Author Archives: Liza
Posted on October 20, 2020 by Liza
As a medical school admissions consultant, I often am asked by applicants how and when to communicate with medical schools. Medical school applicants should keep schools informed throughout the application process, as events unfold and preferences evolve. If new information develops since … Continue reading →
Posted on October 9, 2020 by Liza
Medical school applicants often wonder whether they should update schools with new information after submitting their application. This “update letter” can serve several purposes and is an important vehicle for keeping the medical schools informed as the application year … Continue reading →
Posted on September 23, 2020 by Liza
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all areas of our lives. For medical school applicants and medical school students the effects are widespread. The American Medical Association recently had a blog post that summed up some of the issues impacting medical … Continue reading →
Posted on August 26, 2020 by Liza
This application cycle brings a host of complicated issues stemming from COVID (cancelled and postponed MCAT dates) and new tests for medical school applicants. The CASPer test has been around for awhile and is now required at many medical schools. … Continue reading →
Posted on June 30, 2020 by Liza
Does studying art enhance physicians’ observation skills, thereby allowing them to pick up subtle signs of illness? In recent years, there has been a general acknowledgment that studying art–and fine-tuning the art of … Continue reading →
Posted on June 19, 2020 by Liza
CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is an online exam that is used increasingly in the medical school admissions process. It assesses an applicant’s situational judgment in various scenarios. According to the organization that administers the CASPer, it “increases fairness … Continue reading →
Posted on May 6, 2020 by Liza
The impact of COVID-19 is far-reaching, affecting every segment of society all over the world. The pandemic has also had an impact on medical students, many of whom had early, virtual graduation ceremonies. Students graduated early so that they would … Continue reading →
Posted on April 25, 2020 by Liza
An editorial in AAMC news advocates including more topics related to the health of LGBTQ patients. It cites a study, now dated, that surveys the LBGTQ-related content in medical education curricula. A study in 2012, published in the Ochsner Journal, … Continue reading →
Posted on March 18, 2020 by Liza
US News has come out with its annual ranking of medical schools. In the research category, here are the top 10 (some are tied in rank so the total number goes over 10): Harvard Johns Hopkins University of Pennsylvania NYU … Continue reading →
Posted on February 17, 2020 by Liza
A study from Tulane and Thomas Jefferson shows the distinctive benefits of engaging in the arts and/or the humanities while in medical school. The results, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, showed that such activities helped to promote … Continue reading →