How to Get Accepted to Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin

https://blog.accepted.com/how-to-get-...

Dr. Michael Ellison, Associate Dean for Admissions at Chicago Medical School, describes how the school trains students from all backgrounds to be thoughtful and dynamic healthcare leaders. He shares his advice for students looking to pursue medical careers and to be admitted to the program.  

In this episode:

Can you give us an overview of the Chicago Medical School program, focusing on its more distinctive elements?

Could you define or describe interprofessionalism? How does it manifest itself in the medical school curriculum?

How has COVID affected the curriculum and experience at Chicago Medical?

Are you going to keep any virtual elements in the curriculum?

Is there any intention or consideration of waiving the MCAT?

Do you accept applicants from post-bacc programs?

Some schools really want research from applicants. For some schools, it's nice to have. For other schools it's really irrelevant in terms of the evaluation process. Where does Chicago Medical stand on that continuum?

Do you screen before sending out secondaries? Or are secondaries sent out automatically to everybody?

What do you hope to learn from the secondary that you don't learn from the primary?

What does the Casper add to your insight into an applicant?

What makes an applicant jump off in a positive way and join that very fortunate, roughly 7% of applicants who are invited to interview?

What kind of interview day can invited applicants expect?

Is the interview a traditional one-on-one? Is it one-on-two or three? Is it multiple mini interviews?

How does Chicago Medical School look at update letters at any point in the process, before interview, after interview, if wait listed?

What is the latest that someone could expect an interview invitation from Chicago Medical?

Is there any kind of clinical exposure or experience that you prefer to see in applicants or is there any kind of clinical experience that is not so valuable, in your opinion? What about virtual shadowing? Because many shadowing opportunities have evaporated. What is your take on that?

Is virtual shadowing something that you would discourage, or would you just encourage applicants to try to get something in addition to whatever virtual shadowing experience they may be getting?

What is a common mistake you see applicants making during the application process, at any point?

How do you view applicants with an academic infraction or perhaps a criminal record? Do either of these mistakes mean they can't get in? What are you looking for if you are accepting?

What advice would you have for applicants who had a dip in grades or had to drop out of school because of an emotional issue?

What is your perspective on taking gap/growth years?

What advice do you have for medical school applicants thinking ahead and planning to apply next summer or the following summer, or sometime in the future?