Now that we’re seeing the end of March, it’s time to get started on your medical school and residency personal statements. Do not be one of those applicants who is panicking because s/he did not plan enough time to craft an outstanding essay.
The Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates® (ECFMG) recently posted a suggested timeline for those who need to take Step 2 CS. Here is their useful announcement:
Schedules at all test centers fill up quickly. USMLE strongly encourages examinees to complete their scheduling before May 31 of the calendar year in which they plan to test. Testing appointments are typically completely filled at least three to four months in advance. If you try to schedule after August 1, you may find that there are no available testing appointments through the end of the year unless there are cancellations.
More information is available in the “Applying for the Test and Scheduling Your Test Date” section of the Bulletin of Information.
Dr. Oliver Sacks is a Professor or Neurology at New York University School of Medicine who has written numerous best-selling books including, “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” and “Awakenings.” He recently wrote a moving piece in the NYT called “My Own Life” about learning that he has terminal cancer. It’s worth a read.
For those undergraduates who are starting to think about their medical school applications, I will tell you a secret: One of the biggest weaknesses I advise candidates on is their lack of clinical experience. I’ve seen students with MCATs in the high 30s who did not get into medical school on their first try. They had little or no patient experience.
So, ensure your application has robust clinical activities. Some suggestions:
Scribe
Clinical Care Extender
EMT
Low Income Clinic Volunteer
Hospice Volunteer
Veterinarian’s Assistant (a great way to get hands-on procedural experience)
Phlebotomist
If you are not excited about getting clinical experience, it is time to question your interest in a career in medicine… which is exactly what admissions committees will do if they don’t see that experience :).
Take a look below at my Guru on the Go© Video about this topic.
Please remember that on February 25 your rank list must be certified by 9pm EST, and changes cannot be made after that time. The NRMP will not enter a list; add, delete or move programs; or modify a rank order list.
Every year I see applicants making changes to their lists at the last minute. Please take some time to consider your decisions, and submit your rank list well before the deadline.
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
