by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

In our previous medical school blog post, we talked about the two degree paths to becoming a physician. If you are about to begin your application to medical school, you may have noticed that there are three different common application platforms. The platform you use will be determined by the type of degree you are seeking—MD or DO—and whether or not you are applying to medical school in Texas.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

As college students studying pre-med progress towards the end of their junior year, they may start to wonder if they should begin applying to medical school. If you happen to be one of these pre-med juniors, it may feel like all of your peers are on track to do just that.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

When we think of the healthcare field, we often envision professionals working directly with patients. Last week, we discussed careers in Allied Health. We hope it has become clear that healthcare is a big field with many professions and jobs! This week, we will focus on advanced degrees in the healthcare field that do not involve direct patient care yet have a big impact.

Guest Post By Valerie Jaquith, Senior Manager on the Academic Coaching team with Bright Horizons EdAssist

If you have started the journey toward medical school, you may have a good understanding why it is not for everyone. The path to becoming a doctor is a very long and arduous, though rewarding, one that requires a hefty investment of your time and money.

Even though you may be at the beginning stages of your path toward a lifelong dream, it is still worthwhile to consider other opportunities in the vast world of healthcare. At the very least, you may discover a new-to-you field that piques your interest and can serve as a viable backup plan!

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

The process of applying to medical school requires a lot of reflection on the part of applicants. As you start considering when you want to apply, the very first question you should be asking yourself is: Am I competitive for medical school? You need to do an honest assessment of your academics, MCAT score, experiences, and motivation. It can be helpful to include your pre-med advisor in this process as that person has seen many students from your college apply to medical school. They can also provide suggestions for next steps to take to improve your application. Remember, gap years are incredibly common and you do not want to apply to medical school unless you have prepared the strongest application possible.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

Congratulations! You have been invited to interview at a medical school. Making it to this point is a big deal. No applicant is admitted to medical school without an interview and most applicants do not receive an invitation to interview.

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

It can be daunting to figure out where to apply to medical school. Whether you are a few years from applying or are facing down those decisions for this application cycle, the best way to make an informed choice is to have access to high quality information and data. The only source authorized by every medical school is AMCAS’s Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) and AACOM’s Osteopathic College Information Book (CIB). These guides are subscription based and can be an ideal place to start. Ultimately, this is a long, research-intensive process and each applicant’s medical school list will look different based on their priorities and experiences.

Unlike many medical school students, John DeGuardi didn’t have adolescent dreams of becoming a physician. “I liked science, history, political science,” he says, but was undecided on a major or career. His appreciation of multiple subjects is what led him to apply to liberal arts colleges. But where he ended up, Hamilton College, was not initially on his radar; it was on his parents’. Looking back, John admits it was youthful hubris that initially prevented his interest in Hamilton: “I thought I was too good to go to a school I hadn’t heard of.” At his parents’ insistence, he visited campus and instantly clicked with the “down-to-earth people and atmosphere that was collaborative, not competitive.”

Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation was all about planning for what’s coming down the road. From saving for college to thinking about graduate school after college, Beth Heaton was back in the host chair to tackle it all.

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: Howard University
Washington, DC