Without fail, when I ask a new applicant if they have considered writing an Impactful Experience description, they immediately assume I'm speaking about the Most Meaningful description. These are two very different pieces of writing, in different spaces, and used for different purposes by the screener. Let's break it down. *This information is only relevant for allopathic medical applicants Impactful Experience Purpose Only about 30% of accepted applicants wrote an Impactful

By Joanne Snapp, EdD, Founder of My Honest Advisor Since so much of this process is honestly impression management, the writing in your personal statement, work & activities, impactful experience description and secondaries can really make or break a cycle. Everything, from the words you choose to use to your tone or the style of your essay, sends a message. The message can be, "I'm a really funny person." Or it can be "I'm very introspective about the world around me." Or it

I was prepping with a fourth-year medical student who is interviewing for family medicine residency programs. When we got to the behavioral interview questions, where stories are required, she admitted that she was having trouble remembering stories. She said she had met hundreds of patients, and she was certain she had encountered many of the situations I was asking about, but she had not documented anything. Now, she was struggling to remember and having to make stories up

Every year, I write a "How did we do?" post. My applicants know I love my spreadsheet, and I feel it's important to be transparent in the process, even when I don't hit the 100% goal I set for myself every year. Here are the outcomes from last cycle. Granted, the cycle is still active and some of these "Yellow" folks can still get in. But at the end of June, this is where we are. Overall, it's not bad. I tend to be pretty hard on myself, so I feel like it could be better, but

Applying to medical school can feel overwhelming. The process is competitive, complex, and often filled with uncertainty. As a pre-med student, you might wonder how to stand out, what pitfalls to avoid, and how to prepare effectively. One of the best ways to gain insight is by learning directly from those who have successfully navigated this journey. I put together a panel featuring successful medical school applicants who will share their experiences, strategies, and advice.

The AAMC PREview Situational Judgement Test (SJT) plays a growing role in medical school admissions. If you are preparing to apply to medical school, understanding this test and its registration process is crucial. Registration for the PREview test opens on February 24, making now the perfect time to get informed and plan your next steps. What Is the PREview Situational Judgement Test? The PREview test evaluates non-academic skills such as professionalism, ethics, and interpe