Here’s some interesting information from the Association of American Medical Colleges on the recently proposed Graduate Medical Education (GME) Bill. The legislation’s intent is to increase the number of residency training slots in an effort to improve the U.S. physician shortage problem
Blog Archives
How Do I Evaluate My Score from the New MCAT?
Assessing your score on the new MCAT is not easy. The AAMC has no plans to release an MCAT conversation table from old to new scores, as their position is that the tests are not comparable.
With the old test, the conventional wisdom was that getting a 30 or 31 (approximately the 85th percentile) was the threshold to aim for, as it represented the allopathic medical school new matriculant average. Until we see who gets into medical school this year and what their corresponding scores are, it’s hard to know what the “new 30” is.
Having said all of that, using last year’s MSAR should still help you decide whether you need to re-test. An option for those committed to medicine who don’t score at or above the “new 30” is osteopathic medical school, an institution that shows a great commitment to primary and holistic care and a (limited) leniency with MCAT scores. (Students entering osteopathic medical schools in 2013 had an MCAT score of 27. Their average GPA was 3.5 compared to 3.69 for incoming allopathic students.) Here is a great New York Times piece about DO schools.)
We have to take a wait and see approach to assess scores from the new MCAT, but it is key that you ensure you give yourself enough time to study and that you prepare effectively.
AMCAS
Here’s a reminder that the 2013 AMCAS application is scheduled to open tomorrow, Tuesday, May 1; you will be able to submit your application as early as June 5.
The first day that AMCAS will begin transmitting application data to medical schools is June 29, which means an applicant who is really on top of things could receive secondary applications as early as the 29th!
I recommend watching the AAMC’s video for details about dates and changes to this year’s AMCAS.
Please contact me early for assistance. Last year some of my most organized clients were admitted to medical school as early as October.
ERAS: September 1
Just a reminder that today is the day applicants can start applying to ACGME-accredited programs through the AAMC’s MyERAS website.
There are several advantages to an early application: 1) You look organized, a good quality for a future resident. 2) Admissions readers may have more time to review your application thoroughly. Later in the season, the volume can get overwhelming.
Tags: Aamc, Accredited Programs, Eras, Future Resident, Myeras, Reminder
AAMC Fee Assistance Program
Just a reminder regarding the Association of American Medical Colleges’ (AAMC) Fee Assistance Program (FAP). The FAP is designed to offer help to individuals with extreme financial limitations who cannot pay the MCAT registration or AMCAS application fees without financial support.
If you think you are eligible, it’s worth applying for an FAP grant early: If an applicant submits his/her AMCAS prior to receiving a decision on his/her FAP application, that candidate will be ineligible to receive the FAP for the AMCAS. In other words, the candidate will not receive a refund.
For more information on the FAP, please click here. I offer reduced rates for applicants demonstrating financial hardship through the AAMC FAP grant. Once you have been granted the FAP, contact me for more information.
Tags: Aamc, Application Fees, Financial Hardship
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
