Amidst Tech Turmoil, Physicians and Medical Students Use Social Media as a Platform for Medical Education and Combating Misinformation

In the summer of 2021, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a report calling the distribution of medical misinformation through social media an “urgent threat to public health.” And this week, amidst a turbulent period for tech companies marked by extensive layoffs, a New York Times article identified a trend of social media companies divesting in the fight against misinformation. The article said, “Last month, the company [YouTube], owned by Google, quietly reduced its small team of policy experts in charge of handling misinformation, according to three people with knowledge of the decision. The cuts, part of the reduction of 12,000 employees by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, left only one person in charge of misinformation policy worldwide, one of the people said. And YouTube is not alone. The cuts reflect a trend across the industry that threatens to undo many of the safeguards that social media platforms put in place in recent years to ban or tamp down on disinformation ….”

Despite declining resources at social media companies, the medical community appears willing to step up to address the gap. In the past we’ve highlighted the efforts of medical schools to prepare students to take on medical misinformation, which ranges from large investments in institutions for research and study, to incorporating communications and social media techniques into the medical school classroom. There are also a number of physicians and medical students who are building vibrant social media communities for the purpose of proactively circulating accurate and understandable medical information. Below, we profile just a few of the physicians who are engaging audiences via social media with reliable and focused medical information. 

• Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, founder of Grapevine Media, creates content specifically geared towards a population that the mainstream health system tends to ignore. Her company, which creates “Ask a Doctor” videos and posts them on social media, seeks to provide medical information for people of color and/or those of low socioeconomic status. The videos feature doctors of color who answer medical questions in clear terms and with actionable advice for this audience, keeping in mind the challenges borne by those with low incomes. In an interview with NPR, Dr. Fitzpatrick noted that educating people won’t resolve all their barriers to good health, but she reiterated her belief that information can improve wellbeing. "To me, it's so clear all roads lead to trusted health information and understanding health and health care," she said. "But the challenge is how to make it obvious to everybody else." Dr. Fitzpatrick is currently pitching the video content to insurance companies as a means to improve the health of these hard-to-reach populations, while also reducing insurers’ costs.

• Joel Bervell, a 4th-year medical student at Washington State University School of Medicine, creates TikTok videos that highlight areas of racial bias in medicine. He told Medscape in an interview that he views himself as a “medical myth buster.” He educates his 600,000 plus followers on biases in medicine that can negatively impact care for people of color. Medscape provided an example of this goal by describing one of his TikTok videos, “... he explains that the equation used to measure kidney function (glomerular filtration rate [GFR]) has a built-in "race adjustment" that increases the GFR for all Black patients. ‘That overestimation could mean that 3.3 million Black Americans would have had a higher stage of kidney disease and missed out on care and treatment,’ said Bervell.” 

• StatNews described a joint effort by a group of physicians to support a twitter feed, “Health News Around the World,” with vetted, up-to-date health news and stories. 

• Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, MD, runs an Instagram account to provide his 462,000 followers with information on nutrition and promoting a healthy gut via his account “TheGutHealthMD”. His feed answers questions, reviews products, links to podcasts, corrects misinformation, and provides followers with indicators of healthy or unhealthy bodily functioning.

Related: Medical Schools Train Students to Combat Medical Misinformation

U.S. Schools Dominate the Financial Times’ 2023 Global MBA Rankings

The Financial Times just released its 2023 Global MBA rankings. Schools located in the U.S. performed well, making up three of the top five spots and twelve of the top fifteen. For the first time in the ranking’s history, Columbia University took the top rank. Notably, last year’s number one ranked program, University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School was not ranked at all due to not meeting the minimum response threshold on the alumni survey. Poets & Quants notes that while other schools have suffered the same fate in previous years, it has never occurred at such a prestigious program, likely causing embarrassment at both Wharton and the FT. In addition to last year, Wharton has garnered the top rank ten times since the ranking’s debut in 1999.

Also of note, amidst the controversy surrounding the U.S. News’ rankings for medical and law schools, the FT updated its methodology for this year’s ranking. While the ranking still maintains an emphasis on outcome measures, including employment three years past graduation, salary, and salary change from pre- to post-MBA, the FT has also increased the weight given to metrics related to societal goals. These include social mobility, which uses metrics such as financial aid, study costs, and post-MBA earnings, as well as gender parity and student diversity, and sustainability and the environment. 

Rank School Name

1 Columbia

2 Insead, France/Singapore

3 IESE, Spain

4 Harvard

4 Stanford

6 SDA (Bocconi), Italy

7 UC Berkeley (Haas)

8 Cornell (Johnson)

9 Northwestern (Kellogg)

10 Yale

11 Duke (Fuqua)

11 MIT (Sloan)

11 University of Chicago (Booth)

14 UCLA (Anderson)

15 Dartmouth (Tuck)

Crafting Your Personal Statement: Lessons from Memoir Writing

A memoir requires more than a recounting of events from your life. Rather, you must show the reader that you’ve experienced transcendence. Marion Roach Smith calls it the “golden rule” of memoir. She writes, “Memoir is not about what you did. Memoir is about what you did with it.” The experience is not the focus or the reason for the writing, just the vessel for sharing a more universal learning with your audience. 

