"I had been having some trouble with my urination. Incontinence, I think. I kept finding yellow stains in my white underwear, and I was pretty concerned. But I switched to black underwear a couple of weeks ago, and it doesn't seem to be a problem anymore."
August 7, 2011
Sunday Funny
I was on call yesterday, and during my review of systems with a patient, he explained his recent struggles with incontinence:
August 4, 2011
Love Letter
Conquering the “Why This School” essay may feel like writing a love letter to the Admissions Committee. It's tough, particularly because it is easy to become bogged down as you craft and adjust the essay for each school.
Be Brief. Most schools ask that you limit this response to about 200 words, and they’re serious. Keep yourself to two paragraphs. The first should focus on ONE (and only one) aspect of the school that makes it a good fit for you. You can tastefully tie in other points, but be judicious. The second paragraph is for special circumstances, discussed below.
Focus on You. Do not be fooled into thinking this is an essay about how fabulous the school is or how much you want to go there. Admissions Committees already know their school is terrific; do not waste words telling them (see “Be Brief”). At heart, this is an essay about you!
Don’t be a Broken Record. Secondaries are a place to tell Admissions Committee things they do not already know about you after having read your AMCAS. Try not to reiterate too many things you have already driven home elsewhere.
Demonstrate Commitment. Often, applications make applicants appear a little lost – a bit of community service here, some laboratory research there, a brief tutoring experience, etc. This essay is a place to demonstrate commitment, an attribute schools seek in applicants. For example, if you wrote for the school paper, you might explain, “During undergrad, I demonstrated my interest in journalism by taking relevant coursework, serving as a writer on the university paper, and ultimately being selected as Chief Editor. I look forward to attending ___ because of the unique opportunity to write for and help publish the medical student literary journal.” You get the point.
Be Brief. Most schools ask that you limit this response to about 200 words, and they’re serious. Keep yourself to two paragraphs. The first should focus on ONE (and only one) aspect of the school that makes it a good fit for you. You can tastefully tie in other points, but be judicious. The second paragraph is for special circumstances, discussed below.
Focus on You. Do not be fooled into thinking this is an essay about how fabulous the school is or how much you want to go there. Admissions Committees already know their school is terrific; do not waste words telling them (see “Be Brief”). At heart, this is an essay about you!
Don’t be a Broken Record. Secondaries are a place to tell Admissions Committee things they do not already know about you after having read your AMCAS. Try not to reiterate too many things you have already driven home elsewhere.
Demonstrate Commitment. Often, applications make applicants appear a little lost – a bit of community service here, some laboratory research there, a brief tutoring experience, etc. This essay is a place to demonstrate commitment, an attribute schools seek in applicants. For example, if you wrote for the school paper, you might explain, “During undergrad, I demonstrated my interest in journalism by taking relevant coursework, serving as a writer on the university paper, and ultimately being selected as Chief Editor. I look forward to attending ___ because of the unique opportunity to write for and help publish the medical student literary journal.” You get the point.
Special Circumstances. The second paragraph is where you can mention that every person in your family has attended this medical school since before DaVinci, and you cannot imagine the shame of coming home for Thanksgiving if you do not get it. Not all special circumstances need to be “special.” You might mention your interest in practicing rural or urban medicine and thus wanting to train in that type of environment. My caution is to be careful about geography. Schools do not want to hear that you are interested in their program because you want to be in New York City, for example. Admissions Committees prefer to think that their curriculum and facilities are so wonderful that you would apply even if they were in Antarctica.
Say my Name. Everyone likes to hear his or her own name. Include each school's name in the essay. But, be sure to proofread and change the name before sending the "Harvard" essay to "Yale." I hear that's bad for business.
Say my Name. Everyone likes to hear his or her own name. Include each school's name in the essay. But, be sure to proofread and change the name before sending the "Harvard" essay to "Yale." I hear that's bad for business.
August 3, 2011
Put a Stamp on It
For applicants to the current cycle, letters of recommendation are a thing of the past, and Secondaries are the current focus, right?
Maybe.
Have you sent Thank You notes to your letter writers? If not, you should consider.
