Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

245: How do I Navigate Secondaries as a NP?

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 15:00:00 -0500

This Nurse Practitioner turned premed wants to know how to navigate secondaries as a NP.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

244: After Difficult Circumstances, Should I Give Up?

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 15:00:00 -0500

This nontrad premed experienced a few unfortunate events that have made their path much more difficult. They want to know what path there is forward.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

243: What are Strategies for Students Who Struggle with Testing?

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:00:00 -0500

This student considers himself to be a horrible test taker. He wants to know what strategies to take with studying for the MCAT.

Links:

Khan Academy

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

242: No Perfect 4.0. Do I Need a Postbac?

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 15:00:00 -0500

This student wants to know if he is going to need a postbac or not based on his current stats.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

241: Is it Okay For Career Changers to Go To Community College?

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 15:00:00 -0500

After graduating with a degree in English, this student realized that she wanted to be a doctor. Will community college be enough for her prereqs?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

240: Can You Pursue Passion and Prove Academic Prowess?

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 15:00:00 -0500

This student needs to prove her academic ability. At the same time, she's interested in pursuing a master's program focused on public health.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

239: Is Medical Interpretation Clinical?

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student wants to know if working as a medical interpreter can be considered clinical experience.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

Mission Accepted

238: Is Openness About Health Right for Your Application?

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student is struggling to decide if they should include a health issue on their application because they aren't sure if adcoms will take it well.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

237: Is BSMD Right For Me?

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This high school student is interested in exploring the BSMD route, she wants to know what steps she needs to take and if it's right for her.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

236: Clearing the Air on All Three Application Services

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0500

These reapplicant has decided to apply to all three application services, they want to get some clarification on the requirements each of them have.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

235: My Trend Looks like a Rollercoaster, Can I Still Apply?

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student's GPA is all over the place. They're taking an SMP but they're worried that won't be enough to show med schools that they're academically capable. What should they do?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

234: Do Community College Prereqs Need a Refresh?

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student went to community college before they attended a four-year university. They want to know if they need to retake the prereqs they took in community college.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

233: Reapplying: MCAT Retakes - When is it Too Late?

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student needs to reapply to med school and retake the MCAT. They already have a standing MCAT score. They want to know when it's too late for them to retake the test.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

232: 4th Times The Charm: Have I Taken The MCAT Too Many Times?

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student has taken the MCAT three times and hasn't done too well. They're worried that if they take it again it will be a red flag to medical schools.

Links:

PMY 337: How to Overcome Test Anxiety and Take Back Control

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

231: Late to the Game: How Do I Find Extracurriculars Now?

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student is a junior with no extracurricular experience, can they catch up in time?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

230: MCAT Reality Check: Should I Apply Now or Hold Off?

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 21:39:00 -0500

This student has had terrible luck with their MCAT scores. They are sure they will get rejected, but they want to apply anyways. What should they do?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

229: Is it Worth it To Retake the MCAT Mid-Cycle?

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student had an okay score on the MCAT, but it wasn't amazing. They want to know if retaking could hurt their chances.

Links:

www.premedyears.com/437

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

228: Is Retaking the MCAT a Red Flag That Must Be Addressed?

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student had to retake the MCAT multiple times, they want to know if it's something they should address in their application.

Links:

myLORS

HPSP

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

224: How Can I Show Med Schools That I'm Academically Capable?

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student had some struggles and a gap year, and now they are worried that medical schools will think they aren't capable.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

223: Will Community College Credits Hurt My Chances for Acceptance?

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This dual-enrolled 9th grader wants to know if taking his premed classes at community college would potentially hurt his chances of getting into medical school.

222: Should I Delay My Application to Attend ROTC Camp?

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student is worried about being able to submit her application on time because she's going to an ROTC camp without internet access for most of July.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

HPSP

221: Will Sharing My Child's Crisis Ruin My Personal Statement?

Tue, 30 May 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This premed wants to share their personal experience with their daughter's mental health crisis in their personal statement, but she isn't sure how medical schools will respond.

Links:

The Premed Years Podcast Episode 437: How to Build the Ultimate School List

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

220: How Do I Portray My Authentic Self in My Application?

Tue, 23 May 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This non-traditional student wants to know if their personal statement and activities show the whole picture of who she is as an applicant.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

219: Can I get into Med School with a History of Bad Grades?

Tue, 02 May 2023 17:00:00 -0500

This student has a history of bad grades but they've been able to turn it around. They want to know if their past will affect their application.

Links:

Specialty Stories Podcast

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

201: Is it Okay to Cut out Research if I'm Too Busy?

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 15:00:00 -0500

This nontrad stay at home mom student wants to know if it will hurt her application if she is unable to fit in research within her busy schedule.

Links:

Mappd.com

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

197: Will a Postbac Work To Give You a Better GPA Trend?

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0500

This premed student wants to know if doing a postbac will give him a better GPA trend.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

196: What If I Don't Get Any Interviews?

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 15:00:00 -0500

This non-traditional reapplicant wants to know where to start after applying and not getting any interviews.

Links:

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This premed is worried that with an MCAT score of 506 his application isn't good enough to submit this cycle.

187: Navigating the Premed Path as an International Student

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0500

Our premed today is alone in the states as an international student and she's wondering what she needs to do to successfully navigate her way to medical school.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

186: Can I Match Into a Competitive Surgical Specialty with HPSP?

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0500

Our student today has a question about how realistic it is to Match into a competitive specialty if he accepts the HPSP scholarship. We talk pros and cons.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

185: Do I Need a Postbac with a low 3s GPA Without a Trend?

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 17:00:00 -0500

What is the right decision when a student has a lower GPA without a great (close to 4.0) trend in their GPA. Remember, the goal is to prove academic capability.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

184: Is The HPSP Route Right For You?

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This premed has a list of questions stemming from her nontrad experiences. Let's answer them!

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

183: Multiple Withdrawals and School Transfers... What Do I Do?

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 22:04:00 -0500

This student has quite a few withdrawals from being deployed and transfers from changing locations. How can they discuss this on their application?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

182: Can I Get Past My Low CARS & My Stutter?

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This student has some concerns about her low CARS section and stutter. Can she still get accepted to med school?

181: Is Quality or Quantity More Important For Med School Apps?

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This upcoming applicant is nervous about having just a few shadowing hours. How will med schools look at her just now being able to find shadowing?

180: Should I Apply To a Med School That's On Probation?

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This premed is applying to a medical school on probation- is it worth applying? Could it all go wrong?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

179: Overcoming Emotional Fatigue & Time Off To Apply

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0500

Today we chat with a student about her gap year and app process. She has taken some time off- and wants to know how to overcome & apply to med school.

Links:

PMY491: Do You Need a Postbac?

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

178: Should I Submit My Med School App WITHOUT a Committee Letter?

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This premed was "recommended with reservation" to medical school. Should she just submit her letters of recommendation separately?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

177: Should I Reapply to Med School If I'm On A Waitlist?

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This student is debating retaking their MCAT and reapplying or holding out for the waitlist. What should they do?

Links:

AMCAS grade conversion guide

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

167: My Advisors Said To Quit- Should I?

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This student's premed advisors told her that she needed to find a different career path because of her grades. Let's see what I think.

Links:

The Premed Years Podcast Session 230

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

166: What's The Latest You Can Take The MCAT?

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 17:00:00 -0500

This student wants to know when is the latest they can take the MCAT & what med schools think about international mission trips.

Links:

PMY 303: How Can I Prepare for the CASPer, What is CASPer, and More

Casper

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

162: Military Medicine: A Different Path To Medicine

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Today we talk to a student interested in military medicine. I share some of my story and she shares hers!

Links:

PMY96: 3 Years to Complete Medical School at NYU

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

157: 17 Years Old & Lacking Some Experience - Can I Apply?

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0500

This prospective applicant is only 17- and is lacking clinical experience other than shadowing. Should she wait or can she explain it?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

156: Is MCAT Test Anxiety Going to Keep Me From Med School?

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0500

This premed has been struggling with testing anxiety, and has done poorly on the MCAT because of it. Can he recover from both testing anxiety and a low score?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

144: How Do You Show Schools You Don't Have Commitment Issues

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 17:00:00 -0500

How is COVID-19 impacting Medical School Admissions in 2021?

Premed Hangout Group

141: When and How Should You Contact Medical Schools?

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Wondering when is an appropriate time to contact medical schools? In this podcast, I answer this question and more!

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

Jack Westin

140: Should I Be Concerned if My Gpa Trend Is Not Consistent?