Smith expands this thought when she writes, “Specifically memoir is a promise from me that I experienced something, I’ve given some real thought to it and now know what it is, and now I am going to share what I now know with you. The promise is not that I am going to recreate the experience or make you relive it with me.” 

This approach also aligns with what admissions committees are seeking in your personal statement. From your past experiences, they want to learn more about your potential and character. Show them how a recent discovery helped you evolve, how you’ve refined your abilities in innovation and/or leadership, and/or teamwork. Prove to them that you are ready to pursue a graduate education and career path.

Below, we’ve compiled a few other takeaways from Marion Roach Smith’s approach to memoir that will help you craft a strong personal statement. Also, be sure to check out her memoir manifesto. 

1. Structure. Memoir is created out of three components. Prior to writing, sit down and consider the building blocks of your piece. 1) What is this about (think: universal, e.g., connecting with and empowering your team, trying and trying again to find the right approach to solve a complex problem)? 2) What is your argument (something that you learned based on your experience)? 3) What experiences from your life will you deploy to prove your argument? 

2. Think small. Memoir requires that you share your growth with the audience, which can be done effectively by incorporating small details. Smith notes the power of observation for showing the reader your journey to transcendence. She writes, “Never forget about the small stuff and how it reveals the big stuff of life.” Small details also create a relationship with your reader, drawing them into the experience. 

3. Don’t forget your audience. Your memoir should hit on universal themes that are relatable to the reader. When you’re writing, and more importantly editing and rewriting, keep in mind how your audience will take in what you’re saying. Did you provide enough detail of the experiences to show growth and to make your argument? Did you provide too much or extraneous detail? Were you vulnerable and honest in your writing? 

4. Keep it tight. Focus only on the experiences, sentences, and words that you absolutely need to support your argument and demonstrate your growth in the piece. You want to go deep, not broad. Adding in additional stories can distract the reader, and potentially lose them. Once you have demonstrated growth and made your argument, your personal statement is complete. Fight the urge to turn it into an autobiography or a resume.

American Bar Association Rejects Test Optional Admissions

Yesterday, the American Bar Association’s (ABA) policy making body rejected a bid to remove the law school admissions test requirement from the law school accreditation standards. The vote marks the second defeat of the proposal in six years. 

Potentially allowing law schools to go “test optional” for admissions starting in 2025 created a unique controversy, as both proponents and opponents of the policy argued that it would be harmful to law school diversity. 

“As the debate showed, we all care deeply about diversity, we just have different views on the best way to pursue it. The LSAT is an important tool for advancing diversity. The incoming class of 2022 is by far the most diverse class in history, and more than 98 percent of those students used the LSAT. And this year’s applicants are even more diverse than last year, which bodes well for continued progress. The House vote will ensure that we have additional time for research into the actual impact of test-optional policies on students and diversity, so that any policy changes are based on evidence and data,” said Kellye Testy, the President of LSAC, in a statement after the vote.

Testy’s statement echoed a sentiment shared previously in an open letter penned by 60 law school deans urging the ABA to reject the proposal. The letter called out the potential harm that removing the test could do for diversity in admissions, as it would require schools to depend more heavily on other, potentially more biased, metrics like GPA, recommendations, and the reputation of an applicant’s undergraduate institution.

How to Get High-Quality Letters of Recommendation

Good news! No one who hates you will agree to write you a Letter of Recommendation. It's too annoying of a task to bother with if you don't have nice things to say about someone. Still, some letters can be lackluster, especially if they're rushed. There are ways to make sure that recommenders are talking you up.

Depending on the school, you'll need four to 10 LORs. But if a school asks for a minimum of four, honestly, that is too few to submit. Eight is great. The more quality endorsements of your candidacy, the stronger your application. And having people from different arenas saying that you're someone they respect proves that you are just crushing it. 

When to Ask:

Decide who to ask for a recommendation letter six to eight months before your applications are due, so you're requesting them in January or February at the latest. If you're choosing the right people, they're successful and busy. Give them the maximum time to consider what they want to say about you. 

Who to Ask:

The schools will let you know who they want to hear from here, we share why they want those recommenders and why you should go a step beyond a school's expectations. Aim for:

At least two science professors. Medical schools want to know: Do you have a dedication to and talent for scientific study? A school might request one or two science professors as recommenders. You should use two as references even if the school doesn't require two. Have three? Even better. A science TA who knows you well can write one of these letters—if the professor cosigns it. 

At least one non-science professor. Having this in your packet shows you're well-rounded. Doing notably well in a literature, social science, or math course shows a school that broader learning is important to you. A reference from a liberal art or language professor can emphasize different strengths than those you've shown in your science courses or a consistent strength across subject matters. 

Medical professionals. If you have had a clinical, shadowing, or lab experience where you connected with a medical professional, they're a terrific option for a LOR. You don't have to stick to M.D.s; osteopathic physicians, nurse practitioners, EMTs, medical students—anyone who supervised you is gold. If you're applying to osteopathic medical school, you need an osteopathic physician as a reference. 

You want these letters to be personal, so it's better to choose someone who was a true mentor and/or saw you in action over a chief of surgery or research lead who barely knows you. Personal beats prestige here. 

