Questions of the Week

Reading About Health Care
I'm getting ready for a medical school interview and want to read more about health care but I don't want to spend a lot of money on subscriptions to medical journals or anything like that.  Do you know where I can find good articles to read about health care?  Thank you.

Answer:  Come by Health Professions Advising, 305 West College.  At any stage of your "pre-med" development you will benefit from some focused reading about health care, medicine, medical school, and the like, and we keep our modest library up-to-date with the latest books. You're welcome to check books out for a short period.  Titles we've just received include Larry Savett's "The Human Side of Medicine," "The Side of Doctoring: Reflections from Women in Medicine" edited by Eliza Lo Chin, MD, "What I Learned in Medical School: Personal Stories of Young Doctors," "A Life in Medicine: A Literary Anthology," and "The Pre-Dental Guide:  A Guide for Soccessfully Getting into Dental School."

We also subscribe to American Medical News, a very thorough weekly paper covering the latest issues affecting U.S. health care; of particular interest will be AMN's feature called "Professional Issues."  The latest copy is out on the counter at HPA, and you can help yourself to any old issues laying about.

We've also got copies of The New Physician, a monthly magazine published by AMSA, the American Medical Student Association.  It's a good resource for gaining some perspective on the life of med students, with an occasional feature on pre-med issues.

The "Suggested Reading" binder in our office contains articles that Drs. Cummings or Trelstad have come across about the medical profession.  Feel free to make a copy of anything you'd like to take with you.

We also receive the New York Times - on Tuesdays, the "Science Times" section often has interesting stuff.
Lastly, check out an online journal called "The Next Generation" at http://www.nextgenmd.org.  "NextGen" offers New England Journal of Medicine articles with the aim of "broading readers' perspective on medicine."

Deferrals
Hi HPA, I am a junior who wants to take a year off before going to medical school.  My plan is to go through the process next spring, however, since I’m on campus and it’ll be easier to get letters of recommendation and to interview with you for my committee letter.  Once I’m accepted to med school, I’m going to ask for a one-year deferral.  I know I want to go to med school but I also know I’m not ready to go right after I graduate.  I’m just trying to get the process done ahead of time.  That’s OK, right?

Answer:  We are so glad you asked this question.  It is a common misconception that going through the application process while on campus, then deferring, is the simplest way to go for applicants who know they want another year.  We do not recommend this course of action.  Not all medical schools have deferral policies, so you would be limiting where you could apply (never a good idea if you’re trying to maximize your competitiveness).  Of the schools that do have deferral policies, they vary considerably in terms of what they will accept as a plausible reason for wanting another year.  Their goal is to fill next fall’s entering class, and they generally view your request to wait another year with a critical eye.  Some schools only accept deferral requests from individuals who have been accepted to internationally known programs like the Peace Corps or Teach For America, or have received a Rhodes or Marshall, or have a family emergency that prevents them from being able to matriculate in their intended Class.  It is best to plan to apply to medical school in the spring of the year before you really want to attend.  Whether you’re on campus or not really isn’t an issue.  The interview with our office can be done on the phone or during a time when you’re back on campus.  Letters of recommendation can be gathered in large part before you graduate.  The application process itself is done entirely online and can be done from anywhere in the world.  By all means, come talk to us about your individual case, if you’d like.  Generally speaking, however, wait until the spring of the year before you’re prepared to matriculate.

Problem-Based Learning 
Hi Advisers - I am interested in going to a medical school with a Problem-Based Learning curriculum.  Where can I find a list of schools that offer PBL?  Do PBL medical schools generally differ at all in their undergraduate requirements?

How to Talk to Medical School Admissions Personnel at Fairs
Dear HPA, I wanted to go to the med school fair at Yale last month but couldn't make it.  But I did come by and talk to the admissions people from Hopkins last week.  I'm wondering if you can advise me on how to talk to admissions deans at these types of things.  Is it OK to talk about my grades?  And will there be more events like this during the year, and is it worth it for me to go if I can't talk about my individual situation?  Thank you. 

Answer :  The Yale Fair and the Hopkins visit were just two of several events that are on the schedule this year.  Later this term, Vanderbilt and Cornell will be visiting for 'open houses' like the one Hopkins had, and our Office of Career Services is hosting its annual Grad/Professional School Fair in Dillon on Friday Nov 10, 12:30-3:30pm (Go to http://web.princeton.edu/sites/career/data/GPSD_participants.html).  It is always wise to have questions about the particular medical school whose representative you're talking to.  It's best to do some quick research online before the event, and learn a little about the schools curriculum, location, student organizations, etc.  Then, come up with some questions based on what you would want to know if you were an M1 (first-year med student) walking the halls at that school.  In other words, put yourself in the position of a current med student and imagine what concerns you might have.  It can also be helpful to ask if any Princeton alumni at their school are available to correspond via email.

As for speaking about your individual record, it is fine to be straight with an admissions dean and share your "numbers" (MCAT, GPA), but only one-on-one, NOT in group sessions.  Admittedly, one-on-one time is rare.  Remember, however, that the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements, available at HPA) enumerates average MCAT scores and GPA's of accepted students at all U.S. medical schools, so you should be able to 'size yourself up' on your own.  In group situations, our advice would be to keep the conversation less numbers-based and more focused on the character, curriculum, and unique qualities of the med school in question.  It is certainly acceptable to ask for the business card of the person you're talking to, and follow up with additional questions (within reason!) after the event.

Do I Send My Fall Transcript to Medical Schools?
I wanted to ask you about how to handle my grades from this fall.  I'm a senior, applying to med school right now.  Will the med schools I've applied to see my fall grades?  Should I send them a transcript when the semester's over?  Do my grades from this semester count?  
Answer:   As they say, "it ain't over 'til it's over."  Some of your medical schools will request a fall transcript, and you should comply with this request.  So, yes, your fall grades "count," meaning they may be scrutinized by some of your schools.  For the medical schools that do NOT make such a request, we'd recommend sending a transcript pro-actively if your performance is on par (or better) than previous semesters.  Also, if you're a non-science major who has the minimum of science classes OR a student with a borderline science GPA, then your performance in additional science this fall should be shared with medical schools.  The most common situation in which a medical school asks for a fall transcript is when the applicant has been put "on hold" or officially waitlisted; in some cases, schools may even request a spring transcript, though most admissions decisions will be made by the time you complete the spring term.  Make sure you have the Registrar send a transcript that's "official," not merely a printout of the grades you access online.

Question of the Week: ‘Optional’ Essays on Secondary Applications
Hi there - As I have started to complete secondary applications for med school, I have noticed that a couple of schools give us an optional free essay space where, if we'd like, we could write on anything to tell the med school more about ourselves. When applying to college, I was always told by my college counselor that this option was really mandatory and we had to write something. Would you recommend the same here? If we have the option to write another essay, should we do it? Or should we complete that section only if we really feel that we would like to tell the school something else? Honestly, I'm at a bit of a loss...

Answer: Glad you're working on your secondary or supplemental applications. We're going to sound like your college counselor from high school. If we had to generalize we'd say that medical schools might wonder why you didn't take the time to complete these 'optional' essays, and ultimately you might pass over an opportunity to present yourself in an even fuller light than you have already. We know we encourage you to get the secondaries returned within 1-2 weeks of receiving them, but if it takes you an extra couple of days to reflect on how you've presented yourself, and determine what else you'd like to share with your schools, then take that extra time. We think you'll be glad you did.

Working in Health Care Consulting or Pharm Industry Before Medical School
Hi, I am a current senior and I want to take a year or two off after college to work before going to medical school.  I was interested in applying to consulting jobs, particularly those with health care, or maybe to jobs with pharmaceutical companies.  Is this something that medical schools would look down upon? I am considering getting an MD/MBA and this seemed to be an ideal way to gain some experience. Thank you! 

Visiting Medical Schools/Dropping by Admissions Offices
I'm on the wait list at School X.  Is it appropriate to go into the School X admissions office next week as I will be home at that time and the school is very close by?  If so, who should I attempt to talk with, and what types of things should I speak with them about?  Thank you for your help!

Answer:  For someone on a wait list:  If you're wait listed at a school and would like to meet with admissions staff face-to-face, first of all, make SURE you have new information to give them.  The last thing you want to do is waste their time by arranging a meeting and then providing them with no new material.  We do not recommend that you just drop by - this can be interpreted as disrespectful by busy Admissions personnel - but if you'd like to call to see if you can make an appointment, that would be acceptable.  If someone on the staff is willing to meet with you, be grateful; don't worry if you do not get to meet the dean or director (which is very unlikely). And if their policy is such that they do not arrange appointments for wait listed candidates, don't push!; you'll still get credit for expressing interest, since your request for an appointment will be noted in your file and it will be perceived as a sign of continued interest in attending School X.
 For a prospective applicant:  The interview is such an integral part of the admissions process for medical school that you do NOT need to visit med schools prior to applying (as you probably did when searching for colleges).  In fact, it's not a very useful enterprise, unless you feel you can benefit from getting a visual impression of the place.  Very few med schools have Admissions staff with enough time to greet prospective applicants; the best you might hope for would be a self-guided tour, which offers very little insight.  Research schools via their websites, catalogs, and the AAMC's guide "Medical School Admissions Requirements."  Once you're invited to interview, you'll get a good feel for the place, since applicants are given tours, meet faculty and students, and have access to Admissions staff for answers to their most pressing questions.

Etiquette for Informing a Med School You're Going Elsewhere
What is the best etiquette for the letter I will send to XYZ School of Medicine telling them that I will not be attending?  I have been accepted.

Answer:  Send both email and "snail" mail letters to make sure the message gets through.  Address them to the dean/director of Admissions.  If you have already accepted a seat in their Fall 2006 entering class, simply say something like, "Thank you very much for accepting me, but I have decided after considerable thought and discussion with my family to attend another medical school.  I am very grateful for the time spent considering my application.  Sincerely . . ."
If you were interviewed but still don't have a final decision from the school--and still know you'd like to go elsewhere--, you can say, "I write to withdraw my application from further consideration at XYZ School of Medicine.  I am grateful for the time spent considering my credentials and the opportunity to interview.  Sincerely . . ."
Remember that AAMC "traffic rules" dictate that you choose ONE school by May 15.

Applying Early Decision, I
I was wondering what your opinion is about applying to medical school Early Decision.

Answer: The med schools that offer Early Decision (ED) programs - and not all do - typically select 5-10 students by this means. This number is quite a bit lower than the number of ED candidates admitted to most undergraduate colleges! One applies at the earliest moment possible in June, and med schools are not obligated to notify applicants until October 1. No one should apply "ED" without checking with the med school about the competitiveness of his/her credentials. A dean or director of admissions should tell you that your grades and MCAT scores are competitive for their ED program, or at least what the numbers of last year's admitted ED candidates were. Applying early is very risky because when you submit your initial AMCAS application you may indicate only that one school. If you get deferred into the "regular" pool of applicants - and you won't know until Oct 1st -, or if you're outright rejected, only then may you apply to other schools. Applying to these other schools in October gives you a very late start, and will put you at a disadvantage.
At Princeton we typically have 1-2 people apply early each year, often to their state school. They have spoken to us, and to admissions people, beforehand, and their numbers are well above the averages for accepted applicants. For a vast majority of applicants, however, the risks of the ED option (delaying your application at other schools) outweighs the benefit of focusing on one school. Lastly, if an applicant wants to make sure that a certain school knows he/she is especially interested, there are other ways of communicating this; applying "ED" isn't the best way to tell a school you favor them.

Applying Early Decision, II
I was just reading through some medical things, and a thought crossed my mind. I was wondering what your opinion is about applying to med school early decision. I am not saying I would, but I was just curious about it and wanted to know your opinion. I am a sophomore, and I am just trying to explore all the different options before time runs out.

Answer: It’s a bit too early for a sophomore to be thinking about early decision as one needs to know that one’s grades and MCAT scores are very good. The schools that have early decision programs (EDP) (and not all do) typically select five to ten students by this means. One applies at the earliest point available in June through AMCAS, as the EDP application period is usually June 1-August 1, with applicants notified by October 1. Certainly no one should apply early decision without checking with the medical school about the competitiveness of one’s credentials. Someone in the office should either tell you that your grades and MCAT scores are competitive, or tell you what the typical numbers of last year’s admitted students were. Applying early is risky because when you submit your AMCAS, you can indicate only that one school. If you get deferred to the “regular” pool at that school, and you may not be notified until October 1 of that, only then may you apply to other schools. You’ll be getting a very late start with them. At Princeton we typically have one or two people apply early each year, often to their state school. They are almost always successful provided they have spoken both to us and the admissions people before applying.

Interviews: "Where Else Are You Applying?"
In a couple of my medical school interviews so far, my interviewer has asked me what other schools I am applying to. Is this an illegal question or a common one? I have been saying that I am applying to schools on the East Coast in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, etc. without actually naming the schools. However, the interviewers seemed to want me to list all of the schools by name. I thought this was an odd questions, and that what schools I apply to should not affect my candidacy at any particular one. Any advice regarding this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: We don't blame you for feeling uncomfortable, but it's not an illegal question. It's not too common either, but occasionally it does come up. It isn't easy to assess the schools' motivation in asking this question, except that you can be sure it's self-serving! In some cases they are trying to determine if you are more enthusiastic about schools other than their own. Or, they may be trying to figure out if they will be your best option. If the former, they may not take you, figuring you will not come if accepted. If the latter, they can be pretty sure they will get you if they accept you. Frankly, we think your list of schools is good, so go ahead and share it if asked again. Your list is a nice blend of schools--based on the tentative list you gave us last spring and the revisions we suggested you make.

Cancelling Interviews/"Traffic Rules"
I have a quick question. - I received an interview at ---------- School of  Medicine, and I accepted it and scheduled one. However, I recently decided to cancel my interview and withdraw my application from that particular school.  My interview is scheduled for next week. Is there any advice on the HPA website on how to properly inform them (I couldn't find any)? Should I give them a specific reason? Thanks very much . . .

Answer: I'm so glad you contacted us prior to taking action. Information about cancelling interviews is not readily available on our website because it is not generally recommended, and we don't want to encourage it. An invitation to interview is a privilege that most applicants never have, and the general feeling among medical schools is that interviewees should respect all invitations and show up for all interviews. In addition, we find that students who keep an open mind when going to interviews at schools where they do not originally think they'd like to matriculate are often surprised by what they find on interview day, and often change their minds. That said, there are candidates every year who must cancel an interview on their schedule, but they NEVER do it with less than one week's notice.--------- School of Medicine will be upset with you, most definitely, if you cancel now, as it is highly unlikely that they would be able to fill the slot you would vacate. At this late hour, your only course of action is to go to the interview and keep an open mind.
Important:  The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) does publish "traffic rules" for both applicants and medical schools. These recommendations are designed "to ensure that applicants are afforded timely notification of the outcome of their medical school applications and timely access to available first-year positions and that schools are protected from having unfilled positions in their entering classes."  Translation?  Traffic Rules = Guidelines for how to behave during the process of applying, interviewing, and accepting an offer of admissions.  All pre-meds might find this list of recommendations interesting, but those in the middle of the application process right now will find them particularly helpful.  Go to:  http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/policies/applicants.htm  (for applicants) and http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/policies/admissionofficers.htm (for med schools).

Thank You Notes
I was wondering if there is a template for "Thank you cards" post-interview. If there are no templates on our site, do you know of any sites that might give samples/examples of this type of thank you note? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: There are no such sites that we know of, but it is a simple matter to prepare such a note, and one should be sent immediately after each medical school interview. Such notes are usually hand written on note cards and may be quite brief. They thank the interviewer for his/her time spent with you, express your pleasure at being able to see the medical school, and reiterate points that you discussed in the interview, especially any that distinguish you from other candidates. It's a chance for you both to thank the interviewer for his/her time and also for you to remind him/her once again of your strengths as a candidate.  Good luck!

Giving Thanks
I know we're supposed to send thank-you notes to med schools after interviews.  I just got back from my first interview at ------- and was wondering exactly how to go about sending a thank-you note.  Who does it go to, and should it be typed or is handwritten OK?

Answer:  Appropriate question, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday.  Interview thank-you notes should be sent to any individuals you met who interviewed you - usually just one or two people at most med schools.  You do not need to thank a dean who welcomed you at the start of your interview day, or a financial aid officer who provided information, or a med student who simply gave you a tour.  Only those who evaluated you should be thanked for their time.  Handwritten notes are fine; in fact, they're most common (compared to typed ones).  Send the note(s) immediately upon return from your interview.  If you have any doubt about the spelling of an individual's name, check the school's website.  If that fails, it is acceptable to call the Admissions Office and explain what you're trying to do, and ask for a complete spelling (and the recipient's address if need be).  In the note, you might express your pleasure at being able to see the med school and meet the faculty and students.  You can also reiterate any points that you discussed in the interview and expand on anything you'd like, as long as it's brief.  Generally, thank-you notes are short and sweet.

Spring Semester Classes
Do medical schools I am currently applying to see the classes that I take spring semester of senior year? Will it look bad if I am only taking 2 classes and neither is a science class?

Answer: When you completed your AMCAS application last summer, you were asked to list courses for the spring semester. The medical schools will not hold you to those classes, unless you had a pre-medical requirement like the English/writing requirement that you had not fulfilled. We see that you are taking a science class now, so you are in good shape, especially for a non-science major. As for “only taking two,” that is one of the normal patterns for senior year at Princeton, where people are expected to be working hard on their theses second semester.

Letters of Interest/Intent
In addition to thank you letters, is it ok to write letters of interest, as you mentioned in your previous email? What would these letters consist of and to whom should they be addressed? I have written letters to my interviewers already, but if there is something more that I can do to express my interest, I definitely want to take advantage of that and do anything I can - especially for my top choice.

Answer: If you are certain that you would attend one medical school over all others –and you have interviewed at that school – it is appropriate that you write that school and say so. You would write the dean or director of admissions (always check proper titles, name spellings, in the MSAR book or on the web). If you really hit it off with your interviewer, he/she may be copied on that letter. While we would have told you several years ago that these letters had to be snail-mailed, we are hearing more and more from medical schools that email is fine. We still recommend that you email first, followed by a mailed letter on good quality paper.
This should be more than an I-really want-to-come-please take-me-letter. You should describe why you and the school are a good match. Be succinct; don't say the same thing three times. These are busy people. If you have grades to send, such a note could “introduce” those. Indeed, it is a good idea to send an update note whenever something of note happens in your academic or professional life. Finally, follow this letter up with brief notes, still expressing your interest, to the admissions dean/director every three to four weeks. At the end of the day, medical schools want applicants who want them, and they will be gratified if you have expressed a commitment to them.
As a postscript to our larger audience, if you are not ready to commit to one school this way, that is FINE. But you can still write letters of interest to the medical schools that you particularly like.

Sending Letters of Interest to Medical Schools During Application Process
I'm a current applicant. Is it a good or bad idea to send a letter to medical schools? For the ones I haven't heard from, I was thinking along the lines of restating my interest and tying my application together more. And what about sending letters to schools where I've interviewed - and if I sent a letter to them what should I say? Thanks!

Answer: Let's address your last couple of questions first. If you are certain that you would attend one medical school over all others, it is appropriate that you write that one school and say so. You may write the dean or director of admissions (always check proper titles, name spellings, in the MSAR book or on the web). While we would have told you several years ago that this letter had to be snail-mailed, we are hearing more and more from medical schools that email is fine. We still recommend that you email first, followed by a mailed letter on good quality paper. This should be more than an I-really want-to-come-please-take-me letter. You should describe why you and the school are a good match. Be succinct; these are busy people. If you have new information to share about your activities or accomplishments, such a note could “introduce” this material (it is a good idea to send an update note whenever something of note happens in your academic or professional life). You should wait to write this letter, however, after you have finished most, if not all, of your interviews - you wouldn't have much credibility if you told a school they're your first choice when you've only visited one or two! This particular scenario doesn't sound like it applies to you since you haven't heard from all your schools, so . . .
. . . For the schools where you have not been invited to interview or have not heard anything at all, you may still send updated information. In your letter you can mention that an official fall transcript is on its way under separate mailing from our Registrar once the term ends (make sure you do this when the semester's over). Again, keep the letters brief and to the point.
We'll discuss how to communicate with schools where you have been waitlisted at a later date . . .

Canadian Health Care
I just got back from an interview at a medical school and they asked me what I thought of socialized health care.  When I used Canada as an example in my answer, they pushed me to see how much I knew about Canada's health care system (or any socialized medicine, for that matter) and I'm not sure I answered the question that well.  Do you know where to look for more info on this?

Answer:  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hppb/healthcare/understanding.htm   The best (and only) resource we know of is this site for the "Health Care Network" of Canada (see Understanding Canada's Health Care System on the sidebar for a basic overview).  Familiarizing yourself with the way health care works for Canadians is a good idea, particularly as the issue of socialized or national health care is likely to remain a topic of discussion in the U.S. Congress for years to come, and may even make it into the presidential debates this month.