All Access: Med School Admissions

Latest Episodes:

Episode 27: Financial Aid & Paying For Medical School Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

In recognition of National Financial Aid Awareness month, I've asked two of my friends in financial aid to come on the show to discuss financial aid-related topics primarily discussing how you pay for medical school. We also discuss topics such as needs-based aid, loans, scholarships, and the importance of financial literacy and budgeting. We also spend a bit of time breaking down what the term "Cost of Attendance" means and why it is an important component of this process.

Contact information for Christine McDonough, Director of Student Financial Services at the Ohio State University College of Medicine: Christine.McDonough@osumc.edu

Contact information for Michael Sabara, Director of Financial Services at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine: msabara@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Show Notes

Paying for Medical School

Medical Student Education: Debt, Costs, and Loan Repayment Fact Card 2019

AAMC's FIRST

FIRST Financial Aid Facts Sheets

AAMC Education Debt Manager - Matriculating / Current Students

How to set up a budget

Budget Sheet

What is Financial Wellness?

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans

Direct Plus Loans for Graduate/Professional Students

Scholarship Sites:

Scholarships.com

Fastweb.com

Episode 26: Bonus Episode! Comments About Changes To USMLE Feb 18, 2020

Show notes

Surprise! A short bonus episode for you! In light of last week's big news about USMLE Step 1 going to Pass/Fail in the next couple of years, I wanted to get you some brief comments from an admissions office on this with Dr. Lina Mehta, Associate Dean for Admissions at CWRU School of Medicine. We have already received several emails from prospective applicants and currently accepted students so it seemed appropriate to bring you some early commentary.

Here is the press release and information from USMLE regarding this change.

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.

Episode 25: The Uniformed Services University F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine Feb 12, 2020

Show notes

I am joined by Navy Commander Dr. Robert Liotta, the Associate Dean for Recruitment & Admissions for the Uniformed Services University F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine. This is a uniquely informative conversation as we discuss military medicine, the benefits of serving in the armed forces, the commitment that is required, some of the unique training opportunities and much more. Most importantly, we hear about some of the special qualities and characteristics that they value in their admissions process and how their admissions process works.

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 Virtual Fair - Thursday, February 20, 2020 - Registration Here

(I think I said February 22nd in my recording. It's the 20th. Sorry!)

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:

Uniformed Services University

USU Commissioning

Health Professions Scholarship Programs

Curriculum: Molecules to Military

Dr. Liotta's Recommendations:

Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Life Happiness by Matthew Kelly

Podcasts by Jordan Peterson

Out of the Crucible by Dr. Arthur L. Kellermann, Dean for the School of Medicine

Contact: admissions@usuhs.edu

Episode 24: University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine Feb 05, 2020

Show notes

"Oh baby don't you wanna go, Back to that same old place, Sweet home Chicago"

Like The Blues Brothers, we're on a mission. Our mission is to bring you more med admissions insight. In this episode, I'm joined by my very special guest, Dr. Leila Amiri, the Assistant Dean of Admissions & Recruitment at the UIC College of Medicine. Dr. Amiri is an absolute expert in admissions. Not only do we discuss all things UIC COM, including some of their unique features in having multiple campuses and their Rural Medicine programs but also we answer listener questions about Letters of Recommendation.

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.

If you are digging what you have been hearing, kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe.

Calendar:

AAMC Virtual Fair - Thursday, February 20, 2020 - Registration Here

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:

AAMC's Letter Writer Guidelines & A Printable Version to Give to Letter Writers

UICCOM

Press Release 1/17/2020: UICCOM Reduces Tuition

Curriculum and Campus Sites

Curricular Programs

Research/Scholarly Opportunities

Dr. Amiri's Recommendations:

Charlatan by Pope Brock

A marvelous portrait of a boundlessly audacious rogue on the loose in an America that was ripe for the bamboozling.

The Art Forger by B. A. Shapiro

Thirteen works of art worth today over $500 million were stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. It remains the largest unsolved art heist in history, and Claire Roth, a struggling young artist, is about to discover that there's more to this crime than meets the eye.

The Double Helix by James D. Watson

By identifying the structure of DNA, the molecule of life, Francis Crick and James Watson revolutionized biochemistry & won themselves a Nobel Prize.

Contact:

medadmit@uic.edu

Episode 23: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine; DO Application Process Discussion Jan 16, 2020

Show notes

This episode features our first osteopathic medical school, the New York Institute of Technology College of Medicine (NYITCOM). I'm joined by Gina Moses, their Director of Admissions & Recruitment, who has a long history of being involved in pre-med advising and work at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). She is the perfect guest to introduce this audience to the osteopathic application process along with some of the similarities and differences between allopathic and osteopathic medicine. She also answers a commonly asked question - Should I or can I apply to both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools?

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.