Supervisors. Supervisors at your job, volunteer posts, and extracurricular activities are strong options. These people have seen you dedicate yourself to something. They've also likely seen you collaborate and work under pressure. Unlike your science professors and medical professionals, these individuals may have never written a recommendation letter for medical school before. In addition to refreshing their memory of your achievements, tell them what qualities medical schools are looking for so that they can highlight those. 

Attributes they might touch on: Leadership, compassion and sensitivity, strong communication skills, critical, creative thinking ability, work ethic, and professionalism. 

How to Ask:

Individualize your approach. What do you know about your potential recommender? Are they someone who will want a face-to-face conversation about this? Or are they someone who will be open to an email with an updated CV attached? 

Remind them of your accomplishments. You're not telling them what to write—and they may well choose to highlight some of your other victories or qualities—but offering them a refresher to reference will make your request less of a burden. Science professors know the drill of writing medical school references, but they have a lot of other students, so a reminder of what you've done is still appreciated. Ex. "It was a privilege to be in a graduate course as an undergraduate. Attending office hours deepened my understanding of the material. I'm proud to have earned an A on both the midterm and final exam. And leading my final group presentation improved my research skills and made me a better collaborator." 

You want to tell a superior at a clinical experience what it meant to you to be there and how you thrived in that job. Ex. "Your recommendation would mean so much to me because this job reinforced my goal to become a physician. Working on the COVID-19 clinical research study made me feel like a part of the hospital team and taught me how medicine approaches novel diseases. Interacting with dozens of patients improved my communication skills." OR "Working as a scribe in the ER enhanced my ability to focus in a hectic environment. Serving as senior medical scribe has meant serving as a mentor for the first time. Since my promotion in June, I have led weekly meetings and made myself available to newer staff over email and text."

And again, if you're asking for a recommendation from someone who has never written one, loop them in on the qualities that medical schools are looking for and how you've exemplified them. Ex. "The schools that I am applying to emphasize leadership and collaboration. I believe that my final group project on the early work of Chaucer showed my abilities in those areas."

Go beyond the ask. After someone agrees to be your recommender, you're going to send them a "game plan" that gets into the experiences you had and your accomplishments in greater depth than you did in your initial request. For example, the student who highlighted the Chaucer project can remind their professor what aspects of the presentation they worked on and reiterate that they organized the group's study sessions. The applicant who was a medical scribe should list their daily duties and talk about some of their most poignant or analytical learning experiences. You get the gist. If you're not sure what to include, an Apply Point advisor can help you pull specific details from your experiences.

Say thank you in a unique way. Once someone has agreed to write your recommendation, do something nice for them. Send a memorable note, maybe even a small gift (a bottle of wine or some candy is nice, if you know they partake) or offer to take them to lunch. This is common courtesy, but it's also going to remind them to submit their letter on time. 

A Note for Reapplicants:

If you're reapplying to medical school, you can use the same letters of recommendation, but you'll need to resubmit them. AMCAS does not keep old letters on file.  

A Tip for the Early Birds:

If you're a college sophomore and there's a current professor who you'd love to support your candidacy for medical school, ask for the letter of recommendation right after the course ends. The pre-health office will hold the letter until you are ready to apply. If your school doesn't have a pre-health office, you can request an advisor from the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP). You can also use a letter service such as Interfolio or VirtualEvals. They can deliver your reference when it's time to submit. If your ideal recommender says, "I'll write it the year you apply," stay in touch and keep them updated on your accomplishments.

When to Get a Letter of Support:

You might know someone who has a connection to a particular school. Instead of a letter of recommendation to all your schools, they can send a "letter of support" to the school that especially values them. A letter of support is sent entirely separately from your application. They'll just pop it in the mail or send an email. The most influential writers will be tenured professors, someone on the board of trustees, or a significant donor. 

Princeton Review Releases On-Campus MBA Rankings

The Princeton Review just released its rankings of top on-campus MBA programs. They do not show all schools for a “best of” view because the Princeton Review believes each of the 243 schools included provide an excellent academic experience. Rather, their rankings are organized by categories which are designed to provide prospective students with insights and data (gathered from 20,300 student experience surveys of on-campus enrollees of the MBA programs, as well as institutional data collected from an administrator survey) on various aspects of the program’s experience.  

You can access the top 10 lists for each of the 18 topic areas here. Below, we highlight three of the Princeton Review’s MBA rankings. 

Best Classroom Experience: (student response data only)

1. Stanford Graduate School of Business

2. UVA Darden 

3. Georgia Tech Scheller 

4. University of Michigan Ross 

5. Duke Fuqua 

6. UCLA Anderson 

7. University of Florida Hough 

8. UNC Kenan-Flagler 

9. University of Washington Foster 

10. Rice University Jones 

Best Campus Environment: (student response data only)

1. Cornell University Johnson 

2. UVA Darden 

3. Dartmouth Tuck 

4. Duke Fuqua 

5. Southern Methodist University Cox 

6. Vanderbilt Owen 

7. Carnegie Mellon Tepper 

8. UNC Kenan-Flagler 

9. University of Washington Foster 

10. Texas Tech Rawls 

Best Career Prospects: (combination of administrator surveys/school reported data and student response data)

1. NYU Stern 

2. UVA Darden 

3. Cornell Johnson 

4. Stanford Graduate School of Business

5. University of Michigan Ross 

6. Duke Fuqua 

7. UCLA Anderson 

8. Rice University Jones 

9. Columbia Business School

10. Harvard Business School
    

Princeton Review Releases Category-Based Law School Rankings

The Princeton Review just released its rankings of law schools. Amidst the broader discourse on law school rankings as a result of the U.S. News ranking boycott, The Princeton Review’s methodology offers something different. Their rankings do not show all schools for a “best of” view, as they believe each of the 168 schools included provide an excellent academic experience. Rather, the categories and lists are designed to provide prospective students with insights and data (gathered from 17,000 student experience surveys from the enrollees of the 168 law schools over the past three years, as well as a 2021-2022 law school administrator survey) on various aspects of the program’s experience.  