1. Thanking your recommenders is the right thing to do. Period. Etiquette experts agree that writing a handwritten thank you note (yes, handwritten) is never inappropriate.
2. It’s not just about the letter. Even if you no longer anticipate frequent interactions with a writer of one of your letters (because you completed his or her course, are no longer working in his or her lab, or ended your commitment to the his or her volunteer organization, etc.), letter writers' names and contact information remain a very active part of your application. Not infrequently, Admissions Committees call recommenders of applicants. Whether it is because the Admissions Committee has further questions about you, is unsure whether to interview you, or is considering adding you to the waitlist, you want your writer to go to bat for you! For this reason, you want them to know how much you appreciate the incredible effort they put into your letters.
3. Did I mention it’s the right thing to do? If you absolutely dread the thought of a handwritten note, then sending an email is better than nothing at all. That said, imagine how much you will stand out when all your peers send emails and you send a old-fashioned note.
Have you sent Thank You notes to your letter writers? If not, you should consider.
1. Thanking your recommenders is the right thing to do. Period. Etiquette experts agree that writing a handwritten thank you note (yes, handwritten) is never inappropriate.
2. It’s not just about the letter. Even if you no longer anticipate frequent interactions with a writer of one of your letters (because you completed his or her course, are no longer working in his or her lab, or ended your commitment to the his or her volunteer organization, etc.), letter writers' names and contact information remain a very active part of your application. Not infrequently, Admissions Committees call recommenders of applicants. Whether it is because the Admissions Committee has further questions about you, is unsure whether to interview you, or is considering adding you to the waitlist, you want your writer to go to bat for you! For this reason, you want them to know how much you appreciate the incredible effort they put into your letters.
3. Did I mention it’s the right thing to do? If you absolutely dread the thought of a handwritten note, then sending an email is better than nothing at all. That said, imagine how much you will stand out when all your peers send emails and you send a old-fashioned note.
Here’s a template to get you started.
Dear Dr./Professor Miller,
Thank you for taking the time to write a letter in support of my application to medical school. I know that recommendation letters require significant time and finesse, and I truly appreciate your willingness to write on my behalf. I anticipate that interviews will begin soon, and I will continue to update you on my progress and final plans. Thank you again for your support.
Warmest regards,
Corey Medical Student
Dear Dr./Professor Miller,
Thank you for taking the time to write a letter in support of my application to medical school. I know that recommendation letters require significant time and finesse, and I truly appreciate your willingness to write on my behalf. I anticipate that interviews will begin soon, and I will continue to update you on my progress and final plans. Thank you again for your support.
Warmest regards,
Corey Medical Student
Wasn't that easy?
August 2, 2011
Extra, extra! Read all about me.
As time passes since you submitted your AMCAS, you may begin a new job, shadowing experience, or community endeavor; publish your research; change your planned coursework; win an award; or master a new hobby. You may find yourself wondering how to go about updating Admissions Committees.
At nearly every interview, you will be asked whether you have any updates for your file. If you email or send an update letter now rather than waiting for an interview, you risk having nothing to update at the interview. Updates are a key way to actively demonstrate to interviewers that you are remaining engaged despite the craziness of applying and interviewing for medical school. Moreover, you may find in a few weeks or months that you have an additional update, and you do not want to send multiple letters.
Here is my recommended time line. Wait until November or December. At that point, you will (hopefully) have been able to update some interviewers in person. Then, send an email to schools you have not heard from, express your interest in interviewing, and include any updates to your application. If updates occur after you have already interviewed, send an email to your interviewers as well as to the general email address for Admissions, include your updates, and also reiterate your interest. Finally, it's nice to have a printed copy of any updates to physically give to your interviewers so that the updates can be physically added to your file. If you only tell your interviewer, he or she may forget.
I realize some applicants feel that they need to send updates now in order to increase odds of getting an interview. Rest assured that most updates are not so amazing that they would be reason enough to grant an interview to an applicant who would not otherwise have received one. Patience, patience.
