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AMCAS Science Calculations

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I receive a lot of questions about AMCAS‘ GPA calculations. (Please see previous blog entries on this topic.) One question in particular for those considering post-undergraduate science GPA boosts is the following: How does AMCAS calculate science classes taken after college graduation? Are they placed in the BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math) undergraduate or graduate category?

Post bacc courses are counted as part of the undergraduate GPA. Courses taken after graduation – unless specified as graduate courses in transcripts – are considered post bacc courses, so they are also calculated as part of the undergraduate GPA.

Hope this helps. Contact me for admissions assistance.

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Contacting Medical Schools

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Recently, one of my clients, who had been invited for interviews at other institutions, was rejected from a medical school he wanted to attend. Much to his credit, he emailed the Dean of Admissions and wrote a cogent note expressing his interest and requesting a second consideration. Within twenty-four hours he had been offered an interview.

I’m not saying this is typical, but generally, I do recommend politely contacting institutions if you haven’t heard anything or if you’ve been rejected from a school for which you think you are competitive.

Contact me for help.

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The Medical School Interview: Writing Thank You Notes

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Once your AMCAS and secondary essays have been submitted, getting into medical school kicks into high gear with the interview season. Because medical school admissions have become so competitive of late – especially in this weaker economy –
the medical school interview has become critical.

Thank you notes can be good ways to alert institutions of your interest. They can also serve as reminders to your candidacy. Read more ›

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Do Letters of Intent Have Any Impact on the Residency Match Ranking Process?

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There are no stats that letters of intent (LOI) do or don’t work. (Programs do not tend to be transparent about how their ranking processes are handled.) However, because many programs do not want to go far down their rank list (mostly for reasons related to ego), they are eager to highly rank candidates who want to be at their programs. So I advise my clients to do whatever they can, including a LOI, to let a program know it is their first.

Contact me for application help.

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Updating Your Activites After You’ve Submitted Your ERAS

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This week a client emailed me to say that he recently received a new academic award and wanted to let program directors know. He asked me if there was a way to update his ERAS. Unfortunately, once you have submitted your ERAS it cannot be edited. You can send a letter to the programs or you can un-assign and assign a new personal statement at any time. (The latter option has its disadvantages at this late date.)

Contact me for help.

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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

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