Transcript Document
Understanding American medical school applications
Why consider the US for medical school?
•
Advantages:
• More choice of medical schools • More residency options • Many of the best schools consider Canadians “non international”
Why consider the US for medical school?
•
Disadvantages:
• Most schools no better than Canadian ones • Canadian-specific disadvantages • Discrimination at public schools • Bad finances • Financial aid • Escrow • Private loans
What these medical schools want
• Academic excellence (grades and MCAT) • Research excellence • Service • Leadership • Direct medical experience
MD
Enormous applicant surplus (30-50 applicants for EACH spot)
Bird’s-eye view: application timeline
Premedical years Pre-application Application Post-application
Premedical years (Usually 1
st
-2
nd
year univ.)
Premedical years Pre-application
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Academic preparation
•
Grades
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Clinical experience
•
Research
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Service and leadership Application Post-application
Premedical years (Academic preparation and grades)
• Plan required coursework • When to take classes?
• Meet premedical advisor • Make a friend • Discuss future goals •Grades (a.k.a. “marks”) • MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR • All grades matter • Cutoff GPAs?
Premedical years (Clinical experiences, research, service)
• Clinical experiences: shadowing/volunteering • Research experiences • Independence • Service & leadership • Depth > breadth • Being memorable is half the battle • Mid-college crisis
Premedical years (Letters of recommendation)
• Get letters IMMEDIATELY • Need 4-6 (> Canada) • MUST have science faculty • MUST have all research advisors • Avoid overlap • Optional: physicians shadowed, non-science professors
Premedical years (Asking for a letter of recommendation)
• Must be outstanding to matter •
"Do you think you know me well enough to write me a strong letter of recommendation for medical school?"
• Yes schedule meeting, discuss content •Provide: • Cover letter (why you?) • 1 page CV • Waiver form, if applicable • Writer list • Envelopes • Premedical committee letters
Pre-application (Year before you apply)
Premedical years Pre-application
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Taking the MCAT
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Determining the application year Application Post-application
Pre-application (MCAT)
• Background and format • Preparation • Target date: summer after 2 nd year • Last possible date: June of 3 rd year • Valid for 3 years •Target score?
• Retaking the test
Pre-application (When do I apply??)
• 3 rd year vs. 4 th year • Applying after 2 nd year is impossible ( ≠ Canada) • Gap years • Can use to strengthen application • Very common in US • Median age of entering medical class is usually in the mid-20’s
Application (Usually 3
rd
–4
th
year of university)
Premedical years Pre-application Application Post-application
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Personal statement and schools list
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Primary application
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Secondary applications
•
Interviews
Application (Personal statement, schools list)
• March-April of 3 rd year • Write personal statement • Make list • How many schools total?
• Apply to schools with early acceptances • Avoid single-choice early decision • Rankings • Finances • Schools worth noting
Application (Primary and secondaries)
• Early June • Submit AMCAS (a.k.a. “primary”) • July-August • Submit secondary applications IMMEDIATELY upon receipt • “Deadlines”?
• October • Interviews begin
Application (Interviews)
• Schedule immediately, be strategic • Prepare ALL common questions • Student Doctor interview feedback • Interview formats • Be especially prepared: why US?
• Length
Post-application
Premedical years Pre-application Application Post-application
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Decisions
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Waitlist movement
Post-application (Decisions)
• November-April • Rolling decisions • Accept everyone • March • Fixed-date decisions • May 15 • Multiple acceptance deadline • May-July • Do waitlists • August-September • Start medical school!
Important Resources
• www.studentdoctor.net
• Interview feedback • http://more.studentdoctor.net/schoollist.php?type=2 • Applicant profiles • http://www.mdapplicants.com/ • AMCAS official site • http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/ • MCAT official site • http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/ • US News and World Report medical school rankings • MSAR