Critique of Best Foreign Medical Schools
December 3rd, 2009
The blog on the Best Foreign Medical Schools is dedicated to providing helpful information on the best options for foreign students looking for medical schools in the United States and in other countries around the world. As such, the site features sections on medical schools in Asia, the Caribbean, South America, and UK. The blog also has sections that discuss other medical school concerns, such as medical school exams, guides to pre-med, and financial help. A typical type of blog entry that you can find on Best Foreign Medical Schools is the article on “Charting a Course to Medical School”.
The best of the Best Foreign Medical Schools blog
The best thing about the Best Foreign Medical Schools blog is that it has content that is meaningful and relevant to its target readers. From personal statement writing tips and financial aid help to residency listings and current healthcare news, the blog certainly covers topics that medical students should know about. Also, I like how the site caters specifically to foreign students, yet the content provides information that can be helpful for any medical student, professional, or anyone interested in medicine. Creating sections for each geographical location is also a good idea that makes the site easier to navigate, especially for those who already have an idea of where they want to attend medical school.
More room for improvement
Despite the fact that the Best Foreign Medical Schools blog contains insightful blog entries, it can use an upgrade on its design. Currently, the site looks just too plain and simple. Many Internet users are drawn to different blogs because they are interesting, with pictures and a good overall web design. Best Foreign Medical Schools blog, however, fails to incorporate pictures, colors, and graphics to spruce up the site and make it easier on the eyes. The site also lacks organization, but this can easily be fixed by adding some color and graphics to indicate the various areas of the blog.
Critique of The Warwick Medical School Blog
November 29th, 2009
The Warwick Medical School Blog has the aim of offering information about medicine and medical school to students, staff, and practitioners. As such, the blog contains articles like Making virtual patients a reality with eViP, which discusses a platform for medical training with the use of virtual patients. The blog is rather simple and straightforward.
Good things about Warwick Medical School Blog
Perhaps the only good thing about the Warwick Medical School Blog is that its content is relevant. Although the blog doesn’t have much content, the blog entries that it does contain are informative and current. This blog could improve greatly if they could just continue to produce more informative and relevant content to entice readers with.
Room for improvement
There is a lot of room for improvement for the Warwick Medical School blog. Sure, the site does a good job of targeting a specific audience, but it simply lacks content. Some of the weakest blogs on the Internet are those with little content and Warwick’s Medical School Blog is a good example. Little content equates to slower traffic and it gives readers no reason to come back to the site. If a visitor can read all of the content on this site in a single day, then there is no point for that reader to come back for more. Furthermore, the website has a weak design that is frankly quite boring. With no pictures, few navigational links, and an overall drab look, it’s difficult to believe that Warwick’s med school blog has worthwhile content. Unfortunately, a bad combination of little content and a generic web design just won’t cut it. The Warwick Medical School Blog will have to step up its game if it plans to be of any use to medical students, medical staff, and Internet users in general.
Critique of Student Doctor Network
November 22nd, 2009
The Student Doctor Network, or SDN, is a website that has a lot to offer to health students and health practitioners. With sections on many of the medical fields, including dental, optometry, and medical fields, the Student Doctor Network has loads of information that is invaluable for anyone looking to be a successful doctor. Students can find help from other students and professionals via the member blogs, which includes topics like First Week of Dental School and Cellular and Humoral Immune Responses.
What SDN is doing right
The Student Doctor Network is doing a lot of things right. Not only it is catering to a specific audience, but it also has just the kind of high-quality content that today’s health care students and professionals seek. With such great content, it’s easy to see why visitors would feel compelled to come back to the Student Doctor Network. The website is also professionally designed, making use of great web features such as applets, drop-down menus, and an intuitive layout that is easy to understand. Furthermore, the community aspect of the Student Doctor Network makes it the perfect platform for students to get in touch with healthcare professionals for their opinions, ideas, studies, or just for a good conversation.
What SDN can improve on
Perhaps the only that I don’t like about the Student Doctor Network is the design of the blog page. The blog page has a design that is very similar to a message board. Perhaps it’s a matter of personal preference, but I find message-board designs to be rather cluttered and confusing to navigate around. Still, the good side of having a message-board design is that the members might feel more compelled to actually contribute their thoughts and concerns on the blog. I just wish that the Student Doctor Network carried over its professional design from the website to the blog site.
Critique of Medical Mastery Blog
November 15th, 2009
So, You Want To Be a Doctor? blog is Dr. Daniel Williams? sort of an online publication of lectures and other informative articles and content for medical students and aspiring med students in various fields. The entries are basically downloadable transcripts of his lectures, some of which even have videos and audio files.
What I liked about Medical Mastery
The blog is quite easy to navigate. There are tabs at the top of the pages for those who might want to read testimonials, know more about the blog administrator, inquire about the pricing, and others. At the side bar of the homepage are links to lectures on various topics about medical education, med schools, med admission, and even medicine and medical practice. The lectures are practical information that would really be of great help to students studying medicine and other related disciplines. The most commonly used tags are also displayed on the home page to facilitate easy searches. There is also an option for search so you could easily find lectures or articles that you need.
