Pen and Chisel

The student loan deal and the primary care physician shortage: problems on the way?

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:21:00 +0000

Since Congress reached the new student loan deal last week, negative effects for graduate and professional students have emerged--and the worst consequences may affect the medical field.

According to the Washington Post, the federal government "will no longer pay the interest on new graduate loans while students are in school and for six months after they finish." In short, graduate and professional students are no longer eligible for subsidized loans. The Post reports that this will increase the amount such students must pay by $18 billion.

To make matters worse, the cost of graduate and professional education has risen dramatically in the past few years. Increased cost combined with a longer compound interest period will make graduate and professional school exponentially more expensive and discourage otherwise excellent candidates from attending.

This presents a particular problem for the medical field. The US has been facing a primary care physician shortage since at least 2003, when individual states and professional organizations began to express concerns about meeting increasing medical need in a variety of specialties. "Approximately 44,000 governmental public health jobs at the state and local levels, or 19% of the 2008 workforce, were lost between 2008 and 2010 due to the economic downturn," causing even greater need. After the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the consequent increase in insured patients, sources projected a physician shortage of 150,000 by the year 2025. With ACA's constitutionality newly affirmed, projections are sure to be revised, but will almost certainly remain large.

The medical school establishment has taken steps to address this looming shortage. However, federal funding for medical education, infrastructure, research, and residency positions continues to have a large effect on their success.

While ACA does provide additional funding for health care training, these resources were allocated when health care reform was initially passed in March 2010--well before the current student loan deal came under consideration. With the dramatic increase in the cost of medical education, it seems very likely that the provisions of the ACA will not be enough to stave off health care shortages, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) recently called on Congress to protect Stafford loans for graduate and professional students, stating that "more than 86 percent of physicians-in-training rely on student loans to pay for medical school" and graduate with "an average debt of more than $160,000." However, since the final student loan deal does not protect subsidized Stafford loans for graduate and professional students, medical student debt seems certain to increase--and numbers of students willing and able to attend medical school seem certain to decrease.

Common homophone confusion: pore/pour

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 04 May 2012 23:16:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

In the course of my normal internet reading, I see people misuse these two terms constantly, and nearly always in the context of one particular idiomatic phrase.

To pore is to examine minutely and in depth, in the hope of gaining knowledge. This is drawn from the noun version of pore--a miniscule opening, particularly in the skin.

To pour is to inundate with liquid, generally from a container such as a pitcher or glass.

So if I see the phrase "I poured over the magazine," I have to wonder exactly what liquid the writer used to douse that magazine, and how difficult it was to clean up afterward.

If I see the sentence "Elmer spent hours pouring over the recipe," I imagine milk, broth, red wine vinegar, or olive oil consistently streaming from a bottle in Elmer's hand to cascade over the poor recipe in his battered cookbook.

And if I read the sentence "The cafe now offers pour-over coffee," I know the baristas are spending their time carefully brewing individual cups by streaming boiling water over coffee grounds in one-cup increments--not that they are spending their time staring, fascinated, at the coffee as it gradually drips through its filter.

Common homophone confusion: lead/lead/led

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 20:21:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

This set of words is difficult to distinguish because they can all be pronounced the same way, but aren't always. Furthermore, the different pronunciations indicate different meanings. Further furthermore, two of the three words are different conjugations of the same verb. It's very confusing.

"Lead" can be pronounced with either a long /ee/ sound or a short /e/ sound. The second pronunciation of "lead" is identical to the only pronunciation of "led."

"Lead" with a long /ee/ (as in "tree") is a verb meaning to act as a leader, to guide or direct others, or to go first. "Lead" can also be used as a noun indicating a leash or placement, or an adjective meaning first.

"Unaware that winter would become an issue, Napoleon chose to lead his army toward Moscow."
"Jim took the lead on the PR team's new project."

"Lead" with a short /e/ (as in "bed") is a soft, dense, heavy metal. It's symbolized as Pb on the periodic table, and has an atomic number of 82. This version of "lead" is a noun only.

"The company made pipes insulated with a lead casing."
"This lead is so malleable that I can dent it with my fingernail!"

"Led," again with a short /e/, is the past tense of the verb "to lead" (with a long /ee/).

"Our guide led the way through the treacherous terrain."
"He led me to believe it was raining."

