Lewis Associates e-Newsletter
Volume 14 Issue 10
October 2014
Published by Lewis Associates. Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD., Editor
Email imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
with your comments. Enjoy!
October is the time for academic challenges – both in the classroom and possibly preparing to take the last sitting of the “old” MCAT (October 2014 – January 2015) or the “new” MCAT beginning in April 2015.
So use ALL your academic resources: faculty, personal study group, college tutorials, a personal tutor if necessary … and put in the time to practice every problem you can locate! Don’t let your first exams be the time you find out what you “should have studied”!
Watch for new videos to be posted each month on our Facebook page, including helpful hints for the application process.
Do you really want to be competitive?
1. Plan ... ahead!
2. Address your weaknesses. What are they?
- Science GPA?
- Test (MCAT, DAT) scores, or do you need to take the test for the first time?
- Clinical experiences? How meaningful are they?
- Service? What did you do to help others?
- No close relationships with faculty?
And, how long will it take to really improve? One term? 2 years? Be realistic!
So, whatever quest you have, or issue you want to discuss, Dr. Lewis is the best person to use for personal and academic advice. She's been doing it for 27 years, and "has heard it all". Why don't you let her help you?
imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
This month's question on Dr. Lewis' Facebook page is: "I am writing secondary essays for medical schools – where do I start?”
Getting into medical, dental, pharmacy and the other health professions schools is getting HARDER!
As usually happens in an economic downturn, more people are attracted to stable careers like the health professions…competition is fierce!
How are YOU going to stand out from thousands of applicants?
Warning about student-run websites from Cornell Medical School Admissions staff:
"PLEASE do not encourage students to get information from web sites
administered by other students. From time to time, I look up the studentdoctor.net
site (for interview ratings) and I am appalled at the amount of misinformation
there. Most of the information given there will hurt students more than
help them."
Sick of rumors and false reports? Lewis Associates website has factual information that you can trust.
What's inside:
Welcome to Success Stories Newsletter!
News:
How to Communicate With Us
Your journey to a health profession
Are You Ready for the Class of 2016 or 2017?
Testimonials
Track Record
Be Competitive
What Are Your Chances?
Getting Started
• The meaning behind your white coat
• Getting to know you: Multiple mini-interviews gain traction at schools
• Community colleges may be key to finding doctors for minority, underserved communities
• Medical Students Who Attended Community Colleges are More Likely to Serve in Poor Communities
• Pre-meds scramble to take MCAT
• Humiliation tops list of mistreatment toward med students
• Responding to a medical student in pain
• Is abuse a part of medicine’s hidden curriculum?
• What every new resident should know
• Hero Next Door: How a NASA flight surgeon takes care of astronauts
• Lack of accountability stunts GME progress, says DO on IOM committee
• Caring 101: A Simple Lesson For The First Days Of Medical School
• How two schools are embracing a new science in medical education
• 4 ways to finish residency without falling further into debt
• More Doctors Optimistic About Future Of Medicine
• Tomorrow’s doctors should question the status quo: TEDMED 2014
• Physicians’ role in driving social change: Ethics journal debates
• A Call for a Low-Carb Diet That Embraces Fat
Useful Links
• Leadership Education for Aspiring Physicians
• AACOM - Information for Applicants and Potential Applicants
Success Story of the Month
• Kyle, Entering Class of 2015
Question of the Month
• Dr. Lewis' answer to this month's question: "I am writing secondary essays for medical schools – where do I start?"
See our Facebook page, Notes tab.
Nearly one in ten Americans ages 20 to 24 is unemployed. But, health
care jobs remain an economic bright spot. The U.S. Department of
Labor expects the health sector to add more than 1.4 million workers over
the next ten years. Students in college and even high school can start
preparing now for a rewarding health career.
Are you ready?
