Author Archives: Shannon Diaz

For anyone hoping to pass their USMLE exams and become doctors, choosing an elite school or program won’t necessarily give an edge in medical school entrance exams (USMLE). Such schools may give access to more resources and opportunities but this won’t guarantee anything other than more competitive student pools and possibly an easier test environment. […]

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Becoming a doctor is an admirable goal, but it may not be the best career option for everyone. If you’re considering making changes in your life plans, here are some alternatives to medical school that still allow you to contribute towards healthcare. Allied health professions play a vital role in patient treatment and often have […]

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No other practice material can match the official AAMC tests as excellent preparation material, making these an essential resource for students of any level. The four scored AAMC practice exams should be left until near the end of your study period; however, an unscored Sample Test provides less representative results so it can be taken […]

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According to AAMC statistics, an MCAT score of 525 puts you in the 100th percentile – this score represents competitive admission to medical school provided your score distribution across all four sections is even. As part of your preparation for the MCAT exam, it is wise to develop your study skills and employ effective test-taking […]

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Medical fellowships may add several years to your education, but the extra time and effort may be worth the investment if specializing in one subspecialty will help you realize your long-term career goals. Fellow doctors are fully credentialed physicians who pursue further subspecialty training after graduating medical school and residency. Here you’ll discover more information […]

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As a medical student, you may be asking whether your school ranking matters? However, rankings can often be misleading since many publications use broad criteria when ranking schools instead of looking at individual statistics. Additionally, some metrics may be detrimental to medical education. Here are a few examples: Student selectivity Student Selectivity Metric (SSMetric) accounts […]

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Psychiatrists specialize in treating mental health conditions through psychotherapy and medication. Following medical school, psychiatrists typically undergo four-year residency programs such as child and adolescent or forensic psychiatry – additionally passing state exams for licensing to become licensed. At first, students should pursue a bachelor’s degree. Though any subject area can be chosen as their […]

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