After applying and interviewing at multiple medical schools, the wait to hear back from the programs of your choice can feel like an eternity—and when you do hear back, it may not be the news you were expecting. So what do you do if instead of opening an acceptance letter, you find out you’ve been waitlisted or rejected from medical school this cycle? […]
One of the most common misconceptions about preparing for the MCAT is that there’s one perfect MCAT study schedule which all medical school applicants should follow. Beyond the AAMC’s guidelines of spending approximately 300 hours studying, there is no one right way to study and no one right schedule that will work for everyone. There are, however, a variety of tried and true […]
A rational expression is simply a ratio (or fraction) of polynomials. In other words, it is a fraction with a polynomial as the numerator and another polynomial as the denominator. The rules that govern fractions and polynomials also govern rational expressions, so if you know these well, you’ll be in good shape when you encounter […]
One of the best ways to demonstrate your commitment to medicine in a tangible way on your application to medical school is by shadowing a doctor as a part of your clinical experience. When reviewing your application, the admissions committee will want to see that you’ve done your research and are sure that a career in medicine—which is not for […]
By now you’re used to seeing equations, exponents, and variables; another important topic you are sure to see on the PSAT is polynomials. A polynomial is an expression comprised of variables, exponents, and coefficients, and the only operations involved are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division (by constants only), and non-negative integer exponents. A polynomial can have one or multiple terms. Identifying […]
Another type of question USMLE Step 1 test makers use is bait and switch questions. These questions occur when what you first think the question is about is not what the question is really asking. Have you ever begun reading a question thinking that the core focus is physiology and discover at the end of the […]
USMLE two-step (also called double-jump) questions require several cognitive steps to arrive at a correct answer. Finding the correct answer requires you to formulate a proper diagnosis and then select the most appropriate pharmacologic treatment. Note that you get no credit for the intermediate step of diagnosis. The correct answer is found only by reasoning […]
As a computer-based test, the USMLE makes use of visual materials, including pictures, histology slides, and MRI and CT scan results as a part of questions. Many candidates are uneasy about these types of questions but need not be. The images presented for the Step 1 exam will be of fairly common phenomena; things you […]
The USMLE is a very unique test with three very different Steps. Step 1 features the traditional multiple choice format, but has no shortage of tricky questions and answers. However, if you are prepared and know the “tricks of the trade” the test makers use, you will be able to identify and pick the best answers to USMLE Step 1 […]