Lewis Associates e-Newsletter
Volume 13 Issue 3
March 2013
Published by Lewis Associates. Dr. Cynthia Lewis, PhD., Editor
Email imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
with your comments. Enjoy!
March, 2013, is bringing some changes to Lewis Associates. Marcia Evans, our Administrative Assistant for over 5 years, is moving to Florida March 1st. We have worked out how she will continue to support many of our administrative functions long distance – Will the wonders of computer technology never cease? – But, Dr. Lewis will take over many functions, too. For example, she will be calling you directly for your appointments.
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?
805-226-9669
imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
This month's question on Dr. Lewis' Facebook page is: "I am thinking about writing my personal statement for medical school – 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 2014 or 2015?
Testimonials
Track Record
Be Competitive
What Are Your Chances?
Getting Started
• Applications to Osteopathic Medical Schools Break Record for Seventh Consecutive Year
• The Possible Impact of the MMI and GPA on Diversity
• Anxiety and Its Impact on Performance: Strategies to Help Students with Math and Science Test Anxiety
• Medical Schools Take Active Role in Reducing Students’ Stress and Anxiety
• Student loans: The next housing bubble
• Students Lead Medical Brigades to Answer Need in Developing Countries
• The making of the modern physician
• High cost of medical training
• Combined Medical Degree and Masters in Education
• Uncap GME funding to break a dangerous training bottleneck
Useful Links
• Health Leads - Better health. One connection at a time.
Alumni Update
• Chelsea, MD, Entering Class of 2006, Drexel University School of Medicine
Success Story of the Month
• Abigail, Entering Class of 2013, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Question of the Month
• Dr. Lewis' answer to this month's question: "I am thinking about writing my personal statement for medical school – 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 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!
Phone: 805-226-9669
|
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 2014 or 2015?
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 2014 or 2015 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.
Call 805-226-9669 to set up your first appointment.
Applications to Osteopathic Medical Schools Break Record for Seventh Consecutive Year
http://www.aacom.org/resources/e-news/ome/2013-02/Pages/Applications.aspx
The Possible Impact of the MMI and GPA on Diversity
http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2013/02000/The_Possible_Impact_of_the_MMI_and_GPA_on.6.aspx
http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2013/02000/The_Possible_Impact_of_the_MMI_and_GPA_on.7.aspx
http://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/Fulltext/2013/02000/The_Possible_Impact_of_the_MMI_and_GPA_on.8.aspx
Anxiety and Its Impact on Performance: Strategies to Help Students with Math and Science Test Anxiety
http://explorehealthcareers.org/en/Article/278/Part_1__Anxiety_and_Its_Impact_on_Performance?pub=1&issue=
Medical Schools Take Active Role in Reducing Students’ Stress and Anxiety
While medical students train to improve the health of others, they often lose sight of their own
https://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/jan2013/325922/stress.html
Student loans: The next housing bubble
College students accrue hundreds of thousands in debt with little hope of paying it back.
http://www.salon.com/2013/02/04/student_loans_the_next_housing_bubble/
Students Lead Medical Brigades to Answer Need in Developing Countries
Pre-medical and public health students band together to medically serve Ghana and Honduras communities.
http://www.alumni.emory.edu/emorywire/issues/2013/february/focus/story_1/index.html#.USQFaeikTh9
The making of the modern physician
Medical schools, residency programs and physician organizations are re-examining how the next generation of doctors should be educated and trained.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/02/11/edsa0211.htm?utm_source=nwltr&utm_medium=heds-txt&utm_campaign=20130211
High cost of medical training
Medical education is already out of reach for many bright and talented students because they face hundreds of thousands in debt that we aren’t able to pay during residency.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/high-cost-of-medical-training
Combined Medical Degree and Masters in Education
Why would anyone consider a program in the two vastly different disciplines of medicine and education?
http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/exclusive/combined_medical_degree_and_masters_in_education.htm
Uncap GME funding to break a dangerous training bottleneck
Medical schools producing more physicians is one part of the equation in alleviating shortages. The federal government must make sure the training of those new doctors can continue.
http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2013/02/04/edsa0204.htm
Health Leads - Better health. One connection at a time.
https://healthleadsusa.org/get-involved/volunteer/
Find these and other useful links on Lewisassoc.com's Links Page.
