Home › Posts tagged Medical School Admissions › Page 5
Blog Archives

Secondary Essays: Why Do You Want to Attend Our School?

Posted on by by

Secondary essay prompts vary, but there are a few that are standard fare. “Why do you want to attend our school?” is a common topic pre-meds will encounter.

Med school admissions officers want to be assured that you know their institution, are seriously considering it, and will fit in well there. In approaching the “why-our-school” question, do your research on the institution and link something specific about you with the school’s philosophy, curriculum, surrounding patient population, and/or extracurricular programs.

For instance, if you were a teaching assistant for chemistry in college, you might link your use of the Socratic method with a school’s tutorial-based learning. In that way, you demonstrate knowledge of the school, show that you connect well with it, and showcase your accomplishment.

Tags: ,

The Medical School Wait List: Can Anything Be Done?

Posted on by by

Just when you’ve completed your medical school interviews and feel that you can sit back and relax because – after all – the rest is out of your hands, you may be surprised by a wait list notification. What is the next step? What can you do?

First of all, realize that getting into medical school has become increasingly competitive year by year. Being wait listed is better than being rejected, and thus a positive, despite the anxiety is causes.

A few things you can do:
1. Send a letter of intent. Let the school know of your continued interest and your new accomplishments. Ensure the letter is well written, streamlined and brief. Be explicit about your enthusiasm, and if the school is your first choice, let the admissions committee know that.
2. Ask the school if you can set up a second look. A second visit indicates to the institution that you are serious, and it offers you more data in making your decision if you are later offered a spot.
3. Do not neglect your other options. Don’t focus all of your attention on this institution to the exclusion of others: Ensure you are well-prepared for upcoming interviews at other medical schools.
4. Plan for last minute notice. At some schools applicants are offered slots off the wait list throughout the summer. I’ve even heard of acceptances being offered the day before medical school was to begin. Would you be able to change your living situation, move your personal belongings and uproot if this were to happen?

Tags: ,

Taking the Fifth

Posted on by by

medical school interview questionsIf there were one reason not to accept you, what would it be?

When a faculty member asks you this tough question in an interview, her motivation might be to determine whether there is a weakness in your application that she is missing. Or she may be assessing how you manage stressful situations by posing a question that is unpleasant.

While you need to be honest throughout the entire application process, you do not need to volunteer information that might harm you.

You can say, “While every candidacy has room to improve, I think I have a strong application.” Then you can use the question as an opportunity to mention the strengths of your candidacy.

Contact me for Mock Interviews. I still have January slots open as of this writing.

Tags: , ,

You Never Get a Second Chance to Blow a First Impression

Posted on by by

I have received a lot of questions about interview attire; I have two rules to guide applicants:

1. Do not be noticed for your clothes. You want to be remembered for your accomplishments, not your attire. Years later, I still remember the applicant who arrived in a Bugs Bunny tie. I also recall the applicant who arrived in jeans. (He packed his interview clothes, checked his luggage, his bags were lost, and he had nothing else to wear for his early morning interview. Keep your clothes with you – carry-on.)

2. Be comfortable. No heels that are so high you are in too much pain to take the tour. No coat so light – but stylish! – that you can’t walk out of the building.

Tags: , ,

Being the Squeaky Wheel

Posted on by by

medical school application

Several years ago I helped a strong applicant who had been rejected by a top medical school. He thought he was a very good fit for this particular institution, so he called the school to make his case. Surprisingly, after the applicant’s phone call, the school granted him an interview, reversing their original rejection.

It was at this time when I met the applicant; we conducted a mock interview, so he would be well-prepared.

Ultimately, after being initially rejected, this applicant was admitted to that top school.

Of course, this is an exceedingly rare occurrence. (Just to clarify: In seven and a half years as a professional coach, I’ve only seen this happen once!) But to me, the moral of this story is that it is worth being assertive (not aggressive) in the medical school and residency admissions processes: Send an update letter, call institutions (politely) to inquire about your status (if they do not expressly prohibit phone calls), and be proactive during your interviews.

Tags: , ,

About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

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

Receive FREE Insider Medical Admissions Tips.

Sign Up

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the White Coat Investor podcast:

Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on the FeminEm podcast: