As I was talking to one of my medical school clients today, the issue of professionalism came up. What is often the first impression that admissions officers (and the other committee members) have of you? Your email address. Just as your style of dress on interview day gives others a sense of your professionalism and maturity, your email address says alot about you as well. As an admissions officer, some applicants' email addresses made me pause and question their judgment. Since most communications are done via email these days, it is best to keep your email address simple and professional. I suggest using an email address that has some variation of your first and last name.
Visit: www.MedEdits.com
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Residency Match: Important Dates and The Scramble
As the 2008/2009 residency application season comes to a close, I thought it was a good time to review some important dates. Most programs have finished interviewing applicants, have had their annual "rank meeting" and are in the process of entering their rank order list (ROL). Applicants should also be submitting their ROL now.
Some dates:
February 25th: ROL certification deadline.
March 16th: Applicant matched and unmatched data posted at 12 noon EST.
March 17th (Scramble Day!): Filled and unfilled results for individual programs posted at 11:30 AM EST.
March 17th (Scramble Day!): Locations of unfilled positions released at 12 noon EST. Individuals may start contacting programs at this time.
March 19th: MATCH DAY! Match results posted at 1 PM EST.
As announced at the AAMC meeting this fall, the NRMP and the AAMC are jointly establishing a scramble work group to address issues related to the scramble and to propose changes for reform.
In 2008, roughly 13,000 applicants competed for 1,300 unfilled positions during the scramble. More than half of these unfilled positions were filled by 4 PM on scramble day. Many applicants (mostly IMGs) do not submit a ROL and register for the match just to receive the list of unfilled spots. Thus, the chances of obtaining a spot via the scramble is slim. For-profit companies who claim to "fax" materials to programs on behalf of clients also jam fax machines and lines of communication making the process challenging for unfilled programs.
While I will be available for my existing clients during the scramble (although I don't anticipate they will need any help!), I will not be offering any services for new clients during the scramble. We wish all of our residency clients good luck in the match this year and look forward to hearing about your success. If you are interested in hiring us to help you through the application process for the 2009/2010 season, we encourage you to retain our services early.
Visit: www.MedEdits.com
Some dates:
February 25th: ROL certification deadline.
March 16th: Applicant matched and unmatched data posted at 12 noon EST.
March 17th (Scramble Day!): Filled and unfilled results for individual programs posted at 11:30 AM EST.
March 17th (Scramble Day!): Locations of unfilled positions released at 12 noon EST. Individuals may start contacting programs at this time.
March 19th: MATCH DAY! Match results posted at 1 PM EST.
As announced at the AAMC meeting this fall, the NRMP and the AAMC are jointly establishing a scramble work group to address issues related to the scramble and to propose changes for reform.
In 2008, roughly 13,000 applicants competed for 1,300 unfilled positions during the scramble. More than half of these unfilled positions were filled by 4 PM on scramble day. Many applicants (mostly IMGs) do not submit a ROL and register for the match just to receive the list of unfilled spots. Thus, the chances of obtaining a spot via the scramble is slim. For-profit companies who claim to "fax" materials to programs on behalf of clients also jam fax machines and lines of communication making the process challenging for unfilled programs.
While I will be available for my existing clients during the scramble (although I don't anticipate they will need any help!), I will not be offering any services for new clients during the scramble. We wish all of our residency clients good luck in the match this year and look forward to hearing about your success. If you are interested in hiring us to help you through the application process for the 2009/2010 season, we encourage you to retain our services early.
Visit: www.MedEdits.com
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Medical Education: A Report By The Macy Foundation
A report issued by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to improving medical education and enhancing minority representation in the health professions, suggested reforms to improve medical education at time when medical school are increasing enrollments.
This is an interesting report and addresses three main concerns:
1) The growing amount of debt that medical students incur.
2) Medical student bodies do not represent the racial, economic and geographical makeup of society at large. Schools were encouraged to reexamine admissions policies and the reliance placed on MCAT scores.
3) Students are encouraged to maintain professionalism but, often, these standards are not exhibited by respected role models in the health care setting.
This is an important report to read for anyone involved (or soon to be involved!) in medical education. Click Here to read the report. Click Here to read the AAMCs response the report.
This is an interesting report and addresses three main concerns:
1) The growing amount of debt that medical students incur.
2) Medical student bodies do not represent the racial, economic and geographical makeup of society at large. Schools were encouraged to reexamine admissions policies and the reliance placed on MCAT scores.
3) Students are encouraged to maintain professionalism but, often, these standards are not exhibited by respected role models in the health care setting.