At nearly every interview, you will be asked whether you have any updates for your file. If you email or send an update letter now rather than waiting for an interview, you risk having nothing to update at the interview. Updates are a key way to actively demonstrate to interviewers that you are remaining engaged despite the craziness of applying and interviewing for medical school. Moreover, you may find in a few weeks or months that you have an additional update, and you do not want to send multiple letters.
Here is my recommended time line. Wait until November or December. At that point, you will (hopefully) have been able to update some interviewers in person. Then, send an email to schools you have not heard from, express your interest in interviewing, and include any updates to your application. If updates occur after you have already interviewed, send an email to your interviewers as well as to the general email address for Admissions, include your updates, and also reiterate your interest. Finally, it's nice to have a printed copy of any updates to physically give to your interviewers so that the updates can be physically added to your file. If you only tell your interviewer, he or she may forget.
I realize some applicants feel that they need to send updates now in order to increase odds of getting an interview. Rest assured that most updates are not so amazing that they would be reason enough to grant an interview to an applicant who would not otherwise have received one. Patience, patience.
August 1, 2011
Hidden Secrets
You have spent weeks, if not months, choosing exactly what you want Admissions Committees to know about you by selecting precise language and specific attributes to highlight in your AMCAS and Secondaries. You may have spent less time, however, contemplating what you don’t want Admissions Committees to know about you.
Now go ahead…Google yourself. According to careerbuilder.com, 35 percent of employment recruiters have come across compromising info that caused them not to hire a candidate. Like employment recruiters, Admissions Committees members are also likely to use Google and Facebook to dig up skeletons in your closet. Given that Admissions Committees frequently have medical student members, you are very likely to be searched for at some point during this process.
When you Google, look for text as well as images. Ask friends whose tagged images of you appear on Google to kindly detag you or remove the image; it will take weeks for a Google search to reflect this change. If you cannot bear the thought of deactivating your Facebook account completely (my recommendation for the duration of interview season), at least change your name or buff up your privacy settings.
Additional tips: Sign up for Google alerts, which informs you when your name comes up on a search. Socialmention.com and samepoint.com also allow you to search social networks, which Google may have missed.
Now go ahead…Google yourself. According to careerbuilder.com, 35 percent of employment recruiters have come across compromising info that caused them not to hire a candidate. Like employment recruiters, Admissions Committees members are also likely to use Google and Facebook to dig up skeletons in your closet. Given that Admissions Committees frequently have medical student members, you are very likely to be searched for at some point during this process.
When you Google, look for text as well as images. Ask friends whose tagged images of you appear on Google to kindly detag you or remove the image; it will take weeks for a Google search to reflect this change. If you cannot bear the thought of deactivating your Facebook account completely (my recommendation for the duration of interview season), at least change your name or buff up your privacy settings.
Additional tips: Sign up for Google alerts, which informs you when your name comes up on a search. Socialmention.com and samepoint.com also allow you to search social networks, which Google may have missed.
July 31, 2011
Interview Bound
Once you’ve submitted your Secondaries, planning for interviews is the next step. For men and women alike, two items are essential: a professional suit and a leather binder. You have likely been brainstorming about your interview attire, but a leather binder may catch you by surprise.
A leather binder is perfect for carrying the essentials you will need on interview day. It is better than a briefcase, shoulder bag, or purse because it looks professional, is small and easily portable, and will allow you to keep important documents crisp and wrinkle free. Non-essential belongings can be left in the Admissions Office (the secretary will always be willing to store a suitcase and coat for the day), at your hotel’s front desk, or with the person with whom you stayed.
Here’s what belongs in your binder:
On the interview day, your binder will also be the place where you store the business cards you request from each interviewer.
I purchased my binder at my college’s bookstore for about $40, and it was one of the best investments I made during interview season. I recommend one with a zipper. Here’s an example from Amazon.
A leather binder is perfect for carrying the essentials you will need on interview day. It is better than a briefcase, shoulder bag, or purse because it looks professional, is small and easily portable, and will allow you to keep important documents crisp and wrinkle free. Non-essential belongings can be left in the Admissions Office (the secretary will always be willing to store a suitcase and coat for the day), at your hotel’s front desk, or with the person with whom you stayed.
