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First, take solace in the fact that you aren’t alone. According to the AAMC, there were over 48,000 medical school applicants in 2013. From that pool of applicants, less than half of them (20,055) matriculated into their first year of medical school.
Secondly, be heartened by recent reports like the one just released in March 2015, “The Complexities of Physician Supply and Demand: Projections from 2013 to 2025.”
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has implemented quite a few changes to the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Administration of the new MCAT begins in April of 2015; however, registration for this exam opens THIS WEDNESDAY, February 11th. If you are planning on applying to medical school, here are some things you need to know. The 2015 MCAT is different from the old test in a variety of ways; here are a few to note:
The season for medical school interviews is quickly approaching. If you have completed your secondary medical school application and been offered an interview, then congratulations! Schools don’t typically bring you in for an interview unless they are strongly considering your candidacy. Bearing this in mind, many times the interview is more about your fit with the program rather than your scores and credentials. Schools use an interview to evaluate your professionalism, maturity, and personality.
References are an extremely important part of any application. However, many people struggle with knowing what is the best way, and whom do you ask, for great letters of recommendation.
Generally speaking, you should aim to get at least three letters of recommendation. Although the common thread throughout these should be you, each letter should be unique, helping elucidate a different aspect of your candidacy—whether that is your education, technical and research skills, leadership abilities or beyond.
Regardless of whether you are planning on applying to Graduate School or Professional school, a successful application requires preparation. If you remember one word from this post, remember “Early.” Take your exams (GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, etc.) early. Get your letters of recommendation lined up early. Write your personal statement early. Have someone look over your materials early. Submit your applications early. When you get an interview, show up early.
For those applying to graduate school:
