Monday, April 12, 2010
सुच्सस्स्फुल्ली मत्चेद!
Wanted to share the good news- I matched into orthopaedic surgery at a solid academic institution. Best of luck to everyone!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Transferring: Why?
Why do you want to transfer?
Attempting to transfer is an expensive, stressful, demoralizing, and time-consuming trek. Much like your decision to start medical school, deciding to transfer requires a good reason. The reason alone fuels the arduous trip ahead so make sure that it is good enough....
1) 10 years down the road, few patients care about where you went to medical school
2) where you train for residency is more important
3) The big Carib schools do a wonderful job in preparing you for the the future
Pros of transferring:
-You will have an easier time getting into a desired residency
-Some of the stigma will be removed
-It may be cheaper to do your M3/4 years stateside
-You received the same MS1/2 education as your stateside peers, but on a beautiful island
-Easier to get financial assistance
-Better access to clerkships
Cons of transferring:
-Grading is harsher
-Final exams are harder (shelf exams were orders of magnitude harder than the exams I took in the Carib)
-You leave your existing social networks and are cast into a new class
-Having to relocate, though you are probably used to this
Attempting to transfer is an expensive, stressful, demoralizing, and time-consuming trek. Much like your decision to start medical school, deciding to transfer requires a good reason. The reason alone fuels the arduous trip ahead so make sure that it is good enough....
1) 10 years down the road, few patients care about where you went to medical school
2) where you train for residency is more important
3) The big Carib schools do a wonderful job in preparing you for the the future
Pros of transferring:
-You will have an easier time getting into a desired residency
-Some of the stigma will be removed
-It may be cheaper to do your M3/4 years stateside
-You received the same MS1/2 education as your stateside peers, but on a beautiful island
-Easier to get financial assistance
-Better access to clerkships
Cons of transferring:
-Grading is harsher
-Final exams are harder (shelf exams were orders of magnitude harder than the exams I took in the Carib)
-You leave your existing social networks and are cast into a new class
-Having to relocate, though you are probably used to this
Do You Have a Shot?
Never give up but be smart about what you do. You will spend countless hours and about $1000 just to apply/interview. Some schools charge $500 on top of the $100 application fee just to interview you! Take a good look at your personal situation and determine if you have a shot at transferring. The ideal candidate: someone who was waitlisted while applying to a US school.
Numbers: You need to have had pretty solid numbers in BOTH UG and med school. If you had the following: 15 MCAT, 2.0 UG GPA, Med GPA 4.0, USMLE 1 250, there is a good chance that you will not transfer. I remember reading a story about a student applying for transfer with a perfect med school GPA and ~268 on his USMLE Step 1... he was not offered any interviews because of a poor MCAT score!
I know it sounds harsh, but the reality is that medical schools filter based on improving their statistics (and ultimately us news type rankings). This means that
1) your UG stats should be somewhat near their published avg gpa/avg mcat
2) you should improve their match list- solid grades/numbers allow you to match into a competitive residency.
A rough estimate is as follows (you should shoot to have higher numbers):
• UG GPA: >3.0
• MCAT:>25
• Med School GPA: A’s and B’s
• USMLE: All the transfers I have spoken to have been in the 225-255 range
Again, your results may vary.
Numbers: You need to have had pretty solid numbers in BOTH UG and med school. If you had the following: 15 MCAT, 2.0 UG GPA, Med GPA 4.0, USMLE 1 250, there is a good chance that you will not transfer. I remember reading a story about a student applying for transfer with a perfect med school GPA and ~268 on his USMLE Step 1... he was not offered any interviews because of a poor MCAT score!
I know it sounds harsh, but the reality is that medical schools filter based on improving their statistics (and ultimately us news type rankings). This means that
1) your UG stats should be somewhat near their published avg gpa/avg mcat
2) you should improve their match list- solid grades/numbers allow you to match into a competitive residency.
A rough estimate is as follows (you should shoot to have higher numbers):
• UG GPA: >3.0
• MCAT:>25
• Med School GPA: A’s and B’s
• USMLE: All the transfers I have spoken to have been in the 225-255 range
Again, your results may vary.