 Chelsea's son Dylan Chelsea, MD, Entering Class of 2006, Drexel University School of Medicine February 9, 2013: "Hi Dr Lewis! Greetings and happy new year! Hope all is well in CA. We are well here in PA. You'll be happy to know I was named Chief Resident by our department for the coming year. Dylan is getting bigger each day and is a wonderful human being. Happy I get to share in his world. Chelsea.” |
Watch for Success Stories coming for some of these alumni!
success story
 Abigail Abigail, Entering Class of 2013, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine Medicine has always been a part of my life, which I attribute primarily to my mother, a hard-working perioperative nurse. As a young, budding pre-med, I would occasionally stay up way past my 9 PM bedtime just to wait for my mom to come home from an exhausting 16-hour nursing shift. While she enjoyed a late night dinner of leftovers, I would sit with her and listen to her tell stories about her day in the hospital. I always enjoyed hearing her detailed accounts of the countless hand surgeries, pacemaker installations, and gastric bypasses that occurred in the operating room. What inspired me most were her descriptions of the physicians in charge. Every doctor kept his or her cool in these high pressure, life-altering situations, all the while exuding compassion for others and confidence in his or her ability to treat patients and delegate tasks to nursing staff. These extremely skilled and resourceful physicians molded my desire to pursue a profession that empowers people to take control of their health and make decisions to improve quality of life. From then on, all my future clinical experiences volunteering on the Labor and Delivery floor in high school, and shadowing pediatricians and OBGYNs in college only reinforced my decision to study medicine. Following the pre-med path is a common, but difficult thing to do at UC Berkeley. In addition to all the grueling prerequisite science courses, the competitive environment only disheartens many and reduces most students to a mere statistic in a class of more than 300. At the end of the day, individuality is lost on a campus boasting a student population of well over 30,000. This was the problem I ran into when I started work on my medical school applications. I did not know how to distinguish myself from the rest of the candidates whose academic backgrounds were similar and just as competitive as mine. Enter Dr. Cynthia Lewis. After a good friend (who is now a successful medical student) referred me to Dr. Lewis’ services, I jumped at the opportunity to work with her. I made the call one afternoon in March and knew I was headed in the right direction. We started working on my personal statement and my works and activities section immediately, 3 months before the official application even opened! Dr. Lewis was eager to learn about my history and experiences, and she helped me craft a personal statement to include aspects that were important and personal to me, such as my love for my Filipino culture, my interest in working with underserved communities locally and abroad, and the research and clinical shadowing that got me to this point. She offered valuable advice on how to structure my essays, and she kept me on track for an early submission date (thank you for constantly reminding me to get those letters of recommendation!). When interview season came around, I valued the school-specific mock interviews she conducted with me. She calmed my nerves, advised me on what to expect from each school, gave me constant feedback on my responses, and ensured, above all else, that I was providing in-depth and anecdotal answers to engage my interviewers. She helped me stand out of a homogenous applicant pool with my vivid childhood stories and unique life experiences. As I reflect back on this emotional rollercoaster of a process, I am so proud to have made it to the finish line. I will be attending the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine (my first choice!) in the fall, moving one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a physician. Dr. Lewis, I cannot thank you enough for your support and your guidance each step of the way. Now, bring on medical school! |
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 thinking about writing my personal statement for medical school – 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 26 years of a successful
track record.
Call or email today to set your first appointment!
805.226.9669 imaclewis@lewisassoc.com
Copyright 2009, Lewis Associates. All rights reserved. Please do not repost on any website without direct permission from Lewis Associates.
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