You can access the top 10 lists for each of the 14 topic areas here. Below, we highlight three of the Princeton Review’s law school rankings. 

Best Classroom Experience: (student response data only)

1. Stanford University School of Law

2. Duke University School of La

3. University of Chicago Law School

4. University of Virginia School of Law

5. University of Michigan Law School

6. Georgetown University Law Center

7. UCLA School of Law

8. Boston University School of Law

9. Vanderbilt University Law School

10. University of Notre Dame Law School

Best Quality of Life: (student response data only)

1. University of Virginia School of Law

2. Florida State University College of Law

3. Vanderbilt University Law School

4. UCLA School of Law

5. University of Pennsylvania Law School

6. Samford University, Cumberland School of Law

7. Duke University School of Law

8. Stanford University School of Law

9. Boston College Law School

10. UC Davis School of Law

Best Career Prospects: (combination of administrator surveys/school reported data and student response data)New York University School of Law

1. University of Virginia School of Law

2. University of Michigan Law School

3. Stanford University School of Law

4. Duke University School of Law

5. University of Southern California Law School

6. UC Berkeley, Berkeley Law

7. Northwestern University, Pritzker School of Law

8. Harvard Law School

9. Columbia University School of Law

The 2023-2024 Allopathic Medical School Application: An Overview with Suggested Timing

If you’re looking to start medical school in the Fall of 2024, now is the time to get started with the application process! Applying to medical school is arduous, but with proper planning, you can reduce your stress and maintain a manageable task load.

The four components of the medical school application include:

1. Standardized tests: MCAT and CASPer

2. AMCAS application 

3. Secondary Applications

4. Interviews

Standardized Tests: 

MCAT: Your MCAT scores are typically valid for three years prior to matriculation, and you can take the exam up to three times.

• Register: Select your preferred date, as well as a few alternative dates that would work. You can register for the test here. The ten day deadline prior to the test is your last opportunity to schedule, reschedule, or cancel. 

• Prep: Start preparing for the MCAT at least six months prior to your planned test date.

• Sit for the exam no later than May 26, 2023 (scores released June 27): This will avoid application delays. Keep in mind that we actually recommend that you take your final exam by mid-April so that you can re-direct your attention to preparing the AMCAS application. 

Review our blog post on Retaking the MCAT.

CASPer: This test gauges your ability to critically evaluate complex scenarios and employ sound judgment and communication skills. Not all medical schools require applicants to take the CASPer, however, a growing number of allopathic programs do, currently over 40. Your CASPer score is generally only valid for one application cycle. 

• Register: You can register for the test here. You are able to reschedule your CASPer test any time prior to starting the test. 

• Prep: You will want to familiarize yourself with the test format and content by taking a sample test a few days before you take the exam. 

• Sit for the exam during the Spring/Summer of 2023. 

The CASPer score is often requested alongside your secondary application or prior to an invitation to interview. Opting to take the test earlier in the cycle, rather than later, will allow you to have your scores readily available when requested, meaning that you can dedicate that time to preparing your secondary application materials or for mock interviews. It will also ensure that your application is not delayed as you wait for your scores. 

Review our blog post on CASPer.

AMCAS Application: Submit no later than mid-June.

• AMCAS application opens and will be available here on May 2, 2023.

• First date to submit AMCAS application: May 30, 2023

• First date that processed applications will be released to medical schools: June 30, 2023

We recommend that you submit your application in early to mid-June because your application will go through a verification process prior to the data being released to medical schools. This can take anywhere from a couple of weeks early in the process, to over a month during peak application submission periods. Note, in order to complete verification, your application must contain your official transcript, so request this document as well as your letters of recommendation a month or two before your planned submission date (by March 30, 2023). 

You also want to submit your AMCAS application early because this step triggers schools to send out secondary application materials, either automatically, or after a pre-screen of your application. 

Review our blog posts on the AMCAS application:

How to Get High-Quality Letters of Recommendation

Set Yourself Apart with a Compelling Medical School Personal Statement

The Medical School Application: Key Tips to Consider Before you Begin Drafting the Work and Activities Section

AMCAS Work & Activities Section: Hobbies

2024 AMCAS Work & Activities Section Will Include New Experience Category: Social Justice/Advocacy

AMCAS 2024: “Disadvantaged Applicant” Question Revised to Broader Adversity Question

Secondary Applications: Submit within two weeks of receipt.

Secondary applications are typically sent between June and August, although they can come later depending upon the timing of your AMCAS submission. Many schools will not review your application file until you have submitted your secondary application. And, because most schools review applications on a rolling basis, and invite applicants to interview accordingly, it is important to send in your secondary application materials promptly. 