Getting Started
VERY IMPORTANT: EACH YEAR IS DIFFERENT SO IT IS UP TO YOU TO FIND OUT WHICH SCHOOLS ARE ACCEPTING TRANSFER STUDENTS
Now that you have decided to transfer, you need to start finding schools!
Which schools accept FMGs? Do they take MS2 or MS3 students? Some schools will take MS1 students. An MS4 is eligible to transfer into MS2/MS3 spots.
Where to start:
http://services.aamc.org/tsp_reports/
There are several approaches for the aamc website; the best advice I have is to spend some time going through this website. It is very valuable as a starting point.
For me, the following schools were accepting applications (some information for the 2009 cycle is provided):
1 SUNY Upstate
http://www.upstate.edu/com/admissions/transfer.php
http://www.upstate.edu/currentstudent/document/com_transfer_app.pdf
The deadline to complete an application is April 1
Applications are accepted to the third year class from LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education): not sure how new this policy is, but I know ~8 people who have transferred from the Carib.
2 Drexel (they did not have any seats for 2008)
http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/Admissions/MDProgram/TransferApplicants.aspx
We begin accepting applications for potential transfer positions after February 1. We'll know more about possible open positions in the spring. If we have open positions, we'll begin to review complete applications in early/mid May. If there are no positions available, we'll return materials sent to us by applicants.
http://www.drexelmed.edu/Portals/0/Transfer_Application.pdf
3 NEOUCOM
http://www.neoucom.edu/audience/applicants/succeed/admi/currentMedTransfer
Effective December 1, 2008: The Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine is accepting applications for advanced standing admission to the M3 year for the 2009-10.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Materials and Deadline: If and when the College accepts Advanced Standing applications, the following materials constitute a completed application for Advanced Standing Admissions to NEOUCOM and must be postmarked by April 1, 2009.
1) Advanced Standing Admissions Application
2) Payment of a $150 application fee (nonrefundable)
3) Official transcripts from all current and previous post-secondary enrollment
4) Two recommendation forms
5) Official NBME transcript of USMLE Step 1 Score Report or date scheduled to take USMLE Step 1
6) If you have other information that would be helpful to the committee, such as clinical skills evaluations, please send these materials as well.
4 MSSM (they did not have any seats for 2008). They ask you to email a CV and if any seats are available, they will email you.
According to the 2009 website: Applications for transfer into the second, third, and fourth year classes are no longer accepted.
http://www.mountsinai.org/Education/School%20of%20Medicine/Degrees%20and%20Programs/MD%20Program/How%20to%20Apply
5 Tulane (was not accepting applications in 2008)
http://tulane.edu/som/admissions/admissions-process.cfm
6 SUNY Buffalo (they did not have any seats for 2008)
http://wings.buffalo.edu/smbs/ome/admission/admission_tranfers.htm
From U.S./Canadian/Foreign Medical or U.S. Osteopathic Schools
Transfer applications are usually considered only into our Third-Year Class. Other special circumstances requiring transfer are also considered. The number of third-year transfers is determined by class attrition. If space is available, applications are considered only if documented evidence of hardship exists for the student to continue at the school in which he or she is currently enrolled. Transfer information and application instructions can be obtained by contacting the Medical Admissions Office.
7 GWU Seems like they are no longer accepting carib applications. You can call to make sure; please comment if you find out if they will accept carib students.
http://www.gwumc.edu/edu/admis/html/admissions/transfer.html
2009-The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences will only accept transfer applicants from U.S. or Canadian schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine programs. Applicants must be either US or Canadian Citizens or US Permanent Residents. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours, including the required pre-medical coursework, at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university prior to matriculation. The vast majority have an undergraduate degree. Eight semester hours (six lecture and two lab) must be completed in each of the following fields: biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Six semester hours of English (literature and/or composition) are also required. Applicants must be in good academic standing and eligible to reenter at their current medical school.
