The field of medical research has a vital role in our increased longevity over the years. Through this field, vaccines, antibiotics, and other medicines, as well as new surgical procedures are discovered, developed, and tested. If you think becoming a medical research professional is the career path for you, take a closer look at the following top medical research teaching schools in the US (US News and World Report Ranking for 2010):
1. Harvard University
Ivy League member Harvard Medical School boasts a large and highly distinguished faculty. The school also manages several medical research divisions, centers, and institutes. These include the Harvard Clinical Research Institute and the Harvard NeuroDiscovery Center. Plus, Harvard Medical School has produced numerous Nobel laureates who have contributed a lot to medical research: George Minot, William P. Murphy, and Torsten Wiesel.
2. University of Pennsylvania
Also a member of the Ivy League, University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine is proud to offer a variety of medical research training programs. Students also enjoy access to various institutes and centers, more than 892,000 net square feet for laboratory space, and an annual funding that goes beyond $400,000,000.
3. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins served as a model for research universities in the US. Approximately 80% of the school’s undergraduates experience some form of independent research. Many of the research conducted by Johns Hopkins’ medical school are supported by national agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
4. University of California – San Francisco
Research training programs offered by the University of California – San Francisco School of Medicine include Clinical & Translational Sciences and Clinical Research. The school is also considered as one of the country’s leading HIV/AIDS research centers. The UCSF School of Medicine is also one of the largest recipients of research funds from the NIH.
5. Washington University in St. Louis
Also one of the top recipients of NIH’s research funds, Washington University in St. Louis’ School of Medicine offers various research training programs. The school is also known for its major role in the Human Genome Project (HGP).
There are many factors you have to consider when coming up with an excellent admission essay for med school, but among the major ones are the enthusiasm factor and the relevance of the contents. This is why you should pay attention to such factors and aspects of your personal statement. Read on for tips when writing an essay that has relevant content and shows a lot of enthusiasm and creativity.
Edit for relevant content in your med school admission essay
In the first draft, it is so easy to get carried away. A point mentioned can be over-discussed. Trivia that do not hold much significance may litter the pages. It is not exactly bad to commit these mistakes. After all, you probably are not a professional writer. What is unforgivable is if you fail to correct these mistakes before handing over the essays to the school’s concerned office. Check the relevance of each assertion you have placed in there. Ask yourself if all statements in your essay contribute to the main thesis of your application essay.
Show enthusiasm and creativity when writing about a chosen admision essay topic
To come up with a winning essay, you should both be enthusiastic and creative. These traits will help you if you want to make a very good impression on the admissions officers. Enthusiasm and passion are two things that can make you stand out from the rest of the applicants. Put some zest and spice into your presentation, and by being creative, you are trying to get your essay out from the ranks of the mediocre.
It is not just the relevance of contents you should be aware of. It’s also how you have presented them. Once you’ve mastered all of these and have given the essay to the Committee, prepare for a most rewarding outcome, which is getting in into your dream school.
Related questions:
1. Why is enthusiasm a must in the admission essay?
2. Why is creativity advised in your admission essay?
3. How much trivia should the admission essay contain?
The purpose of your admission essay is to help you land a spot in your dream school. One way for you to come up with an effective essay is to make it stand out and avoid cliches. Using cliches will create a bad impression on your essay readers. They might think that you are too lazy or that you lack the creativity to come up with something original and unique. After all, admission essay readers will have to go through hundreds of essays during the application period; they want something that will grab their attention and make them more curious about a certain applicant. For tips on what cliche statements to avoid when writing your personal statement for medical school, read on.
Cliches commonly used in med school admission essays: I can make a difference
This is surely a laudable statement, but the admissions officers have probably read millions of essays that contain this statement. You do want to make a difference by becoming a doctor, but make sure that you state it in another way. Be original and creative. What the readers want are details and your meaningful experiences, and not hackneyed phrases.
Cliches commonly used in med school admissions essays: I know what it is to triumph over adversity
As another example of a cliche, this statement should definitely be avoided when writing your personal statement for medical school. Instead of saying this, why don’t you just narrate a life experience that basically implies that you know what it is to triumph over adversity? An example is getting fired from a job and bouncing back from depression. By including personal experiences, you are giving your readers a glimpse of your personality.
One way to avoid cliches is to come up with a creative way of telling your story. You can also try to find a different angle to your story to make sure it stands out from the rest. To help you out, you can read free sample personal statements online and see what other cliches you need to avoid.
Related questions:
1. Why is a cliche bad on the admission essay?
2. What is one example of a cliche found on medical application essays?
3. How can we avoid using the cliches?
You will get to a point after medical school when you will ask yourself if you should be a medical specialist or a general practitioner. Making a choice can be difficult especially if you lack information about both practices. So, to help you decide well, below are the advantages and disadvantages of being a medical specialist and why you choose to become one instead of being a general practitioner.
Advantages
Whether you choose to become an internist, surgeon, or neurologist or someone who focuses on diagnostic specialties, you will learn more about a particular field in medicine when you choose to be a medical specialist. Studying more about a branch of medicine such as cardiology or surgery gives you professional leverage and more credibility than if you are a general practitioner.
Another advantage is, as a medical specialist, you will enjoy a prestigious name. Years of further study as an internist, for example, earns you the benefit of being highly regarded and respected in the medical field. Your colleagues will consult you about matters they cannot solve or recommend you to patients with rare conditions. More than that, you get to solve more challenging cases and become more renowned when you succeed.
Finally, because of the specialized work you do, you earn more than your colleagues. An internist, a neurologist, a surgeon and a diagnostic specialist earn at least $20,000 more than general practitioners. In addition, you are considered as a better candidate for higher job positions in a hospital when you choose to specialize after medical school.
Disadvantages
Of course, before you earn the prestigious name and the money, you have to go through a lot of hard work. After graduating from medical school, you practice working in a hospital for a few years and spend several years more as a resident. As a resident, you learn about the area you want to specialize in, take tests and even be urged by superiors to study further.
Another disadvantage is you only handle medical cases related to your specialization. If you choose to be a cardiologist, you only take care of patients who have disorders of the cardiovascular system. Rarely will you be allowed to handle patients having different disorders. One of the reasons why a good number of doctors choose to become general practitioners is that they look forward to helping many people.
Being a medical specialist may be a more appealing option for you. But as you decide, consider your interests and your life in the long run. Remember that in any profession, financial stability, personal fulfillment and work-life balance are also important.
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