And I’m back! I’ve been busy completing my applications for the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CaRMS) Having survived the CaRMS 2011 Application Submission Deadline, I was going to share some of the lessons I’ve learned from this stressful experience. Overall, I think I did most things well but could have
Category Archives: Application
Helping by Proximity
I was planning to write a nice long “How to Prepare for a Multiple Mini Interview” article to help medical school applicants. Instead, I have used that time to help prepare my friends for their medical school interviews. I find that I don’t have the time or energy to do
On the Other Side of the Fence
It’s medical school interview season yet again and I remember how nervous I felt preparing for my interviews last year. This year, after helping with the admissions and interviews process, I am glad and relieved to be on the other side. Recently while helping some prospective students practice interview questions,
Adcom Advice #5 – Quality Over Quantity
When it comes to giving marks for extracurricular activities , quality wins over quantity. A fruitful summer of research with a publication is better than three summers being a lab assistant/tech. A long term commitment to a volunteer organization with significant responsibilities is better than volunteering at three different hospitals.
Adcom Advice #4 – Grades Come First
There are so many factors to consider when reviewing medical school applicants. You may have heard that volunteering overseas will get you big points, that you must do research, or that a good MCAT score will go a long way. All of these things do play a significant role in
Adcom Advice #2 – Be Relevant, Specific and Concise
When going through applications, nothing ruins a good application faster than ambiguous writing. Unclear statements make it hard for adcoms to review your application objectively and when in doubt, adcoms will tend to give lower scores as a precaution. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that your application provides the most
Adcom Advice #1 – Don't Lie
If there is one cardinal sin of applications, it is lying (false information, overexaggerate, half-truths) Nothing gets your application thrown out faster than lying: about your qualifications, extracurricular activities, personal achievements. There are no benefits from lying on your medical school application. It is dishonest and unforgiveable in the eyes
The Sorting Hat of Medical School
It’s always strange to see things from a different perspective. Especially if sitting in front of you is 1 Dean of Medicine 4 Administrative Staff 5 Medical Students 3 Faculty Members 8 Practicing Physicians 1 Dean of Science Dear Readers, I successfully infiltrated medical school’s mystery black box. I have
What Extracurricular Activities Should I Do?
The typical pre-med day involves studying, getting good grades, making connections with professors, and doing amazing extracurricular activities that will somehow separate you from all the other medical school applicants. This naturally leads to the question, which extracurricular activities will increase my chances to get into medical school? You might
The Value and Importance of Writing
Most science and engineering students I know went into their respective fields to avoid writing. I was also like them. I disliked writing essays in high school and left assignments until the night before to do. I despised it. I avoided it. Every time I sat in front of a
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