Additionally, because many of the schools will use at least some of the same prompts, you can start preparing responses to the most commonly asked questions as soon as you’ve submitted your AMCAS application. 

Review our blog post on common secondary application questions. 

Medical School Interviews: Fall through Spring (invitation only)

Many applicants receive invitations to interview following their submission of secondary applications and/or CASPer test scores. Schedule yours as early as possible. And before solidifying your travel plans, you should contact nearby schools to which you’ve applied and let them know you have an interview in the area in case they have availability. This serves the dual purpose of letting the other school know that you are “in demand,” while also showcasing your strong interest in their program.

Review our blog posts on this topic:

The Medical School Interview

The Medical School Interview: Preparing for the Traditional One-on-One Interview

The Medical School Interview: Preparing for the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)

The Medical School Post-Interview Thank You Note

A ChatGPT3 Passed a Wharton Operations Exam. A Professor Reviews the Implications on the MBA Degree.

ChatGPT3 has been all over the news recently. In the past few weeks, researchers have announced that it performed within passing range on the three components of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, and a recently published paper claimed that it received a B/B- grade on a Wharton MBA-level operations exam. 

The fact that the bot passed the exam is not overly surprising, but some of the findings in Wharton Professor Christian Terwiesch’s paper titled, “Would Chat GPT Get a Wharton MBA? A Prediction Based on its Performance in the Operations Management Course,” are. While the bot handled basic operations management and process analysis questions extremely well, Terwiesch emphasized that the bot made some fairly simple calculation errors within the exam. 

“Chat GPT at times makes surprising mistakes in relatively simple calculations at the level of 6th grade Math,” he wrote. He continued on to note that these errors can become, “massive in magnitude.” Additionally, he noted that the current version of the ChatGPT3 could not handle more advanced process analysis questions, such as those that include multiple products or demand variability, and that having “a human in the loop” proved meaningful. When a human expert provided a hint, not only was the bot adept at correcting itself, but it was able to learn so that the hint was not necessary in later iterations. 

Professor Terwiesch also provided his view of the implications that the technology may have on the MBA degree itself. Rather than expressing concern, he thinks the bot could afford students and professors an additional learning resource, specifically in developing necessary leadership skills in critical evaluation and the assessment of alternatives. 

“MBA students are preparing for leadership positions, in which they will have to make managerial decisions based upon actions brought to them by ‘consultants, co-workers, and direct reports.’ Using the bot to generate plausible, well-presented (although possibly incorrect) alternatives in response to a scenario can provide students with meaningful experience in evaluating alternatives,” he said.  

Read the whole paper, including the additional implications, here.

Related:

• STEM-Designated MBA Programs are on the Rise

• Trends in Business: MBA Programs Prepare Students for Leadership Roles in Technology

More Medical Schools Announce Withdrawal from U.S. News Rankings

A week after Harvard Medical School announced its plan to withdraw from the U.S. News Best Medical Schools Ranking, other prestigious programs followed including Columbia’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, Stanford Medical School, Penn’s School of Medicine, and the Icahn School of Medicine. 

In announcing their decisions to withdraw from the rankings, the schools—in line with Harvard—all noted that the U.S. News’ ranking methodology is no longer in line with their values. The Deans at Columbia, Penn, and Icahn also specifically called out the methodology’s negative effect on building a diverse and inclusive medical class. Dr. Katrina Armstrong, MD and Dean of Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, wrote, “The USNWR medical school rankings perpetuate a narrow and elitist perspective on medical education. Their emphasis is on self-reinforcing criteria such as reputation and institutional wealth, rather than measuring a school’s success in educating a diverse and well-trained cohort of doctors able to change medicine for the better and meet society’s needs.”

Each of the schools noted the value that comes from data transparency and they committed to making data available for prospective applicants. 

2022 Incoming Law School Class Most Diverse in History

In 2021, the entering law school class made headlines for being the largest and most diverse to date, with almost 35 percent of students identifying as people of color. But now, although the class size has returned to “normal levels,” two-thirds of the 2022 incoming law school class identify as students of color. LSAC describes the incoming class as “by far the most racially and ethnically diverse law school class in history.” 

The LSAC 2022 entering class profile incorporates LSAC data along with the ABA’s published Standard 509 data. Below are some highlights from the profile on the makeup of the incoming class. 

• The class size totaled over 38,000, a decrease from the unusually large 2021 entering class, but on par with the class sizes seen since 2018. 

• Using demographic categories that directly compare to previous years, 36.6 percent of the incoming class identify as students of color, up about 2 percentage points from last year (34.7 percent) and up over 3 percent from 2018 (33.3 percent). 

• Using updated demographic breakouts that include a category for Middle Eastern and North African/Arab students (who historically have been incorporated into the Caucasian category), the percentage of students who identify as a person of color increases to 39 percent, an increase of 2.1 percentage points over last year. 

• Women continue to make up the majority of the incoming class (55.3 percent), while men comprising 42.5 percent of the class.

• Almost all of the incoming class, over 98 percent, took the LSAT as part of the application process. The 2022 incoming class had a higher average LSAT score, up by 0.32 points, when compared to the 2021 entering class. 