Each lecture comes with options for downloads of audio files or lecture transcripts. Aside from topics such as MCAT practice tests and test techniques, test anxiety, and med school interviews and admissions, there are also self-help and inspirational articles for med students and hopefuls. There?s this article on MCAT verbal reasoning, which convinced me that the lectures would really be helpful. An entry entitled the “15 Things Every Future Doctor Must Know” lists the articles and lectures that would guide a med student or aspiring med student through the whole “course.”
Suggestions for improvement
Apparently, with the use of videos and mp3 files, the use of media is maximized, although the blog could still do with more photos for a more interesting read and browsing. A little more spice in the layout and array of entries would also do to avoid making the blog look quite boring.
What You Ought to Know about Med School before Submitting an Application for Admission
November 1st, 2009
Is it your fervent dream to get into med school? If yes, it is very important for you to know some things about med school before you submit a personal statement. You will then know what to expect and how you can prepare for the worst.
Course requirements
One of the first things you should check is the course requirement. You have to make sure that you wouldn’t have a difficult time with the requirements of the program. You can ask the school for the official list of requirements and med school admission guide. Aside from this, you can also get the course requirements list from the official website of the school.
High levels of stress and long hours of work
Pursuing a med degree is not easy. You have to expect high levels of stress and long hours of work. Med school is demanding, so you really have to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally before you tread the path. You should have realistic expectations when
entering med school in order to spare yourself from so much stress and disappointments.
Endless research and training
You also have to expect endless research and rigorous training in med school. It is an advantage if you prepare yourself for long hours of research and sleepless nights of studying. You should also learn how to balance your academic and personal life in order to survive as a med student.
Knowing a lot of things about med school would help you to decide whether or not to pursue a medical career. It would also enable you to prepare for the obstacles and difficulties ahead. Even if you dream of becoming a doctor but feel that you can’t get by with few hours of sleep and intensive training on the field, then it may be better to focus on a career that’s more suitable to you. Remember that the cost of taking up medicine is cheap. It can also take its toll on your health and family life.
Related links:
Surviving Med School – Help on med school interview and application
Letters of Recommendation – Help on letters of recommendation and the application process
US Medical Schools – US med school profiles and application guide
Medical School Essay – Guide to medical school essays
Med School Application – Tips on writing personal statements for med school
Passion is one of the most important elements the admissions officers are looking for in the personal statement. This is why in writing your personal statement for medical school, you have to state the reason you chose that specific program. Aside from this, you have to show that you are going to commit yourself to your studies and that you have what it takes to be in med school.
Why med school?
In writing your personal statement, you have to emphasize the reasons for wanting to attend med school. Make sure that you don’t make money as your reason for becoming a medical professional or pursuing a medical career. A good reason can be your passion or interest in the field. Wanting to help others and discover medical breakthroughs can also be great points for writing a persuasive admission essay, one that can earn the nods of the selection panel.
How do I qualify?
Aside from your personal reasons, you also have to highlight your qualities that could be very helpful in pursuing a medical profession. What are your good traits that you think would help you survive the challenges of med school and the obstacles in the real world? In discussing your good qualities, you have to make sure that you are honest with what you’re saying. The admissions officers would surely know if you are lying or just faking sincerity in your essay.
Am I committed?
Commitment is one of the things that admissions committee are looking for in every applicant. The admissions officers know that a committed person can easily overcome the challenges and obstacles of med school. This is why they would probably give priority to applicants who show commitment. So if you want to convince the admissions officers of your worth, consider emphasizing your sincerity, skills, strengths, and passion for a medical career.
Related links:
Becoming a Doctor – Application essays about being a doctor
Med School Profile – All about med school profiles and application
Discussing Interpersonal Skills – All about med school application
Personal Statement Mistakes – How to avoid personal statement mistakes
Med school application – All about personal statement writing for med school
Med School Personal Statement: Moving on from a Bad Start
October 20th, 2009
Writing your med school personal statement could be very daunting. You have to choose the perfect topic, and you also have to select experiences that could fit in the limited pages of your personal statement. What’s disappointing is that you chose a specific topic but you realized that it’s not the best one for you. This is really a bad start. Below are some things you can do to move on from this:
Don’t get stuck with a blank page by writing everything you have in mind
If you get stuck with a blank page and can’t think of anything to write, just write down everything you have in mind. Freely list down all your ideas. Don’t worry even if the ideas are unrelated; you still have to edit and proofread your work after all. After doing this, you can select the related ideas and formulate a coherent essay.
Check your initial drafts and revise based on your outline
After you have made your initial drafts, you should make revisions. Make sure that you have an outline to guide you. You have to check if the sequence of your ideas is right. Is your essay coherent? Does it exhibit the element of unity? These are just some of the questions that you should ask yourself when you do the editing.
Read and revise until you get it right
You should not settle for one-time editing. You have to edit and proofread your work over and over again until you are convinced that it is flawless. Make sure that your personal statement is clear, concise, and error-free. After you have made several revisions, you can ask your peers and former professors if they can read your essay. Ask them for suggestions on how to make the ideas flow better and how you can improve your writing.