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Today's student is worried that her GPA isn't high enough in light of her background. But can she prove her academic ability despite her GPA inconsistency?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

Ask the Dean series

139: Should I List Club Membership in the Activity Se

Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Many students participate in clubs during their premed journey. Is it something that should be included in the med school activity section? It depends! Listen.

Links:

The MCAT CARS Podcast

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

138: How You Should Calculate Your Overlapping Activity Hours

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Our student today is worried that her GPA isn't high enough in light of being a overrepresented student. Will her GPA be viewed with her ethnicity as a factor?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

137: How Do I Keep up my Confidence During the Premed Process?

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 17:00:00 -0500

This mom of five is trying to keep going despite all odds but sometimes lacks the confidence and motivation to keep going. How should she approach the bad days?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

136: Does Contact Tracing Count as Clinical Experience?

Tue, 25 May 2021 17:00:00 -0500

There are lots of new ways to get clinical experience, but how do you know which one counts for medical schools? Listen to this week's episode to find out!

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

Join the Application Academy!

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Application Process

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

AAMC core competencies

129: Navigating Through Advice and Info as a Premed Student

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

125: Why Didn't I Get Any Med School Acceptances This Cycle?

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Today, I walked a student through her application to see why she hasn't gotten any med school invites. We also talked about shadowing parents, essays, and more!

Links:

Blueprint Prep

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

124: Should I Focus on my GPA or Getting a Good MCAT Score?

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:10:00 -0500

You are starting MCAT prep to take in the spring, but you have many classes and other responsibilities. Should you focus on your classes or squeeze in the MCAT?

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

123: What Should I Do if I Don't Have Recent Shadowing Hours?

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0500

A new application cycle is on the horizon, but with the pandemic, many students don't have recent shadowing experience. Should they be worried?

Links:

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

122: Should I Write My Post-Bacc PS Like a Med School's PS?

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Can the postbac personal statement be written like the medical school one? We also talk about formal vs. DIY postbacs and which one is better for your journey.

Links:

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

PostbacCAS

121: Will Taking Prereqs at Community College Hurt My Chances?

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Does taking your prereqs at a community college hurt your chances of getting into a more selective medical school? It depends. Listen to find out why.

Links:

AAMC

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

120: Can a Master's at a Prestigious University Help My Low GPA?

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 15:00:00 -0500

This student has a low GPA but a solid upward trend at a community college. Should she apply this cycle or delay and complete a masters at a prestigious school?

Links:

Mappd.tv

119: Should I Talk About Serving Specific Communities in My PS?

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 15:00:00 -0500

In today's podcast, I talk about telling your story and the difference between "why do you want to be a physician" vs "what you want to do as a physician."

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0500

You have strong ties to a medical school, but should you apply early decision? Today, we talk about how to show your dream med school they're your #1 choice.

Links:

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

111: How to Move Forward After Bombing the MCAT

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 15:00:00 -0500

This student went all in on MCAT prep but her score didn't meet her expectations. What should she do next?

Links:

The MCAT CARS Podcast

AAMC MCAT materials

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

110: How to Discuss Childhood Trauma in Your Personal Statement

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 01:10:00 -0500

In today's podcast, I share my top dos and don'ts for discussing childhood trauma and related events in your personal statement.

In today’s podcast, I share my top dos and don’ts for discussing childhood trauma and related events in your personal statement.

Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

By the way, the episodes in this podcast are recordings of our Facebook Live that we do at 3pm Eastern on most weekdays. Check out our Facebook page and like the page to be notified. Also, listen to our other podcasts on MedEd Media. If you have any questions, call me at 617-410-6747.

[00:24] Question of the Day

Q: "I've read part of your personal statement book, and you recommend telling your story that led you to medicine and your journey and all that.

My story involves childhood trauma that is definitely a piece of it that has led me this way. And my physician recommended that I do not disclose it in the personal statement.

However, I feel like it is so much a piece of my journey to medicine that I'm not sure how to exclude it. I survived childhood sexual abuse and had suppressed the memories until late in my junior year of college. I began volunteering as a sexual assault advocate. And through that training, the memory started coming back.

So then my senior year of undergrad, I did okay, my GPA went down a bit. I had a 4.0 Junior year and then a 3.6. Senior year. Freshman year was a 3.5 and my Sophomore year was a 3.7. And then I did like a DIY postbac, which was a 4.0. I had a psych major. And then I had minors in biology and chemistry, but I took about 10 years off. So I did postbac just to kind of refresh the sciences.