• The 2022 entering class also earned a higher median undergraduate GPA, up by 0.04 points, than the 2021 class. 

You can find LSAC’s full profile here, or access the ABA dataset here.

Worried About Medical School Debt? Financial Advisors Weigh In.

Medscape’s 2022 Medical Student Lifestyle Report found that med students’ top concerns deal with managing finances, debt, and contracts. As a follow-up to these findings, Medscape ran a poll of medical students to learn more about their financial issues. Over two-thirds (68 percent) of the 151 respondents said that they always/often worry about finances. Among first- and second-year med students, this percentage jumps to 75. Over half said that they are confused about money and only 42 percent—just 26 percent of female respondents—said that they feel prepared to manage their finances.

Most students named debt as their primary concern (86 percent). This was followed by investments (52 percent), contracts (27 percent) and business operations (16 percent). Some addressed their difficulty in balancing spending for necessities and “fun” items, and cited issues with budgeting for the residency application process in the fourth year. 

Financial planner and advisor to young doctors, Paul Morton, spoke with Medscape, noting that medical students are often asked to make binding decisions, many of which they don’t feel confident making, about loans and investments. He also acknowledged that student loan rules have become more complex.

James Nutter, Director of Client Experience for IM Wealth, also spoke with Medscape and reassured medical students that loans for medical school are a remarkably safe investment for their future.

In addition, he encourages medical students to consider the following:

• Examine your relationship with money. Are you being overly influenced by your childhood experiences, your parents struggle with money, or other external factors such as social media? What personal experiences may be driving or coloring your spending behaviors?

• Take note of exactly how you spend your money on a monthly basis. What types of items are buying? Detailed knowledge of your spending habits can inform how much you need to borrow.

• Identify three core values, and spend your money in ways that align with those values. This will help to reduce the noise of external pressures on your spending and ensure that your spending is reflective of who you are.  

MBA Students Covered by a Grade Non-Disclosure Policy Take Harder Classes and Participate More in Extracurriculars

Grade nondisclosure (GND) policies, which date back to the 1990s, exist predominantly within an elite group of MBA programs including Wharton, Stanford, and Columbia. They codify a (typically student-driven) collective agreement not to disclose grades to potential employers during the recruiting process, even if they are requested. Proponents of the practice argue that a GND policy promotes collaboration between students and allows them to pursue additional extracurricular experiences, and take harder classes without fear of the impact to their GPA. Critics of the policy say it deprives employers of a key metric for making hiring decisions and discourages students from spending time on academics. 

The Wall Street Journal has previously published study findings examining the impact of a GND policy on student behavior, which shows that both proponents and critics are correct. The study’s authors—Eric Floyd, Assistant Professor of Accounting at the University of California San Diego, Daniel Lee, Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Delaware, and Sorabh Tomar, Assistant Professor of Accounting at Southern Methodist University—reviewed data from one MBA program to compare the choices of full-time students covered by a GND, with those of part-time students, who were not bound by the GND. 

They found:

• Students with a GND spent about 4.9 percent less time per course, compared to students without a GND. However, GND students did generally enroll in harder classes, which meant that their total time spent on academics was not statistically different from their counterparts. 

• GND students were 7.6 percent more likely to engage in extracurricular activities than their counterparts.

• GND students reported lower tenure at their first job post-graduation. They were 7.7 percent less likely to remain for more than a year and 12.8 percent less likely to stay longer than two years when compared to non-GND students.

While the study’s findings provide helpful insight into student behaviors, there is variation in the way the data could be interpreted. “Between the extracurriculars and the difficult classes, what we say isn’t all time spent away from academics is lost time,” said Dr. Lee. “But we can’t really comment on the good or bad effects.” Similarly, Dr. Tomar told the WSJ that the explanation for the reduced employment tenure could be attributed to either the negative effects that grade nondisclosure had on job matching between students and employers or the positive effects that additional time spent on extracurricular activities had on GND students’ networks, thereby increasing their likelihood of obtaining additional job opportunities and offers. 

You’ve Submitted Your Law School Application… Now What?

Congratulations! You’ve submitted your law school application, but your work is not quite complete. You still have the opportunity to make a positive impression on the admissions committee by demonstrating your enthusiasm for the program. 

Consider the following ways to showcase your interest.

• Follow the school on social media and set up Google alerts with key words so you can easily stay informed of current events, research, or news related to the program. Confirm that your social media presence is up to date and represents you well.

• Prepare for and participate in interviews, even if they are optional. Interviews are a great way for the admissions committee to get to know you as a person (beyond your application) and for you to learn more about the program’s student experience, experiential learning opportunities, and/or alumni network. 

• Set up an in-person visit to the school, if possible. Make appointments with professors or current students who share your interests. Prep by creating a brief elevator speech explaining, with specifics, how the school's programming aligns with your interests and why you would be a great addition to the student body.

• Attend any admissions events, webinars, or other programming facilitated by the school or the admissions committee. If appropriate, introduce yourself and ask a thoughtful question(s) on the content.

• Follow-up any interactions with faculty or students with a brief thank you note reiterating your excitement about the program. 