Related links:
Application Essay Topics – Discussing your character traits in the essay
Essay Writing Ideas – Tips on writing medical school application essays
Med School Profiles – About top US med schools
Med School Preparations – Getting ready for med school
Admission Essay Tips – Guide to med school admissions
Critique of Med Ed Blog
October 20th, 2009
Med Ed Update perfectly fits into my concept of a “professional blog.” It is a collection of news and blog articles about the goings on in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. The blog caters to the university’s medical education community, keeping its audience updated on the latest news, happenings and issues within, around, and concerning the college. The blog seems to be intended for Carver College of Medicine’s students, faculty, and other people interested in knowing the latest about the college.
Good things about MedCom
The first thing I noticed about the blog is its simplicity that allows for easy navigation. You wouldn’t have to lie idle for a couple of seconds just to figure out how to find the things that you want to find in the blog. Just below the header are two links: one to the article before the one you are reading, and another to the next article. Should you wish to visit the college’s main website, you can click the logo of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine on the upper left hand corner of each page.
The articles or blog entries include pictures to keep each page from being too plain or boring. The blog is composed mainly of news entries about the latest happenings in Carver College of Medicine, but there are also feature articles about some notable people in the medical education community. An example is an article about student Jennifer Miller Meyer, who extends service to an underserved community in Mazatlan, Mexico. There is an option to add a comment at the end of each blog entry.
Not-so-good things about MedCom
If the blog would maximize the Internet’s capacity by making use of other forms of media, it would be better. Perhaps the blog administrators can spice up the blog more by adding videos, sound bytes, and even more pictures to make the blog more hip and interesting.
The Secret Formula for an Effective Application Essay
October 13th, 2009
Is it your dream to become a med school student? If yes, you can better your chances of becoming one through your application essay. All you need to know is the secret in writing a med school admissions essay. This secret formula would make your med school application a success. Read on to know this secret formula.
Discuss traits that can make you a good doctor
Why would you fit in med school? What are the good qualities you have? Or, can you be a good medical professional in the future? These are just some questions you have to consider before you start your personal statement. You can discuss qualities that would make you a good doctor or med student in your essay. Just make sure that you are sincere. You have to keep in mind that the admissions officers can see through your lies.
Convince readers about your intent to make it through med school
Why do you want to be in med school? The answer to this should appear on your personal statement. You have to convince the admissions committee about your passion in pursuing a medical degree. You can also talk about your goals and dreams and how a medical degree can help you make your dream a reality.
Let them know that you are aware of the challenges in taking up medicine
Realistic expectations are also a crucial factor to your admission success. Aside from this, you should also show them that you are aware of the challenges and obstacles that med students have to face. If you do this, you give the admissions committee a reason to think that you are mature enough to handle the challenges of med school. Your realistic expectations will tell them that you are ready for med school and can finish the degree.
Related links:
Quotations in Essays – All about medical school essays
Medical School Essays – Getting admitted to med school through your essay
Med School Profiles – Profiles of top US med schools
Essay Writing Tips – Tips on writing application essays for med school
Med School Admission – All about medical school essay writing
How NOT to Write Your Medical School Essay Like a Medical Journal
October 9th, 2009
Sure, you?re applying for medical school. But it doesn?t necessarily mean your medical school application essay has to be laden with medical terms and other types of jargon only medical practitioners would know. After all, you?re just applying for med school. You have years to learn all of those ahead of you. Here?s how to go about writing your med school essay:
Don’t use terms common only to medical specialists
Your application essay is not about med school, a med course or the med industry. It?s all about you, a person who wants to study medicine and is seeking a slot in your chosen med school?s classrooms. Focus on that as a student who is eager to learn.
Focus on your application to med school and not just the medical field
While you intend to take a medical course to be able to pursue a career in the medical field, you can face that career or medical field talk later and focus on getting into med school for the moment. You can include your career goals, but establish them as one of the reasons why you want to apply for med school. Give more emphasis on wanting to get in, then state the reasons. Also include how you believe the school can provide you with enough skills and knowledge to reach your goals.
Keep it short, clear, but persuasive enough
There are too many of you applying for med school every year. The admissions committee doesn?t have that much time to read lengthy pieces so it?s important K.I.S.S. (keep it short and simple) when writing your med school application essay. Convey your message within acceptable shortness, clarity and brevity.
Related links:
Effective Medical School Essays – Medical school essay tips
Application essay: your personality – Application essay tipsHow to write your medical school application essay – Medical school essay tips: more examplesWinning medical school essay – Medical school essay tips for a winning essay
Excellent medical school essay – Medical school essay tips
Medical school essay tips – Medical school essay tips from the professionals
Personal approach in writing medical school essay – Medical school essay tips on employing the personal approach in your essay
Medical school admission essay – Medical school essay tips on employing the personal approach in your essay
Law school essay – Essay writing tips for higher educationEssay writing tips – Medical school essay tips