All the memories started coming back in my senior year of undergrad, and then I decided I needed to take time off from pursuing medicine to focus on my healing. And because I didn't think it would be fair to my future patients if I went into medical school with all that going on.

I ended up taking about 10 years off and now I am looking to get back into it. So during that time, it was partially just taking time to focus on myself. And I liked the job I was doing. I was working with people who have intellectual disabilities. I was working in group homes. I was working as a case manager. And I really enjoyed that work.

But then, in the past two years or so, I have really started to want to get back into medicine. Part of that was I went through another sexual assault. It's through the care that my physician provided me, and that empathy and compassion and wanting to be able to give that to others when they're going through a challenging situation.

It's through the care that my physician provided me and wanting to be able to give that to others when they're going through a challenging situation that has reignited the fire to want to continue pursuing medicine.

With all that being said, my question is that my trauma story is so intertwined with my medicine story and why I want to go into medicine. Is it acceptable to include the story or does it make the reader too uncomfortable to include?”

[04:13] How Do You Tell Your Story?

You need to be aware of how what you're saying is landing on other people just like you would in normal life. I'm a firm believer in you needing to tell your story, assuming it is intertwined with your reason to be a physician.

"There are good experiences that lead to people wanting to go into medicine. And there are bad experiences that lead people to want to go into medicine."

And so, the question comes down to how do you tell your story in a way that does justice for your story. How do you tell it in a way that doesn't turn out to be a graphic novel? And that the person reading it maybe has gone through similar experiences and just doesn't want to relive them.

You have to think about how all of that lands on the reader. At the end of the day, tell your story. Include the trauma because it has led to you wanting to be a physician. But "asterisk" that with the fact you said you were premed and in undergrad. Yet a lot of these feelings and memories and everything else from your original trauma really didn't start coming back up for you until later.

[06:37] Focusing on Other Things of Your Story

Our student goes on to say that the impetus for her wanting to be a physician was partially the trauma and wanting to help others. Part of it, too, was seeing her dad going back to change careers and become a PA when she was in middle school. And then the trauma restarted it later.

It's interesting that she has a lot of other things she can lean on that they would probably make a very compelling story outside of the trauma. Because she had this experience of her father being in healthcare, seeing him go through his educational journey. And seeing him taking care of this person who fell down the stairs, and what that was like.

“You don't need to focus on the trauma as to why you want to be a physician if you have other things you could potentially focus on.”

The experiences you've had can focus a lot less on your trauma. That way, you can still be true to yourself and true to your story. Focus on it in a brief way or however you want to do it and still lean on these other things as other experiences that you've had that show this is what you want to do.

[08:48] Explaining the 10 Years Off

I never want to tell someone what exactly to focus on because it truly is your story. You probably don't need to focus on trauma to talk about why you're interested in medicine. Then maybe just put in one sentence to talk about the trauma that you've been through and why you took some time off. Then you could absolutely do that without really needing to tie it into why you want to be a physician.

"There are lots of different angles as long as you think it's true to your story."

You also don't need to focus on that in your personal statement saying that you're already doing research about trauma. Because that's less about why you want to go into medicine and more about your passions within medicine.

[10:56] Talking about ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

ACEs stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences, which is a list of adverse childhood events that have happened usually before the age of 18. It includes neglect, abuse, parents with a mental illness, and a variety of things. The higher your score, the higher prevalence of long-term health issues, higher addiction, obesity, and all kinds of stuff.

Dax Shepard actually hosts The Armchair Expert where he's very open talking about his trauma from a young age and what he's been through. And he has had so many experts on the show talking about ACES. And he does a good job talking about mental illness.

Now, our student's concern is that when the admissions people are reading her personal statement, they will automatically assume she’ll have those other issues. Especially with the stigma associated with mental illness, that is a valid concern.

But I think her track record of a solid GPA, taking the time off, and everything she's doing in between those shows she has the dedication, motivation, and she’s competent enough. And that’s assuming she gets a solid score on her MCAT and that she’s taking the next steps of applying to medical school.

From a mental health perspective, if you have been or are addicted to medications or drugs or whatever it is, a lot of times you don't have the foresight. You don't have the motivation to do a lot of things you need to do to get to that point.

“Actions speak louder than the potential negative consequences that may be seen from the ACEs study.”

That being said, I don't think the student should address this in her personal statement. Instead, she can address this in her secondary essays. That being said, she would have to be prepared to talk about this if it comes up in the interview.

