Author Archives: Liza

An increasing number of students are opting to take a “gap year” (or two) before enrolling in medical school. There are tremendous benefits to taking a year after graduating from college to engage with the world and learn more about … Continue reading

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A list has been published by US News, ranking schools according to those which receive the most applications. Ironically, many premed students perceive some of these schools to be “safeties” and thus more students apply to them, making the competition … Continue reading

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Post-baccalaureate premedical programs require one central essay as a primary component of the application process. (Some programs also require one or two short essays on more targeted topics than the “big” essay.) The central application essay usually gives some broad … Continue reading

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  The traditional medical school interview is a two-way street: it gives medical schools the chance to ask applicants questions about their past experiences/future goals but it also gives applicants the opportunity to ask questions about the school. The interview … Continue reading

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US News recently came out with a list of the most affordable medical schools. As one would expect, many schools on the list are public institutions—and whether or not it is affordable depends on whether or not you’re an in-state … Continue reading

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Medical school interview season is fast approaching: the season generally spans from late August to March, although some schools do not start interviewing earlier and some go later. Applicants who submit their applications early (June) and then complete secondary applications … Continue reading

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One of the components of the AMCAS application is the “Work and Activities” section, in which applicants help medical school admission committees understand how they have chosen to spend their time outside the classroom. There are 15 spaces for activities; … Continue reading

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The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) requires applicants to include descriptions of their activities. You are given space to include 15 experiences. All of the entries require contact and other pertinent information to be included. You must classify the experiences … Continue reading

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All premed students know that the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a big component of the medical school admission process. It looms large in the mind of every premedical student. I have spent almost 25 years advising premed students and … Continue reading

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When I first began advising medical school applicants nearly 25 years ago, I hardly ever encountered anyone who was interested in pursuing a joint MD-MBA degree. But things have changed dramatically since then. Over the last several years I have … Continue reading

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