Common homophone confusion: wring/ring

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 18:37:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

"To wring" is a verb meaning to twist violently. It can also indicate strangulation or twisting the neck, as in "to wring (one's) neck." This phrase is often used as a slang expression indicating anger, though not necessarily actual murder. Of course, if you happen to be raising chicken or other poultry for meat, you may end up using this term literally quite a bit more often than not.

This verb can also be used metaphorically to mean "to force." In this usage, it is often paired with the word "out." For instance, often people wring out wet items to squeeze out the moisture.

"Please wring out your washcloth before you hang it up."
"The detective skillfully wrung a confession from the perpetrator."

A "ring" is a noun indicating a round hoop or circle. For instance, children playing "ring-around-a-rosy" dance in a circle. People use precious metal rings as jewelry, key rings to organize keys, and three rings to organize circuses. "To ring" can also be used as a verb meaning "to encircle," though this is less common than the noun usage.

"With this ring, I thee wed."
"The campers ringed the campfire to listen to the ghost story."

US News releases 2013 law school rankings

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 17:07:00 +0000

US News and World Report has released its 2013 law school rankings. Does your school make the cut?

Law school rankings 2013

1. Yale
2. Stanford
3. Harvard
4. Columbia
5. Chicago
6. NYU
7. Berkeley, Penn, UVA
10. Michigan-Ann Arbor
11. Duke
12. Northwestern
13. Georgetown
14. Cornell

Law school rankings 2012

1. Yale
2. Harvard
3. Stanford
4. Columbia
5. Chicago
6. NYU
7. Michigan, Penn
9. Berkeley, UVA
11. Duke
12. Northwestern
13. Cornell
14. Georgetown, Texas

While the T-14 schools have shifted in order, the base group remains the same. Only Texas has fallen from the running.

The top six schools remain in place, with the exception of Stanford and Harvard, which have exchanged ranks. At #7, Penn holds steady, joined by former 9th place ties Penn and UVA. Michigan falls 3 places to #10, and Duke and Northwestern hold steady at #11 and #12. Cornell falls one place from #13 to #14, while Georgetown makes the opposite move, and Texas leaves the top 14 completely.

For more insights, Above the Law comments on the new law school rankings and provides a fascinating links roundup.

US News releases 2013 medical school rankings

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 16:50:00 +0000

US News and World Report has released its new 2013 medical school rankings for research and primary care programs. How does your school measure up?

Research school rankings 2013

1. Harvard
2. Johns Hopkins
3. Pennsylvania
4. Stanford
5. UC-San Francisco
6. Washington University in St. Louis
7. Yale
8. Columbia
9. Duke
10. University of Chicago, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Washington

Research school rankings 2012

1. Harvard
2. Pennsylvania
3. Johns Hopkins
4. WUSTL
5. Duke, Stanford, UCSF, Yale
9. Washington
10. Columbia, UMich-Ann Arbor

New in the top 10: Chicago
No longer in the top 10: none

The top ten research schools remain largely unchanged, with some minor shuffling. Harvard remains at the top of the heap, due in part, no doubt, to its excellent NIH funding, prestigious faculty, and research facilities. Johns Hopkins has moved up from #3 to #2, while Penn has made the opposite fall. Western research centers Stanford and UCSF have risen two and one places, respectively, while Washington in St. Louis and Yale have both fallen two places, and Columbia has risen from #10 to #8. At #10, Washington has fallen one place from #9, the University of Michigan holds steady, and newcomer Chicago joins the top ten research schools.

Primary care rankings 2013

1. Washington
2. UNC-Chapel Hill
3. Oregon Health & Science, UCSF
5. UColorado-Denver
6. University of Nebraska Medical Center
7. UMass-Worcester
8. UMich-Ann Arbor, Minnesota
10. UCLA

Primary care rankings 2012

1. Washington
2. UNC-Chapel Hill
3. Oregon Health & Science
4. UCSF, UColorado-Denver
6. Minnesota
7. UNebraska Med Center
8. UMass-Worcester
9. Penn
10. East Carolina, UAL-Birmingham, Iowa, UWI-Madison

New in the top 10: UCLA, Michigan
No longer in the top 10: ECU, UAL, UIA, UWI, Penn

It's interesting to see the changes in the primary care top 10, especially in light of recent awareness of the growing primary care shortage. I notice that the 2013 top ten list is composed of schools traditionally held in a bit higher regard than those ranked in 2012; East Carolina and Alabama, for instance, have fallen from the top ten, to be replaced by the more prestigious Michigan and UCLA.