Whether you had childhood trauma or not, there are students out there who don't do well mentally in medical school, and they need to take a break. And that's okay, too.

[16:15] Looking for Shadowing Opportunities

Q: "Trying to get shadowing hours is near impossible right now with COVID. Do you have any recommendations for a script you would use for cold calls?"

A: The far majority of places you're going to call are going to say no because of the risk to patients. They're more concerned about their patients than they are with helping you get shadowing hours. But I wouldn't worry about it because unfortunately, at this point, there are lots of virtual shadowing opportunities. And while not ideal, it's better than nothing. Check out eShadowing.

“The only place where you're going to get any sort of exposure is paid opportunities.”

The volunteer opportunities just aren't going to be there likely. And the only way you’re probably going to get exposure is paid opportunities. For instance, becoming a phlebotomist, going through EMT training, becoming an EMT. And it may be very location-dependent.

You may be in an area that just has a very low positivity rate, very low transmission in the community, and things may be loosening up. And that's great. If you can do that, awesome. But having a job would get you the exposure you need, whether you're a scribe or an EMT, phlebotomist, etc.

[17:59] Clinical Experience

Our student is working as a staff in a group home for people with intellectual disabilities. So she has the clinical experience but she just doesn't have the shadowing.

When you're in a setting like that, usually there is a clinical director or medical director, or some physician that comes in once a day or once a week to check on patients. Because you're already working there, you will probably have the best opportunity to shadow because you are already a part of that community. You're already being exposed to those patients and those patients are being exposed to you there.

So go to the physician or whoever else you need to go to. Ask if you could stay an extra hour after your shift, obviously off the clock, or come in an hour early off the clock. Or you can come in on the day off the clock and just shadow them.

There's always a mix up in the language when you're talking about non-clinical volunteer hours or like either working at the soup kitchen, etc.

“There's a big misconception around volunteer versus clinical experience. Clinical experience can be paid or unpaid, it doesn't matter.”

There are some schools that like volunteering, they want to see that you're going to Habitat for Humanity or that you're working at the soup kitchen. You're doing other things outside of medicine to spend your time with.

[20:52] Focus on Taking Care of Yourself

But again, with COVID, it's out the window for almost everyone. There are homeless people right now that still need a place to eat and they still need a warm meal. And so usually, those places are going to be less concerned about volunteers coming in because it's not a health care setting. And so there probably are a lot of volunteer opportunities out there outside of a clinical setting.

I wouldn't worry about clinical volunteering because you're working in a clinical setting. And you don't have to have because you're working in a clinical setting, you're getting paid for it. You don't have to have unpaid clinical experience.

“Don't worry about the application. Worry about you taking care of yourself. So don't try to force your way into the community into these risky situations just for the application.”

Links:

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

The Armchair Expert

eShadowing

109: How to Conquer Imposter Syndrome and Know You Belong

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:00:00 -0500

Imposter syndrome never really goes away, but today, I'll share a few ways you can turn anxiety into excitement.

Links:

eShadowing

Specialty Stories Podcast

Instagram @MedicalSchoolHQ

108: Do You Need a 3.0 to Apply to Med School?

99: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: Am I Too Old for Medical School?

Wed, 05 Aug 2020 07:00:00 -0500

You're NOT too old to go to medical school—and today, I'm explaining why. I'm also addressing HOW to tell your story on your application.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

The OldPreMeds Podcast

98: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: Is This GPA Really THAT Bad?

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:00:00 -0500

What is the GPA cut-off at most medical schools? And what can you do if you're worried about a low GPA number from your past holding back YOUR application?

Links:

premed.tv

97: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: How to Approach the MD/PhD Essay?

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Should your tone and writing style in the MD/PhD essay differ from the personal statement? Should your MD and MD/PhD personal statement be written differently?

96: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: Should I Retake My Old Prerequisites?

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 17:00:00 -0500

Our caller's prereq grades were pretty bad—but he's in a Special Master's Program doing much better now. So does he still need to retake old prerequisites?

Specialty Stories

PMY 379: USMLE Step 1 Went Pass/Fail: What Does That Mean for Premeds?

Premed.tv

2018 NRMP Program Director Survey

90: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: Should I Apply Early Decision to Med School?

Wed, 27 May 2020 16:04:00 -0500

When is it a good idea to apply early decision to med school? And what are you committing to when you check the "I'm interested in rural medicine" checkbox?

