I recently came across a Medscape-sponsored discussion called “How can we make medical training less toxic?” The video is visible here, and you can log into Medscape to read the transcript. The participants – two emergency physicians and one surgeon – discuss sexism in the workplace, corrosive and inaccurate narratives about women residents, the importance of strong mentorship, and diversity training. This topic is additionally important because toxic work environments can lead to depression, burnout, and suboptimal patient care. My experience in residency was marred by sexism and sexual harassment. It saddens me that these problems are still present, but I’m pleased the issues are starting to be addressed.
Brevity is the Soul of Wit
As Shakespeare so wisely pointed out, being concise is critical for good writing. I’ve edited a lot of personal statements over the last few months, and I deliberately recommend a word count of 800 or fewer for a couple of reasons:
First, I’ve found that 750 to 800 words is just the right balance of content and streamlining: Over that number lends itself to a meandering admissions essay. Second, your reader is likely reviewing scores of applications. S/he is looking to limit time, while still getting a good flavor for your candidacy. Don’t burden your reader with verbiage.
Having trouble being brief? Here is some guidance:
1) Avoid flowery language. You can omit many non contributing phrases or sentences if you follow this guideline.
2) Read through your writing aloud. Oftentimes doing so will make clear what can be cut.
3) Imagine AMCAS, AACOMAS, or ERAS are charging you $10 per word. How would you keep costs down?
4) Avoid constructions like “I was able to…” and “I chose to…” Instead of “I was able to publish…,” try “I published…”
5) Cut out unnecessary prepositions: “As a volunteer at the university…” can change to “As a university volunteer….”
6) Use abbreviations to your advantage, but only after you define them the first time they are introduced: “At the University of Southern California (USC), I wrote…” Then, you can use “USC” to your heart’s desire, avoiding unnecessary characters.
What to do Once Your AMCAS is Submitted
Tomorrow – May 30 – is the first day applicants can submit their AMCASes. Please see my recent blog about the advantages of submitting an optimal application on the earlier side.
Once your AMCAS is submitted, take a deep breath, relax for a few days, and then start thinking about your secondary essays. Here are a couple of blogs on secondaries, including how to get started on the “Why Our School” prompt and how to approach a diversity prompt.
Also, once the AMCAS is in, take a moment to do some soul searching about what you’re seeking geographically, philosophically, and educationally. You want to make considered decisions when the time comes.
Finally, you can start practicing for your interviews. Here is information on my mock interview services.
Get “Full Credit”
This past week I attended a high school program that included mock admissions case studies for college. Sample, fabricated applications were presented and then discussed in small groups led by a college admissions officer.
Of note, one of the individuals who led the program mentioned something that translates to medical school and residency applications: If the reader doesn’t understand, the candidate will not get full credit. It’s important to explain awards, for example, and not just name them. The illustration the admissions officer gave was “The Titan Award,” a hypothetical prize, but one that the admissions officer noted is not interpretable unless an explanation is given.
I echo the sentiment that if candidates don’t clearly define their accomplishments, those applicants may be overlooked. Make sure you detail anything that would not be readily recognizable to a reader who is not familiar with your geography, institution, or focus of study. You deserve full credit for your very hard work.
CASPER
I’ve been fielding questions about the CASPER test recently. The examination is aimed to assess empathy, emotional intelligence, and professionalism. CASPER is multifaceted, and I would recommend you look here for information about the components. There are some useful, instructive videos on the site.
Of note, CASPER is not required for all US medical schools, so it’s important to determine whether you need to take the examination at all. If so, when you have to take the test is dependent on different institutions’ due dates (which is frustrating).
If you do need to take the examination, please plan to prepare even if you feel you have a high emotional quotient. I’ve had some applicants in the past take the CASPER without reviewing in advance, and many of them were surprised by their suboptimal performance. Applicants cannot retake in an admissions cycle.
The FAQ page here is helpful.
Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to
stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital.
She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated
Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more