At the same time, the medical schools with the most long-standing primary care initiatives have remained in their places. First-ranked Washington, with its five-state WWAMI program, continues to target shortages in underserved rural areas--and its 19-year streak at #1 in primary care gives a clear picture of its impact. Many other top-ranked schools have followed its example, requiring or encouraging rural rotations and on-site work.

Washington, Chapel Hill, and Oregon Health & Science have retained their respective top ranks, while USCF has moved up one place to tie at #3. Its former tie at #4, Colorado at Denver, has fallen one place to #5. Nebraska and UMass have both jumped one place, landing at #6 and #7, while Minnesota has fallen from #6 to #8. Nearly all the schools at the 9 and 10 rank have fallen from the top ten. The only exception, Michigan, has risen to tie with Minnesota at #8. At #10, newcomer UCLA enters the rankings.

Common homophone confusion: phase/faze

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 17:25:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

A "phase" is a stage, time period, or aspect. The moon enters different phases as it waxes and wanes; adolescents can go through "that awkward phase" or "an emo phase." The verb form of "phase" means to order or synchronize. It is generally used in technical or scientific language.

"I hope this enchantment with juggalo music is just a phase."
"In the third phase of the monarch butterfly's metamorphosis, it forms a chrysalis."

To "faze" is to bother. Often, people use this word negatively, in combination with "not" or "un-."

"Though most of the office panicked when presented with a lower budget, our chairwoman was unfazed."
"The curious reactions to his new haircut didn't faze him."

Since this is the only contemporary use of "faze," it's very easy to confuse it with the more familiar "phase." Often, people are not even aware that the word "faze" is real--it looks like a phonetic misspelling. This leads to the misuse of "phase" in idioms and phrases that require "faze."

Instead of "it didn't phase her"--she did not pass into a different stage or aspect, but was unbothered-- use "it didn't faze her." Instead of "he was unphased"--he didn't resist movement into synchronization or order, but remained calm--use "he was unfazed."

Common homophone confusion: wretch/retch

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:47:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

Both of these homophones are fairly uncommon, which makes them difficult to instinctively use correctly.

The noun "wretch" indicates a person or other conscious being who is either 1. totally miserable, 2. base and despicable, or 3. in a very unfortunate circumstance, such as poverty, chronic pain, or disease. You might see the phrase "poor wretch" in works such as Dickens novels.

"To retch" is to vomit. It also means to try to vomit--to dry heave, to gag, to force phleghm and acid from the throat, etc. "To retch" is always used as a verb.

One cannot "wretch and moan." This is particularly nonsensical because "wretch" is a noun. One can, however, "retch and moan." In fact, one could argue that no one ever retches without making some sort of awful, pathetic, pain-prompted sound.

February LSAT

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:10:00 +0000

This Saturday is the LSAT! Are you prepared?

If you aren't, of course, you can withdraw your registration--but only until midnight on Friday. Most Strongly Supported offers some great tips to help you decide whether you should withdraw your registration.

On the other hand, maybe you're fully prepared and ready to attack the LSAT. Great! Now, what last-minute steps can you take to bolster your chances of success?

Manhattan LSAT's final countdown tips can help you get in the right mindset to perform well on this stressful occasion.

Wondering what to eat before taking the LSAT? Powerscore has some recommendations for how to eat your way to a 180.

The night before the LSAT, it's a good plan to go over LSAC's guidelines for the day of the test to make sure that you have everything you need--and that you leave any prohibited items at home.

If you're confused about how best to act once you're actually in the test center, Kaplan's 180 blog offers the top ten LSAT etiquette rules.

Good luck!

The question of jargon

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:15:00 +0000

Prawfsblog recently ran an article on using jargon in the legal field. Jargon, of course, is highly specialized language specific to a particular field or discipline. For example, terms like "differance," "ARM," and "comorbidity" communicate minute concepts in language theory, real estate, and psychology, respectively.

Jargon can be extremely useful when used within a discipline--but what if you want to communicate with someone in a different discipline? What if you've been a specialist in women's studies, accounting, or engineering, but you want to make the shift to law? You'll probably want to discuss your experience as a specialist in your personal statement, and you'll be used to using specific jargon within that experience. But will the admissions committee fully understand those terms?