Links:

Session 85: Should I Push my Med School App Back a Year?

86: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: Her 3.4 GPA isn't the Problem!

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Our caller today wants to know what she should focus on to enhance her med school application: GPA, MCAT prep, or clinical experience. I'll help her prioritize!

Links:

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 00:00:00 -0500

If you've faced adversity on your path to med school, you aren't alone! Today, we'll talk about how to discuss obstacles in the med school application process.

Links:

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

secondaryapps.com

81: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: 8 Common Med School Application Mistakes

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Not getting any medical school interview invites? Let's look at the 8 most common areas students make mistakes in their medical school application.

Links:

MCATpodcast.com

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

80: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: Masters vs Postbac to Raise Your Premed GPA

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0500

How do you decide between a special Master's program (SMP) and a postbac? Today, I share why I think a postbac is the better choice for this student.

Links:

Check out more resources on YouTube premed.tv

AAMC’s postbac database

79: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: What Counts as an Upward Trend in Your GPA?

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 00:00:00 -0500

Today's caller had a mediocre GPA from her undergrad in business. Now, she's on the premed path taking prereqs and her GPA is improving—but is it enough?

Links:

Calculate your GPA on whatsmygpa.com

78: Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A: How to Deal With Imposter Syndrome

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Everyone experiences imposter syndrome as a premed, medical student, and resident physician. Today, I share how to deal with these feelings on the premed path.

Links:

Specialty Stories Podcast

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Personal Statement

70: Ask Dr. Gray Premed Q&A: What Can I Do to Boost My Apps During the Application Cycle?

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Our caller is a working dad with a DIY postbac and tons of shadowing and bench work experience. What else can he do to elevate his application?

Links:

OldPreMeds Podcast

69: Ask Dr. Gray Premed Q&A: Does Having a Nursing Background Hurt Me?

Sun, 26 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Do nursing courses count toward your medical school prerequisites, and is there any truth to low medical school acceptance rates for nurses?

Links:

68: Ask Dr. Gray Premed Q&A: Non-traditional Routes to Medical School

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Our question comes from an applicant who has taken a somewhat winding path during her premed career. We'll sort through grades, trends and more.

67: Ask Dr. Gray Premed Q&A: Dual Bachelors, SMP, or Something Else?

Sun, 19 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Today's caller asks: if she has a long academic record, below average GPA, and an average sGPA, should she take a leap and apply?

66: Ask Dr. Gray Premed Q&A: Taking Classes At a Lot of Schools

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Does it look bad to take classes at a slow place while working, or to take them at different institutions? What if you are a nontraditional student?

65: Ask Dr. Gray Q&A: How Do Canadians Stand out for US Schools?

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 22:00:00 -0500

Just as in any other application, try to stand out with your personal statement and your credentials. Your nationality be more relevant as you select your schools!

Links:

The OldPreMeds Podcast

Rev.com

Temi.com

60: What is an Appropriate Gift for a Physician you Shadow?

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Shadowing is a valuable part of the premed process, but you don't need to gift the physician you followed! What can you do instead?

59: How Should You Approach Certain Questions in Your Interview?

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

When you are asked a question on an interview, do not answer based on what the interviewer wants to hear. Just be you, and answer from the heart.

58: How to Reduce Anxiety Around the Med School Interview

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

There's a lot on the line in a medical school interview. How do you practice for interviews and reduce your stress so that you can truly shine?

57: What Are Some Differences Between AMCAS, AACOMAS, And TMDSAS?

Sun, 15 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Deciding where to apply for medical school involves different processes and results in different consequences. How do you sort through them all?

56: How Many Medical School Should I Apply To?

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Picking medical schools to apply to isn't a haphazard process! Here, we discuss the time requirements, costs and other considerations.

55: Can I Take Med School Prereqs Online?

Mon, 09 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Many medical schools don't accept online courses, but is that true across the board? Here's what to consider before taking prereqs online.

54: Should I Use (and Trust) School Chance Predictors?

Thu, 05 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

What are medical school chance predictors? Can a web-based algorithm actually tell you anything your character and your chances of getting in?

53: Can I Do My Med School Prereqs at a Community College?

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Community college is a practical choice for many students. Will premed courses taken at a CC hold as much weight as those taken at 4-year universities?

52: What is the Acceptance Rate to Medical School?