If you are digging what you have been hearing, kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe

Calendar:

AAMC Virtual Fair - Thursday, February 20, 2020 - Registration Here

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:

CWRU/LECOM MD & DO Presentation Slides

NYITCOM website

AACOM - American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

AACOM's Choose DO website

AACOMAS - Application Service

COMLEX - the DO Licensing Exam

NYITCOM Dual Degrees

Research at NYITCOM

Émigré Physicians Program (EPP)

Gina's Recommendations

Osteopathic State Associations

Your local AHEC - Area Health Education Center

Financing Medical School Options: Indian Health Service, National Health Service Corps, & NIH Post-Bacc Programs

NYITCOM Contact Information

Episode 22: The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Debunking Application Myths Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

We're featuring the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in our neighboring city of Pittsburgh, PA with their Executive Director of Admissions and Financial Aid, Cynthia Bonetti. I've known Cynthia for a loooooong time and she is a total pro! Join us for a lively conversation about what an education at Pitt Med has to offer along with some of the insight into student life in Pittsburgh. Cynthia and I wrap up our conversation by debunking common med school admissions myths. You won't want to miss this!

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.

If you are digging what you have been hearing, kindly leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Calendar:

AAMC Virtual Fair - Thursday, February 20, 2020 - Registration info coming soon

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

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

RESOURCES

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Curriculum

Longitudinal Research Project

Pitt Med Students Facebook Page

Pitt Med Students Instagram Page

The Oakland Neighborhood of Pittsburgh

Cynthia's Recommendations:

All of the AAMC's Resources for Premeds

Contact: admissions@medschool.pitt.edu

Episode 20: Holiday Homework & Personal Statement Tips Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

Bonus Episode! Christian Essman does a solo episode discussing "homework" to do over the holidays for those that are planning to apply to medical school next spring. There are also a few embedded pieces of advice for current applicants with acceptances to med schools (FAFSA & Choose Your Medical School Tool). Finally, Mr. Essman provides you with his tips on writing personal statements along with an excerpted portion of his conversation with Mr. Paul White from Johns Hopkins discussing personal statements (episode #6).

Have a question for the show? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

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

If you haven been digging what you have been hearing, kindly head over to ApplePodcasts and leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Resources

AAMC Virtual Medical School Fair: Thursday, February, 22, 2020 - Registration details forthcoming and it's FREE!
The Cost of Applying To Medical School
Personal Statement Tips from highly regarded pre-med advisors
AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool for those currently accepted to a medical school(s)

Episode 19: The University of Washington School of Medicine Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

We stay in the state of Washington to bring you the University of Washington School of Medicine with their Director of Admissions, Stella Yee. Since they are the medical school for five, yes five, states, we discuss not only how they train students throughout these states but also how their unique admissions process works.

Have a question for the show? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

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

If you haven been digging what you have been hearing, kindly head over to ApplePodcasts and leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Resources

Contact: askuwsom@uw.edu

University of Washington School of Medicine

What is WWAMI and their Mission?

Have you met their pre-requisite requirements?

Must-read shadowing advice

Targeted Rural Underserved Track (TRUST)

UW Interview Resources

UW Curriculum and Rural Programs

Stella's Recommendations:

Books

"What Patients Taught Me: A Medical Student's Journey" by Dr. Audrey Young

"When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi

"The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures" by Anne Fadiman

Podcasts

Episode 18: Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Oct 25, 2019

Show notes

This episode finally gets us to a medical school out West, in particular, the Pacific Northwest with Dr. Leila Harrison, the Interim Senior Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Admissions, and Recruitment. She has an extensive background in admissions and education which really comes through in our conversation. WSU Elson S. Floyd is a relatively new medical school (2015) which is exciting to hear how they have created a unique mission-based and community-based medical school as the second allopathic medical school in the State of Washington. We conclude our conversation discussing how Holistic Review works in Admissions.

Have a question for the show? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

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

If you haven been digging what you have been hearing, kindly head over to ApplePodcasts and leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Resources

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Class Demographics and Statistics

What are OSCEs?

Longitudinal Integrated Clerkships (LIC) - link to the CLIC Consortium for more information.

WSU ESF Applicant Eligibility Requirements (see Requirements to Receive a Secondary Application section)

WSU ESF Applicant MCAT/GPA combinations to receive a secondary applications (see Academic Requirements section)

WSU ESF - What are we looking for? (see Holistic Review section)

Who is the LCME?

Holistic Review Explained

AAMC Minority Student Medical Career Fair, Phoenix, AZ, 11/9/19

Cleveland Clinic Medical Innovation Summit Top 10 Medical Innovations for 2020 - 10/23/2019

Dr. Harrison's Recommendations

Carol Dweck and Growth Mindset

Topics in:

Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Management

Impostor Syndrome

Wellness & Coping with Stress (a nice resource found on Purdue University's website)

Contact

medicine.admissions@wsu.edu

Episode 17: Preparing for Interviews & Tips from a Med Student Oct 18, 2019

Show notes

All Access is deviating slightly from our regular show format and are bringing you a bonus episode! Since we are in the thick of interview season, I thought you'd like to hear some insight from a current medical student about how she prepared for interviews, reflections/lessons learned, & some travel tips. So, if you have interviews coming up or you just want to hear what the interview process entails, then listen up!

We'll be back to med school deans in the next episode!

Have a question for the show? Send it to allaccess@case.edu

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

If you haven been digging what you have been hearing, kindly head over to ApplePodcasts and leave us a rating, a review and subscribe!

Resources

AAMC - 35 Questions I Wish I Had Asked

Medical School Admissions Requirements Guide (MSAR)

The Pre-Med Years Podcast by Dr. Ryan Gray

The Undifferentiated Medical Student Podcast by Dr. Ian Drummond

Khan Academy MCAT Prep

Prerak YouTube Channel

Kaur Beauty YouTube Channel