Medical Admissions Consulting : Insider Medical Admissions

NRMP Rank Order List Certification Deadline

Michelle Finkel — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:13:18 +0000

Just a reminder that applicants and programs must certify their rank order lists before February 22 at 9pm EST. Please see my previous blog entry on creating a rank list. Don’t make the error of changing your rank order last last minute based on panic! Your list should be a considered decision.

It Gets Better

Michelle Finkel — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:00:26 +0000

In honor of the Dan Savage’s “It Gets Better” campaign, I thought I would dedicate this blog entry to those who are in medical training and are struggling. (And who isn’t?!) Despite the relatively warm winter many of us are experiencing, this time of year can be particularly rough for medical students and residents trying [...]

Making Your Match List

Michelle Finkel — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:22:58 +0000

That time of year is quickly approaching, and I’ve already been asked how to optimally create a Match list. The algorithm for the Match is relatively simple; you can look at the details on this NRMP page. The bottom line: 1. Rank programs so that they represent your true preferences. Your first choice should be [...]

Promises, Promises

Michelle Finkel — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:14:30 +0000

As we approach the Match, I want to remind applicants that – although residency directors (RDs) are permitted to express strong interest in candidates – RDs’ comments should not be interpreted as promises regarding rank. Here is the NRMP’s Statement of Professionalism that reviews violations and “misleading communications.” The document is clearly written with examples [...]

Pre-Match Offers

Michelle Finkel — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:21:27 +0000

I received an urgent request from an applicant last week. He wanted to discuss a pre-match offer he had received that had a Friday deadline. The pre-match program was an academic institution, which was appealing, but the interview day had left the applicant underwhelmed for a number of reasons. On the one hand, this offer [...]

Outside of the Box

Michelle Finkel — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 02:35:43 +0000

Now that the new year is here, many pre-meds, medical students and residents will be asked to finalize their schedules for the next year or more. Although it’s easy to get wrapped up in it all, I wanted to put in a plug for something a bit unconventional – time away from the field entirely. [...]

Step 2 CS Changes

Michelle Finkel — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 18:43:34 +0000

In 2004, a team was created to initiate a multi-year, comprehensive review of the USMLE program. This team, called the Composite Committee, is comprised of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the American public. Last month this team [...]

An Excellent Question

Michelle Finkel — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 06:19:56 +0000

I recently read a NYT piece called, “Why Would Anyone Choose to Become a Doctor?” by Dr. Danielle Ofri. It’s a sweet essay written by a physician who describes being perplexed by the large number of medical school applicants yearly, considering her profession’s numerous annoyances. As the author considers alternatives to her career, however, she [...]

Interview Tips from an Entrepreneur

Michelle Finkel — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 22:35:38 +0000

This article is currently at the top of the New York Times’ most emailed list. It’s written for those entering the work force, but it is very pertinent for applicants to medical school, residency, fellowship, and post bacc programs. I hope everyone has a happy holiday season!

A Daring Journey Into Medical Anthropology

Michelle Finkel — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:05:01 +0000

A few weeks ago, I recommended reading This is a Soul: The Mission of Rick Hodes, and today I want to highlight another must-read for the physician or doctor-to-be. The Spirit Catches you and You Fall Down was published in 1997 and promptly won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, among other accolades. [...]