All Access: Med School Admissions

Latest Episodes:

Episode 37: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Aug 02, 2020

Show notes

In this episode we're visiting with the Dean of Admissions from the Donald & Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. She's really candid and provides some helpful advice in addition to talking about all things Zucker. Additionally, we talk a little bit about the AAMC's new VITA interview when discussing their admissions process.

CORRECTION 8/4/2020: For the entering class of 2020, the Zucker School of Medicine had 95 MD students and 4 MD/PhD students. Not 99 MD students and 4 MD/PhD students as was stated in the intro.

Have a question for the show, school suggestion, or just want to say hi? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

Visit https://case.edu/medicine/allaccess for more information on this episode and others.

RESOURCES:

AAMC VITA Interview

Participating Schools

Zucker School of Medicine

Curriculum

Summer Research

Distinction in Research

Clinical Training Sites

International Opportunities

Netflix: Lenox Hill

BRAINterns

CONTACT:

Zucker SOM Admissions Team

DR. WOLDENBURG'S RECOMMENDATIONS:The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert by Jeff Hobbs

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

Intern: A Doctor's Initiation by Sanjeep Jauhar

Episode 36: Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of CWRU Jul 12, 2020

Show notes

The Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine is our "sister" program at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. This conversation is with my colleague and friend, Dr. Christine Warren, Associate Dean for Admissions & Student Affairs. CCLCM is a very unique pathway to a medical degree as it is a very research-focused program.

Have a question for the show, school suggestion, or just want to say hi? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

Visit https://case.edu/medicine/allaccess for more information on this episode and others.

RESOURCES:

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

CONTACT:

cclcm@ccf.org

Episode 35: Exclusive Interview with MCAT Team Members May 15, 2020

Show notes

I'm excited to bring you some more people from the AAMC. In this episode we hear from members of the MCAT Team, Jennifer Antonio, the Senior Director of MCAT Business Operations,& Leslie de Leon, the Director of MCAT Preparation Products. We primarily discuss the changes that have come to the MCAT for this summer due to Coronavirus-related disruptions but we also discuss the test prep resources that are available. Be sure to check the links in the show notes to the resources and additional information.

RESOURCES

Twitter: @AAMC_MCAT

Changes to the MCAT

MCAT Resource Site contains the following resources:

MCAT Prep Hub - Access using your AAMC username and password
- Free Study Plan Guide
- Roadmap to the MCAT
- Practice with Exam features that you will encounter on the exam day
- Khan Academy MCAT videos
- The MCAT Content Outline
What's on the Exam
Create a Study Plan
Planning and Study Resources
And more!

Pre-Med Resource Site

AAMC Fee Assistance Program - Income eligibility requirements have been expanded

Pearson Vue Testing COVID-19 Page

Health and Safety Requirements

Episode 34: Exclusive Interview with Leadership at the AAMC May 08, 2020

Show notes

I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring you the voices of some of the leadership members at the AAMC. You will hear from Dr. Geoffrey Young, the Senior Director of Student Affairs and Programs, and Mr. Patrick Fritz, the Senior Director of AMCAS. This conversation brings you into how the AAMC has been working to adapt to the changes and disruptions brought by the Coronavirus pandemic. They also provide us with tips and advice about the AMCAS application, including common pitfalls that can cause delays in the processing of applications. We reference a lot of resources and opportunities so be sure to check out the links in the show notes. I hope this conversation brings you some reassurance that we all care and are thinking about our applicants during all of this uncertainty.

RESOURCES

Understanding the Application Process

Coronavirus (COVID-19) and AMCAS

AMCAS Application

AMCAS Student Services

Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. ET

Closed Wednesday, 3-5 p.m. ET

amcas@aamc.org

202-828-0600

AMCAS Tools and Tutorials - includes some recently recorded AMCAS webinars

Alternative Grading Resource

Medical School Admissions Requirements Guide (MSAR)

AAMC Fee Assistance Program Benefits:

Reduced registration fee, from $320 to $130, for MCAT exams.
Consideration for financial assistance to obtain an updated evaluation to support an application for MCAT exam accommodations
Complimentary subscription to the MSAR
Waiver for all AMCAS fees for one (1) application submission with up to 20 medical school designations ($970 value), submitted by December 31, 2021.

COVID-related Admissions Policies for All Med Schools - Advisor Reports now available to applicants

Pre-Health Advisor Reports Page

May, 22nd @ 12:00 EST: AAMC Webinar About Demonstrating the Competencies in the Application

Episode 33: Admissions Updates Related to COVID Disruptions & FAQs May 07, 2020

Show notes

As we continue to move closer to the upcoming 2020-2021 application cycle we suspect that you have many questions about novel Coronavirus-related medical school admissions changes.

As such, listen in as Christian Essman is joined by Dr. Lina Mehta, our Associate Dean for Admissions, Professor of Radiology and Chair of the AAMC Committee on Admissions (COA), who will discuss the changes we are making at CWRU in light of these COVID-related disruptions, both for applicants and for current students. Additionally, we will provide some perspective of what is taking place on the national level. We also answer COVID-related FAQs.

Follow along in the Google slides contained in the show notes!