Our Track Record
Entering Class of 2013...88% acceptance
Entering Class of 2012...100% acceptance
Entering Class of 2011...100% acceptance
Entering Class of 2010...86% acceptance
Entering Class of 2009...96% acceptance
Entering Class of 2008...96% acceptance
Entering Class of 2007...97% acceptance
Entering Class of 2006...89% acceptance
Entering Class of 2005...100% acceptance
Entering Class of 2004...100% acceptance
If you are interested in personalized advising from “The Best in the Business,” (quote by Dr. Patrick Linson, Harvard Medical School Alum who is the only Native American Radiation Oncologist on the planet!), call Lewis Associates today to schedule YOUR personal assessment. Dr. Lewis invests in you, so you may live up to your potential to be the best applicant you can be!
Email: imaclewis@lewisassoc.com |
|
| Mailing Address: 1885 Laguna del Campo, Templeton, CA 93465 | |
Lewis Associates absorbs Long Distance Charges
All phone conferences are made from our office to you. Marcia, our Administrative Assistant, calls YOU at your appointment time.
Where are you
in your journey to a health profession?
In high school? Yes, we advise high school students,
particularly, those interested in BA-MD programs!
Just starting college? This is a scary time. Everything
is new…how do I meet all those new expectations?
Moving into your difficult upper division sciences as a college
junior? Possibly, the "dreaded organic chemistry"…
Re-entering as an "older" non-traditional student?
Re-establishing academic discipline…
We help prepare those of you submitting applications for medical
and dental Residency programs, too!
Whatever niche you fit, we advise students just like you.
Are you REALLY ready to apply for the Class of 2015 or 2016?
How do you know?
Use our Personal
Assessment--and you will be given your individual strategy
and path to your future! Then, if you use our advising, we help implement
your strategy! If it
were easy to do, all applicants would be accepted...and, that is not the
case.
Many whom we advise may not yet be ready, and need to develop some aspect
of their background to become competitive. Best to apply when
you are ready, be competitive, and do it ONLY ONCE!
Let's work together to make that one-time application successful…contacting
us earlier is better so we can develop your strategy and address all those
difficult problems…months or years prior to application.
Why not set yourself up for success, rather than toy with the proposition
of failure?
Testimonials
Gail Ruth, mother of Todd Ruth, Entering Class of
2010, Jefferson University Medical School
Just a short note here to let you know how appreciative we are
of all the wonderful help you gave to our son, Todd. He just received
his first 2 acceptances from his top choices, so we couldn't be more pleased.!
You were instrumental in guiding him as to which courses to take and gave
him invaluable help with his essays. Thanks once again for all your help
and guidance.
David and Maureen Lee, parents of Eric Lee, Entering Class of
2009, Saint Louis University School of Medicine
June, 2009: "Dr. Lewis, We just wanted to drop you a quick
note to say thank you for all of your strategic guidance, wise counsel,
encouragement, and mentoring to our son Eric on his journey to get into
medical school. That is quite a process!! Eric definitely took the "road
less traveled", majoring in philosophy, but he worked really hard
to get his science prerequisites under his belt. He benefited so much
from your experience, insight, and when needed, "tough love".
You kept him on track, and we thank you. We think he will be an excellent
physician. Perhaps some day we will meet. Again with gratitude, David
and Maureen Lee."
Michael Nevarez, Entering Class of 2006, Harvard University School
of Medicine, his first choice school
"Dr. Lewis was a wonderful guide and mentor as I embarked
on a medical career a number of years after graduating from Cal Poly (graduated
2001, applied to med school in 2006). She gave an honest assessment of
the strengths and weaknesses of my profile, and more importantly provided
specific and personalized ways in which I could address
my application and the process going forward. Her advice and experience
was invaluable and I am very happy to have worked with her."
Margaret Jolley, Entering Class of 2008, UC San Diego School of
Medicine, her first choice school
"I never would've made it without my weekly conference with the calm,
experienced Dr. Lewis. She kept me sane. I am so grateful for her guidance,
for her editing help, and for the confidence she instilled in me. She
is a genuinely caring committed Mentor who takes pride in helping our
dreams happen. I have urged every fellow student I know to call her. Let
her help you, too!"
