May Medical Newsletter

By Brandie Erickson • May 24, 2023 • Medical School Admissions Consulting Newsletter

The arrival of May means the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications are now open! While the first day to submit your application is May 30th, getting a head start on filling out your personal information as soon as possible will set you up for success. Many students underestimate how long it takes to self-report each course on their transcripts, as is required by the application. Being detail-oriented in this step is crucial as AAMC and AACOMAS spend around two weeks verifying applications and will return your application for correction if they find a single error, sending your application to the back of the line. Don’t let a rushed primary application be the reason you delay your dreams. Get started today, and take your time. 

If the medical school application timeline is stressing you out, check out our recent webinar, Insider Tips for Applying to Medical School, where Moon Prep counselor Loren shares her own experience as a medical school applicant, when to knock out the crucial pieces, and pro tips most pre-meds aren’t aware of.

And, of course, Moon Prep counselors like Loren, Andrea, and Tyler are available to help you submit the AAMC and AACOMAS and guide you through a successful medical school admissions experience. Schedule a call with us today.

 

Expert Advice

Submit your primary application as soon as submissions open (May 30th) as possible to maximize your shot at receiving an interview invite and don’t forget to send your transcripts as well! Just a note: the earlier you get started on your essay, the better. We’ve seen firsthand how rushed essays can lead to disappointing acceptance results.  

Don’t know where to start on your personal statement? Check out the Medical School Brainstorming Resource our counselors use. 

 

School Lists

With June around the corner, medical school applicants should be knee deep in their school lists. As more and more schools pull their data from the US News Rankings, students may be left scratching their heads figuring out which schools they would like to apply to and where to find accurate information. 

Need help with putting together a balanced school list to optimize your admissions chances? Moon Prep’s medical mentors have been through the process and can offer their firsthand experience expertise to give you personalized guidance. Schedule a call with us today.

Adding DO Schools

If you’re anything like most pre-med students and their parents, you may not know the difference between MD and DO medical schools. The American Medical Association breaks down the similarities and differences between the two. Adding DO schools to your list could help you cast a wider net, increasing your chance of admission and realizing your goal of becoming a practicing physician.

Get Ahead

You don’t want to miss out on our Casper webinar on June 6th. Learn what this elusive situational judgment test evaluates, how medical schools use these results, and how you can score in the highest percentile.

Grant is a DO graduate who achieved his dreams of going into radiology: “Throughout medical school, I enjoyed so many of my rotations but ultimately I decided to pursue Diagnostic Radiology. I matched into the McLaren Oakland-Macomb Diagnostic Radiology program in Michigan and couldn’t be more excited! Having the match process over with is a huge relief, and I can’t wait to begin training to be a radiologist!”

 

 

Casper Tips: How To Ace The Exam

The Casper exam can be a mysterious medical school requirement. Many students haven’t heard about it until it’s too late to prepare. Don’t let this situational judgment test catch you off guard. Read our Forbes article to learn more about what Casper tests, and how to ace it.

 

New Jersey Institute of Technology’s BS/MD Program: An Exclusive Interview

Moon Prep sat down with Professor Lewis Hamilton, Dean of the Albert Dorman Honors College, to learn more about the NJMS Accelerated BS/MD Program at New Jersey Institute of Technology. Read the interview transcript on our blog to learn more about what this program is looking for in its students.

Want to hear more of Moon Prep’s expert advice and get notified when we put out new content? Subscribe to our YouTube channel today!

 

 

May 24: Kaiser Permanente Virtual Office Hour Session

May 25: Georgetown University School of Medicine Information Sessions

May 30: The University of the Incarnate Word School of Medicine is hosting a Virtual Admissions Information Session

 

Changes To Medical School Curricula

As the times change and technology advances, so do medical school curricula. Many schools have been shortening the pre-clinical years with only 56% remaining with the traditional two year pre-clinical track, 29% with 1.5 years of pre-clinical training, and 6% of schools with just one year before students start clinical rotations, according to the American Medical Association. One such school making the shift from a two-year pre-clinical track to a 1.5 year clinical track is the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, aiming for full implementation of the curriculum change in the 2024-2025 academic year. Albert Einstein Medical College, for instance, has also shortened its pre-clerkship “basic science” years to 18 months, following the COVID-19 pandemic to allow for more time on rotations to better prepare students to enter clinical work. 

Similarly, Duke has implemented a program called Patient FIRST (Foundations, Immersion, Research, Service, Transformation), which is designed to put patient care at the center of learning from day one of medical school, and launched in 2021. Duke is one of the few schools with a one year pre-clinical track.

Harvard and Stanford are also making curriculum changes, but for different reasons. With a rise in awareness of how climate change impacts health outcomes, these two universities responded to student-led initiatives to incorporate environmental health into the medical school courses.

Assessing a school’s curriculum is important to gauge the best learning environment for you while creating a school list, as well as in responding to secondary questions about why you would like to attend that specific school.

Moon Prep is proud to announce a newly-designed research opportunity with Rising Researchers! Students have the opportunity to work one-on-one on a customizable research project with our expert research mentors. Students work virtually while still performing cutting-edge research under the guidance of a research mentor. Our research mentors are experienced in the direct medical and traditional medical admissions process and will guide students on how to showcase this unique research experience. The goal is to give these ambitious students an edge by adding advanced research, data analysis, and a publication to their resumes.

Here’s what you need to know:

How long is the program? 10 sessions, completed over a 4 month period.

When does it start? Projects can begin at any time, even during the school year. Students can register in advance to secure their spot with a research mentor of their choice. 

Who is this program for? Our students are rising 9th graders through college students.

What is the end result? Students work with their research mentor to complete a research paper and poster, ultimately resulting in publication in the Rising Researchers Journal.

What is the curriculum? The project is fully tailored and customizable to each student, but we do have a syllabus of course objectives. 

No other research experience available offers the level of close mentorship and project guidance as our research mentors. Schedule your complimentary session today to learn more about the details of adding a Rising Researchers research project to your child’s college resume. 

Want one more reason to join Moon Prep? Now, our rising seniors have a direct medical college application “boot camp” included in their Moon Prep experience! This summer, our rising seniors will be attending sessions covering the intricate BS/MD application process, including strategies for the medical-focused essay questions. Over seven sessions, students will get a valuable head start on their college applications and essays in a structured, supportive environment. Students receive eBooks, templates, and sample essays to help guide them through the application process. 
 

Application iQ is an experience like no other and will help guide students (and parents) through the complete BS/MD application process. 

Here are the details:

When does the program start? Every Wednesday (7/19 – 8/30), 7:00-8:30p ET/4:00-5:30p PT. It is 7 weeks long – meeting 1x a week 

What is the investment? Free (live sessions), Paid (offline editing of essays)

Free: Moon Prep students can attend the live sessions for free. Sessions are via Zoom, interactive, and will assist students in getting a head start on their applications and essays in a structured environment

Paid: After each session, students will receive homework and work independently on drafts of their essays. All students are paired with a counselor/essay coach when they sign up. The offline essay edits/feedback will be billed at the hourly rate at sign up. 
 

What topics are covered? The course syllabus and learning objectives can be found here. 
 

Current Moon Prep students can register here.
Not a Moon Prep student yet? Schedule a complimentary consultation to learn more about our affordable services.