While anything's possible, it's more likely that the law professors, deans, admissions staff, and law students on your committee will not know the specialized language of a totally different field. Thus, using that jargon will be confusing and have an overall negative effect. With this in mind, how can you best communicate your experience?

Some law school candidates decide to eliminate their field's jargon in favor of law jargon in the personal statement. What's the problem here? Well, first, law jargon will likely be irrelevant when discussing your experience in another field. Second, and more problematic, since you aren't a lawyer yet, will you fully understand all the nuances of law jargon? Just as the admissions committee won't necessarily know your jargon, you're more than likely not to really understand theirs. This means it's more than likely that you'll miscommunicate key points--a problem you definitely don't want.

So what's the solution? I recommend simply avoiding jargon as much as possible. Streamline your language and use terms the admissions committee will be familiar with. If you must discuss a concept that you usually communicate with jargon, you can expand abbreviations or give short explanations before delving into the details of your experience. It's best to veer away from discussing theoretical concepts; instead, discuss the actions you took and the successes you achieved. This will let you communicate your great qualities by example, without the need for an overabundance of specialized terminology.

Common homophone confusion: rein/reign

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:34:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

The terms "rein" and "reign" both indicate control, making the distinction between them narrow and thus difficult to grasp.

The noun version of "rein" is usually seen in plural form. "Reins" are the pair of long straps attached to the main headstall and bit in a horse's bridle. A rider uses reins to control a horse or horses. If a horse is given "free rein," the rider slackens the reins and allows it to go as quickly or slowly as it chooses. "To rein" is also a verb meaning to control or direct. It is often combined with a preposition, as in "to rein in," meaning to slow or to brake.

"Reign" can also be used as either a noun or a verb. As a noun, it indicates the authority to govern or control a certain unit or jurisdiction. As a verb, it indicates the action of ruling or governing.

I most frequently see "rein" and "reign" confused in two particular idioms. At first, it seems difficult to determine which term should be used, as both idioms indicate some level of control. However, by examining the origins of each idiom, the correct word choice becomes much more clear.

The phrase "free rein" is correct, while "free reign" is not. Similarly, a person cannot "reign in" their spending, their misbehaving children, or their impulse to chuck their office job and join the Peace Corps. They can, however "rein in" a specific action, being, or impulse. Because both of these phrases are metaphors drawn from the action of driving a horse, the horse-related term is the correct one to use.

I don't think I've ever seen the term "rain" confused with either "reign" or "rein," but since it's pronounced identically, let's quickly discuss it as well. As a noun, the mass term "rain" is liquid precipitation that falls from the sky when the water vapor in clouds becomes cold enough to condense. A "rain" can also be an event consisting of the falling of a large mass of items, such as raindrops or grapeshot. As a verb, "to rain" means to fall, and refers to a large number of things falling. In either case, the word's totally different meaning makes it much harder to confuse with "rein" or "reign."

SOPA & PIPA blackout

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:37:00 +0000

We've gone to a black background today to show our opposition to SOPA and PIPA. If you would like to make your views on these proposals known, please contact your senators and representatives.

Common homophone confusion: horde/hoard

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:02:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

As the terms "horde" and "hoard" both indicate large numbers, they are very easy to confuse.

A "horde" is a large, often disorganized, often angry, group of beings with agency. While people are the most obvious members of a horde, animals or imaginary creatures can also form a horde. The adjective "warlike" could easily describe a horde. If you play World of Warcraft, you know the Horde as the group in opposition to the Alliance.

"Brandishing their weapons, the horde of Vikings ran toward the peaceful village."
"When the bear knocked over the hive, a horde of angry bees emerged."

As a noun, a "hoard" is a large cache, stash, or collection. It's also a verb; if you hoard items, you keep them. For instance, a squirrel makes a hoard of nuts for the winter. See the tv show "Hoarders" for further horrifying examples.

"Ebenezer Scrooge carefully added the coins to his hoard of money."
"During the shortages of WWII, many people hoarded scarce items like sugar and gasoline."

MLK Jr. Day events at a university near you

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:54:00 +0000

A host of US law schools and universities are honoring Martin Luther King Jr. this January.

Vanderbilt Law will host civil rights activist D’Army Bailey in a free public speech and podcast on January 12th, while the university as a whole offers a wide menu of other events.

The University of Michigan has grand plans for its 25th anniversary MLK symposium, featuring a panorama of commemorative events from January 11th through the 26th. Just up the street in Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University promises a variety of great events as well.

On January 26th, UCLA is hosting the 24th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratorical Contest, in which students will speak on the theme of “From Critical Consciousness to Critical Action.”

Valparaiso University's celebration includes a commemorative tree planting in the MLK Arboretum, as well as several panel sessions and a mock congressional debate.

Four New Orleans schools sponsor the Martin Luther King. Jr. week for Peace, in which students from Tulane, Dillard, Loyola, and Xavier Universities as well as the general public will have the opportunity to participate in speeches, religious ceremonies, and service.

In Columbia, SC, the USC Black Law Student Association will sponsor an MLK Jr. panel and symposium, while the main university hosts its annual commemorative breakfast.

Willamette University has planned a food drive, community service, and a low-cost speech from social activist Dolores Huerta.

Finally, NYU presents a February 6th-11th celebration featuring numerous opportunities for service throughout New York City.

Don't see an event you can attend? Check out the events calendar of a school near you for even more great opportunities to honor Dr. King's legacy.

Forming a specific law career goal

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:42:00 +0000

It's January: the perfect time to take on some new, shiny projects. If you're planning to apply to law school next fall, you may think you can't really prepare much now (unless you're cramming for the February LSAT, in which case, more power to you). However, this is not the case! You can give yourself a leg up in the law school application process right now. How? You can explore.

You may have a very specific idea of the work you want to do as a lawyer, right down to the clients you'd like to serve and the issues you'd like to tackle. However, it's more likely that you have a a variety of potential specialties in mind, or a more general aspiration to do some good in the world. If you're in this situation, it's time to consider exactly what you want to do with your future law career.

So how do you identify a specific goal? Start by brainstorming different law fields and specialties. Take a half hour to write down anything you think you might like to accomplish in law, go over your list, and reduce it to the three or four points most important to you. Aim to create as coherent an idea of your career goal as possible. This specificity will not only help you make good choices in coursework, clinic work, and your eventual job search; it will also help you write a more compelling personal statement for admission.

Once you have an idea of what you might like to do in law, it's time to take the extra step to make sure it's the best choice for you. That's right: it's time for research.

First, take the time to identify some law schools with great specializations in your target field. Contact their admissions offices to get in touch with student ambassadors, preferably those concentrating in your area. This will let you explore the law school experience with respect to your chosen field, and also to identify good programs for you. As an added bonus, you may discover a law program you never knew existed, but that is a perfect fit for your interests.

Next, reach out to lawyers in your school's alumni network--or those you know in your personal life--to get a more realistic idea of the day-to-day work of lawyering. Again, make the effort to contact people in your interest area, so you can get the specific information you need about your targeted field. If you can only get in contact with a lawyer whose specialty is diametrically opposed to your own, that's ok! Just ask if they have any colleagues who they could refer you to, and follow up with any new contacts.

Finally, consider a job or internship in your field of interest or a related field. Working at a law office, on a political campaign, or at a nonprofit can give you a more concrete understanding of the issues you want to attack, the tasks you might take on, and the real-world impact you can have in your chosen field. If a job is not in the cards, consider volunteering. While you may not get a paycheck or class credit, you will still gain the same type of valuable experience in your target area.

As you gain expertise, you may be surprised at some of your discoveries. Maybe you'll find that one field of law is a better fit for you than another, or you'll encounter a fascinating niche you want to explore further. Even if you realize you dislike the field you've chosen, or that you've misapprehended a problem you want to address, you still will have acquired more information. If nothing else, you'll know what specialty to avoid! Through this experience, you can clarify your career goals and gain a better idea of the next steps you should take in your path toward law.

Happy holidays!

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 03:06:00 +0000

Here's wishing everyone a great holiday season and a wonderful new year!

We'll be back Tuesday with some strategies for applications & essay writing in 2012-2013.

Friday links 12/23/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:51:00 +0000

LAW

- Rethinking how the law is taught.
- 3 Ways Law School Applicants Can Leverage the Holidays.
- New law schools are taking on the fight against the ABA.
- Duncan Law School, featured in the above piece, is immediately denied ABA accreditation.
- Who really causes law school tuition hikes--the ABA or the schools themselves?
- What to Do While Waiting for Law School Decisions.
- Smart writing during law school exams from John Marshall's Prof. Schwinn.
- An Australian take on differences between perception and reality in law careers for women.

