Podcast Summary
Insights from Medical School Admissions Directors: Listen to the All Access Med School Admissions Podcast for interviews with admissions directors and valuable insights for premed students navigating the medical school application process.
The All Access Med School Admissions Podcast, hosted by Christian Essman, is a valuable resource for premed students seeking accurate and reliable information and advice from medical school admissions professionals. Essman, who is a one-man show producing the podcast, takes great satisfaction in bringing listeners interviews with admissions directors and sharing their insights. He also appreciates the kind words of listeners, which make the time-consuming production worthwhile. Essman also shares opportunities for students to interact with multiple medical schools at virtual fairs, such as the Double AMC's Minority Student Medical Fair coming up on November 20th. In this episode, he interviews Matt Tait, the director of admissions at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, who shares his passion for higher education and helping students navigate the admissions process. The podcast offers a unique perspective and valuable insights for those on the premed journey.
From Scuba Diving to Admissions Counseling: A former scuba diving instructor and consumer lender found fulfillment in helping students navigate the complex admissions process at Washington University in St. Louis, a top institution for compassionate scientific medicine.
The Farrell Learning and Teaching Center at Washington University in St. Louis offers a top-notch educational experience in compassionate scientific medicine, surrounded by world-class facilities and talented students. Matt Tate, an admissions counselor at WashU, shared his unique journey into higher education. After graduating college, he tried teaching scuba diving but found it financially unsustainable. He then worked in consumer lending but felt unfulfilled. Realizing his happiness came from working on campus, he transitioned into an admissions counselor role at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and later at Saint Louis University. Tate enjoys helping students navigate the complex admissions process and achieve their educational goals. WashU, a private institution, accepts applications from a diverse range of students, including US citizens, international applicants, and those with DACA status. The entering class of 2020 was 61% women and 24% underrepresented in medicine.
Interacting with exceptional medical students at Washington University: Washington University in St. Louis offers a rewarding career with student interaction and curriculum improvements, including more clinical experiences, increased flexibility, and interprofessional education.
Working in the medical school admission side at Washington University in St. Louis has been an inspiring experience for this professional, with the primary focus being on interacting with and getting to know the exceptional students. The level of student interaction is much greater than in previous roles, and these students are not only impressive applicants but also current students who are poised to make significant contributions to medicine. When not interacting with students, this individual enjoys exploring St. Louis, which offers a vibrant food scene, a well-developed network of greenways and protected bike lanes, and a friendly Midwestern community. Washington University has recently undergone curriculum redesigns, and some highlights include the integration of more clinical experiences, increased flexibility for students, and a stronger focus on interprofessional education. Overall, the combination of student interaction and the exciting changes in the curriculum make for a fulfilling and rewarding career in medical education at Washington University in St. Louis.
New 4-year MD program at St. Louis University School of Medicine: The Gateway curriculum is a 4-year MD program that emphasizes a helical learning experience, with a mix of lecture, small group work, and immersive experiences, and prepares students for their future careers in medicine.
St. Louis University School of Medicine has introduced a new curriculum named "Gateway," which is a significant departure from their traditional 2+2 model of preclinical and clinical studies. This new curriculum is a 4-year MD program, divided into three phases, and is designed based on the best principles of pedagogy and neuroscience. The Gateway curriculum emphasizes a helical learning experience, where students gain new knowledge, apply it, and reflect on their experiences continually. The curriculum includes a mix of lecture, small group work, and immersive experiences, with some on-campus and at-home learning due to the pandemic. The learning spaces on campus have also been redesigned to optimize the curriculum's potential. In the first 18 months, students work in a clinical environment, and in the later years, they specialize and prepare for residency. Overall, the Gateway curriculum aims to provide students with a comprehensive, hands-on learning experience that prepares them for their future careers in medicine.
Explore program at WashU School of Medicine: Flexible and comprehensive: WashU School of Medicine's Explore program offers students flexibility to explore academic interests beyond clinical work in areas like medical education, advocacy, global health, research, and innovation. Students can engage in these areas throughout their education and culminate in a capstone project.
Washington University School of Medicine's curriculum offers students a flexible and comprehensive Explore program, which allows them to explore various interests beyond clinical work. This program encompasses academic pursuits like medical education, advocacy, global health, research, and innovation. Students can engage in these areas during all three phases of their education, with resources and mentorship available to help them find their niche. The program culminates in a capstone project during the final phase, and students may also choose to pursue additional degrees to deepen their knowledge in specific areas. Throughout their clinical years, students will primarily complete rotations at Barnes, St. Louis Children's, and the Siteman Cancer Center, which are all located on the WashU Medical Campus and take up approximately 18 city blocks.
