Most state medical boards require that U.S. medical schools be accredited by the LCME as a condition for graduates’ licensure. US medical students cannot take United States Medical Licensing Examinations unless they are enrolled at an accredited school.

Each medical school periodically goes through a review and re-accreditation process. Occasionally schools are put on probation and must make changes to maintain their accreditation.

Medical school applicants should be cognizant of the schools on probation. If they apply to those schools they should find out what the schools are doing to rectify the situation to be taken off probation.

At this date the following schools are on probation:

Howard University

Meharry Medical College

San Juan Bautista

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Updated in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026

The post Medical Schools on Probation appeared first on Blog.

The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) provides academic enrichment, professional development, clinical experiences, and financial planning workshops to freshmen and sophomore undergraduate students. There are SHPEP programs at Columbia, Howard, Rutgers, the University of Alabama-Birmingham, UCLA and Drew University (combined), University of Florida, University of Iowa, University of Louisville, University of Nebraska, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Washington, and Western University of the Health Sciences.

According to the SHPEP website, “it is a free summer enrichment program focused on improving access to information and resources for college students interested in the health professions SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and those with demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations to prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. Students from backgrounds underrepresented in the sciences are encouraged to apply.”

Applications are now open for the Summer of 2026; the deadline to apply is Feb. 6, 2026.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2019, and updated in 2025.

The post Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) appeared first on Blog.

Aria University

Arizona State

Brigham Young 

Methodist University

Texas A&M

University of Georgia

Xavier Ochsner

The stages of the accreditation process are numerous. The full directory of accredited medical schools can be found here.

New and upcoming osteopathic medical schools are:

Indiana University of Pennsylvania 

University of Northern Colorado

The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine

Xavier University College of Osteopathic Medicine

For information on the accrediting process for osteopathic schools, see this.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

The post New Medical Schools appeared first on Blog.

The ultimate purpose of the letter of intent is two-pronged:

1. To let the school know that it is, without question, your top choice.

2. To inform the medical school that you will accept their offer if given the chance.

When weighing one applicant over another—and if they are equal in all other measures—a letter of intent may make a difference. If the admissions office believes that one applicant is more enthusiastic about the school and would therefore join the incoming class, she may have a better chance of being accepted. An admitted applicant who enrolls affects the school’s “yield,” the percentage of admitted applicants who opt to enroll. This is often one of the measures used to assess a school’s rank and prestige. So admissions officers care whether admitted applicants accept their offer.

A letter of intent should only be written for one school. It would obviously be unethical for an applicant to state that she would enroll at every school where she has not yet been admitted; that can only be true for one school. However, applicants can still write “letters of interest” to other schools, stopping just short of stating they would enroll if admitted. The letter of intent should be reserved for the true top choice.

What’s the proper format for a letter of intent?  The letter should be passionate, eloquent, direct, and relatively brief (no more than one page). In general, this format works well:

Paragraph 1:  Thank the school for their consideration of your application. Be gracious; express your gratitude for still being under review. State the purpose of the letter. Describe briefly some of the things you enjoyed during the interview process. A letter of intent doesn’t generally ring true unless you’ve had the chance to interview at several schools; only then, when you have a point of comparison, does the letter sound authentic.

Paragraph 2:  This paragraph should address WHY you’re focused on this particular school. Be specific and cite what you find appealing about its culture, curriculum, learning atmosphere, etc. Why are you drawn to it?  Show the reader that you understand the school to its core and help admission committees see why it resonates with you. Convey your enthusiasm! Describe what you would add to the school. How will you contribute to the student body and the school’s environment?  Why should the school admit you? Be specific. Allow the reader to envision you as a student who would add something special to the incoming class.

Paragraph 4:  A brief closing; reiterate that you will enroll if given the opportunity and thank them again for considering your application.

If you have any questions about letters of intent feel free to email me at liza@thompsonadvising.com.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted in 2017, 2022 and 2025

The post Medical School Letter of Intent appeared first on Blog.

Photo courtesy of carp.ca

The medical school application process starts in June of the year prior to medical school enrollment and extends to the following April. But for some applicants—those placed on waitlists—the long process extends into the late spring and summer. I have over 30 years of experience guiding students in regard to medical school waiting lists, thus have advice to offer to those on waiting lists, along with guidelines to follow and the proper protocol.

1. Be grateful that you still have a chance! A waitlist position is better than a rejection and you still have a chance for admission. As such, start thinking about what you can do to emphasize your strong interest in a school where you are waitlisted.

2. Think thoughtfully and carefully about what you would add to the incoming class at any medical school where you are waitlisted. Express this cogently and convincingly in a letter you send to the admissions committee. If you want to move from the waitlist into the class you MUST convey your interest to the admissions committee. The only exception to this would be schools that prohibit contact–be sure to check each school’s rules before sending letters. Submit a letter soon after being notified of your waitlist status. Articulate specifically why the school appeals to you and what you would add to it. Express your enthusiasm; schools want students who are eager to enroll and who will contribute positively to the environment. If you’re certain you would accept a spot in the incoming class if admitted, you should write a letter of intent.

3. Be sure that your contact information is up to date if you’re on a waitlist and be prepared to be contacted at any time. Also be prepared to respond to a waitlist offer quickly. There are AAMC rules pertaining to waiting list protocol.

4. Do not badger the admissions office with repeated calls or letters. Do not communicate with the admissions office more than once a month and do not pull out the “important” people with connections to the school to try to advance your case; this will only annoy admissions committees.

5. Keep the medical school informed if there are important updates to report.  If you publish research, win important awards or earn honors you should keep the medical school apprised of these accomplishments.

Movement from waiting lists usually occurs in April, May, and June. Occasional spots open up in July, and can even occur up to the first day that a school starts. As a medical school admissions consultant, I advise applicants through the waitlist process. Feel free to send me an email at liza@thompsonadvising.com or call me to discuss your particular situation.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted in 2018, 2021, and 2025.

The post Medical School Waitlist Tips appeared first on Blog.

Medical school applicants often wonder whether they should update schools. An “update letter” can keep medical schools informed as the application process unfolds.

Applicants often wonder what merits sending an update; only significant additions to an application should be reported and/or information that was not provided previously.

The following list includes items of interest for the medical schools.

Honors or Awards:  If an honor or award is achieved since submitting the application, the medical schools should be informed.

Publications/Presentations: If there is a new publication, abstract, poster, or presentation, relay this information.

Changes in Classes:  If courses change, and a class which was included in the application is dropped, it should be reported to the medical schools, especially if the course is a requirement at a particular school.

New Jobs or Responsibilities in the Workplace:  If you switch jobs or assume more responsibilities/roles it is worthwhile to update schools.

New Grades:  If enrolled in courses during the application cycle, new grades should be reported.

Negative Developments: Applicants are also required to report any negative developments. If any kind of disciplinary action is taken or if an applicant is arrested it must be reported. The rules in the AMCAS application stipulate that any infraction must be reported within 10 days of receiving it.

The update letter differs from the “letter of intent” or “letter of interest” although updates can also be woven into those letters. Please see my other blog posts on letters of intent and/or interest.

Keep an update letter to one page. Make your letter direct, while providing valuable information. You should also use the update letter as a vehicle to convey your reasons for wanting to go to a particular school.

If you’re not sure about the proper format of the letter, feel free to email me at liza@thompsonadvising.com.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted in 2013 and updated in 2014, 2015, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2025.

The post Medical School Update Letters appeared first on Blog.

Just as with the medical school interview, the post-bac program interview assesses several important elements:

• Do you match your written materials?  In other words, is there synergy between your application and your actual persona?
• Are you a good fit for the program? Will you thrive in that particular institution’s academic environment? Are you ready to handle the academic demands in a post-bac program?
• What will you contribute to the program? Will your personal traits and attributes make you a welcome addition to the program?
• Is your enthusiasm—for both the program and for a career in medicine—palpable?
• Will you help foster a positive learning community?
• Can you handle the rigor of medical school?
• What have you done to have a realistic view of the medical profession?  How have you tested, explored, and confirmed your interest in medicine?

All of these factors are assessed during the interview. While post-bac programs have different ways they interview applicants, here is a synopsis of the various interview formats:

• One-on-one interviews that last from 30-60 minutes. The length will vary from program to program. Be prepared for a variety of questions as to your background, motivation for a career in medicine, strengths, weaknesses, learning style, future career goals, any academic difficulties encountered, significant accomplishments, clinical experiences (or lack thereof), your particular interest in that program, etc.
• A brief screening via video (20-30 minutes) prior to granting a campus interview. Be prepared for targeted questions in regard to your background and what makes you a compelling medical school candidate. Be ready to articulate this briefly and succinctly.
• Tour and/or conversations with current students. While this is not usually a formal part of the interview process  it still provides the opportunity for programs to gather additional information. If applicants act inappropriately students will usually report such behavior to program directors.
• Attending a class. Some programs allow interviewees to attend a class, which helps you assess whether or not the teaching is strong and the students collegial.

Interviews are an opportunity for applicants to assess whether the program is a good fit. Be sure to consider the following during your visit:

• What do students say about the pros/cons of the program?
• What is the academic environment like (collegial or competitive)?
• Is a curve used for grading?
• Is it easy or difficult—sometimes by virtue of class size—to get letters of evaluation from professors?
• What is the program’s track record of getting its students admitted to medical school? Does the published track record include students who did not complete the program?
• What is the attrition rate?

