| Medical school admissions are becoming increasingly | | | | processing service for medical school applicants. |
| competitive, in part, because of the failing U.S. | | | | Ensuring that a candidate’s activity descriptions |
| economy. Bright applicants who used to target | | | | are optimally-worded is essential for showcasing the |
| business school or law degrees are finding those | | | | applicants’ accomplishments to admissions |
| fields unstable and are turning their interest toward | | | | committees. |
| medicine. Consequently, stronger candidates are now | | | | 2. Medical school personal statement and secondary |
| pursuing a medical career, making professional medical | | | | essay editing. The AMCAS® medical school |
| school admissions consulting increasingly important in | | | | admission essay and follow up secondary essays |
| optimizing medical school applications. | | | | allow the applicant to demonstrate his or her |
| Medical school admissions consulting companies come | | | | distinctiveness as a candidate. Excellent organization, |
| in a variety of forms. Some are larger companies | | | | format, syntax, grammar and spelling are essential. |
| that focus on admissions to several types of | | | | 3. Curriculum vitae (C.V.). The C.V. is a standardized |
| graduate programs – not just medicine. Others | | | | medical resume that is offered to faculty to improve |
| are smaller companies that provide a medical focus, | | | | candidates’ letters of recommendation (LOIs), |
| but have a group of consultants. Finally, elite | | | | highly important factors in the medical school |
| companies offer both the medical focus and a highly | | | | application process. The C.V. can also be used for the |
| experienced consultant who works one-on-one with | | | | rest of the applicant’s professional career. |
| clients. These professionals are ex-admissions officers | | | | 4. Mock interviews. Few people would take the |
| from respected medical institutions. They have the | | | | MCAT® without practicing first. But many |
| inside knowledge of how medical admissions work, | | | | applicants mistakenly arrive at their medical school |
| providing personalized guidance to optimize | | | | interviews unprepared. Being coached by an |
| candidate’s written materials and interview skills. | | | | experienced professional makes an enormous |
| Because applicants can unknowingly undermine their | | | | difference in an applicant’s confidence and |
| chances of success with poorly compiled application | | | | presentation to the admissions committee. |
| materials, underdeveloped medical school admission | | | | When choosing a medical school admissions consulting |
| essays and inadequate interview skills, a qualified, | | | | company, an applicant should verify the |
| personalized medical school admissions consultant | | | | company’s references and research its |
| provides a great advantage. | | | | consultants. Elite companies that offer both the |
| An expert consultant can offer a variety of services | | | | medical focus and a highly experienced consultant |
| to improve a medical school application: | | | | who works one-on-one with clients offer a large |
| 1. AMCAS® editing. The American Medical College | | | | advantage for medical school applicants, especially |
| Application Service is a centralized application | | | | during these competitive times. |