What makes for a competitive Medical School application?

This summer marks eleven years since my mother suffered a serious stroke. Late one summer afternoon I found her at her home completely non-responsive. The ambulance team promptly arrived, and very soon thereafter she was at our local hospital’s emergency department. The emergency department and neurology department teams worked to determine how best to treat my mother’s debilitating condition. While still in the emergency department the next day, she became completely hemiplegic from head to toe. The fast-acting neurology lead doctor took immediate steps to limit the neural damage. I am happy to report that that same evening my mother was lifting herself from the gurney onto her hospital bed. The hemiplegia had resolved, and as importantly, she was completely lucid and responsive. Today there are no tell-tale signs or deficits that she is a stroke survivor.

When I think back on that experience, I consider the 6 medical experts’ competencies as set forth by CanMEDS: collaboration, communicator, health advocate, manager, professional, and scholar.

Did the emergency / neurology doctors display a seamless integration of these competencies? Did the emergency / neurology doctors effectively meet the health care needs of my mother as her health deteriorated?

I am sure that many of you can think of several other personal and professional attributes that make for a great medical student/doctor. It is usually at those challenging times when loved ones are in need of medical care and attention that we become acutely aware of the actions and demeanour of the medical staff, at home or at the hospital, with whom we come in contact.

As you prepare your applications for medical school, many schools ask you to consider how these competencies apply to who you are before you enter medical school. Sometimes it is difficult to be reflective about your successes (and disappointments), and how your life experiences have shaped you into that individual who is ready to take on the challenges of medical school and ultimately a medical career.     

My expertise can assist you in seamlessly and effectively highlighting your successes and achievements, while at the same time keeping an eye on those CanMEDS competencies. I have helped numerous undergraduate and graduate students carefully craft informative autobiographical sketches, personal narratives, answers to questions, etc for their medical school applications. These students have been successful in gaining invitations for interviews.

If you are keen to have another “set of eyes” look over your written application materials for your medical school applications, let’s have a 10-15 minute chat for you to gauge my commitment to you securing that all important interview for medical school. Let’s work together to make yours a “standout” application.