Students eligible to apply to our second or third-year classes are those from U.S. or Canadian schools of medicine, and those enrolled in Osteopathic Medicine Program. Students are eligible to apply if they meet our specific curriculum requirements. All students are required to submit MCAT scores. All Students from osteopathic schools must provide a passing USMLE Step 1 score (we cannot review students from these schools with only one-year of medical school coursework).
Depending on your state, your results may vary.
Note: You can call each school individually and ask them if they would accept your application, but I personally think this is low yield and annoying for the schools. I went to websites and looked up transfer policies. If you are unsure, feel free to call the school. The aamc website above gives you the name of the person to contact.
Addendum:
According to data published by one of the big 4, the following schools have accepted transfer students in the past few years:
Drexel University College of Medicine* Most students from here
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
East Carolina University Colle of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
University of Calgary
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
New York Medical College
According to data provided from one of the big 4, from 2003-2005, ~30 students transferred. The mean medical school GPA was 3.46 (sd 0.46), mean USMLE 1 was 231 (sd 13.65), mean MCAT 25.28 (sd 3.17), UG GPA 3.25 (sd 0.32), Science GPA 3.18 (sd 0.38)
Now that you have decided to transfer, you need to start finding schools!
Which schools accept FMGs? Do they take MS2 or MS3 students? Some schools will take MS1 students. An MS4 is eligible to transfer into MS2/MS3 spots.
Where to start:
http://services.aamc.org/tsp_reports/
There are several approaches for the aamc website; the best advice I have is to spend some time going through this website. It is very valuable as a starting point.
For me, the following schools were accepting applications (some information for the 2009 cycle is provided):
1 SUNY Upstate
http://www.upstate.edu/com/admissions/transfer.php
http://www.upstate.edu/currentstudent/document/com_transfer_app.pdf
The deadline to complete an application is April 1
Applications are accepted to the third year class from LCME (Liaison Committee on Medical Education): not sure how new this policy is, but I know ~8 people who have transferred from the Carib.
2 Drexel (they did not have any seats for 2008)
http://www.drexelmed.edu/Home/Admissions/MDProgram/TransferApplicants.aspx
We begin accepting applications for potential transfer positions after February 1. We'll know more about possible open positions in the spring. If we have open positions, we'll begin to review complete applications in early/mid May. If there are no positions available, we'll return materials sent to us by applicants.
http://www.drexelmed.edu/Portals/0/Transfer_Application.pdf
3 NEOUCOM
http://www.neoucom.edu/audience/applicants/succeed/admi/currentMedTransfer
Effective December 1, 2008: The Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine is accepting applications for advanced standing admission to the M3 year for the 2009-10.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application Materials and Deadline: If and when the College accepts Advanced Standing applications, the following materials constitute a completed application for Advanced Standing Admissions to NEOUCOM and must be postmarked by April 1, 2009.
1) Advanced Standing Admissions Application
2) Payment of a $150 application fee (nonrefundable)
3) Official transcripts from all current and previous post-secondary enrollment
4) Two recommendation forms
5) Official NBME transcript of USMLE Step 1 Score Report or date scheduled to take USMLE Step 1
6) If you have other information that would be helpful to the committee, such as clinical skills evaluations, please send these materials as well.
4 MSSM (they did not have any seats for 2008). They ask you to email a CV and if any seats are available, they will email you.
According to the 2009 website: Applications for transfer into the second, third, and fourth year classes are no longer accepted.
http://www.mountsinai.org/Education/School%20of%20Medicine/Degrees%20and%20Programs/MD%20Program/How%20to%20Apply
5 Tulane (was not accepting applications in 2008)
http://tulane.edu/som/admissions/admissions-process.cfm
6 SUNY Buffalo (they did not have any seats for 2008)
http://wings.buffalo.edu/smbs/ome/admission/admission_tranfers.htm
From U.S./Canadian/Foreign Medical or U.S. Osteopathic Schools
Transfer applications are usually considered only into our Third-Year Class. Other special circumstances requiring transfer are also considered. The number of third-year transfers is determined by class attrition. If space is available, applications are considered only if documented evidence of hardship exists for the student to continue at the school in which he or she is currently enrolled. Transfer information and application instructions can be obtained by contacting the Medical Admissions Office.
