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CONTENTS
 Current Trends
Early
Admission / Decision
How to Avoid the Sharks
Looking Like a Keeper
Premedical Timetable
Odds and Ins
The Interview
FAQ's / eMail
~PageLink:
Secondary application
sample.
~PageLink:
Sample Interview Questions
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Selected
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Current Trends
in Medical Scool Admissions
| Year |
No. of
Applicants |
No. Accepted* |
% Accepted |
| 90-91 |
29,243 |
17,206 |
58.8 |
| 91-92 |
33,301 |
17,436 |
52.4 (-6.4) |
| 92-93 |
37,410 |
17,464 |
46.7 (-5.7) |
| 93-94 |
42,808 |
17,362 |
40.6 (-6.1) |
| 94-95 |
45,365 |
17,317 |
38.2 (-2.4) |
| 95-96 |
46,591 |
17,357 |
38.1 (-0.1) |
| 96-97 |
46,968 |
17,385 |
37.0 (-1.1) |
| 97-98 |
43,020 |
17,313 |
40.2 (+3.2) |
| 98-99 |
41,003 |
17,379 |
42.4 (+2.2) |
| 99-00 |
38,529 |
17,445 |
45.3 (+2.9) |
| 00-01 |
34,859 |
17,456 |
50.1 (+4.8) |
| 01-02 |
33,625 |
17,592 |
52.3 (+2.2) |
| *Each year,
the number of entrants is approximately 7% less than the number
of applicants accepted. |
| All other things being
equal, with a 3.6 GPA and three 10's on the MCAT you have better
than a 50% chance of acceptance to medical school (M.D.). |
 Decline of Medical School Applicants Continues
in 2002 | Projections for 2003 indicate rebound
THE LATEST STATS - Applicants, Matriculants and Graduates
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 DON'T DELAY! GET IN TODAY! (EDP)
- Why compete with the current wave of applicants when you
can be accepted early?
-
- Every year a small number of folks
are accepted to Medical School (MS) while still in high school!
While these folks are top students, their personal attributes
are often as important as their GPAs and SAT scores. If the University
you plan to attend has a MS that you wish to be admitted to,
you can contact that University's undergraduate admissions office
and find out if you qualify for an early acceptance program.
- (Potentially available at Universities
with MSs.)
-
- Other early acceptance programs may
be offered to select premedical students during their undergraduate
years. Although these programs are often offered by invitation
only, contacting the admissions office (in some Universities
you may need to contact the MS directly) and finding out about
the criteria used to selected students, is a smart way of maximizing
your chances for acceptance.
- (Potentially available at Universities
with MSs.)
-
- Along with the assurance of admission into MS, some of these
programs allow you to enter MS after only two or three years
of college. These are called early admissions
programs.
-
- Some programs offer full MS scholarships
to students with top GPA's or MCAT scores.
-
- EARLY DECISION PROGRAM (EDP)
- EPS is a program currently offered by approximately 75% of
MSs. Folks with strong records that want to attend a specific
MS, and wish to avoid the shark infested waters associated
with the general application process, should consider
EPS. The EPS route can be a bit of a gamble, depending on your
record. Basically you delay your applications to other MSs, thus
decreasing your odds of being accepted by these schools, and
apply for an early decision at a specific MS, which you agree
to attend if accepted. Get advised on
EDP before making any decisions.
-
- The EDP is explained in MSAR
or on-line.
-
- => Note: the percentage of
acceptance through EDP is 10% greater than through the general
admission process. This statistic, however, may be misleading
since GPA and MCAT averages of EDP applicants are not provided
by the AAMC.
-
- Additional
information concerning EDPs may be found in a book entitled
MEDICAL SCHOOL from HIGH SCHOOL by A.M. ILYAS, MD.
This text includes about 75 profiles of Medical School Early
Admission Programs, as well as general information as to how
EDPs function and the strategies to employ to best qualify for
one. For more details visit www.EarlyMed.com.
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HOW
TO AVOID THE SHARKS 
CHOOSE YOUR SCHOOL. Which
undergraduate school you attend
can make a difference in your odds of being accepted to
a particular MS. Information concerning the number of applicants
accepted from various schools in the state can often be obtained
upon request from MSs. Other considerations, of course, should
also be evaluated.
CHOOSE YOUR PROFESSORS. Ask around
and comparison shop. This is not a small point. Arranging
your schedule, short term and long term, so that you can get
the right professors, can make your GPA shine.
CHOOSE YOUR CLASSES. Research
your options. Some classes require twice as much work, offer
little that is of use, and may prevent you from make a higher
grade in some of your other courses.