MED

- Vanderbilt Med takes a new approach to medical student wellness.
- Penalties for excessive readmissions may hit hospitals serving the poor.
- Attracting students to rural medicine at the smallest medical school in the US.
- The University of Western Ontario has an AIDS vaccine beginning clinical trials.
- In related news, Science magazine names antiretroviral HIV treatment its breakthrough of the year.
- The malaria vaccine RTS,S is showing promise.
- Michigan Med and Harvard Med affiliate join the fight to lower health care costs.

Happy holidays and a great new year to all!

Friday links 12/16/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:40:00 +0000

LAW

- 10 factors to consider when choosing a law school
- Vermont Law has released its top 10 environmental watch list for 2012.
- 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Law School Application Essays.
- Stanley Fish on teaching law.
- Is the February LSAT harder than the others? Nope.
- U of I Law school reels from altered admissions stats.
- University of Chicago Law will publish detailed employment data; will other schools follow?
- 10 things to do while you wait for your law school acceptance letters.
- On bullshit and law schools.
- 60 Essential Twitter Feeds for Law School Applicants.

MED

- 10 Least Expensive Public Medical Schools for In-State Students.
- While NC public med schools receive record numbers of applications, Duke Med bucks the trend.
- Meanwhile, Medical College of Georgia, the only public medschool in GA, sees huge application increase. Are we beginning to see a more general trend away from private medical education?
- Orange Country high school students try their hands at surgery at UC Davis Med.
- Can journalism training strengthen physicians’ bedside manner?

Friday links 12/9/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 20:02:00 +0000

LAW

- Is reading the law instead of attending law school a viable idea today?
- In fact, who is really responsible for teaching lawyers how to practice law?
- Quinnipiac Pre-Law Society unveils law school mentorship program.
- The ABA is seeking better treatment of the disabled by LSAT administrators. Sponsors include the Wisconsin State Bar.
- Should you cancel your December LSAT score?
- The ABA is changing their requirements for law school employment data collection.
- In fact, how do law schools collect employment stats? The answer seems to be "slowly and painfully."
- The federal government will lend $54.3 billion to U.S. law schools by 2020.
- Some excellent advice for law school application procrastinators.
- Cooley Law Dean argues that the law job market isn't that bad, and people are overreacting. Oh really?
- UTexas Law has pushed its dean out in the middle of finals. What's going on?

MED

- Engaging with med school applicants at the University of Michigan: Twitter, Facebook, and in-person acceptance.
- UPenn Med receives $7.5 million grant for breast cancer technology research.
- Not sure what classes to take? How to select undergraduate premed coursework.
- Nationwide physician shortages are rising: 62,900 doctors needed by 2015 and 91,500 by 2020.
- AAMC report examines physician supply & retention, medical school enrollment, and US GME.
- University of Denver considers founding Colorado's third medical school to combat physician shortage.
- 10 Most Expensive Public Medical Schools for In-State Students.
- Yale Med gets $11 million grant for the study of rare diseases.
- UCLA researchers suggest an unconventional approach to control HIV epidemics
- Brown Med will add PLME courses to better prepare students for the rigors of med school.
- Researchers are increasingly realizing the advantages of viewing cancer as a system.
- Number of Medical Schools on Probation Triples in 15 Years.
- Western Michigan Med receives research facility donation to house its medical school.
- Michigan State Med will open a new campus in downtown Flint, expand public health programs and research.

Common homophone confusion: council/counsel

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:54:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

These two homophones can be especially confusing because they share the same roots--the Latin consilium and its English and French derivatives--and thus retain much of the same meaning. A council may in fact counsel people or groups. The dictionary.com definition of "council" even notes that councils are generally "convened for consultation, deliberation, or advice."

"Council" is a noun indicating a group of people brought together to accomplish some task. This group is often governmental, ecclesiastical, or otherwise authoritative in some way. For instance, a council may have the authority not only to decide but to legislate or decree particular rules.

"The city council voted to develop the lot at 38th and Pine."
"The Council of Trent provided the Catholic response to the ideas of the Protestant Reformation."

