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Example Medical School Update Letter

Below is an example medical school update letter. Applicants frequently send letters like these to medical schools to provide updates on their recent grades and activities they did not include in their primary and secondary applications.


December 2, 2019

Office of Medical Student Admissions
Great Medical School
The Courtyard at Health Sciences S600
95 Medical Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68501

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing to express continued interest in your school and provide an update of the grades I have received and the activities I have undertaken since submitting my primary application four months ago.

Because I submitted my transcripts to AMCAS before my graduation, I was not able to provide the Great Medical School with my spring quarter grades on my primary application. During spring quarter of my senior year, I received an A+ in my anthropology class (CULTURE&COMMUNICATION), an A in my biostatistics class (INTRO-BIOSTATISTICS), and an A in my physiological science laboratory (PHYSIO LAB).

Since graduating, I have been volunteering at the Capacity Center, a service organization that provides the homeless with meals, showers, clothing, laundry facilities, and mail services. The Capacity Center also helps homeless individuals find housing, obtain employment, and access health services. As a volunteer at the Capacity Center, I initially met with homeless individuals who were new to our program, interviewed them, and then put these individuals in contact with someone at the center who could directly help them obtain access to their particular needed service. More recently, I have been helping the homeless by operating and stocking the clothing shed at the shelter. Here, I help homeless individuals find the clothes they need.

I have also been working at Karios, an established tutoring company in California that helps students with and without learning disabilities improve in school and on standardized tests. Currently, I tutor students who are preparing for the SAT, SSAT, and ACT or struggling in various areas of mathematics. I particularly enjoy helping students work through their difficulties and seeing their progress.

Additionally, I have been working for Composite. The company recently invented an ergonomic product that reduces workplace injuries. To prepare for Composite’s launch to market, I have been involved in the marketing of the product (i.e. website design, social media, video production, etc.) and the development of the company’s sales strategies.

I truly enjoyed visiting the Great Medical School on interview day, and was very impressed with the school. I especially liked the school’s accelerated curriculum, which allows for career exploration early on in a medical student’s career. Furthermore, I liked how the curriculum was student-centered. From talking to medical students at the Great Medical School, I learned that the school embraces medical students’ feedback and implements changes based on those suggestions. It is comforting to know that medical students have a say in how the school is run. Finally, I was also impressed with the school’s emphasis on clinical training and access to unique training resources. Because of this, I believe medical students at the Great Medical School are prepared extremely well for the clinical aspect of medicine.

I would consider myself very fortunate to attend the Great Medical School and am excited about the prospect of becoming a part of the Great Medical School’s community. I hope the information above will be of use when evaluating my application, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Bob Student
AAMCID: 14835918

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Caribbean Medical School Attrition Rates

Most Caribbean medical schools don’t publish their attrition rates online.

So, we conducted a simple study in order to estimate the dropout rates at the Big Four (Saint George’s University, Saba, American University of the Caribbean, and Ross).

We reached out to at least 10 students and alumni from each school and asked them to estimate their school’s attrition rate. We then averaged their responses.

Here are the results.

SchoolEstimated Attrition Rate (%)
American University of the Caribbean20.4
St. George's University26.3
Saba University35.0
Ross University41.7

AUC appears to have the lowest dropout rate at around 20%, while Ross has the highest.

Obviously, this is a small sample size. Because of this, these results don’t reflect the actual attrition rates at these schools by any means.

However, it does give us some insight into those rates.

Notes:

We reached out to students/alumni in ~2017.

SGU is the one school I could find that has an attrition rate on its website (7-12%). However, the statistic doesn’t appear to be a hard ‘average’, as the post says the dropout rate is ‘”usually” between 7-12 percent. So, I would take this stat with a grain of salt as well.

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The Different Types of Med School Recommendation Letters

When you apply for medical school, you’ll find that each school has its own letter of recommendation requirements.

In general, most schools are happy if you’re able to submit letters from two science professors and one non-science professor. This is not true for all schools, so you should research the letter of recommendation requirements for each school before applying.

Schools may also encourage letters from principal investigators, doctors, and people you’ve worked for during volunteering or work experiences.

I’ll cover the different types of letters that I’ve seen schools ask for below.

The Science Letter of Recommendation

Most schools require two of these. In general, a letter from a professor who teaches a course related to biology, chemistry,  or physics applies.