GET THE OLD TESTS. Use them as
soon as possible. Do not save them till right before the exam!
What is on the old tests is what your professor considers
important. Learn what this subset of the total material is, how
your professor asks it, and how to apply test taking strategies
to master it.
NETWORK.
Get to know your premedical adviser, your peers, premed
students that are ahead of you, students that have been accepted
to MS, students who work at a MS, and medical students. Foster
these contacts and learn all that you can. Join a premedical
organization. It may be possible to meet MS professors at meetings
sponsored by various organizations, or by your premed adviser.
If you are attending a University with a MS, you may even be
able to talk with MS professors who teach undergraduate courses
in Microbiology or Biochemistry.
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 LOOKING LIKE A KEEPER
Because of all those fish out there, many with impressive
GPA's and MCAT scores, you must set yourself apart with extracurricular activities, and letters of recommendation. These, along
with your personal statement in your primary application, can
turn you from just another fish, into an interesting human being
that looks like a good catch.
You can find out all about extracurricular
activities through your networking sources, but there's
one interesting question that was asked at a lecture I attended
by Drs. Hinklely and Layman* that I'd like to relate. The question was,
"If I am not able to do both clinical
work and medical research, which type of experience do you think
would be looked upon most favorably by admissions committees?".
Both doctors (clinicians) agreed that since the majority
of members on most admissions committees are clinicians, and
since clinical work is more closely associated with the art of
practicing medicine than is research, that clinical experience
would be the better choice, assuming that all other factors were
equal. They also mentioned that working for pay, beat out volunteering,
and strongly advised NOT to work for a relative.
Ok, now on to letters
of recommendation. Getting strong letters from
folks you work for should be relatively easy, so lets talk about
how to go about getting strong letters from your professors.
As you can see in the Premedical Timetable
letters of recommendations are submitted with your secondary
applications, but it is before this time that you need to do
your homework.
You want to build relationships
with your professors, and start to think about who you would
like to have sing your praises. Obviously, the classes you make
the highest marks in, especially with teachers you like, and
who like you, are logical choices. Go to talk your professors
during office hours, or better yet, schedule an appointment.
Introduce yourself. Talk about the class. Ask or comment about
the professor's area of interest or research work. Do not
ask about the grading scale or how many points you need to make
an A! When you're done, thank the professor for his or her
time. When some time has passed, make a return visit =>
"Hi,
Dr. Goodletter! Remember me?Sally Johnston, I'd like
to talk to you about ..."
=>
When the course is
over stop by again to mention that you enjoyed the class. Later,
when the time comes to request a letter, first ask how the good
Dr. has been doing, and bring the good Dr. up to date about your
adventures since the last time you two spoke. When the moment
is right, ask away =>
"Dr. Goodletter,
you know how tough it is to get into medical school these days,
well I need your help. Could I count on you for a strong letter
of recommendation? It would really mean a lot to me.".
Its important that Dr. Goodletter understand that you require
a strong endorsement, not a generic one . If this point
isn't clear, you need to clarify it, even if you feel uneasy
doing so. If Dr.Goodletter responds in an evasive or tentative
way, definitely consider using an alternative source; anything
less than a glowing letter of support, diminishes your chances
to look like a keeper.
But if Dr. Goodletter responds,"Why Sally, I would only be too delighted
to compose a luminous letter of praise extolling your prodigious
talents, achievements and virtues!", don't ask
the good Dr. to calm down, instead have stamped and addressed
envelopes all ready to present to your professor, along with
your heartfelt thanks.
*Associate Dean
for Admissions and Enrollment Management at University of Miami
School of Medicine, and Director of Admissions at University
of South Florida College of Medicine, respectively
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PREMEDICAL TIMETABLE
Last updated in 2001--changes
may have occurred.
Detailed information about the admissions
process may be obtained from MSAR
or the The AAMC
Web Site . Good advice is provided in KGMS.
Junior Year
- March 15 -- official transcripts may
be sent to AMCAS (you may need to wait till the semester is complete).
- April -- MCAT offered during the third
or fourth week of this month.
- June 1 -- applications may me sent
to AMCAS (this includes your personal statement and extracurricular
activities).
- July -- secondary applications may
be sent (this may include a composite letter prepared by the
premedical committee, and letters of evaluation which are sent
directly to the medical school by their author). ~PageLink: Secondary
application sample.
- Interviews may begin as soon as an
applicant's secondary application has been reviewed.
- August -- MCAT offered during the
third or fourth week of this month.
Senior Year
- October 15 -- earliest acceptance
notification allowed by AMCAS schools.*
- March 15 -- number of acceptance notifications
equals number of seats. Seats may continue to be filled, up to
the last moment before class begins.