• Send an update letter to the school if you have a significant accomplishment or update, not previously covered in your application, to share. Examples include: a significant positive change to your GPA or LSAT/GRE score, publications, professional development (e.g., you presented at a national/regional conference or received a promotion with additional responsibility at work), awards/honors, and/or extracurricular achievements (you took on a leadership position in a club/organization, significantly expanded the scale or reach of a club/organization, or a club/organization you lead received an honor or award).

• In your update letter, don’t forget to express your continued interest in the program, noting specifics that are particularly compelling to you. If the school is your first choice, make the yield protection statement: If admitted, I will attend. 

• Do not excessively contact the admissions committee, particularly to ask questions with answers readily available online or to ask for feedback on your application or admissions likelihood. If you do reach out – make it strategic. 

Harvard Medical School Withdraws from the U.S. News Medical School Ranking

Harvard Medical School’s Dean, Dr. George Daley, just announced this morning that the school will no longer participate in the U.S. News & World Report “Best Medical Schools” ranking. 

In an open letter to the Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Dental Medicine community, Daley noted that his concerns rest not simply on criticisms of the ranking methodology, but more fundamentally on his, “... principled belief that rankings cannot meaningfully reflect the high aspirations for educational excellence, graduate preparedness, and compassionate and equitable patient care that we strive to foster in our medical education programs.” He also described the negative unintended consequences that he sees rankings promoting within academic institutions, which include schools reporting false or misleading data, creating policies intended to boost rankings rather than educational objectives, and emphasizing financial aid for recipients based on scores rather than financial need. Daley noted that while he has contemplated this move for years, the “courageous and bold moves” made by leaders within the law school community—including Harvard Law’s Dean, John Manning—have “compelled” him to act now. 

Daley did acknowledge the need for data and transparency for prospective medical students, and urged them to review the data shared on the HMS admissions website. He also recommended the AAMC MSAR database, which contains meaningful data for all U.S. medical schools.

Related: Former Medical School Deans Call on Medical Schools to Withdraw from the U.S. News Ranking

MBA Class of 2022 Graduates Offered Record-Setting Salaries

Earlier this season we reported that preliminary MBA employment profiles showed record-breaking salaries for the class of 2022. Additional employment data has only validated this trend. Almost all of the U.S. News top 10 ranked programs have reported median salary increases of ten percent or more compared to last year. Below, we’ve aggregated data on the median salaries and compensation for these programs. 

University of Chicago (Booth): The median salary increased 12.9 percent from 2021 ($155,000) to 2022 ($175,000), while median total compensation increased by more than 10 percent to $196,600. Graduates split fairly evenly into consulting (36 percent) and financial services (35 percent), followed by technology (15 percent). 

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton): The median salary increased 12.9 percent from 2021 ($155,000) to 2022 ($175,000). Over one-third of graduates went into financial services (39 percent), followed by consulting (24 percent) and technology (17 percent). 

Northwestern University (Kellogg): The median salary increased 10 percent from 2021 ($150,000) to 2022 ($165,000), while median total compensation increased by 8.7 percent to $191,100. Over one-third of graduates entered into consulting (40 percent), followed by technology (21 percent), and financial services (16 percent). 

Harvard University: The median salary increased 16 percent from 2021 ($150,500) to 2022 ($175,000), while median total compensation increased 17.5 percent to $223,100. Over one-third of graduates went into financial services (34 percent), followed by consulting (26 percent) and venture capital/private equity (22 percent). 

MIT (Sloan): The median salary increased 10 percent from 2021 ($150,000) to 2022 ($165,000), while median total compensation increased by 4.7 percent to $204,700. Almost one-third graduates went into consulting (31 percent), followed by an even split between financial services (26 percent) and technology (26 percent). 

Yale University SOM: The median salary increased 14 percent from 2021 ($140,400) to 2022 ($160,110), while median total compensation increased by 12.5 percent to $185,940. Nearly half of graduates entered into careers in consulting (46 percent), followed by financial services (22 percent) and CPG/retail (11 percent). 

Columbia University: The median salary increased 16.7 percent from 2021 ($150,000) to 2022 ($175,000), while median total compensation increased by 14 percent to $203,252. Over one-third of graduates went into finance (37 percent) and consulting (34 percent), followed by media/tech (16 percent). 

UC Berkeley (Haas): The median salary increased 4 percent from 2021 ($149,000) to 2022 ($155,000), while median total compensation increased by 3.7 percent to $179,696. About one-third of graduates entered into careers in technology (33 percent), followed by consulting (28 percent) and financial services (14 percent). 

University of Michigan (Ross): The median salary increased 14.6 percent from 2021 ($144,000) to 2022 ($165,000), while median total compensation increased by about 12 percent to $192,270. Over one-third of graduates entered into consulting (42 percent), followed by technology (17 percent) and financial services (15 percent).

Note: At time of publishing, Stanford GSB’s class of 2022 employment profile was not available.

Related: 

Downtown in MBA Program Applicant Volume Continues

Preliminary Reports Show Significant Increases for MBA Class of 2022 Starting Salaries

Law Schools Take on Gun Violence

This month, the University of Minnesota Law School will launch its Gun Violence Prevention Clinic in an effort to promote their Second Amendment scholarship and increase student engagement in firearms law. “Firearms law is currently one of the most dynamic and rapidly changing areas in the law. Yet there are not enough litigators with expertise in the field, and law schools and legal scholars are under engaged in Second Amendment issues,” Megan Walsh, Visiting Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Minnesota Law School and Gun Violence Prevention Clinic Director, said. 