Austin Yoder, Entering Class of 2009, Accepted to Uniformed
Services University for Health Sciences, Philadelphia Osteopathic-GA,
West Virginia Osteopathic, Tennessee Osteopathic, and
Kansas City Osteopathic
"I am utterly grateful to Dr. Lewis for all her help, guidance and
mentorship through the application process. I owe a great deal of my success
to date to her team."
Ariel Chairez, Entering Class 2004, Scholarship Awardee, University
of Wisconsin Medical School
"Dr. Lewis, I would like to thank you for all of your help.
Without your guidance, I would not have been accepted
into medical school this year. I am extremely happy to have been accepted
to one of the top medical schools in the country, and to have received
a scholarship of $130,000. For any student who questions the value
of your services, I can say that you have saved me $130,000 in tuition!
Thank you."
John Fiszer (Lawyer), Entering Class of 2005,
University Of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
Dr. Lewis' note: John was an Assistant State's Prosecuting Attorney in
Chicago, Illinois, when he contacted me in 2004. Finishing his 4th year
of medical school, he said: "I am really enjoying med school, and
I am thankful to Dr. Lewis for her help. Her methodical, disciplined approach
to the med school application process, as well as her insight into the
transition to med school were right on target."
Ali Warrick, Advisee
"Dear Dr. Lewis,
I appreciate your help in my transfer process to UC Berkeley. You have
been an integral part of the transition, and I would like to thank you
for your time and efforts. I know that your work is very thorough
and well thought out. In addition, I believe that you really care about
your students, and believe in each student's "right fit" in
a school. You lead many people toward a brighter future, and I would like
to say, 'Thank You!' for your contribution toward my academic goals. This
process has been much more enjoyable with your guidance. Thank you for
being so good at what you do."
S, Entering Class 2008, accepted with full scholarship
to Mayo Medical School
"I cannot thank Dr. Lewis enough for her support and invaluable advice.
When I came to her, I was apprehensive about the formidable task of applying
to medical school especially with my past academic and personal hardships.
She helped me see that overcoming these difficulties was a testament to
my strength, dedication, and diligence. One of the most surprising outcomes
of our relationship was that she was effective in helping me develop a
more positive self-image and conquer many of my insecurities. Without
her guidance and letter of evaluation, I would not have been able to earn
an acceptance to Mayo Medical School, which granted me a merit scholarship
that covers almost all of my tuition. I truly appreciate all of her help.
She went above and beyond her role as an Advisor by becoming a Mentor
to me. She is absolutely the best in the business!"
Be Competitive
In order to be a competitive Class of 2015 or 2016 applicant,
you need to submit a quality application as evaluated by your clinical,
service and other experiences and your GPA-MCAT/DAT/GRE, etc. profile
in a timely fashion. This requires a well thought-out strategy to carry
you through the difficult year-long application process. If you use Dr.
Lewis' advising, we begin preparation early in the year BEFORE submission
of your application!
EARLY is always better, removes much of the pressure, and allows time to solve unforeseen problems and challenges.
What are your chances?
If you want to change your career, or reach your present career goal,
but do not know how to begin, or how to jump over all those hurdles, Lewis
Associates will advise you and implement strategies to change your life.
Dr. Lewis is thorough and professional.
Getting Started
Read on our website about
getting your Personal
Assessment done, then phone or email
us to get started! Dr. Lewis spends, on average, 7 hours developing
an effective strategy of taking you from where you are to where you want
to be.
You may be like our other Lewis Associates Advisees -- highly motivated
and intelligent -- but needing focus, guidance and specific technical
expertise. Dr. Lewis solves problems for her Advisees and finds opportunities
for them. Or, you may wish to use hourly advising to solve one specific
problem.
Dr. Lewis is a trained Biologist, having taught and directed her own research
programs for many years at two universities. She earned two postdoctoral
fellowships (one at NIH), received the 1990 NACADA Outstanding
Institutional Advising Program in the U.S. and directed her own Health
Careers Opportunity Program grant for 6 years, bringing $1 million to
her university while helping hundreds of disadvantaged
students enter health professions.