Connected Campus and Community Engagement at Washington University: Washington University invests in a connected campus with skywalks and clinical opportunities, prioritizes community service, and offers a new scholarship program to make medical education more accessible.
Washington University in St. Louis offers a convenient and connected campus experience for students, with skywalks linking various facilities and opportunities for clinical experiences throughout the city. Community service is a significant aspect of the university's culture, with a focus on meeting community needs and providing students with guided opportunities for engagement. Additionally, a new scholarship program, which invested $100 million over ten years, aims to make medical education more accessible to students. These initiatives demonstrate the university's commitment to providing a comprehensive and impactful educational experience.
Generous Scholarships and Unique Benefits at WashU: WashU offers generous scholarships reducing student debt and unique benefits like Midwestern hospitality, urban park, and mix of housing options
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, through its generous scholarship programs, has been able to offer more and higher dollar scholarships to students, helping to reduce their debt upon graduation. Another key point is that the Midwest location of the university, though not known for beaches or mountains, offers unique benefits such as Midwestern hospitality, a large urban park for outdoor activities, and a mix of on-campus and off-campus housing options with new state-of-the-art facilities. The university's historic campus, which includes the Shriners Hospital building converted into student apartments, offers a unique blend of old and new architecture and amenities. These aspects make WashU an attractive option for prospective medical students, despite some potential unfamiliarity with the area.
WashU's Focus on Student Support: WashU prioritizes student support through student societies, coaching programs, and active student affairs, preparing students for academic and professional success, and promoting work-life balance.
WashU School of Medicine provides a comprehensive educational experience with a strong focus on student support. While the campus hosts a Shriners Hospital, it is not a Washoe property but rather a partner's property. WashU has intentionally prioritized student support, offering student societies, coaching programs, and active student affairs. The coaching program, an addition to student affairs, provides students with a faculty coach for non-assessive support throughout their medical education. This support system not only focuses on academic success but also prepares students for the challenges of work-life balance as physicians. WashU does not require research experience for applicants but values academic curiosity and a genuine interest in serving others.
Demonstrating quality experiences and reflections during medical school applications: Medical schools evaluate applications holistically, considering all aspects including quality experiences and meaningful reflections, rather than just checking off boxes or quantity of experiences.
During the medical school application process, it's not just about checking off specific experiences or boxes, but rather demonstrating the quality of the experiences and the meaningful reflections derived from them. Medical schools, including Washington University (WashU), evaluate applicants holistically, considering all aspects of their application, including essays, letters of recommendation, and metrics. The screening process aims to find applicants who will be successful at the particular medical school and who fit well with the institution. While having medically related experiences is valued, the quantity is less important than the quality and the student's understanding of the practice of medicine. WashU uses a multi-stage screening process to evaluate applications from different perspectives and ensure they are promoting successful applicants. The ultimate goal is to find the right fit for both the student and the institution.
Flexibility in Medical School Applications Amidst COVID-19: Medical schools are adapting to applicants' challenges, offering flexible shadowing hours, virtual options, and considering gap years as valuable experiences. Creativity and flexibility are essential in the current application process.
Medical schools are acknowledging the challenges applicants face due to COVID-19 and are being flexible in their requirements. Shadowing hours, for instance, may not have a specific number attached to them, and virtual shadowing is becoming an option. Gap years are also being considered valuable, and students should apply when they feel they have the strongest resume to present. Flexibility and adaptation are key in the current application process. Additionally, with the ongoing pandemic, students may face difficulties in gaining necessary exposure, so creative alternatives like virtual conversations with physicians are being suggested.
Preparing for Medical School Interviews: Applicants should work with advisers, reapply if necessary, and prepare thoroughly for both open and closed file interviews to showcase qualifications and personality to admissions committees.
The application process for medical school can be complex and variable, and applicants are encouraged to work with pre-health advisers or seek volunteer advisers through organizations like NAAHP. Applicants should not be discouraged if they are unsuccessful in their first application cycle and should consider reapplying after improving their application. The interview process at Washington University involves both open file and closed file interviews, with the open file interview allowing the interviewer to review the applicant's file beforehand, and the closed file interview limiting the interviewer's knowledge to the applicant's name. Both interviews are conversational in style. It's important for applicants to prepare thoroughly for each interview and make the most of the opportunity to showcase their qualifications and personality to the admissions committee.