I think it’s pretty reasonable why medical schools would want letters from these types of professors. Diagnosing patients accurately and understanding the underlying causes of diseases requires medical students to be good at and enjoy science. These professors can really speak to this.

Check out this med school letter of recommendation template if you’re curious about what science professors write about.

The Non-Science Med School Letter of Recommendation

A decent amount of schools I applied to required one of these. Any professor who taught English, history, sociology, anthropology, or another non-science course should apply.

Why is this letter important? Medical schools also want insights into your ability to communicate. Speaking and writing well are also important parts of being a doctor.

Explaining to someone why they’re sick, what’s happening with their body, and persuading them to take the proper course of action is often harder than diagnosing them correctly.

Obviously, they’ll have plenty of your writing to go off of from your personal statement and secondary essays, but having an authoritative person speak to this quality is way more assuring.

Physician Letters of Recommendation

Rarely will you be required to provide a letter of recommendation from a physician, but most schools will accept a letter from a doctor you’ve shadowed or volunteered for.

Mercer is one school I can think of that falls outside this category, as they recommend that one letter comes from a physician or health care professional.

Doctors probably have a really good idea of whether an applicant will succeed or not in the medical field because, well, they work there every single day.

They’re also very well respected and their words will carry weight with members on admissions committees.

PI Letters of Recommendation

I have yet to see an MD program that requires a letter from a PI or research supervisor. In fact, many applicants never conduct any sort of research period.

Regardless, many schools accept letters from PIs. If you did do some sort of research, it’s probably a good idea to ask your PI for a letter if you think it will depict you in a positive light.

Character Reference Letters

Many schools will probably expect professors, doctors, PIs, and others to comment on your character during their letter. However, most schools won’t specifically ask for a letter that is solely a character reference.

However, this is not always true. For example, UCF accepts two character letters which can be from a friend, neighbor, clergy member, volunteering experience, etc.

If the school you’re applying to does ask for a character letter, they’re probably looking to see if you’re ethical, well-rounded, passionate, likable, respectful, mature, etc.

Letters from Teaching Assistants

For whatever reason, most medical schools won’t allow a letter from a teaching assistant to count as one of your core letters. I specifically remember being bummed out about this when I applied because the TAs knew me a lot better than the professors did.

You can probably submit a letter from a TA in addition to other letters that fulfill the requirements for the school. However, note that letters from teaching assistants are apparently seen as ‘weaker’ than letters from professors.

Letters from Volunteering/Work Experiences

If you’ve had any volunteering or work experiences, many schools will also accept a letter from someone who managed or supervised you. This letter could probably serve as a character reference as well as validation that you actually participated in this activity.

Furthermore, your letter writer could explain how the skills you picked up on the job will help you as a physician.

More Information

Make sure to read the letter of recommendation requirements for each school you’re applying to prior to submitting your primary application. This way, you won’t waste money and time applying to a school which requires letter types that you don’t have.

For example, when I applied to Thomas Jefferson University, I didn’t know the school preferred one of my letters be from a physics professor. Some schools have strange requirements, and the only way to know is to look them up.

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Loma Linda Example Secondary Response

Loma Linda is one of the more unique medical schools out there. Filling out the school’s secondary will most likely require researching the school’s website for most applicants. Here’s one of my example responses to one of their questions that pretty much forces applicants to do some leg work.

Describe the extent and source of your knowledge of Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM). (750 characters max)

My knowledge of LLUSM primarily stems from the school’s website and from friends who have applied here in the past. LLUSM seeks to follow in Christ’s footsteps in its desire to heal and teach others in order to “make man whole.” The school teaches medicine from a Seventh-day Adventist, Christian perspective, and strongly encourages students to participate in service-oriented activities, such as international medical mission trips or programs helping underserved communities. An equal value is placed on the importance of education and research. The school emphasizes the holistic–physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual–growth of the student.

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Tulane Secondary Response Example

Tulane University School of Medicine would not be a bad place to end up for medical school. Providing a good response to the ‘why Tulane’ secondary question is important. If you can’t answer this question, you’ll probably come across like you haven’t done your homework. I provided my response from a couple of years ago as a reference for future applicants.

Briefly describe the reasons for your interest in Tulane University School of Medicine (150 words):

The ability to volunteer at the various student-run clinics at Tulane University School of Medicine (TUSOM) is one reason I applied to the school. I believe working in these clinics–which include the Fleur de Vie NOLA East Clinic, Common Ground Health Clinic, and Ozanam Inn–will not only expand my clinical skill set, but also allow me to help underserved populations. Through these clinics, I can help treat those who are homeless, struggling from drug addiction, and uninsured.