If you are serious about making your dreams to become a physician,
dentist, physician assistant, veterinarian, optometrist, podiatrist, naturopathic
physician, or pharmacist a reality--Dr. Lewis can help you.
We have made the difference for more than 800 alumni now training or practicing
in medicine over the last 26 years.
Dr. Lewis teaches Professionalism, Leadership, and Quality, and
sets high standards for her Advisees.
Lewis Associates will save you money and heartache on your preparation
and application process.
Contact the Health Career experts! For more
information email imaclewis@lewisassoc.com.
The meaning behind your white coat
New medical students are slipping on their short white coats, a momentous and exciting occasion that marks the beginning of their careers.
Getting to know you: Multiple mini-interviews gain traction at schools
An emerging trend in medical school admissions, the multiple mini-interview is beginning to take hold in osteopathic medical education, with a handful of DO schools using or testing the protocol.
Community colleges may be key to finding doctors for minority, underserved communities
Medical schools hoping to find doctors who'll practice in minority and underserved communities may want to start grooming students in community colleges, a new study out of UCLA indicates.
Medical Students Who Attended Community Colleges are More Likely to Serve in Poor Communities
Reviewing data from students entering medical school, researchers found that accepted applicants with community college in their backgrounds were more likely to commit to practicing in underserved areas.
Pre-meds scramble to take MCAT
The Medical College Admission Test is set for its first changes in over two decades this spring.
Humiliation tops list of mistreatment toward med students
Of the various forms of mistreatment that 20 percent of medical students say they are subjected to, including sexist remarks and requests for personal favors, public humiliation was the most common, according to Michigan State researchers studying AAMC data.
Responding to a medical student in pain
Is abuse a part of medicine’s hidden curriculum?
The study about trainee humiliation covered in last week’s edition is only the latest to find abuse of medical students and residents common.
What every new resident should know
Transitioning from medical school to residency isn't easy, but it is exciting. Seasoned residents shared what they wish they had known about residency to help new residents and medical students prepare for success.
Hero Next Door: How a NASA flight surgeon takes care of astronauts
As a NASA flight surgeon, Richard Scheuring, DO, supports spacecraft launches and landings, helps astronauts train for space flight, and takes care of astronauts before and after their missions.
Lack of accountability stunts GME progress, says DO on IOM committee
The Institute of Medicine's recent report on graduate medical education jarred the U.S. health care community by calling out the lack of transparency in federally funded GME spending.
Caring 101: A Simple Lesson For The First Days Of Medical School
Though students entering medical school today will see tremendous change in medicine over their careers, there will be at least one common element between their practice and that of today’s physicians: the power and responsibility that comes with providing care.
How two schools are embracing a new science in medical education
For future physicians preparing for the complexities of the 21st-century health care system, education beyond basic and clinical sciences can give them the tools they need to succeed in practice and in achieving positive outcomes for their patients. Some medical schools are incorporating the science of health delivery into their education curriculum to meet this need.
4 ways to finish residency without falling further into debt
After graduating from medical school, you likely already have significant student loan debt—don’t add to your financial load by incurring even more debt throughout your residency.
More Doctors Optimistic About Future Of Medicine
Family doctors are also pushing to change how the nation pays for medical education and are proposing shifting training funds away from hospitals for residencies.
Tomorrow’s doctors should question the status quo: TEDMED 2014
If physicians are going to lead health care changes, they’ll need to take unconventional approaches, ask a lot of questions and support innovation, speakers emphasized at TEDMED 2014, which began Wednesday and ran through Friday in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.
Physicians’ role in driving social change: Ethics journal debates
The role of physicians in addressing the myriad of nonmedical factors that affect human health—from poverty to social injustice to infringement of human rights—is a complex one.
A Call for a Low-Carb Diet That Embraces Fat
People who avoid carbohydrates and eat more fat, even saturated fat, lose more body fat and have fewer cardiovascular risks than people who follow the low-fat diet that health authorities have favored for decades, a major new study shows.