Here’s what belongs in your binder:
- Copies of your personal statement and application
- A curriculum vitae (CV) or resume that concisely reflects the information from your application
- A written application update, if applicable
- Materials from the Admissions office (maps, schedules, etc. distributed upon arrival)
- Cash, identification, boarding pass, metro card, etc.
- Blank Thank you notes
- Ink pen
On the interview day, your binder will also be the place where you store the business cards you request from each interviewer.
I purchased my binder at my college’s bookstore for about $40, and it was one of the best investments I made during interview season. I recommend one with a zipper. Here’s an example from Amazon.
July 30, 2011
Forbidden Fruit
Among Secondary Application questions, the “ethical dilemma” is by far the most challenging. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by tackling this question, and many applicants struggle to choose a topic. My list of cautions is below.
1. Brevity is the soul of wit. Your response should not be long. Character or word limits are exactly that: limits. Do not interpret them as guidelines or suggestions about length. Admissions committees are simply assessing your ability to first identify an ethical dilemma and then behave appropriately in the face of it. The less you say, the less likely you are to dig a deep, deep hole.
2. Avoid “overshare.” Admissions committees do not want to know intimately personal details about you. This is a balancing act. If you depersonify the essay entirely, it becomes less interesting because it is no longer about you. That said, use care. Essay readers will be rightly skeptical if they find you positioning yourself smack-dab in the middle of a questionable situation. Similarly, avoid overtly controversial topics, particularly lifestyle decisions.
3. Do not be the hero. The essay does not need to be a story about your intervening in an unethical act. Enough said.
4. Do not attempt profundity. Your essay is not a philosophy dissertation. You do not need to be profound; you simply need to demonstrate good judgment.
5. Finally, do not choose academic dishonesty as your topic. This topic is so worn out that some schools will even forbid it in their instructions to the applicant. If they do not, assume they thought you would know better. Everyone has seen cheating, and studies show that most students themselves have probably done it at some time. If this is the only topic that comes to mind, it suggests to Admissions Committees that you may not be observant enough to identify the ethical dilemmas that occur daily in your life, and if you’re not observant, you won’t be a good physician. See Point 4. You do not need to be profound. It is better to choose a small, insignificant dilemma than to choose cheating, plagiarism, etc.
For inspiration, try reading a few entries from the collection of Ethicist columns from the New York Times Magazine. Times Magazine columnists also answer ethical questions on this free podcast: NYT: The Ethicist Podcast.
Then, re-read Point 5: do not plagiarize.
1. Brevity is the soul of wit. Your response should not be long. Character or word limits are exactly that: limits. Do not interpret them as guidelines or suggestions about length. Admissions committees are simply assessing your ability to first identify an ethical dilemma and then behave appropriately in the face of it. The less you say, the less likely you are to dig a deep, deep hole.
2. Avoid “overshare.” Admissions committees do not want to know intimately personal details about you. This is a balancing act. If you depersonify the essay entirely, it becomes less interesting because it is no longer about you. That said, use care. Essay readers will be rightly skeptical if they find you positioning yourself smack-dab in the middle of a questionable situation. Similarly, avoid overtly controversial topics, particularly lifestyle decisions.
3. Do not be the hero. The essay does not need to be a story about your intervening in an unethical act. Enough said.
4. Do not attempt profundity. Your essay is not a philosophy dissertation. You do not need to be profound; you simply need to demonstrate good judgment.
5. Finally, do not choose academic dishonesty as your topic. This topic is so worn out that some schools will even forbid it in their instructions to the applicant. If they do not, assume they thought you would know better. Everyone has seen cheating, and studies show that most students themselves have probably done it at some time. If this is the only topic that comes to mind, it suggests to Admissions Committees that you may not be observant enough to identify the ethical dilemmas that occur daily in your life, and if you’re not observant, you won’t be a good physician. See Point 4. You do not need to be profound. It is better to choose a small, insignificant dilemma than to choose cheating, plagiarism, etc.
For inspiration, try reading a few entries from the collection of Ethicist columns from the New York Times Magazine. Times Magazine columnists also answer ethical questions on this free podcast: NYT: The Ethicist Podcast.
Then, re-read Point 5: do not plagiarize.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)