TUSOM’s reputation for fostering a collaborative environment among students also appeals to me. The school’s focus on team-based learning not only allows for much communication and teamwork to occur in the classroom, but also helps students grasp the difficult medical school curriculum. From personal experience, I strongly believe that collaborating with others makes the learning process more efficient.

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Creighton Secondary Essay Example Response

Creighton usually asks its applicants to describe how they’re going to carry out the school’s mission. It’s a somewhat annoying essay because it’s difficult to reuse one of your other essays here, and it’s usually one of the longer ones. I provided my response below from a couple of years ago.

How will you use your specific attributes and experiences to reinforce the ­Creighton University School of Medicine Mission? (2000 Characters)

Mission: In the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of Creighton University, the mission of the School of Medicine is to improve the human condition with a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff who provide excellence in educating students, physicians and the public, advancing knowledge and providing comprehensive patient care.

My passion for educating others, conducting research, and caring for the “whole person” will allow me to reinforce the mission of Creighton University School of Medicine.

My passion for education began in college and continues to this day. After taking and enjoying science classes in college, I decided to tutor another undergraduate student in the areas of physics, organic chemistry, and physiology. Through these tutoring sessions, I realized how rewarding it felt to help another person gain a deeper understanding of science. As a physician, I hope to continue to educate others by helping patients understand the diseases that afflict them.

In addition to education, I am also passionate about advancing our current level of knowledge through research. When working as an undergraduate researcher, I enjoyed attempting to find solutions to unanswered questions in science, planning out my experiments, and analyzing data to support or refute my hypotheses. I hope to be able to use the analytical and critical thinking skills that I learned from this experience in future research projects as a medical student and physician.

Other experiences in college have shown me the importance of providing patients with comprehensive care. Recently, I watched a friend’s health deteriorate. His social life, ability concentrate and work, and his general outlook on life have all been affected. After seeing how a physical condition can negatively impact so many aspects of a person’s life, I have realized the necessity in caring for the social, psychological, and spiritual well being of a patient, in addition to addressing his or her physical symptoms.

As a physician, I hope to continue to educate others, advance knowledge through research, and provide patients with comprehensive care. Through these three acts, I believe I can make the most impact as a physician.

Analyzing this secondary response

It’s hard to fit three points (science, research, and comprehensive care) into this essay due to the character count. Ideally, though, I would have liked to have gone into more depth on the three points if I could have. Maybe focusing on one point instead of three would have been better.

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George Washington Secondary Example Response

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences has a number of secondary questions. However, I personally believe the ‘why George Washington’ question is the hardest. This question forces applicants to research the school online, which takes a good amount of time.

I figured I would share my old essay from a couple of years ago when I applied to GW. Here you go:

What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why? (2000 characters not including spaces)

Although GW offers opportunities, programs, and world-class training for its medical students in many areas, two main features of the MD program especially impress me. In particular, the school’s focus on clinical training and encouragement of the pursuit of academic areas outside of the traditional medical school curriculum allow the school to stand out.

Through the four-year-long Practice of Medicine Course, students at GW receive world-class clinical training and are provided with early clinical exposure. Beginning their first month of medical school, students at GW participate in a clinical apprenticeship, a program which allows students to observe the practice of medicine and practice their clinical skills. Furthermore, students continue their clinical training in a small group setting–through clinical integration sessions–and in various simulated settings. The innovative Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills Center (CLASS center) particularly allows students to hone their clinical skills, as they practice critical care training, procedures, and crucial skills on human patient simulators. I believe that through this extensive and early exposure to a clinical setting, medical students at GW develop much clinical expertise, technical skills, and knowledge about medicine.

Through its unique “Track Programs,” GW also allows its students to obtain a broader healthcare perspective. In particular, the health policy scholarly concentration track at GW appeals to me. During my senior year in college, I enjoyed delivering a presentation on how our former and current health policy affects underrepresented communities. As a medical student at GW, I would be able to continue to pursue my passion for learning about health policy through this track program. Furthermore, the opportunity to work with lawmakers to enact changes in our health care system would be very rewarding.

By attending GW, I would be able to take advantage of its renowned clinical training and track programs. In my opinion, these two aspects of GW would provide me with a solid, clinical foundation as well as the opportunity to explore areas like health policy that are outside of the traditional medical school curriculum. I believe that these unique experiences at GW would help me to develop into a very well-rounded, competent physician.