*Although
the earliest acceptance by an AMCAS school is Oct 15, you should
not delay in getting all your application materials in, unless
you are one of those luck few that will be choosing between several
MSs. Unexpected problems and delays can arise, and early birds
(sorry about not using a fish metaphor) have a clear advantage.
Generally if you are prepared to take the
MCAT in April, you should do so. Besides giving you the option
of an August retake, it gives you an advantage over those folks
that wait until August. Due to the nature of the rolling admissions
process, impressions and decisions are made by admission committee
members long before Oct 15. The sooner all your application materials
are in (MCAT score included) the better your chances for acceptance.
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ODDS & INS
The most important predictors of your success in MS is your MCAT
scores (with Verbal Reasoning taking on added importance with
more and more admission committees) and your Organic Chemistry
grades. Next in line is Science GPA (science plus math) and overall
GPA. THIS IS WHAT THEY LOOK AT FIRST.
A few "C's" will not "kill"
your chances. Its the overall picture that counts, but
"A's" in Organic and Physics sure look good.
Your personal statement (in your primary
application) is very important. Dr. Hinkely (see above)
recommended getting professional assistance with your essay if
you felt that you needed it. You do the writing, then a professional
writer can clean up your work, and makes it shine. ~PageLink: MORE
The writing sample on the MCAT is "almost
completely unimportant". --Dr. Hinkely with a nod
from Dr. Layman. MORE
The ONLY real differences between D.O.
and M.D. (besides philosophical) is that its easier to
get accepted into D.O. schools, but more difficult to get into
competitive residency programs as an D.O. Once you leave school
and begin practicing medicine, there are few important differences.
Lots of folks I know didn't get in,
and then did, by getting into a masters program in a medically
related science. As a graduate,
they look primarily at your graduate record, (especially
if you are getting a degree in the sciences). So if your undergraduate
GPA is low, you can get a second chance. Make sure to carefully
investigate your graduate options. You want to generate maximum
positive "spin".
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 THE INTERVIEW ~PageLink: (Sample
Questions)
Once you're invited for an interview, MCAT scores, GPA, and
all the other stuff take a backseat.
Interviews are not a test of what you know, but of who you
are. Not the particulars of your life, although that's part of
what you'll be discussing, but what kind of person are you. What
kind of stuff you are made of.
When you are asked a question about, lets say, "health
care", your specific answer is far less important then how
you handle yourself. How well do you stand up to the pressure
of a tough question? How mature are you? How thoughtful? Etc.
Don't worry about how much you know about "health care",
I assume you know a littlethat's all you need. Relax
and be yourself. Don't BS. Be honestbut selective attention
to your achievements and positive personality characteristics
will help make you a more attractive candidate, as long as you
don't get carried away.
What about your negative traits? Well, when asked about your
flaws or weakness, turning "negatives" into positives
is usually a lot better then scratching your head and replying
"I can't think of any.". Examples of better replies
might include, "Sometimes when I help people out, I don't
know when to quit. Before I know it, I don't have any time for
myself". Or, "When I don't know something it drives
me crazy. I just can't stop thinking about it until I know the
answer.
You should think over what it is about you, that would make
a good doctor. Remember that when you are asked this question,
personal and sincere feelings sound a lot better than "Because
my Mom is a doctor". Of course if your Mom is an alumna,
this might be a good time to remind the interviewer(s) as part
of your general reply.
You should know about the school you are interviewing at,
and why you want to go there. This is one area where specific
information IS important. Do your homework.
Leave the cue cards and the rehearsed speeches at home. Mock
interviews are a great idea if you feel they will help, but remember
you're not rehearsing for a play.
Be prepared for your interview, but don't over do it. Feeling
relaxed and confident is far more important than knowing all
the "answers".
The details and advice given in KGMS
concerning the interview, matches up well with what my sources,
both inside and outside, of medical school have been telling
me. So, for more details I refer you to page 215 of this book.
The questions and answers
below were written by Frank
Pernas, based on a talk Frank gave
to my Spring 2002 MCAT prep class. Frank was a member of my Spring
2001 MCAT prep class, and was accepted to the University of Miami
School of Medicine in Spring 2002. -Rich
Q: Is the application
process as hard as they say it is?
A: The process isn t as bad as many people
make it seem. The important thing is to treat it as a game and
have the most fun while you re playing the game. For instance
if you go interview at another city you ve never been to, take
some time if you have it to look around the city attend a play
or sightsee. It helps you relax for the interview and will help
you make a better choice come time to deciding between two schools.
Q: How are the
interviews?
