Teachers

By: Alessandra Santiago A very important—but infrequently discussed—component of applying to medical schools is how much that process costs. With so many purchases both large and small on the way to applying, it’s a good idea to have an estimate of what you might expect to spend. As you go along, you may find that [...]

Narrow Miss? – You are on a three-day southern Utah canyoneering trip in late October with 3 friends.  You are all in your mid-twenties.  It is the afternoon of day two, in a very narrow side canyon when come up to a “pour off” where your side canyon joins a bigger flow.  It’s about a […]

By: Alessandra Santiago It’s heavy-hitter time: drafting your Personal Statement. This is the chance for you to provide a committee of strangers a full ‘picture’ of who you are as a candidate for medical school. By demonstrating your individual, unique qualifications for pursuing medicine, you can paint a picture as to why you would be [...]

By: Alessandra Santiago While the open date for the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) primary application is still many months away (think: late May), let's dive into what materials you will be asked to compile in this first round of applications to medical school. On top of completing your prerequisite and recommended coursework by the time [...]

Run Amok – It is early October and you are on a trail run up above Golden (CO), about 3 miles from the trailhead when it starts to rain.   It is 2 pm with temps in the high 40s (F), with a moderate (10-15 mph) wind.  The trail takes a steep drop and at the […]

By: Alessandra Santiago Where you will apply for medical school? Do you know where you fall within the matriculation metrics of your target schools? Want to figure out what your target schools should be, but unsure of where to start? Compiling your list of target schools is a key component in the admissions process, and it is [...]

By: Alessandra Santiago While it is still too early to sign up for the 2020 MCAT dates according to the AAMC, now is the time to consider when you will take the MCAT,  in addition to taking a look at the budgetary obligations associated with taking the exam. Your first step is to head over [...]

Race to the Finish – You are working the medical tent at the finish of the Cascade Mountains Ultra Marathon.  It is Washington and around 5000 feet (1500 meters) so not hideously hot, but it is August so it’s definitely still hot with afternoon temps in the 90s.  The race started at 5 am to […]

By: Alessandra Santiago The MCAT. The Great Academic Equalizer. No matter how well you perform in your undergraduate or post-bacc program, there is no replacing a poor MCAT score. As you embark upon the testing odyssey, bring along your finest time management and retention skills on the journey. You'll need them. So, when is the best time [...]

By: Alessandra Santiago This fall semester begins the year-long countdown to submitting medical school applications. For many students, this is an academic year of unique stressors, both academic and personal. Now more than ever, time management is crucial to stay on top of the growing list of to-do items for submitting applications. At the start [...]