More notes about the secondary

Remember that you only have so much time to research the school and write this essay, as you probably have 20 other secondaries for different schools to complete as well. My advice is to browse through GW’s website, pick a few things you like about the school, and just start writing.

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Mount Sinai Secondary Response Example

Here’s another secondary essay example, this time from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Again, this is from a couple of years ago.

I unfortunately didn’t end up getting an interview at Mount Sinai. If I could go back in time, I think I would explain more about what I learned from the experience. Regardless, I still think this might be a helpful essay to look at for those applying.

Please tell us about a situation in which working with others has been challenging. (200 words)

On the first day of physiology lab, our class was divided into lab groups of three people each. The first lab consisted of isolating a sciatic nerve from a frog and later performing experiments on the nerve to obtain information about action potentials.

During the lab, one group member, Emma, insisted on carrying out the dissection and experiments herself despite my other group member’s and my repeated offers to help. After the lab, I asked my other group member, Jessica, if she similarly noticed Emma’s reluctance to let others participate in the experiment. When Jessica acknowledged the problem as well, I decided to speak with Emma about the issue.

The following week at lab, I explained to Emma our predicament. Because Jessica and I had not been able to participate fully in lab, I explained, we struggled to learn the dissection techniques and grasp important physiology concepts. I emphasized that equal contribution of group members would increase efficiency and allow all group members to learn.

Emma apologized, explaining she had simply been unaware of the situation. From this day forward, our group equally divided up laboratory responsibilities. This allowed for increased efficiency and a collaborative working environment.

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Secondary Examples: Temple University

I wanted to share some of my secondary essays/responses for the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University from a few years ago. This particular secondary asks some questions which force applicants to do their homework on the school. I figured this might be helpful for some applicants out there.

Example Secondary Essay Responses For Temple

What is the nature of your special interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2000 characters)

Though many aspects about the Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) motivated me to apply, two features in particular appealed to me: LKSOM’s emphasis on clinical training and the global medicine program.

I believe that LKSOM’s extensive focus on producing students with outstanding clinical skills will best prepare me as a physician. Through the William Maul Measey Institute for Clinical Simulation and Patient Safety (ISC), students can undergo clinical simulations that help them learn procedural skills and aid their clinical decision making process. With the ISC’s help–through the use of virtual reality trainers, standardized patients, and patient instructors–students at LKSOM, in my opinion, can truly hone their clinical skills.

I am also impressed by the opportunities afforded by LKSOM’s global medicine program. As early as the summer following their first year of medical school, students can travel to various areas outside of the United States – such as Asia, Africa, and Central and South America – and work directly with physicians to care for patients and perform research studies. Similarly, during their third and fourth years, students have the opportunity to do their clinical rotations in various medical schools throughout the world. I believe that through this program, students are not only afforded the opportunity to experience and live in another culture, but also gain broad experience with international medical operations. The global medicine program, in my opinion, affords its students much more than simply early clinical experience.

By attending LKSOM and taking advantage of the school’s extensive clinical training and global medicine program, I believe that I will be on my way to becoming a very competent, well-rounded physician.

Describe the nature of your special interest in your first choice ranked Clinical / Regional Campus. (2000 characters)

Though all LKSOM affiliated clinical teaching sites prepare their students well clinically, I believe that conducting my clerkships and sub-internships at the Temple University Health System and Affiliates (TUHSA) will best prepare me for a career in medicine.

Doing clinical rotations at TUHSA in Philadelphia, a historically diverse city, will expose me to a wide variety of medical disorders and simultaneously serve as an avenue to learn about other cultures. As a result of treating patients of varied cultural, economic, and social backgrounds at TUHSA, I believe that I will encounter patients with a range of medical conditions. Additionally, I believe that this diversity will help increase my awareness of other cultures and lifestyles, a quality that will help me to converse and connect with patients who are different than myself when I begin practicing medicine as a fully trained physician.

Undergoing my clinical training at TUHSA will also expose me to advanced patient care and treatment services. TUHSA not only employs world-class surgeons and specialists, but also has access to the latest research innovations. By receiving the guidance of renowned physicians and learning about cutting-edge medical procedures, I believe that I will be well prepared to treat patients in a similar manner in the future.

Staying at TUHSA for my clinical training will also prevent an interruption of my research that I will hopefully be conducting at LKSOM my first year in medical school. Though I am not sure yet of the particular nature of the research, I plan to contribute to the advancement of science during my time at LKSOM.