Creating a personal connection during virtual medical school interviews: Flexibility, authenticity, and a good connection are crucial for successful virtual medical school interviews. Applicants should be themselves and adapt to technology issues. WashU offers flexibility in scheduling interview components.
Medical school interviews at Washington University (WashU) are more about the connection and conversation between the faculty and the student, rather than just the applicant's qualifications. The decision-making process is collective, with different people coming together to ensure the right fit for WashU. This year, due to the virtual process, making a personal connection has been more challenging, and flexibility is key. Applicants should be themselves during interviews and not try to present something they're not comfortable with. Technology hiccups are inevitable, and everyone is learning to adapt. WashU is committed to providing the best experience possible, regardless of any technology issues. This year, WashU has deconstructed the interview day, allowing applicants to choose the day and time for their financial aid session, overview session, and virtual campus tour, to accommodate their logistical issues. Overall, flexibility, authenticity, and a good connection are essential for a successful interview experience in the current virtual environment.
Washington University's Standardized Video Interview: Washington U uses video interviews with student-asked questions, lasting 20-30 mins, written component, not sole determinant, partnered with Cure Talent, conducted by faculty/students, initially met with skepticism but now commonplace.
Washington University School of Medicine has implemented a standardized video interview as part of their interview process in addition to the traditional virtual interviews, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This video interview is tailored to the university, with questions asked by current students and specific to areas of interest. The interviews last around 20-30 minutes, with a written component for additional time. The video interview is not the sole determining factor for admission, as the application still holds significant weight in the decision-making process. The university partners with Cure Talent for technical support and faculty and students conduct the interviews to give applicants a taste of campus life. The adoption of this virtual interview approach was initially met with skepticism but has become commonplace in the current climate.
Preparing for a Medical School Interview: Effective interview preparation includes being familiar with application materials, anticipating questions, showcasing communication skills, and demonstrating genuine interest through updates and letters of intent.
The college interview plays a significant role in the medical school application process. It provides students with an opportunity to make a strong first impression, express themselves, and tell their unique story to the admissions committee. Preparation is crucial, and applicants should be well-versed in their application materials and anticipate potential interview questions. The interview is a chance for the committee to assess communication skills, compatibility with the learning environment, and overall fit. Updates and letters of intent from applicants on the waitlist are welcome, as they demonstrate a genuine interest in the program. The admissions committee considers a holistic approach, taking into account various data points beyond just test scores and GPAs, to find the best fit for both the student and the institution.
Updating WashU with new info can impact admission decision: Staying in touch with WashU during the application process, with authentic updates, can positively influence the admissions committee's decision.
Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis values open communication from applicants, whether accepted or on the waitlist. Sending updates with new research, resume items, or expressing enthusiasm for the school can make a difference. The admissions team, led by Dean Attz, reads each update carefully. Applicants should be authentic and true to themselves throughout the application process. While the process is competitive, the collaborative environment at WashU is noteworthy. Students are eager to help each other, with current students providing virtual tours, panel sessions, and other resources to incoming students. The school is committed to creating a supportive and inclusive community for all students.
Stay informed and learn from various sources: Incorporate diverse podcasts and books into your daily routine to stay informed and learn continuously
Learning and growth are continuous processes, whether in personal or professional life. Matt, a guest on the podcast, shared his morning routine of starting with NPR's Up First and listening to Jon Meacham's It Was Said podcast to stay informed and learn from historical and current speeches. He also recommended Ask A Cycling Coach podcast for sports and sports medicine enthusiasts. In terms of books, Matt suggested rereading "Black Hawk Down" for its lessons on preparation and learning from past experiences. He also mentioned "The Butchering Art" as a fascinating read about the history of medicine. Matt's recommendations underscore the importance of staying curious and committed to learning, no matter the field or subject matter.
Acknowledging Understanding and Agreement: Using 'you too' in closing remarks signifies mutual understanding, acknowledgment, and agreement between two parties, building stronger relationships and fostering a sense of connection.
Effective communication often involves more than just saying goodbye. The exchange "We'll see you later. Yeah. You too." may seem like a simple closing remark, but it can carry deeper meaning. This interaction signifies mutual understanding, acknowledgment, and agreement between two parties. It's a way of expressing respect and appreciation for each other's time and presence. By using "you too," the speaker is acknowledging that they have heard and understood the other person's intentions to meet again. This simple exchange can help build stronger relationships and foster a sense of connection. It's a reminder that even in casual interactions, our words have the power to convey meaning and build understanding.
