Author Archives: Liza
Posted on June 14, 2019 by Liza
The CASPer (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) is a test that is increasingly being used in the medical school admissions process. It is an online exam that assesses an applicant’s situational judgment in various scenarios. According to the organization that … Continue reading →
Posted on June 5, 2019 by Liza
Secondary applications arrive fast and furious soon after the primary AMCAS application is transmitted to the medical schools. It’s important to return secondary applications quickly since an application is not considered complete until the secondary has been received. The suggested time … Continue reading →
Posted on May 7, 2019 by Liza
Does studying art enhance your observation skills as a physician, thereby allowing you to pick up subtle signs of illness? In recent years, there has been a general acknowledgment that studying art–and fine-tuning … Continue reading →
Posted on April 17, 2019 by Liza
An inescapable fact: medical school is expensive. But for talented students, merit scholarships provide a way to go to medical school for free or for significantly less money. Most medical schools do not provide merit scholarships; most financial aid … Continue reading →
Posted on April 15, 2019 by Liza
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai has announced a new initiative which will limit its medical students’ debt to $75K. The Enhanced Scholarship Initiative will begin with the 2019 entering class. Nationally the median medical student debt is … Continue reading →
Posted on April 10, 2019 by Liza
The American Medical Association started a program in 2013 to move medical education forward. Accelerating Change in Medical Education gives grants to medical schools with innovative programs. The group works collaboratively to foster and share ideas for improving medical education. Recently, … Continue reading →
Posted on April 2, 2019 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 →
Posted on March 27, 2019 by Liza
As a medical school admissions consultant, I am often asked, “Should I take a gap year before I apply to medical school?” The answer depends, of course, on an individual’s circumstances, background, experiences, GPA, and MCAT score, among other things. … Continue reading →
Posted on March 13, 2019 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 5, 2019 by Liza
The Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS) section of the MCAT is challenging for many students. Even those who have immersed themselves in the humanities may find this portion of the test more difficult than they anticipate. Even for the most … Continue reading →