I look forward to beginning my clinical training at TUHSA. By taking advantage of its diverse patient population, medical research innovations, and world-class physicians, I believe I will be well prepared for a career in medicine.

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6 Drawbacks Of Attending Caribbean Medical Schools

Many students plan to go to medical school in the Caribbean with the hopes of returning back to the United States to practice medicine. It’s actually a path many have taken. However, students considering applying to Caribbean medical schools should be well-informed about the potential drawbacks of going this route.

Below are some potential negatives of attending an offshore medical school in the Caribbean.

1) High attrition rates

Many medical schools in the Caribbean appear to have higher dropout rates than allopathic (M.D.) and osteopathic (D.O.) medical schools in the US. To make things worse, some Caribbean medical schools don’t publish their attrition rates, which lures many students into a false sense of security when applying and thereafter.

I’ve seen student-estimated attrition rates of Caribbean medical schools range from 10% to 75%.

However, please note that a decent percentage of this estimated dropout rate results from students choosing to leave medical school on their own (often within the first two weeks) due to a variety of factors (getting into a US medical school, realizing medicine is not for them, inability to adapt to island life, etc).

The rest of the attrition rate results from students failing to keep up academically. Many medical schools in the Caribbean set their own academic bar, and students below that bar are forced out.

2) Potentially lower residency match rates

Some Caribbean medical schools appear to have lower residency match rates than US allopathic medical schools. I also could not find match rates for certain Caribbean medical schools (which concerns me).

It’s certainly possible to graduate from a Caribbean medical school, but not match into a residency program back home upon graduation.

Some students I’ve talked to were forced to take a year off after graduation to improve their resume before applying to residency programs again.

However, residency match rate definitely varies by school, though, and I would encourage you to check your school’s website to get an accurate number. Some of these schools actually have high residency match rates.

3) Lower match list strength

In addition to having a more difficult time matching, Caribbean medical students might also have a harder time landing a residency position in a competitive specialty (dermatology, orthopedic surgery, radiology, general surgery, emergency medicine, etc).

They’ll be competing against students at allopathic and osteopathic US medical schools who are bright and might be coming from schools with better reputations.

Whatever the reason, Caribbean medical students often times end up in less-competitive primary care specialties like internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, etc.

Why are they less competitive? In my opinion, primary care specialties are not as desirable simply because they pay less than other specialties.

4) Expensive tuition

Certain Caribbean medical schools often cost more than the average medical school in the US.

Students at Saint George’s University, for example, can expect to pay over $250,000 for tuition in total. Students with in-state residency status at medical schools in the US will pay significantly less than this, although out-of-state students might end up paying around the same depending on the school.

Note: Certain Caribbean schools are cheaper than others, though, and again please check your school’s website to get an accurate number. Not all are expensive.

But doctors make a lot of money, and I’ll be able to pay off my tuition loans fast, right?

Yes, all doctors take home a decent amount. However, remember that doctors coming from the Caribbean oftentimes end up in lower-paying specialties and might have larger student loans. Caribbean medical students, therefore, might have a harder time paying off those loans off in the future.

5) Larger class sizes

Class size definitely depends on the school, but a couple of Caribbean medical schools have larger class sizes compared to US medical schools. For example, I talked to one Caribbean medical student who informed me there were 1000 people in his starting class.

I should mention that many of these schools offer smaller class sessions outside of these giant lectures to compensate. Nevertheless, I don’t think the material is going to be spoon-fed to you, and you’ll probably have to get good to a certain extent learning on your own (which isn’t necessarily a terrible thing, though).

6) A certain percentage of students take longer to graduate

From the students I have talked to, it appears that some students will take more than four years to graduate. If a student fails a class, some schools will allow them to take the class over again (which causes some extra time to be tacked on to their medical school education).

I’m honestly not sure how this compares to US medical schools, but my guess is that this is more common in the Caribbean.

 

Going to medical school in the Caribbean also has its perks. You’ll most likely be able to spend at least two years on an island with amazing weather and experience a culture different from your own. You will also still receive an M.D. (unlike if you went to osteopathic (D.O.) medical school in the US).

Graduating from a Caribbean medical school and matching into a residency thereafter is definitely possible, but it is important that you understand the potential risks associated with the path. If you are still interested, please check out what some Carribean medical students have to say about their medical schools (SGU and Ross).