Questions? allaccess@case.edu

RESOURCES

FOLLOW ALONG TO THE AUDIO! Google Slides Presentation

CWRU Health Education Campus:

CWRU & Cleveland Clinic partnered to build a state-of-the-art Health Education Campus that opened in spring 2019. Take a look inside

HERE: https://bit.ly/38s0hnZ

HERE: https://bit.ly/2PBfWsr

Local News Story about the Hope Hospital in the HEC

Microsoft Hololens - HoloAnatomy

HERE: https://bit.ly/2VKnHP6

HoloAnatomy goes remote, learning goes on during pandemic:

https://thedaily.case.edu/holoanatomy-goes-remote-learning-goes-on-during-pandemic/

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/4PEUU2EhOk0hOk0

Episode 32: Pandemic Pre-Med Disruptions Apr 02, 2020

Show notes

Listen in as Christian Essman, Senior Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, and Dr. Lina Mehta, Associate Dean for Admissions at CWRU School of Medicine, discuss the uncertainty and disruptions caused by COVID-19 for pre-medical students and medical school admissions. We know that pre-med students have many questions about coursework that is now Pass/No Pass, MCAT administrations have been cancelled, shadowing and volunteering that is on hold, and summer internships and research that could be in jeopardy. This conversation attempts to bring some reassurance to listeners to that medical schools are aware of these new challenges and that we're all in this together.

Questions?

Contact: casemed-admissions@case.edu

Resources:

Med School Admissions poll on the handling of Pass/No Pass Coursework

AAMC COVID-19 Resource Hub

AACOMAS COVID-19 Resource Hub

Episode 31: The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

We're off to The Green Mountain State of Vermont to talk with the Director of Admissions at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine (UVM). While UVM is a public institution, the majority of their classes are out of state students! UVM is a very interesting school - unique curriculum, two campuses - Vermont and Connecticut, a teaching/scholarly project, among others. We discuss what they value in their applicants, of course!

Have a question for the show, school suggestion, or just want to say hi? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

Visit https://case.edu/medicine/allaccess for more information on this episode and others.

RESOURCESUniversity of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

Vermont Integrated Curriculum

Teaching/Scholarly Project

AAMC 15 Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students

Cary's Recommendations (she looooves books):

Powell's Books - Portland, OR - Book club

The Topeka School by Ben Lerner

Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened by Allie Brosh

Less by Andrew Sean Greer

CONTACT: medadmissions@med.uvm.edu

Episode 30: What Are Post-Bac Programs? Hear Experts from Bryn Mawr and WashU in St. Louis Mar 16, 2020

Show notes

Let's talk about Post-Bac programs. Who are they for and why would somebody need one? What are the different types of Post-Bac programs? Well, this episode is going to get to the bottom of these questions with two veteran Post-Bac Directors from Bryn Mawr and Washington University in St. Louis. These two are not only program directors but also act in an admissions role as evaluators of applicants to their programs. This makes for a very interesting conversation and you will learn what it means to be an "Unconditional Applicant."

Have a question for the show, school suggestion, or just want to say hi? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

Visit https://case.edu/medicine/allaccess for more information on this episode and others.

RESOURCES:

Bryn Mawr Post-Baccalaureate Premedical Program

Washington University in St. Louis Post-Baccalaureate Program

AAMC Post-bac Program Information Site

AAMC Post-bac Index of Programs

Post-Bac CAS Application Site

AAMC GPA Conversion Guide

Find An Advisor on NAAHP

CONTACT:

Bryn Marw: postbac@brynmawr.edu

WashU: postbaccpremed@wustl.edu

Episode 29: The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine Mar 07, 2020

Show notes

Oh Canada! Hear from the admissions team from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine on how the application process works in Ontario and Canada. *Psst* They also accept applications from US citizens. U of T has quite a reputation and is located in one of the largest cities in North America. Not only do we discuss the unique opportunities at U of T but we also discuss the intricacies and tips for the application process in Canada. This is a must-listen episode for anyone applying to medical schools in Canada.

Have a question for the show, school suggestion, or just want to say hi? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

Visit https://case.edu/medicine/allaccess for more information on this episode and others.

Calendar:

AAMC Recruitment Fair- Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel Saturday, March 28, 2020 -Registration Here - CANCELLED

NAAHP Recruitment Fair - Hilton New Orleans Riverside, June 27, 2020 - Registration info coming soon

Resources:

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

OMSAS - Ontario Medical School Application Service

CanMEDS - Better standards, better physicians, better care

U of T Admissions Facebook Page

U of T Academies

U of T Mississauga Campus

Contact:

medicine.admiss@utoronto.ca

Episode 28: Baylor College of Medicine Feb 25, 2020

Show notes

It's back to the Lone Star state to talk with the Admissions Deans at Baylor College of Medicine located in Houston, Texas. You've likely heard the phrase that "Everything is bigger in Texas" and this is definitely a big episode. We don't hear from one admissions dean - we talk with two. Baylor COM is located in the 4th largest city in the US - Houston, Texas. Did you know that the Texas Medical Center is the largest medical complex in the world? In the world! We touch on some of these topics and, of course, their admissions process and what they look for in their applicants that rise to the top.

Calendar:

AAMC Recruitment Fair - Sheraton Grand Chicago Hotel Saturday, March 28, 2020 - Registration Here

NAAHP Recruitment Fair - Hilton New Orleans Riverside, June 27, 2020 - Registration info coming soon

Resources:

Baylor College of Medicine

Curriculum

Peer Resource Network & Student Organizations

Dr. Johnson's Recommendations:

A lot of Masterpiece Theater on PBS shows

Call the Midwife

Sapiens: A Brief History Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Dr. Vallejo's Recommendations: