To Be...A Spartan MD

The summer before I started medical school at the College of Human Medicine (CHM), I often wondered what I was getting myself into. What will med school be like? What will I learn? Will I be able to keep up? Would I still have a life? Will I embarrass myself in front of a bunch of medical professionals? What don’t I know that I need to know? With (almost) two years of medical school down, I would tell all those who are about to matriculate (along with my past-self) to calm down. Relax. You will learn all that you need to know when you need to know it. You will be able to keep up. It may be hard, but it’s doable. Sure, it can be draining at times, but med school is still incredibly rewarding. You will be pushed, but you will grow. So before you begin classes, the biggest thing you can do before starting med school is prepare while simply enjoying the process. Here are five pieces of advice to help make the transition to med school a bit easier. Relax and enjoy your last s

For most medical schools across the country, the current cycle interview period has come to a close. The next incoming class is starting to take shape and, unfortunately, that means some applicants must deal with rejections. Here are some steps to take so that you may alleviate the disappointment and use the time going forward on strengthening your application for the next cycle. Acknowledgement In medical school admissions, rejection is just part of the process . In fact, being rejected is pretty common. Tens of thousands submit applications each year for an increasingly limited number of seats. The competition is stiff, with the vast majority of U.S. medical schools offering less than 200 open slots per incoming class. Less than 40% of applicants in the prior cycle matriculated, according to data from the American Association of Medical Colleges . While rejection can be disheartening, it's important to come to terms with the circumstance quickly. Don't allow the

The MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM) Office of Admissions is hosting a virtual chat this Thursday, March 3rd from 4pm to 7pm EST. This online discussion supplements our participation in the AAMC Medical School Virtual Fair, held by the American Association of Medical Colleges this past February. Students can register for the chat at the Virtual Fair webpage —instructions will follow upon registration. Those who already registered for last month's event need only log back in and join us on our dedicated page. Admissions representatives will be joined by several current students, who will all be on hand to take questions on the admissions process, premedical requirements, application tips, special programs, student life, and everything in between. Registrants will also find several videos on our page that offer a deeper look into life at CHM, starting with a word of welcome from Dr. Joel Maurer, Associate Dean for Admissions. The Office of Admissions' continued eff

Now full steam ahead into its second year, the MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM) Health Careers Pipeline Program is about more than just career exploration, pairing high school students from Grand Rapids with pre-med/pre-professional undergraduate mentors. The program focuses on academic preparation for students considering future careers in medical fields through rich mentoring from current undergraduate and medical students, as well as focused lessons and field trips. Spearheaded by CHM Admissions Counselor, Brian Ulrich, MA, the College of Human Medicine is partnering with Grand Rapids Central High School and Grand Valley State University (GVSU) undergraduates. With assistance from current CHM students, each pair bonds over eight winter weeks of participation at the CHM Secchia Center and around Grand Rapids. Current CHM students assist with weekly activities and hold an active role in program development and mentoring. Sessions include meeting with local medical p

Transitioning back from winter break is never easy. I would even dare say it gets harder as the years of schooling accumulate. Coming back for my second semester of being an M2, there is a whole new level of fun that becomes increasingly real with each day: Step 1 *. Every M2 is enjoying the added stress that studying for "boards" brings, on top of the already-busy schedule of studying for domain exams and other classes. This is, of course, beyond other extracurricular activities we hope to incorporate, such as research, volunteering, exercise, and sleep. But the thing is, we all find our own ways to accomplish what is important to us. And while some days may be rough, it’s crazy to think about how far we have already come in just a year and a half. Despite the stress that comes from being in medical school, I have many fond memories at the CHM. There are so many opportunities to get involved, such as with student interest groups and electives. I explored Emergency Me

There are five main steps to get through the entire medical school application process . Upon submitting your secondary application to the MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM), the Assistant Dean for Admissions will review select factors and applicants will either be deemed unsuccessful, placed on hold, or invited to interview. As part of the selection process , one of the outcomes from the committee on admissions after interviewing can be the waitlist . Schools may also refer to this as the alternate list. While it's not the ideal outcome you'd like to initially hear, there are steps you can take moving forward. Last year, we wrote a post entitled, " So You've Been Placed on the Waitlist: What's Next? ," that offers some good tidbits.   If you are placed on the alternate list, your file will remain under consideration for acceptance until we notify you of a change in your status. One of the actions you can take is to submit additional informatio

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (CHM) will be this year's site for the Great Lakes Native American Medical School Applicant Workshop. The event will be held from April 1-3. The multi-day workshop will be hosted by CHM in partnership with the University of Minnesota Medical School Center of American Indian and Minority Health , University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences , University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine , and University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Native American Center for Health Professions (NACHP) .  With various representatives from each of the host institutions in attendance, this is an excellent opportunity for pre-health Native American students from across the region to meet faculty and staff. Students will be offered in-depth application tips regarding the MCAT, personal statement, interviews and more.  Workshops will also be dedicated to research, funding, and career develop

The Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (CHM) offers two special opportunities for early assurance of medical school admission to the college. Applicants who fit certain criteria may begin submitting their early assurance applications beginning on Monday, December 21st. The deadline to complete a no-cost online application is Friday, February 19th. Application is open to students in their junior year (or the year prior to completion of their undergraduate degree). Procedures for applying to the two programs slightly differ as each is intended for a different group. The Early Assurance Opportunity (EAO) is for MSU undergraduate students . Beginning this year, students from Bay College and Northwestern Michigan University can also apply to EAO via a special arrangement between the colleges. Along with submitting an application, students applying to EAO must also submit official transcripts directly to the CHM Office of Admissions. In addition, letters of ev

A student knows well that once you reach the Thanksgiving holiday, winter break is not too far behind. Many students find winter break to be a welcome respite from college life. The winter break gives students time to relax — free time to unwind a bit should always be a priority. Whereas spring break is typically a week or two, winter break may be up to three or four weeks for many. So some students hoping to eventually apply to med school may wish to use this lengthy free time to strengthen their individual profile. Especially when it comes to preparing for the med school application process, free time is important. Here are five things you can do during winter break to help your med school application:   Volunteer Abroad: Alternative Winter Break Schools across the country offer various programs that will allow you to serve at locations across the globe. Volunteering abroad can go a long way when it comes to one's individual growth and experience. Independent organ

MSU has officially announced a new agreement that will allow MSU medical students the chance to gain clinical experiences in Cuba. Come April 2016, future physicians from the College of Human Medicine as well as the College of Osteopathic Medicine will get an in-depth look at the Cuban health care system, largely regarded to be among one of the best in the hemisphere. Collaboration between MSU and Cuba isn't technically new as courses and experiences in Cuba have been offered for several years. However, this partnership is different in that MSU is the first collegiate institution to solidify medical elective in the Caribbean nation. “This is a first, though, for American medical students to be able to walk the halls of three of Cuba’s main hospitals in Havana and receive credit for the experience,” said William Cunningham, assistant dean for the College of Osteopathic Medicine in West Michigan. Read the official announcement here .