Many pre-med students have great MCAT scores and excellent grades—the best way to stand out in a crowd of medical school applicants is to write an exceptional essay!
Medical School Essays That Made a Difference, 3rd Edition puts you in the admissions officer's seat—inside you'll find real application essays, interviews with admissions pros, and profiles of students who've been through the process and made it to medical school. This book is an essential guide for anyone navigating the very competitive medical school admissions process.
Not sure how to begin writing your personal statement? Get a little inspiration from those who applied to med school and got in. This book puts you in the admissions officer's seat. We give you all the details--test scores, GPAs, extracurriculars, and of course, personal statements--for 37 medical school hopefuls. We show you where the applicants got in and where they didn't,helping you evaluate your own chances of admission at some of the most selective medical schools in the nation.
Introduction
Why Did We ProduceThis Book?
How CanThis Book HelpYou?
Why'd They Do It?
Where'd They Get In?
The Parts of This Book
Editor's Note
Chapter 1: Following Directions: A Brief Overview of the Medical School Application Process
A View to Admissions
The Premedical Timeline
The Notorious GPA
MCAT on a Hot Tin Roof
Invest in Extracurricular Activities
Letters of Recommendation
How to Apply
Round #2: Secondary Applications
The Art of the Interview
Chapter 2: Getting Personal: Primary and Supplemental Essays
The Personal Statement
An Angle on Secondary Applications
Chapter 3: Having Heart: What Really Makes an EssayTick
Guidance, If Needed
The Secrets to Your Success
Get to KnowYourself Better
Three Approaches
Roadmap to Greatness
The Benefits of Peer Pressure
Dos and Don'ts
Chapter 4: They're, Their, and There:Grammar and Writing Tips
Good Grammar = Good Form
Most Common Grammar Mistakes
Grammar Chart
Using Punctuation Correctly
Writing Clearly
Eliminating Wordiness
Eliminating Fragments and Run-Ons
LimitingYour Use of PassiveVoice
Using Non-Sexist Language
Avoid Cliches Like the Plague
Style Chart
Navigating the Minefield
Excuses, Excuses
Ready, Set, Write!
Chapter 5: Making Ends Meet: Financial Aid Overview
Making Friends with Money
What Is Financial Aid?
Financial Assistance:Your Basic Options
Don't Go It Alone
How Much?
A Little Help from the Family
More on Loans and Scholarships
EvaluatingYour Financial Aid Package
Financial Aid Pitfalls
Smart Money
Chapter 6: Being a Doctor:ThingsYou Should Know
The Meaning of an MD
Patient Care
Compensation
Prestige
Trends in Medicine
AVery Big Adventure
Chapter 7: Q & A with Admissions Officers
Chapter 8: Real Personal Statements
and Secondary Essays
Chapter 9: WhereThey Got In