In contrast, "counsel" can be used as a noun or a verb. The more common verb usage means to give advice or to mentor. The noun usage refers to either the advice itself or to a specific person--generally a lawyer--who provides advice.

"I counseled many students throughout my job as an SAT tutor."
"The defendant's counsel had arranged for a plea bargain."

To extend the comparison further, let's look at the related homophones "councilor" and "counselor." A councilor is a member of a council, and often therefore some sort of governmental official, while a counselor is a provider of advice, instruction, or adult supervision. Each title indicates a person engaged in the activity associated with the root word.

Friday links 12/2/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:50:00 +0000

LAW

- The December LSAT is tomorrow--and the Girl's Guide to Law School, PowerScore, and Most Strongly Supported have some great last-minute advice.
- How can you best predict your chances of getting into law school?
- Yet another opinion on legal education reform.
- Dahlia Lithwick writes a very interesting piece on Justice Kagan.
- NYLS and John Jay form new joint program in law & forensic psychology.
- Learning the law business: the rise of joint MBA/JD degrees.
- Emory Law launches new Juris Master program.
- Woman with brain disorder sues LSAC over testing accommodations.
- Law schools say students must be more active in their job searches.
- Iowa College of Law's Nonprofit Research Center will help improve the state environment for non-profits.
- IU Indianapolis renames law school to honor alumnus donor.
- Alaska legislators push for state law and medical schools.

MED

- House panel votes to repeal long-term-care program.
- UVM, Dartmouth, and UMMS will collaborate on cancer research in new consortium.
- Maryland Med founds Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute to translate medical research to treatment .
- Report says HIV epidemic has reached crisis proportion in the US South.
- Wisconsin may get a third medical school in Wausau.
- Coincidentally, a Wisconsin physician shortage is expected by 2030 unless the state trains 100 additional doctors per year.
- UL Lafayette will become the new satellite campus for Louisiana State Med.
- The tenure approval process is dragging at Minnesota Med.
- Researchers at UCSF and UCSD are using Facebook to study cardiovascular health.
- UMiss Med considers alliance with private Health Management Associates.
- Emory professors propose premed curriculum changes in response to newly designed MCAT.

Common homophone confusion: your/you're/yore

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:10:00 +0000

This series examines frequently confused word pairs and groups to help students write accurate, impressive essays.

Let's tackle another group of homophones separated by the elusive apostrophe.

Although some speakers of American regional dialects pronounce "your" with an /oo/ as its vowel sound, the majority of the country pronounces it with a long /oe/ vowel, obscuring the audible difference between it and its fellow homophones. "Your" and "you're" can therefore be very easily confused.

"Your" is a second person possessive pronoun. That is, it indicates ownership by some "you."

"I know you parked your car in this lot."
"Your dog is so cute!"
"I think your molasses cookies taste much better than Elmer's snickerdoodles."

"You're" is a contracted version of "you are." In this contraction, the apostrophe takes the place of the letter A. "You're" should therefore be used only when "you are" would also make sense.

"While you're at the store, can you grab a gallon of milk?"
"Watch out! You're going to step on the cat!"
"If you're hungry, you can have some of my cake."

"Yore" is actually not confused with "your" or "you're" very frequently at all, but it is pronounced exactly the same way, so let's discuss it anyway. "Yore" is a little-used term, generally only seen in literary texts, fairy tales, or specialized medieval-style jargon; it means "long ago." The tone of the word also subtly indicates an antique or legendary setting. The phrase "days of yore," for instance, not only specifies a time far past, but also connotes that the knowledge of said days has dropped into myth. Since its meaning and usage are so specialized, it's not too difficult to recall the word's proper use.

Writing the PS: little mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:38:00 +0000

I've spent a lot of time discussing the most minuscule of English language mistakes with an eye toward writing great personal statements. However, the very smallness of an apostrophe misuse or a homophone mixup can make these issues seem unimportant. If these mistakes are so small, why spend time on them? Is it really so important to make sure these tiny bits and pieces are perfect?

In short: yes. These mistakes are not just small--they are basic, which is to say that they are easily learned and recognized. If you have a good understanding of essential English grammar, spelling, and usage, you can find and correct minor errors very easily.

Conversely, tiny issues like switching "its" and "it's" or using a comma splice instead of a semicolon may seem unimportant, but by their very unimportance they show a great deal about you. If you do not correct them, you broadcast far more than you may realize.