A: My interview experience wasn t as bad
as I had heard other people say it would be. I was asked tough
questions but I had prepared answers and it went pretty smooth.
As a general rule as you move north the interviews should be
harder. In Florida the interviews are pretty relaxed. In Gainesville
the interviews began at 1100 am. One important thing to realize
about the interviews is that the schools are considering candidates,
but you as a candidate are also considering several schools.
It s a school s responsibility to impress you with their institution.
Q: Any tips for
the interview itself?
A: Most importantly, be yourself. Everyone
will tell you this, but what exactly does it mean? Talk to the
interviewer in a normal tone of voice and using normal words
like you regularly talk. Be expressive and talkative. Don t be
afraid to take charge of the interview by telling the interviewer
about yourself. The best kind of interview is the one that feels
comfortable to you and to the interviewer, it should be a conversation.
Don t be afraid to mention your hobbies or your pets. At UF I
spoke with my interviewer about cooking, it makes the interview
less formal and will make you seem like a person beyond what
your application can describe. Remember that at the end of the
interview he/she will ask you if you have any questions, if you
don t have anything to ask, come up with something. Turn some
of the questions on him, for example, what are the strengths
and weaknesses of your school. They ll be impressed.
Q: How to best
prepare for the interview?
A: Go to www.interviewfeedback.com
they usually have good advice. Read up on your application refresh
your memory on all that you did because they will ask you about
it. Read current events. Read about the school. Also review health
topics, HMO s and look around the internet for typical questions
they might ask. I was asked to talk about abortion, euthanasia,
my research, my clinical exposure. The questions aren t very
creative for the most part so it s easy to prepare. When preparing
for these questions it s important, for example, in the case
of abortions that whatever side you re going to pick, stick with
it and defend you point of view. Not only will they ask you what
you think about an issue but then they will pick the weakest
part of your argument and turn it against you. We ve all heard
the weak point for abortion (what if a 13 Yr old gets raped.)
be able to find a suitable response and stick with it.
Q: What tactics will interviewers use?
A: I interviewed at 4 schools, I was asked
several questions and they tried all kinds of tactics:
- Get you nervousbest thing you can do when
they try to get you nervous is to be calm, not get mad, and respond
the best you can.
- Test you on your research to see how well
you can defend your outcomes.
- Try to get you stuck in a corner and make
you refute something you said earlier.
- They want to see how you think, your thought
process, so if they ask to describe what you would do in a certain
situation, all they want to hear is you thinking and reasoning
out loud.
Once you go to one interview you'll be able
to adapt to any interview style.
Q: Are mock interviews helpful?
If you think you're a spontaneous person and think you don't
need a mock interview it might not help. If your shy and need
help coming up with some answers to typical interview questions
then find a person to conduct an interview, it can even be a
friend. It's important to at least think of some of these questions.
Q: What are some typical non-medical
interview style questions?
A: Why do you want to be a doctor?
Tell me about yourself?
What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Talk to me about your research?
Tell me about your social life?
What kind of beer do you drink?
(<= I was asked this one at UM.)
What support do you have?
Do you feel you're mature
enough to be a doctor?
What are your hobbies?
Why do they ask these questions? They want to make sure you're
a well rounded person, someone who knows how to handle people
while being able to cope with stress. While you may think some
of these are hard questions, think about them, you have a head
start now because you already know they could ask them.
Q: Anything else to keep in mind once
you get interviewed?
A: Once a school invites you to interview they are assuming you
have what it takes to deal with the rigors of medical school.
Now they want to know if you'll make a good physician and what
motivates you to become one.
Q: Interviews seem so far away, how
can I increase my chances of getting many interviews?
A: Start the process earlier, the faster you can complete your
amcas and have satisfactory MCAT grades the sooner the committees
will look at your complete file. It's also important to spend
at least a week doing your essay, it's one of the more important
items on your application, and it's what makes you a human being
to the person reading your file.
Q: What is the best way to prepare for
the MCAT?
A: Aside from reviewing all the necessary topics, it's especially
important to take practice tests, nothing helps in preparing
for the MCAT like taking practice tests. Information is helpful,
but more helpful than that is knowing how to think like the MCAT
and working through problems.
Q: What if I don't do well in the verbal
section of the MCAT, what can I say at the interviews?
A: There are always things you can say to make it seem that even
though you didn't do well in that section you're still a proficient
reader. In my case I told the interviewer that I had taken many
literature classes and had read many books in those classes.
Aside from reading books I had been assigned to write papers
in science and English classes. That way you make it sound like
you read a lot and that there is no connection between the verbal
score and your literary abilities.
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