If possible, applicants should also speak with graduates of the programs to which they apply. Doing so allows them to assess the advising services offered, much of which happens during the year following completion of the program (the “glide” year).  Programs should be willing to give you contact information for alumni of the program, especially if you have been admitted and are weighing whether or not to enroll.

If you have specific questions or would like to do a mock interview please contact me by email at liza@thompsonadvising.com.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Posted in 2013 and updated in 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2021

The post Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program Interviews: What to Expect appeared first on Blog.

• Albany Medical College
• Central Michigan 
• Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
• Duke
• Florida Atlantic
• Geisinger Commonwealth
• Hofstra
• Kaiser Permanente (hybrid)
• Medical College of Georgia
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (hybrid)
• New York Medical College
• New York University
• Nova Southeastern (hybrid)
• Oregon Health and Science University (hybrid)
• Ponce
• Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
• San Juan Bautista (hybrid)
• Stanford 
• SUNY Upstate
• TCU (Fort Worth, Texas)
• Texas Tech
• Universidad Central Del Caribe (Puerto Rico)
• University of Alabama (hybrid)
• University of Arizona
• University of California-Davis
• UCLA-Prime
• University of California-Riverside
• University of California-San Diego
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Illinois (hybrid)
• University of Massachusetts
• University of Michigan (hybrid)
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• University of Mississippi
• University of Missouri-Kansas City
• University of Nevada-Reno
• University of North Carolina (hybrid)
• University of South Carolina Greenville (hybrid)
• University of Texas – Austin (hybrid)
• University of Texas Medical Branch – Galveston
• University of Toledo
• University of Utah (hybrid)
• University of Vermont
• Virginia Commonwealth
• Virginia Tech
• Wake Forest
• Washington State (hybrid)
• Wayne State (hybrid)

For information about how to best prepare for the MMI, please refer to a previous blog post here or contact me to do a mock MMI session. Good luck!

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted in 2019 and updated in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The post Medical Schools Using Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI) appeared first on Blog.

Photo courtesy of 123rf.com

Secondary applications arrive soon after the primary application is transmitted to the medical schools. It is important to return secondary applications quickly; an application is not considered complete until the secondary has been received. The suggested time window for returning a secondary application is within two weeks of receiving it.

If an applicant applies to 20 schools, that’s 20 applications to complete within two weeks, all with several essays to write. Let’s say the average secondary application has three to four essays–that’s 60-80 essays. Writing that many essays in a short period of time creates a tremendous amount of work. Medical school applicants rarely anticipate the amount of work that secondary applications entail.

To streamline the process, many applicants pre-write secondary essays, putting the finishing touches on them when the secondaries are actually released.

The secondary applications are as important as the primary application; they should be completed carefully and with great care. 

There are several ways to approach pre-writing secondaries:

• Look for common themes amongst secondary applications; focus on fleshing out ideas for those topics and prewriting a paragraph or two on each. You can then refine those essays for particular schools, tailoring them to the exact prompt, when you receive secondaries. Common themes can be found in my blog post on common secondary prompts.
• Do a quick Google search for secondary application prompts and you will easily find them for particular schools. Start writing.
• Be mindful that some essays can be recycled from one school to another but only with great attention. Always read the prompt for each school carefully—and tailor your response specifically for that school, answering it precisely. I often see essays that are more general in scope and which do not specifically answer the question posed. Also keep in mind each school’s mission and focus, and tailor your essay accordingly.

If you have questions about or want help with secondary applications feel free to reach out to me via email at liza@thompsonadvising.com.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consulting

Originally posted 2017 and updated in 2019, 2021, and 2023

The post Pre-Writing Secondary Applications appeared first on Blog.

U of Colorado

Frank Netter (Quinnipiac)

Charles Schmidt (Florida Atlantic)

U of Miami

Medical College of Georgia

Rush

Indiana U

Boston U

Michigan State (either Casper or Preview)

Wake Forest

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson

Hofstra

New York Medical College

Stony Brook

Northeast Ohio

Drexel

Temple

East Tennessee State

Meharry

Baylor

McGovern (U of Texas-Houston)

Texas A&M

Texas Tech

U of Texas-Tyler

U of Texas-Medical Branch (Galveston)

U of Texas-Southwestern

Virginia Commonwealth

U of Vermont

Medical College of Wisconsin

Marshall

To get ready for the Casper, read about the format of the exam and what to expect, and take the practice test. Here are tips to help you prepare for the exam, provided by the company that administers the test.

–Liza Thompson, Expert Medical School Admissions Consultant

Posted in 2019 and updated in 2020, 2021, and 2023

The post Medical Schools Requiring the Casper Test appeared first on Blog.