Minor mistakes betray a fundamental misunderstanding of English grammar and usage, coupled with a lack of attention to detail. In a field like law, in which finely crafted written argument plays a crucial role, any lack of grammatical understanding is a huge red flag. Submitting a personal statement containing this type of mistake reveals a gap in mindfulness and comprehension that may even come across as a lack of care.

Essentially, small mistakes can be very important indeed, and it's crucial to ensure that you catch and fix them in your application essays.

So, in addition to proofreading the final draft of your personal statement on an electronic screen, print it out. Sleep on it for a night to give yourself some distance, and then grab your red pen and go. Next, get some outside feedback. Give your final draft to a friend with great writing skills, take it to your student writing center, or ask your pre-law advisor to look it over. Double-check any questions with a grammar guide or trusted authority. Before you submit your application, give each essay one last once-over. By taking these simple precautions, you can ensure that you won't blot your application with tiny mistakes.

Friday links 11/25/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:41:00 +0000

LAW

- The big news Monday was this New York Times article proposing that law schools pay back students who choose to leave. ATL and The Atlantic react, while TaxProfBlog has a great list of law professor responses.
- Are you about to take your first law school exams? Lawyerist has some law exam advice.
- The Prop. 8 case has moved on to its next stage after last week's CA supreme court ruling.
- Yale Law gets a lesson in indigenous law from the Navajo Supreme Court.
- Indiana's new law school aims to concentrate on practical application.
- After building a larger faculty, Cornell Law plans to expand.
- The ABA slowly moves toward better school employment data with a new placement and salary questionnaire.
- The Girl's Guide to Law School asks: where should you apply?
- We're edging closer to the December LSAT--are you ready for the writing sample?
- A Vanderbilt Law professor gets surprising results in studying relative values of law degrees.
- "Let's kill all the law students"--corporations attack law student clinics and causes.
- Top ten blogging tips for law students.

MED

- What is the true impact of the overuse of antibiotics?
- The AAMC has announced that 2011 medical school enrollment is at an all-time high.
- Cambridge University study shows that protein, not sugar, keeps the brain alert.
- What can Ethiopia teach the world about health care?
- US News names its top ten least expensive public medical schools for out-of-state students.
- Publicly funded medical research creates $45 billion in US economic activity per year.
- Medical school interviews are changing--how will they affect you?
- Washington University in St. Louis founds new Center for Community Health and Partnerships to better assist the community.

Friday links 11/18/2011

noreply@blogger.com (Eileen) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:15:00 +0000

LAW

- Law School Accreditation: What Is To Be Done?
- ABA Committee may approve new law school disclosure requirements.
- Congress continues to keep a critical eye on law schools.
- The Supreme Court will hear challenge to healthcare law. SCOTUSblog provides key history and context.
- Meanwhile, the California Supreme Court says backers can defend gay marriage measure.
- Liberty University Law disinvited to Western Washington University campus fair due to open discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- Pace Law is the latest school to found a solo incubator.
- UMass Dartmouth releases former law school dean’s company credit card records.
- The life and death of Michigan Law's Wolverine Scholars Program.
- Consider these tips for law school admissions interview etiquette.
- Penn State Law's application fee waivers are met with contempt.
- Just say no to law school porn?
- University of Virginia conference says eliminating the LSAT could hurt campus diversity.
- While USC shelves plans for a tax LL.M., Wisconsin Law launches a new Business Law Initiative.

MED

- University of Chicago physicians develop new applications for robot-assisted surgery.
- How will you pay for medical school?
- Marian University medical school gets support from a 6th hospital.
- The Las Vegas Sun argues that a new Las Vegas medical school's benefits would outweigh its costs.
- Central Michigan University will begin planning its Saginaw medical school campus this fall.
- UH Mānoa Medical School professor discovers Kawasaki Disease is linked to wind currents.
- Harvard & Louisville Med researchers use the heart's own stem cells to successfully treat heart failure.
- Can Doctors Have Work-Life Balance?
- Stanford's Victor Fuchs discusses urgent need for comprehensive medical care reform.
- Western Michigan University is changing its medical education model.
- Ohio University plans to open a new medical campus in Dublin, OH.
- Kaplan survey shows that medical schools support new 2015 MCAT, but raise concerns about undergrad preparation.