medicalschoolhq.net. Find us on iTunes and go to opmpodcast.com/itunes and leave us a rating and review. Check out MedEdMedia.com for all the shows that we produce including The Premed Years and the OldPreMeds Podcast. We will soon be launching a medical school podcast as well so stay tuned! Email Dr. Ryan Gray at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq

Brian talks about his long journey to medical school that includes 4 applications cycles and 9 MCAT tests! Listen to what he has learned on his path. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Check out my Premed Playbook series of books (available on Amazon), with installments on the personal statement, the medical school interview, and the MCAT. Related episode: MCAT Retakes: Change and Improve to Get the Score You Want. Related episode: 54-year-old Med Student Overcame 5 MCATs, Rejection, and More. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

We dig deep into their email boxes and pull questions that you, the premed, have asked. We answer a handful of great questions coving a lot of different topics. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Episode 71: Crushing the Myths of TV Doctor Dramas MSAR Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips and trips to help you maximize your MCAT score. Hang out with us over at medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us. Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there!

Ryan and Allison are back together talking about the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications. These medical school applications are a difficult and you need to be prepared! Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well. Check out jointheacademy.net because we may be opening up soon! Get us free on your device. Subscribe and listen to new episodes each week. Visit www.medicalschoolhq.net/listen Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there!

Ryan and Allison give a sneak peak inside the Academy, the premiere premed advising community, and share a webinar given on the medical school personal statement. Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post Check out my book all about the personal statement: The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement. Related episode: 5 Biggest Medical School Personal Statement Mistakes Related episode: Writing Personal Statements for Medical School Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

Ryan discusses a question from a premed who only applied to DO schools, got accepted, and is now thinking about waiting a year and applying to MD schools. Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post Check out my Premed Playbook series of books (available on Amazon), with installments on the personal statement, the medical school interview, and the MCAT. Related episode: DO vs Caribbean Medical School? What Should I Do? Related episode: Should We Even Have a DO Degree? Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” at Next Step Test Prep!

In today’s episode, I talk with Danielle Ward as she shares about her own share of successes and failures on the path to medical school. Danielle was rejected from medical school twice. She also took the MCAT 4 times over 5 years to finally get an acceptance at the Georgia Campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Follow Danielle’s journey on her blog, aspiringminoritydoctor.com. Related episode: 54-year-old Med Student Overcame 5 MCATs, Rejection, and More. Related episode: 1st Year of Medical School for a Nontraditional Premed. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

In today’s episode, we talk about how to pick a medical specialty. We cover 5 key things that are instrumental in forming your path and choosing your specialty at whichever point of your journey you may be right now. Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post 12 Medical Specialty Stereotypes Book: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing a Medical Specialty Medical Specialty Algorithm Related episode: How to Think About Choosing a Residency and Specialty. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” at Next Step Test Prep!

In this episode, I talk with Alexa Mieses, a 2nd-year medical student at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. (Update: Alexa is now Dr. Alexa Mieses!) Today, we talk about mentorship, its impact on Alexa’s life and her path into medicine, and why she now passes this onto others as she continues to be a positive influence through mentoring. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Alexa’s Website Alexa’s Book: The Heartbeat of Success: A Med Student’s Guide to Med School Admissions Related post: Premed Advisors: Don’t Believe Everything You Hear Related episode: Is the Role of Your Premed Advisor to Tell You No? Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

Today, Jered shares with us his path to medical school specifically the struggles he faced, having to take the MCAT four times, getting into a Caribbean medical school, and having that passion to pursue medicine at all cost. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Follow @jeredweinstock Caribbean Medical School Interview Resources PCOM Postbac Program Session 34: #RespectTheMCAT with @PremedP Session 45: 45: 5 Reasons to Go To Medical School, and 5 to Not Save $225 on the Princeton Review’s MCAT Ultimate or MCAT Self-Paced Prep Course through March 30th 2016 by going to www.princetonreview.com/podcast If you need any help with the medical school interview, go to medschoolinterviewbook.com. Sign up and you will receive parts of the book so you can help shape the future of the book. This book will include over 500 questions that may be asked during interview day as well as real-life questions, answers, and feedback from all of the mock interviews Ryan has been doing with students. Are you a nontraditional student? Go check out oldpremeds.org. For more great content, check out www.mededmedia.com for more of the shows produced by the Medical School Headquarters including the OldPremeds Podcast and watch out for more shows in the future! Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well. Hang out with us over at medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us. Check out our partner magazine, www.premedlife.com to learn more about awesome premed information. Next Step Test Prep: Get one-on-one tutoring for the MCAT and maximize your score. Get $50 off their tutoring program when you mention that you heard about this on the podcast or through the MSHQ website. Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there! Email Ryan at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq

This episode marks the 50th session of the podcast, and I start it off by reciting the modern version of the Hippocratic Oath, which is being used in many medical schools today when physicians graduate at the end of medical school. Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post Modern Version of the Hippocratic Oath Check out my Premed Playbook series of books (available on Amazon), with installments on the personal statement, the medical school interview, and the MCAT Related episode: Interview with Dr. Drummond about Physician Burnout. Related episode: What Is the Future of Medicine, and Should It Matter to You? Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at Next Step Test Prep!

