To Be...A Spartan MD

Applicant interviews are underway across the country and medical schools are finally coming face-to-face with candidates for their incoming classes next fall. Each institution has their own characteristics to look for as well as their own strategies for evaluating applicants. Here at MSU, we've utilized the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) format in our Interview Day since 2011. In fact, the MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM) was the first medical school in the state of Michigan to implement the method. While this is a relatively new interview format in the United States, it has been used successfully for years throughout Canada and Australia. Developed at McMaster University (Canada), more and more stateside schools are adopting the MMI each year, which has become increasingly popular beyond just medical schools. To understand why, it's important to know what the MMI is. What is the MMI?   The MMI is a series of short (timed), highly structured "interviews...

The largest pre-health conference in the country is just around the corner, with CHM's head of admissions scheduled to lead a workshop. The 12th Annual UC-Davis Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Professions National Conference will be held just 15 minutes outside of Sacramento on October 11-12. The two-day event will cover health professional topics just as varied as the selection of keynote speakers, panels, and workshops. Our very own Joel Maurer , MD, FACOG, Assistant Dean for Admissions at the MSU College of Human Medicine , will be speaking at the conference for the fourth consecutive year. "I always look forward to describing the mission of our college, as I believe there are certain components of it that should truly resonate with most people who attend. Since we typically matriculate 15-20% out-of-state applicants (much higher than most state-supported medical schools), I like to encourage them to at least look at us," says Maurer. The AMCAS Personal Statement...

As we've mentioned before, the reality of the medical school application process is that it is competitive. Tens of thousands of students across the country are vying for what amounts to only a few thousand spots. Sure, good grades and high scores are important to being a competitive applicant. But that will only get you so far. More and more schools such as the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (CHM) are looking beyond one's academic profile. Truth is, every cycle is full of applicants with terrific scores and grades. What sets you apart? While we strive for a class with GPA and MCAT scores approximating the national average of accepted students, the CHM admissions committee uses a mission-based assessment of applicants that strongly considers nonacademic variables. For this reason, the CHM Office of Admissions does not use specific GPA and MCAT cutoffs. That isn't to say your numbers aren't important. They certainly are. Admissions teams n...

Ordinarily, having a bucket of ice water dumped over your head isn't something someone would do for fun. But this is more than that. There's something special going on here. Folks from coast to coast are taking up the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in what has turned out to be a national craze on social media. Uploaded videos across the internet show people taking on the challenge and daring even more souls to either accept within 24 hours or donate to the ALS Association. Adults and children from all walks of life have participated, raising awareness and funding for the cause. Sure enough, the challenge was bound to reach the MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM). Faculty and staff are taking Dean Marsha Rappley's lead , which includes our very own Joel Maurer, MD, Assistant Dean, Admissions, who was recently challenged by a long-time friend. With students from CHM's incoming class on hand and the Magic Johnson statue towering above, Dr. Maurer issued his own ch...

The secondary application process typically begins around July, when verified primary applications from AMCAS start getting sent to individual institutions. Some medical schools, such as the MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM), automatically invite all applicants to submit secondary applications. In contrast, other schools review their candidates before deciding who is allowed to send a secondary. Now in August, you may already have a nice stack of secondary applications, each with several essay prompts. The secondary essay prompts, in general, should help address any deficiencies in the application, helping the reviewers better assess the applicant. Each school has their own set of prompts, specific to what they are looking for in a candidate. So while applicants may encounter similar questions and prompts, note that secondaries should be tailored in two specific ways that, essentially, go hand-in-hand. 1. Secondary applications should fill in the gaps. Reviewers and ...

By Brian Ulrich, MA *** With all of the ways that physicians are portrayed on television and movies these days, it can be easy to form a certain perception of what it means to be a doctor. Often, these portrayals have less to do with healthcare and more to do with an actor’s physical appearance, status, power, or on-screen charisma. This image, however, is a mirage . The point here is that it can be easy to mentally put ourselves in certain boxes based on messages that we receive or perceive from the world around us. While these boxes can be empowering for some, they are often very limiting for others. Literature within the field of student affairs calls this “ meaning making ”, or, put another way, the way we make sense of our individual identities based on the messages we receive from the world around us. So, as a prospective student to medical school, what types of messages are you receiving from the world around you about pursuing medicine as a career? What kinds of infere...

The MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM) is one of the many medical schools that prospective students can apply to via the Early Decision Program (EDP). Those looking to participate in EDP must submit their AMCAS application by Friday, August 1st. Before applying through EDP, however, applicants need to decide whether this route to medical school is right for you. It's extremely important you fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of applying as an EDP candidate. What is the Early Decision Program and how does it work? Simply put, the Early Decision Program allows prospective medical students to apply early and be assured of a prompt response. EDP applicants apply to one U.S. medical school with the full intention of attending if accepted. The school, in turn, agrees to notify an applicant of a decision by October 1st—much earlier than a regular admissions process, which can extend into the following spring. People go the EDP route when they have a clear fir...