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0500

If you've applied to medical school, you have seen the annual aceptance rates to DO and MD schools. What does that tell you about your chances?

51: How Important is my GPA to Get Into Medical School?

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 22:00:00 -0500

Your GPA gets you past the mysterious digital shredder of medical schools. Every class is important, and every grade counts. Tune in for more.

50: What MCAT course do You Recommend?

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0500

What's the first thing you should look for in an MCAT test prep company? Hint: It's not the price! Here's some tips on finding quality test prep.

Links:

Next Step Test Prep (Get $50 off by using the promo code MSHQ.)

The OldPreMeds Podcast

49: How Should I Start Preparing for my Personal Statement?

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Take the first step toward writing your personal statement by brainstorming. Make a mind map, recall your memories, and dig deep for your "why".

48: What is the Difference Between a Masters and a Postbac Program?

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 00:00:00 -0500

Session 48

Postbac, Masters, and SMP programs have pretty significant differences, from the degree conferred to financial aid eligibility, etc. Pick wisely!

If you haven’t yet, please check out all our other podcasts on Meded Media as you’re trying to get as many resources as you can to help you along this premed journey.

Did you struggle in your undergrad classes? Or did you major in something completely random and you never took any science courses and now you need them?

How do you determine what's the best path forward versus a "postbac" program or a Masters Program in Biomedical Sciences? (There's also that which is called Special Masters Program or SMP.)

So, what's the difference?

[01:15] What's the Difference Between Postbac and Master's Programs

Q: Which one will prove to the admissions committees that I can handle the coursework? Is a postbac program good enough? Or does it have to be this Masters Program in hard sciences like Biomedical Sciences or Masters in Microbiology? (Masters in Public Health is not considered a hard science.)

A: The difference is that one is a Master's degree and one isn't. Postbac programs historically are programs affiliated either separately form an institution. There are a lot of private postbac programs out there now while there are some programs that are part of the university.

There's also a postbac program for nontraditional students looking to improve their grades or are switching from another career so they need to take all the sciences.

At the core of a postbac program or a masters program, they both do the same thing. They're both there to help improve or add to your science GPA.

Medical school is hard. There are a lot of sciences. If you can't get a good science GPA then you haven't proven to yourself or the admissions committee that you can handle the coursework. The last they want to do is accept a student who is not going to finish school.

[03:35] Which One to Choose: Federal vs. Private Loans

Master's program is a degree program which you can get federal financial aid for. Postbac programs are not degree-programs, which means you don't get a degree at the end.

Some postbac programs give you a certificate but the certificate these days might not qualify itself for financial aid. This being said, you have to just do your research and follow up with them.

Private loans are to be avoided at all cost. They're not very flexible. For instance, they don't care if you have problems in the future.

When you get federal loans as you go through medical school and residency training, they are very flexible with how you pay back the loans. You have a lot more leeway if any issues come up.

As you're looking at these different options, think about federal versus private loans.

[05:10] Formal Postbac versus Do-It -Yourself Postbac

Think about whether you need to do a formal postbac versus a do-it-yourself postbac. You don't have to do a formal postbac. Formal postbac programs are super expensive.

One of the tricks for a do-it-yourself postbac is to tell them you want a second degree. Go and apply as a degree-seeking student and just don't finish the degree.

[06:00] Master's Program versus Postbac Programs

A Master's program is going to give you a Master's degree. A lot of people will choose this being the safer bet. You have a Master's degree now. Just in case medicine doesn't work out, now you have a master's degree to lean back on.

A lot of these master's programs are postbac programs that are just wrapped in a pretty exterior of a master's program. This means they're there to improve your sciences, prepare you for the MCAT, and get you ready for medical school. This is what an SMP does as well.

One of the biggest differences is that on your application, a postbac program includes undergrad level courses that help you increase your undergrad GPA.

If you have a poor undergrad GPA and you take Master's courses, your undergrad GPA is going to look terrible. Hopefully, you have a good Master's GPA to improve on that.

If you're struggling with your undergrad GPA, it may behoove you to do more of a regular postbac. Your postbac courses are going to be included in your undergrad GPA. This may boost you up over that 3.0 threshold.

[08:50] Crush It!

Ultimately, no matter which one you pick, the goal for any of these is to crush them the best you can. Do not go into this process with a poor GPA from undergrad and continue the same mistakes that you make. Otherwise, it's going to prove you can't handle the coursework. This is the last thing you want to do.

Links: