MCAT Part I: The Structure and Scoring of the Test
The first installment of a three part series on all you've ever wanted to know about the MCAT! Read Part 1 to learn more about the structure and scoring of the MCAT.
The MCAT: An Overview
In April 2015, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) officially launched a new version of the MCAT, the MCAT15. According to the AAMC, the test was changed “to help better prepare tomorrow’s doctors for the rapidly advancing and transforming health care system.” The MCAT is now double in length, includes a ...
Summer Activities for Pre-Med Students
You’ve decided you want to go into medicine, and to embark upon the arduous path to becoming a physician. You’re busy studying for biology exams, conducting experiments in chemistry lab, trying to squeeze in some volunteering and (if you’re really ambitious) conducting a bit of research. Now, January rolls around ...
What Is an MD/MPH? And Why Get One?
In our constantly evolving healthcare environment, physicians with interdisciplinary skill sets are becoming increasingly valuable. Those graduating with dual degrees such as an MD/MPH are uniquely situated to tackle some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, which include disparities in access to care, high costs, and controversial reform. MD/MPH programs lie ...
Summer Activities for Pre-Med Students
You’ve decided you want to go into medicine and you embark upon the arduous path to becoming a physician. You’re busy studying for biology exams, conducting experiments in chemistry lab, and trying to squeeze in some volunteering and (if you’re really ambitious) a bit of research. Now, January rolls around ...
Taking a Gap Year before Medical School
Deciding when to attend medical school—and therefore when to apply—is one of the most important decisions that you’ll face as an applicant. Sometimes, taking a gap year before applying can be a beneficial decision, both personally and academically. To make the best use of a gap year, students should reflect ...
Pass/Fail, and Other Trends in Med School Grading
In recent years, there have been vast changes in the way medical students are evaluated and graded. Most notably, many medical schools have replaced their letter or tiered grading system (honors, high pass, etc.) with a much simpler one: pass or fail. According to a recent AAMC initiative, the number ...
What an MD/MPH Can Do for Your Career
In our constantly evolving healthcare environment, physicians with interdisciplinary skill sets are becoming increasingly valuable. Those graduating with dual degrees such as an MD/MPH are uniquely poised to tackle some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, which include disparities in access to care, high costs, and controversial reform. USC’s School ...
Applying to Med School: the Rise of the Multiple Mini Interview
The interview is an essential component of the medical school admission process. It enables the admissions committee to evaluate applicants based on qualities that cannot be conveyed through a paper application. An analysis by the AAMC reports that medical schools typically use the interview to assess applicants’ non-academic characteristics and ...
What Is an MD/MPH? And Why Get One?
In our constantly evolving healthcare environment, physicians with interdisciplinary skill sets are becoming increasingly valuable. Those graduating with dual degrees such as an MD/MPH are uniquely situated to tackle some of healthcare’s most pressing challenges, which include disparities in access to care, high costs, and controversial reform. MD/MPH programs lie ...