In this Halloween edition of the podcast, Ryan and Allison talk about the scariest stuff they’ve encountered during their path to premed, medical school, residency, and beyond – with most of them coming from first time experiences they’ve had. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Save $225 on the Princeton Review’s MCAT Ultimate or MCAT Self-Paced Prep Course through March 30th 2016 by going to www.princetonreview.com/podcast If you need any help with the medical school interview, go to medschoolinterviewbook.com. Sign up and you will receive parts of the book so you can help shape the future of the book. This book will include over 500 questions that may be asked during interview day as well as real-life questions, answers, and feedback from all of the mock interviews Ryan has been doing with students. Are you a nontraditional student? Go check out oldpremeds.org. For more great content, check out www.mededmedia.com for more of the shows produced by the Medical School Headquarters including the OldPremeds Podcast and watch out for more shows in the future! Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well. Hang out with us over at medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us. Check out our partner magazine, www.premedlife.com to learn more about awesome premed information. Next Step Test Prep: Get one-on-one tutoring for the MCAT and maximize your score. Get $50 off their tutoring program when you mention that you heard about this on the podcast or through the MSHQ website. Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there! Email Ryan at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq Tweet Allison @allison_mshq or send her an email at allison@medicalschoolhq.net.

In this episode, Ryan and Allison bring you an exciting and different format as they jump on Google Hangouts to do a live Q&A session where they answer questions that cover things like extracurriculars, best MCAT prep tips, picking up premed schools, reasons to be a physician, letters of recommendation, and dual degree BS/MD programs and whether they’re worth your time. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post Session 35: How to Fix an App After Starting Premed Poorly Session 3: Picking a Premed Undergraduate College and a Premed Major Session 23: Interview with Dr. Polites of MedPrep at Wash. U. Session 45:  5 Reasons to Go To Medical School, and 5 to Not Session 12: Shadowing Secrets for Every Premed and Beyond 2008 Science Article about the MCAT Test Format Save $225 on the Princeton Review’s MCAT Ultimate or MCAT Self-Paced Prep Course through March 30th 2016 by going to www.princetonreview.com/podcast If you need any help with the medical school interview, go to medschoolinterviewbook.com. Sign up and you will receive parts of the book so you can help shape the future of the book. This book will include over 500 questions that may be asked during interview day as well as real-life questions, answers, and feedback from all of the mock interviews Ryan has been doing with students. Are you a nontraditional student? Go check out oldpremeds.org. For more great content, check out www.mededmedia.com for more of the shows produced by the Medical School Headquarters including the OldPremeds Podcast and watch out for more shows in the future! Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well. Hang out with us over at medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us. Check out our partner magazine, www.premedlife.com to learn more about awesome premed information. Next Step Test Prep: Get one-on-one tutoring for the MCAT and maximize your score. Get $50 off their tutoring program when you mention that you heard about this on the podcast or through the MSHQ website. Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there! Email Ryan at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq Tweet Allison @allison_mshq or send her an email at allison@medicalschoolhq.net.

Should you go to medical school? How do you know if medicine is right for you? In today’s episode, we talk about 5 reasons to go to medical school and 5 reasons to not. Links and Other Resources Full Episode Blog Post Check out my Premed Playbook series of books (available on Amazon), with installments on the personal statement, the medical school interview, and the MCAT. Related episode: How Do I Know If Medicine Is Right for Me? Related episode: Why You Should Still Consider a Career in Medicine. Need MCAT Prep? Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” at Next Step Test Prep!

In this episode, Ryan talks with Dr. Faye Reiff-Pasarew of The Art of Medicine Podcast. Faye is an artist by heart but seeing that being a physician was the best fit for her career-wise and it was something she would see herself doing day in and day out, she decided to dive into the world of medicine where she is currently a 3rd-year internal medicine resident at Mount Sinai in New York City. Links and Other Resources: Full Episode Blog Post The Art of Medicine Podcast – iTunes Link Columbia Postbac Program Podcast Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai – FlexMed Podcast Course description for Narrative Medicine at Icahn School of Medicine Academy for Medicine and the Humanities The Art of Medicine Facebook page Email Faye at faye@theartofmedicinepodcast.com Session 10: Interview with Columbia Postbac Premed Program Save $225 on the Princeton Review’s MCAT Ultimate or MCAT Self-Paced Prep Course through March 30th 2016 by going to www.princetonreview.com/podcast If you need any help with the medical school interview, go to medschoolinterviewbook.com. Sign up and you will receive parts of the book so you can help shape the future of the book. This book will include over 500 questions that may be asked during interview day as well as real-life questions, answers, and feedback from all of the mock interviews Ryan has been doing with students. Are you a nontraditional student? Go check out oldpremeds.org. For more great content, check out www.mededmedia.com for more of the shows produced by the Medical School Headquarters including the OldPremeds Podcast and watch out for more shows in the future! Free MCAT Gift: Free 30+ page guide with tips to help you maximize your MCAT score and which includes discount codes for MCAT prep as well. Hang out with us over at medicalschoolhq.net/group. Click join and we’ll add you up to our private Facebook group. Share your successes and miseries with the rest of us. Check out our partner magazine, www.premedlife.com to learn more about awesome premed information. Next Step Test Prep: Get one-on-one tutoring for the MCAT and maximize your score. Get $50 off their tutoring program when you mention that you heard about this on the podcast or through the MSHQ website. Listen to our podcast for free at iTunes: medicalschoolhq.net/itunes and leave us a review there! Email Ryan at ryan@medicalschoolhq.net or connect with him on Twitter @medicalschoolhq Tweet Allison @allison_mshq or send her an email at allison@medicalschoolhq.net.