7 GWU Seems like they are no longer accepting carib applications. You can call to make sure; please comment if you find out if they will accept carib students.
http://www.gwumc.edu/edu/admis/html/admissions/transfer.html
2009-The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences will only accept transfer applicants from U.S. or Canadian schools of medicine and osteopathic medicine programs. Applicants must be either US or Canadian Citizens or US Permanent Residents. Applicants must have completed a minimum of 90 semester hours, including the required pre-medical coursework, at an accredited U.S. or Canadian college or university prior to matriculation. The vast majority have an undergraduate degree. Eight semester hours (six lecture and two lab) must be completed in each of the following fields: biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Six semester hours of English (literature and/or composition) are also required. Applicants must be in good academic standing and eligible to reenter at their current medical school.
Students eligible to apply to our second or third-year classes are those from U.S. or Canadian schools of medicine, and those enrolled in Osteopathic Medicine Program. Students are eligible to apply if they meet our specific curriculum requirements. All students are required to submit MCAT scores. All Students from osteopathic schools must provide a passing USMLE Step 1 score (we cannot review students from these schools with only one-year of medical school coursework).
Depending on your state, your results may vary.
Note: You can call each school individually and ask them if they would accept your application, but I personally think this is low yield and annoying for the schools. I went to websites and looked up transfer policies. If you are unsure, feel free to call the school. The aamc website above gives you the name of the person to contact.
Addendum:
According to data published by one of the big 4, the following schools have accepted transfer students in the past few years:
Drexel University College of Medicine* Most students from here
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
East Carolina University Colle of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
University of Calgary
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
New York Medical College
According to data provided from one of the big 4, from 2003-2005, ~30 students transferred. The mean medical school GPA was 3.46 (sd 0.46), mean USMLE 1 was 231 (sd 13.65), mean MCAT 25.28 (sd 3.17), UG GPA 3.25 (sd 0.32), Science GPA 3.18 (sd 0.38)
Now That You Have Some Idea Which Schools Will Accept You: Research!
Time for some research! Unfortunately, there aren’t many resources out there-transferring is rare so there isn’t much demand for books on this.
Start by perusing through forums.studentdoctor.net and valuemd.com (search: transfer). There are several threads on transferring and got some idea of what to expect. I also read Topher’s guide (http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/transfer/), as well as several users on forums who posted a guide (ie- http://www.valuemd.com/ross-university-school-medicine/73407-transferring-ross-us-schools-other-schools.html). You can also use google and search for any new websites that may outline transferring.
Once these resources have been exhausted, you will likely want more. Transferring is a mix between applying to med school and applying for residency. It might help to go to your local bookstore and pick up a few books on ‘getting into medskewl’ and ‘getting into the residency of your dreams’. I highly recommend that you purchase one book:
Iserson’s Getting Into Residency: http://www.galenpress.com/025.html
Get it! It can be old-fashioned at times, but it is a great book nonetheless.
Start by perusing through forums.studentdoctor.net and valuemd.com (search: transfer). There are several threads on transferring and got some idea of what to expect. I also read Topher’s guide (http://rumorsweretrue.wordpress.com/transfer/), as well as several users on forums who posted a guide (ie- http://www.valuemd.com/ross-university-school-medicine/73407-transferring-ross-us-schools-other-schools.html). You can also use google and search for any new websites that may outline transferring.
Once these resources have been exhausted, you will likely want more. Transferring is a mix between applying to med school and applying for residency. It might help to go to your local bookstore and pick up a few books on ‘getting into medskewl’ and ‘getting into the residency of your dreams’. I highly recommend that you purchase one book:
Iserson’s Getting Into Residency: http://www.galenpress.com/025.html
Get it! It can be old-fashioned at times, but it is a great book nonetheless.
Efficiency and Organization!