Leadership Education for Aspiring Physicians
Seminar series designed to provide timely, relevant training to premedical students through practical skill-building, case studies, and exposure to leadership challenges and successes throughout the healthcare industry using project-based learning theory.
AACOM - Information for Applicants and Potential Applicants
Find these and other useful links on Lewisassoc.com's Links Page.
success story
 Kyle Kyle, Entering Class of 2015 As a pre-med student, I dreamt of my acceptance to medical school. Thank you Dr. Lewis for your guidance and assistance in making my dream a reality! As I sit here writing, I reflect on my gratefulness to have already attended 4 interviews, and received 3 acceptances to medical schools. However, it is only September, and the application cycle has just begun. I never imagined myself here 7 years ago when I was training to play college basketball. However, my passion and values changed, and I turned down basketball scholarships so I could begin my journey to a career in medicine. Over the next several years, I had the opportunity to volunteer with hospice, participate in AMSA, do research, attend medical missions in Haiti, Ghana, and Thailand, and mentor/tutor newly-immigrated refugees in San Diego. I enjoyed these experiences among many others because I have been living my passion, which affirms my career in medicine, working with the disadvantaged. This journey was also very challenging, and I was blessed when I was referred to Dr. Lewis near the later end of my undergraduate education. This time proved difficult because it was then that I began helping my mother through her breast cancer treatment, a friend who was dealing with sexual abuse, and studied for the MCAT while I worked 25 Hr/wk and volunteered with refugees. I questioned my motivation to become a doctor during this physical, emotional, and academic challenge. Later in summer 2013, I suffered repeated illnesses after submitting my application, so I withdrew my application. Dr. Lewis was understanding, and provided me professional support every step of the way. When I felt lost, she helped direct me, and empowered me to become a more resilient and passionate individual. I reapplied in summer 2014, and am thankful to have already received multiple interviews and acceptances. The application process was more strenuous than I ever imagined it to be, but Dr. Lewis prepared me well in advance, and it proved very manageable with her help. I have never seen more compassion and commitment for students like I saw with Dr. Lewis. When I was struggling with verbal reasoning for the MCAT, she helped find me support. I developed professional writing and communication skills while she assisted me with my personal statement, secondary essays, and interviews skills. Her professional affiliations and alumni provided me mentorship from physicians, too. I will forever be grateful for the hundreds of hours she personally invested in me. I wish every pre-med student could have an Advisor like Dr. Lewis because she helped me become the best applicant I could be, while preparing me to be become a better future physician. I can genuinely say that I would not be where I am today if it were not for her mentorship. Dr. Lewis, thank you for being a trustworthy, motivational, and hardworking advisor and friend for over 3 years. You have been one of the most influential people in my life, and I will forever value your guidance. Thank you for helping me pursue my passion and desire to become a future physician! |
Email to Dr. Lewis if you wish to communicate about medical schools or other issues or to contact those profiled in Success Stories: imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
question of the month... see Facebook, Notes tab
By Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD
"I am writing secondary essays for medical schools – where do I start?"
We will feature an important question each month. Please submit one that interests you for Dr. Lewis to answer. Send your questions to imaclewis@lewisassoc.com with 'Newsletter Question' in the subject line.
lewis associates advising services
Lewis Associates specializes in personal, effective and professional
premedical advising and placement for traditional and non-traditional
applicants. Often, non-traditional students are older than 21 years
of age, career changers, international applicants or second-round applicants
for admission to health professions school.
Lewis Associates' services meet the needs of all types of students from
pre-applicants to applicants, including hourly advising support for
specific needs. Click
here.
contact
"It's never too late to be who you might have been."
If this is how YOU feel, then, maybe Lewis Associates is the place
for you. Lewis Associates provides Mentoring and Coaching through
the rigorous and often circuitous pre-health preparation and application
process. Other consultants may support programs like Law and Business
or graduate school -- not Lewis Associates. We are the experts in
Health Professions based on 29 years of a successful
track record.
Call or email today to set your first appointment!
Copyright 2014, Lewis Associates. All rights reserved. Please do not repost on any website without direct permission from Lewis Associates.
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