January Medical News

Admissions News

Moon Prep Acceptances

Acceptance season is upon us! Students are already receiving acceptances to BS/MD and BS/DO programs, along with interview invitations. 

Students at Moon Prep have already been accepted to the following programs: 

• New York Institute of Technology’s Combined Baccalaureate/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree Program

• University of Toledo’s Bacc2Med program

• University of New England’s Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

• Monmouth University’s 4+4 Combined program

• Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences’ Osteopathic Medicine (Pathway Program)

• California Northstate University’s Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Medicine Pathway

• Youngstown State University-BaccMed Program (Pathway Program)

We often remind our students to check their email inbox daily (especially the Spam and promotions folder!), as no student wants to miss an opportunity or notification of missing documents. 

Timeline for Underclassmen

One of the biggest questions we get from our families at the start of the new year is, “what should my underclassman be doing to prepare for BS/MD applications?” The importance of resume-building towards college starts as early as freshman year of high school. We recommend underclassmen secure a summer internship or apply to summer research programs to maximize their summer. The majority of these research programs require essays and a professional resume. 

Want help with summer program applications? Our Moon Prep counselors are ready to help with essays and application materials for every application on your list! Here are a few major items that we actively work with our underclassmen to add to their future college applications: 

Pass/Fail Step 1 for USMLE

Later this month, January 26th to be exact, the first test of the three U.S. Medical Licensing Examination assessments (Step 1) required for being licensed in the United States will transition to Pass/Fail. This first test evaluates the ability to apply fundamental medical concepts to healthcare scenarios. This new scoring will allow medical residency programs to more easily sort through students, as well as provide clear benchmarks for applicants to aim for when preparing. Read more here.

Interest Rates for Graduate Student Loan Debt

With many of our students headed to college with graduate programs in their future, we know the importance of making financially sound decisions to prepare for the cost of advanced degrees. The issue of interest rates for student loans is a hot topic being discussed among experts now, with large changes on the horizon that will affect our current cohort of students the most. Specifically, graduate students have been roped into paying higher interest rates than undergraduate students, which greatly affects the ability to pay off loan amounts. Experts are projecting a drop in interest rates to happen in the near future to work in favor of borrowers, according to The Wall Street Journal and Fortune.

Independent Summer Research

Our students know that there’s no better way to stand out to future BS/MD programs than to have solid research experience on your resume. Here’s one you won’t want to miss. Rising Researchers is a virtual research program offering 2 college credits UMass Amherst. Running from July 5 – July 29, students will have the opportunity to conduct live microbiology research at home while engaging in group discussion and classes online. Taught by a scientist from UMass, participants are actively engaged with research on microbial genetics and bacteria. With afternoon and early evening classes, this is the perfect opportunity for students supplementing an internship or summer class.

Seats are limited and will likely fill up very soon, so get your application in immediately to reserve your spot! Programs like this are rare, so don’t hesitate to apply. 

Webinars

Thursday, January 20, 8:00 PM ET: Interview and MMI Prep for BS/MD Candidates

Direct medical programs—also known as BS/MD, BA/MD, BS/DO, or BA/DO—are some of the most competitive programs in the college admission process, with some programs only accepting six applicants a year. The journey to acceptance includes supplemental applications, interviews, and significant preparation.

In this webinar, we will cover everything you need to know about BS/MD interviews, including:

• MMI format interviews
• When to start preparing
• Interview tips
• Questions and feedback from previous admissions cycles

Register here

Thursday, February 3, 8:00 PM ET: Summer Planning: Research Ideas for High School Students

Summer might seem far away, but now is the perfect time to start planning for it.

Moon Prep Counselors will cover how students can spend their summer productively by building their resumes through virtual activities.

The webinar will cover how to:

• Complete an independent research project
• Become a published author
• Attend virtual summer camps
• Participate in virtual and in-person community service
• And more ways to add that “wow” factor to your resume for college!

Register here