Efficiency and Organization are key! You are probably in medical school and don’t have the luxury of time. Your best bet is to sit down and determine what each school needs. From here, you should get organized and start some sort of spreadsheet. I used docs.google.com and made a spreadsheet with a list of schools, application deadlines and tasks needed to complete the application. When I completed a task, I simply put a line through the task and put in the date completed. This is very important because each school will require about 10 items and it is very difficult to keep track of things. This made my life much easier.
Next, focus on the rate limiting steps. These are the things that require 10 minutes of work and months of waiting. This includes MCATs, USMLE scores, UG transcripts, med transcripts, etc.
Next, focus on the rate limiting steps. These are the things that require 10 minutes of work and months of waiting. This includes MCATs, USMLE scores, UG transcripts, med transcripts, etc.
Application
The application can be downloaded from the school website. Filling in the actual application does not take much time so you can put this off till the end. I recommend that you type in your application (you can download a free adobe trial here: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html ).
UG Committee Letter
Most schools require your undergraduate committee letter. This is a rate limiting step and should be done early on. The easiest way to do this is call your undergrad pre-med office and see if they can forward your LOR to the schools. Most schools charge $5-10 dollars per school.
Dean’s Letter
The dean's letter of good standing takes a lot of time. Get rolling on this immediately.
The Dean's Letter:
Basically, this is a letter that says 1) you were not a bad student 2) where you stood relative to the class 3) any interactions/comments/etc that the dean may have had with you. I had NO interaction with the dean so I was contemplating flying down to meet with the Dean. I spoke to his secretary and she said that personally meeting with the dean was not necessary and she was right.
What you need to worry about-THIS TAKES TIME. As soon as you have decided to apply for transfer, get the ball rolling on this one. The school is usually very helpful when it comes to this.
Here is what my conversation looked like:
The Dean's Letter:
Basically, this is a letter that says 1) you were not a bad student 2) where you stood relative to the class 3) any interactions/comments/etc that the dean may have had with you. I had NO interaction with the dean so I was contemplating flying down to meet with the Dean. I spoke to his secretary and she said that personally meeting with the dean was not necessary and she was right.
What you need to worry about-THIS TAKES TIME. As soon as you have decided to apply for transfer, get the ball rolling on this one. The school is usually very helpful when it comes to this.
Here is what my conversation looked like:
Dear,
Hi
I am currently a 3rd year medical student applying for transfer to a US medical school. I will be applying to the following schools:
Drexel University College of Medicine
Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine
East Carolina University College of Medicine
Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
University of Vermont College of Medicine
Jefferson Medical College
Louisiana State University School of Medicine
New York Medical College
Aside from a CV, do I need to send in anything else? Is there any way I could meet with the Dean in person so that he could make the letter a little more personal? I would be able to fly out for this, or if he is in the US, I can fly to him.
Thanking you in advance,
Dear Student:
You do not need to submit anything else aside from the CV. When is the deadline for the letters?
Dear School,
Thank you for your prompt response.
The deadlines are different depending on the school, but some are as early as February. I was curious as to how the letter is written. Is it based on grades, step 1 scores and CV only? Is there any way to meet with the Dean to make the letter stand out? Did students who successfully transferred meet with the Dean?
Thanks,
The letter is a standard letter, giving your class rank and your
eligibility to transfer. If you need another letter about grades, scores,
etc. you may have to request it from another faculty member.
Transcripts
This is not a difficult task but it should be done EARLY. Each school is different so you have to do some research here.
MCAT: Electronic Score Release
Go here: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/sendscores/start.htm and have your scores released. When I was applying, Drexel was NOT accepting the electronic score release.
USMLE Score Report
It takes ~ 1 month for the scores to be released. The ECFMG is pretty good about things. Here was my email transcript with them:
Dear Doctor,
To request official copies of your USMLE™ scores, you must complete and submit the Request for Official USMLE™ Transcript (Form 172) and the appropriate fee to ECFMG®. Form 172 and additional information are also available on our web-site, www.ecfmg.org.
Sincerely,
info@ecfmg.org
Dear Doctor,
To request official copies of your USMLE™ scores, you must complete and submit the Request for Official USMLE™ Transcript (Form 172) and the appropriate fee to ECFMG®. Form 172 and additional information are also available on our web-site, www.ecfmg.org.
Sincerely,
info@ecfmg.org
Letters of Recommendation
This depends on where you are in your education. I chose my 3rd year clinical preceptors. Basically, I printed out a CV + personal statement and approached my clinical preceptors and explained that I wanted to transfer. If they agreed to write a letter, I returned with one of the LOR forms from my school along with a stamped envelope. These letters go to the school and you have to have them forwarded to the schools of your choice. Speaking of personal statement…..
Personal Statement
The personal statement was the most painful part of the application process. For this, I wrote two personal statements and had people critique it. One was a ‘cutesy’ PS, while the other went straight to the point. I decided to use the PS that was devoid of crap. Basically, I praised my medical school, told them why I wanted to transfer, described my interests and why they would help me for my future career, briefly discussed my break between UG and medical school (careers), and ended by thanking them for looking at my application. You need to sell yourself…no one is going to sell your product for you. Don’t be arrogant. You need to show that you are an excellent candidate.
Things to avoid:
Don’t say anything bad about the Caribbean, anything
Spelling/Grammar errors
Ridiculous stories
Things that can be found on your application
Inflammatory statements
Things to avoid:
Don’t say anything bad about the Caribbean, anything
Spelling/Grammar errors
Ridiculous stories
Things that can be found on your application
Inflammatory statements
Now That the PS is Done!
Now that the PS is done, finalize your list of programs. Check and double check your checklists. Are you missing anything? Call your schools and check that they have received your materials.
Filling Out Applications
This seemingly simple step can become very difficult. Typing out the applications can be time consuming. Using adobe abrocat professional makes life easier (free trial: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobatpro/tryout.html). I went out and purchased heavy weight paper to print out my final applications, figured it would add to the professional feel to my application.
NEOUCOM has a difficult application. I made it easier by downloading a PDF to Word converter and then filling out the application on Microsoft Word.
NEOUCOM has a difficult application. I made it easier by downloading a PDF to Word converter and then filling out the application on Microsoft Word.
Sending out the Applications
Two points:
1) Earlier>Later
2) Use regular mail, it is cheaper and will take 1-2 extra days
1) Earlier>Later
2) Use regular mail, it is cheaper and will take 1-2 extra days
Waiting
Well, nothing to read here. Just hope for the best and do well. Try to do something interesting that you can use to update your application if you get an offer to interview.
The Call: We Want to Interview You
Congratulations, you have made the first cut. Your odds are pretty decent at this point. During my time, they interviewed <25% of applicants, and accepted ~50% of interviewees. Your results may vary based on the school. At this point, you are probably nervous as can be. Read on!
Preparing for the Interview
This is the most important interview of your life. Preparation is key. At this point, it would be safe to say that most applicants are on a level playing field so you need to hone in on your interviewing skills. What I did to prepare was the following:
THOROUGHLY read your application. Reread all my papers/research articles (I was asked a lot about my research, and had to go so far as explain my research project to the interviewer).
Read several books on interviewing. I did not stick to ‘getting a residency’ type books, but read everything from ‘Interviewing for Dummies’ to ‘Getting into a Top Business School’ type books. There are certain things that you need to prepare for.
Clean-up. Appearance is important.
Spend days on the school’s website. Look at everything from the curriculum to the school’s research. Why do you want to come here?????? I was asked that question.
Read the list of interview questions in Iserson’s, you’ll get an idea of what you might be asked.
Mock interviews: ask around. I found a website where you can pay someone on Stanford’s adcom-$500…wow! Not worth it as a broke med student IMHO. I was very fortunate to have wonderful friends who were experienced with interviews. I had them give me stressful interviews to prepare for the interview. I was also lucky to have a very nice resident who was on the adcom at a very good medical school. He gave me 2 hours of his time and hosted a mock interview. He told me where I could improve my answers. A lot of interviewing is giving the interviewer what they want to hear. You can also ask your undergrad for a mock interview. Try recording yourself if you can.
THOROUGHLY read your application. Reread all my papers/research articles (I was asked a lot about my research, and had to go so far as explain my research project to the interviewer).
Read several books on interviewing. I did not stick to ‘getting a residency’ type books, but read everything from ‘Interviewing for Dummies’ to ‘Getting into a Top Business School’ type books. There are certain things that you need to prepare for.
Clean-up. Appearance is important.
Spend days on the school’s website. Look at everything from the curriculum to the school’s research. Why do you want to come here?????? I was asked that question.
Read the list of interview questions in Iserson’s, you’ll get an idea of what you might be asked.
Mock interviews: ask around. I found a website where you can pay someone on Stanford’s adcom-$500…wow! Not worth it as a broke med student IMHO. I was very fortunate to have wonderful friends who were experienced with interviews. I had them give me stressful interviews to prepare for the interview. I was also lucky to have a very nice resident who was on the adcom at a very good medical school. He gave me 2 hours of his time and hosted a mock interview. He told me where I could improve my answers. A lot of interviewing is giving the interviewer what they want to hear. You can also ask your undergrad for a mock interview. Try recording yourself if you can.
The Day Before
I flew in the day before my interview and had a relaxing lunch. When I got back to the hotel, I planned my transportation for the next day-you don’t want to be late on interview day. I relaxed for a little bit and then decided to pull out some of the interview questions from Iserson’s. I sat in front of a mirror and answered some basic questions, ie why our school? Why did you go to the Carib? Why didn’t you reapply? How was the Caribbean? What do you have to give to our school? Why do you want to be a surgeon? What are you going to contribute to medicine? Why should I take you? What was your most memorable patient? Why medicine?
I had a video recorder on my phone and recorded myself to look for holes. Turned out those seemingly infinite pauses weren’t that bad.
At about 5pm, I stopped prepping and decided to relax. Grabbed some food…started preparing my clothes, etc. Try to relax and have everything in order. Plan tomorrow out, it will go by faster than you can imagine.
I had a video recorder on my phone and recorded myself to look for holes. Turned out those seemingly infinite pauses weren’t that bad.
At about 5pm, I stopped prepping and decided to relax. Grabbed some food…started preparing my clothes, etc. Try to relax and have everything in order. Plan tomorrow out, it will go by faster than you can imagine.
Interview Day
Each interview will be different.
I will give you my personal experience. I arrived early and went to the store to grab breakfast (Dunkin Donuts for a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich). I had my luggage with me but this was remarkably acceptable; interviewers are used to this. I looked neat- shaved, pressed suit and tie (conservative is a good approach), my shoes shined, hair in order. After arriving at, I met the other candidates exchanged hellos, etc. We were given a folder outlining our interview day.
My first interview with a prof went very well. It was more of a conversation with a friend. When I walked in, I saw a poster of a Ferrari Testarossa so we started talking about cars. This turned out to be a great ice-breaker....maybe there is something in the room that will help you out. Basically, I was asked about Grenada, why I didn’t make it the first time, why I didn’t reapply, where I see myself in the next ten years, what kind of doctor I want to be, my favorite/least favorite med school subjects, why I chose my UG major, what my research paper was about, etc…
My second interviewer was a surgeon (they interview differently). We started off with a cup of coffee. It was very easy going and I felt at-ease. The coffee break was very relaxing, but when I went back to her office....things changed. She pinned me in a corner right off the bat. She questioned my desire to become a surgeon, questioned my choices and put me through a stressful interview. In the end, she admitted to playing devil’s advocate to see if I could pull myself out. Regardless, I felt like crap and knew that I hadn't answered correctly. I already visualized the letter:
"Thank you for your interest in our school. We have received X application for Y seats. At this time, we will not be able to offer you a seat in our _____ class"
After my second interview we were provided with lunch. My head was spinning because I didn't do so well on my second interview. During lunch, the director came in and went into how they screened applicants for interviews and how interviewees were chosen to fill the class of _____ seats. We had a short Q and A, followed by a campus tour. Remember, everyone is watching you so be on your best behavior! Be polite, positive, and upbeat. This is important.
What to avoid:
Let’s say that you just flew into Michigan from Grenada in the dead of winter. You land and find that there is a foot of snow and you forgot to pack your winter jacket. You go through a hellish trek back to your hotel. It is cold and you have sneakers on. As you are walking, you hear a splash and feel the cold water entering your shoes. 2 miles to go. After 45 minute, you get to your hotel. In the morning while on the way to your interview, an 18 wheeler drives by and slushes you and your CV. After you get to your interview, you frantically to clean up and and reprint your CV-you look as if nothing happened. When your interviewer asks you ‘how was your trip from warm grenada to cold michigan’, you answer “It has been excellent so far and I am so happy to be here today”. AVOID ANY NEGATIVITY during your interview.
At the end of the interview, get a card from your interviewer so you can contact them later.
I will give you my personal experience. I arrived early and went to the store to grab breakfast (Dunkin Donuts for a cup of coffee and a breakfast sandwich). I had my luggage with me but this was remarkably acceptable; interviewers are used to this. I looked neat- shaved, pressed suit and tie (conservative is a good approach), my shoes shined, hair in order. After arriving at, I met the other candidates exchanged hellos, etc. We were given a folder outlining our interview day.
My first interview with a prof went very well. It was more of a conversation with a friend. When I walked in, I saw a poster of a Ferrari Testarossa so we started talking about cars. This turned out to be a great ice-breaker....maybe there is something in the room that will help you out. Basically, I was asked about Grenada, why I didn’t make it the first time, why I didn’t reapply, where I see myself in the next ten years, what kind of doctor I want to be, my favorite/least favorite med school subjects, why I chose my UG major, what my research paper was about, etc…
My second interviewer was a surgeon (they interview differently). We started off with a cup of coffee. It was very easy going and I felt at-ease. The coffee break was very relaxing, but when I went back to her office....things changed. She pinned me in a corner right off the bat. She questioned my desire to become a surgeon, questioned my choices and put me through a stressful interview. In the end, she admitted to playing devil’s advocate to see if I could pull myself out. Regardless, I felt like crap and knew that I hadn't answered correctly. I already visualized the letter:
"Thank you for your interest in our school. We have received X application for Y seats. At this time, we will not be able to offer you a seat in our _____ class"
After my second interview we were provided with lunch. My head was spinning because I didn't do so well on my second interview. During lunch, the director came in and went into how they screened applicants for interviews and how interviewees were chosen to fill the class of _____ seats. We had a short Q and A, followed by a campus tour. Remember, everyone is watching you so be on your best behavior! Be polite, positive, and upbeat. This is important.
What to avoid:
Let’s say that you just flew into Michigan from Grenada in the dead of winter. You land and find that there is a foot of snow and you forgot to pack your winter jacket. You go through a hellish trek back to your hotel. It is cold and you have sneakers on. As you are walking, you hear a splash and feel the cold water entering your shoes. 2 miles to go. After 45 minute, you get to your hotel. In the morning while on the way to your interview, an 18 wheeler drives by and slushes you and your CV. After you get to your interview, you frantically to clean up and and reprint your CV-you look as if nothing happened. When your interviewer asks you ‘how was your trip from warm grenada to cold michigan’, you answer “It has been excellent so far and I am so happy to be here today”. AVOID ANY NEGATIVITY during your interview.
At the end of the interview, get a card from your interviewer so you can contact them later.
After the Interview
To thank, or not to thank….. This varies depending on who you ask-some say that the decision was made immediately after the interview so it has not effect, others say that it is a matter of courtesy. I thanked my interviewers via email (this was where those business cards came in handy). Try to include something personal so they can remember you.
For example:
It is up to you if you send one or not but keep it short and sweet!
Well, good luck to you. Feel free to post a comment if this has helped you. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!!
For example:
Dear Dr. Interviewer,
Good afternoon. I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for interviewing me on _________ 2009. I appreciate that you took the time to discuss ...........you get the point....
Sincerely yours,
XXXXXXXX
It is up to you if you send one or not but keep it short and sweet!
Well, good luck to you. Feel free to post a comment if this has helped you. If you have any suggestions, please let me know!!
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