This is an important report to read for anyone involved (or soon to be involved!) in medical education. Click Here to read the report. Click Here to read the AAMCs response the report.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Getting Into Residency
Read Dr. Freedman's article on the Student Doctor Network, "Getting Into Residency Part 2."
Should you follow-up with programs after an interview? How do you pick someone to write your letter of recommendation? What is appropriate to discuss at your interview? Should you go on second looks?
Click Here to read the full article.
Visit: www.MedEdits.com
Monday, February 9, 2009
Medical School Admissions Consulting: A Message From Dr. Freedman
Many clients and parents ask me why I chose to leave formal academic medicine to become president of MedEdits and advise privately. Some potential clients simply don’t understand why I would leave a thriving career in academic medicine to do what I do.
As the next application season begins and applicants start to think about who will help them succeed, I thought it was a good time to write a little about myself, my motivations, my career choice and why I offer a superior service.
After spending several years at elite medical institutions, I realized that it was not easy for students to find excellent mentors who could guide, motivate and inspire them to train at such institutions themselves. Even though many of my colleagues had outstanding credentials and clinical and teaching skills, few of them had the talent and temperament to do an outstanding job of helping and advising students.
A few years ago, as I was contemplating my next move up the ladder in formal academic medicine, I took a personal inventory of my accomplishments. As part of this process, I reviewed the faculty evaluations my students had written about me over the years. These evaluations consistently placed me as a top faculty member. I realized that my talents were unique and valuable to my students and that I could help more people if I ventured out on my own.
I started advising privately in January 2008. My clients have had tremendous success, and my former students still contact me often for guidance. My goal is to build long term relationships with clients, first helping them gain admission to medical school and then to obtain post graduate training. I currently do pro bono work on a select basis and, as my client base builds, I hope to do more of this in the future.
So what distinguishes me as an advisor and MedEdits as a company from other individuals and organizations that you might hire?
1) I have experience that is unmatched by anyone in the private advising industry. I am a physician and have experience at all levels of medical admissions, as well as an extensive background in medical education.
2) I do all advising and mentoring myself. I do not train or work with anyone else; students work with me directly.
3) I have a small group of talented medical editors who work on all documents with me. Therefore, two kinds of experts and two sets of eyes review all of your admissions documents.
4) Advising is my full time job. I do not do this as a “side line.”
5) I stay up to date with research and trends in medical education.
6) I still practice medicine on a part-time basis – mostly on weekends – so I can provide insight about the practical aspects of a career in medicine.
I am always happy to speak with you about your situation. I will limit the number of clients with whom I work next season so, please retain my services early.
Visit: www.MedEdits.com
As the next application season begins and applicants start to think about who will help them succeed, I thought it was a good time to write a little about myself, my motivations, my career choice and why I offer a superior service.
After spending several years at elite medical institutions, I realized that it was not easy for students to find excellent mentors who could guide, motivate and inspire them to train at such institutions themselves. Even though many of my colleagues had outstanding credentials and clinical and teaching skills, few of them had the talent and temperament to do an outstanding job of helping and advising students.
A few years ago, as I was contemplating my next move up the ladder in formal academic medicine, I took a personal inventory of my accomplishments. As part of this process, I reviewed the faculty evaluations my students had written about me over the years. These evaluations consistently placed me as a top faculty member. I realized that my talents were unique and valuable to my students and that I could help more people if I ventured out on my own.
I started advising privately in January 2008. My clients have had tremendous success, and my former students still contact me often for guidance. My goal is to build long term relationships with clients, first helping them gain admission to medical school and then to obtain post graduate training. I currently do pro bono work on a select basis and, as my client base builds, I hope to do more of this in the future.
So what distinguishes me as an advisor and MedEdits as a company from other individuals and organizations that you might hire?
1) I have experience that is unmatched by anyone in the private advising industry. I am a physician and have experience at all levels of medical admissions, as well as an extensive background in medical education.
2) I do all advising and mentoring myself. I do not train or work with anyone else; students work with me directly.
3) I have a small group of talented medical editors who work on all documents with me. Therefore, two kinds of experts and two sets of eyes review all of your admissions documents.
4) Advising is my full time job. I do not do this as a “side line.”
5) I stay up to date with research and trends in medical education.
6) I still practice medicine on a part-time basis – mostly on weekends – so I can provide insight about the practical aspects of a career in medicine.
I am always happy to speak with you about your situation. I will limit the number of clients with whom I work next season so, please retain my services early.
Visit: www.MedEdits.com
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