So, what’s changed about 2010 that suddenly make getting into medical school different? Not much, really, it’s still all about nailing those fundamentals. But if you’re wondering exactly what those are, check out these 5 things.

#5: Practice Your Admissions Interview.

There’s no point going in cold to this one. Pretend you’re an actor getting ready to perform — the only way you’re going to master those lines and nail your performance is by rehearsing, as much as possible. Set a schedule, sit down with a friend, and just start talking as though you were in the interview. You want to stay loose and be able to improvise, but you don’t want to go in without having covered some of this ground first.

#4: The Internet is a Useful Tool.

Hey, you’re on a website right now, going through an article about the entire medical school admissions process, no? Find those eBooks, blogs, other articles, and general ‘content’ on getting into medical school, print a bunch of them out, and make yourself a little reference guide.

#3: Hit the Bookstore.

If you’re about to do a medical school interview, you might be faced with a question about some of the current issues facing doctors in 2010. Medical schools want to see well-informed, curious, interested candidates who are conscious of the role doctors play in society. Actively seek out literature to broaden your perspective. Read Atul Gawande and Oliver Sacks, and stay sharp.

#2: Get the ‘Elements of Style’.

Ah, the dreaded motivation letter. Some of us have the unfortunate tendency, when faced with having to write something ‘official’, of sounding like a lawyer when we write, or like a government apparatchik circa 1950s-era Soviet Russia. Read some books on writing style. Have people you know are good writers look over your work. It’ll serve you far beyond just the admissions process.

#1: Know When to Seek Help.

Even if you take to heart every single piece of advice in the world, it might not be exactly adapted to your particular situation or really play to your strengths. To figure out what those are, you might want to contact a professional who can help you directly — someone who understands how to get into medical school and can help get you from “what do I do now?” to “I made it!

It is optimal to start working on your medical school application as soon as you make the decision to pursue a medical career. Professional medical school admissions consulting companies will not only help you with application process, but will also prepare you for the admissions interview.

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