The University of Minnesota isn’t alone in seeking to build out this knowledge base and skillset. Below, we’ve rounded up a number of ongoing initiatives and projects at law schools designed to provide students with opportunities in firearms scholarship, litigation, and legislation.

The University of Minnesota Law School Gun Violence Prevention Clinic

The clinic, a three-year pilot project, is designed to promote gun violence prevention through strategic litigation. In partnership with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, students will provide pro bono legal work in support of cases that help reduce injuries, deaths, and trauma resulting from gun violence. The clinic will also establish a home for gun violence prevention litigation in the Great Lakes area and increase litigation expertise and resources for Second Amendment and gun violence prevention.  

The Duke Center for Firearms Law

The Center, launched in 2019, seeks to grow scholarship in firearms law and serve as a “balanced and reliable” resource for stakeholders including scholars, judges, lawyers, policymakers, journalists, and the public through research and programming. 

Washington University in Saint Louis School of Law’s Initiative on Gun Violence and Human Rights

Law students participate in in-depth research projects to better understand the underpinnings of the U.S. gun violence crisis and to examine the issue through international human rights instruments. The initiative supports information sharing through conferences and webinars, as well as publishing articles and research. Last year, Leila Sadat, Initiative Director and Professor, contributed to an amicus briefing filed at the Supreme Court for New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. 

Yale Law School’s Law, Policy, and Guns Project at the Solomon Center for Health Law and Policy 

The Solomon Center places a spotlight on issues related to gun violence in the U.S. The Center has sponsored a course offering (2020), a special issue of The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics (2020), and continues to facilitate public events as well as serve as a home for research and scholarship efforts.  

New York Law School’s Gun Safety Legislative Advocacy Clinic

In partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, New York Law School offers a hands-on clinic to engage students with gun safety advocacy and legislation. Students will gain experience in legislative research as well as in drafting legislative proposals, creating campaigns, and building coalitions in support of their bills. They will also learn to critically analyze proposed gun bills based on existing laws and legislative efforts, and to serve as counterpoints to the gun lobby.

Downturn in MBA Program Applicant Volume Continues

Despite top-ranked MBA programs continuing to report record-setting levels of compensation for graduates, application volume is way down. It may just be an ideal time to apply.

A Poets & Quants’ analysis of application trends found that in the 2021-2022 admissions cycle, application numbers fell at 16 of the top 25-ranked schools, when compared to the prior year. At some schools, applications dropped by more than 10 percent year-over-year, including MIT (-24.8 percent), Stanford GSB (-16.5 percent), Yale SOM (-16.5 percent), Harvard (-15.4 percent), UPenn Wharton (-13.9 percent), and Chicago Booth (-13.6 percent). 

According to a recent QS survey of business school admissions officers, many expect this downturn to continue through the current admissions cycle. Among the respondents, just over half replied that they expect domestic applications to be slightly lower (30 percent) or much lower (22 percent) this year. Responses were more optimistic in regards to international applicants, however, with most (91 percent) noting that they expect the number to stay the same or increase. 

“There has been a lot of discussion about the ‘great resignation’ in the US. It’s likely that what we’re seeing here is that the buoyancy in job vacancies is presenting sufficient opportunities for career mobility for aspiring managers, so there is less of an incentive to invest in an MBA to develop their skills and accelerate their career progression,” Nunzio Quacquarelli, CEO of QS Quacquarelli Symonds said. “In my experience, MBA demand is counter cyclical. With interest rates rising and market volatility, this situation could change quickly and MBA demand for 2023 could see a significant uplift.” 

As a result of the continued drop in application volume, domestic applicants are seeing some benefits:

--Schools have continued to maintain or incorporate flexible standardized testing policies. Columbia University, Duke Fuqua, UVA Darden, Michigan Ross, and Georgetown McDonough are all accepting the Executive Assessment (EA) as an alternative to the GRE/GMAT. The EA is a shorter exam (90 minutes) requiring less preparation. Additionally, UVA Darden, Michigan Ross, and Georgetown McDonough are continuing to offer test waivers to applicants who can demonstrate academic readiness through work experience, undergraduate academic record, and in some cases even expired GMAT/GRE scores (older than five years). 

--A number of schools have made public overtures to those who have been affected by layoffs in the tech industry. Schools, hoping to attract highly qualified applicants, have made various offers to accommodate tech veterans wishing to switch course and pursue an MBA. They include flexibility in terms of application requirements (e.g., test waivers) and extended round two deadlines.  

Related: Preliminary Reports Show Significant Increases for MBA Class of 2022 Starting Salaries

Thinking of Retaking the MCAT? Here’s What You Need to Know.

It is not unusual to retake the MCAT. Data from the AAMC shows that between 2019 and 2021, 38 percent of test-takers were “repeaters,” who had taken the test at least once before. And “repeaters” tended to achieve score improvements. 

--Those with an initial score between 472 and 517 saw a median score increase between two to four points. 

--Those with an initial score between 518 and 528 saw a median score increase of one point.

The analysis also found that the longer the period between your first and second exam, the bigger the point gain. Many factors likely play into this, one of them being as simple as completing helpful college or postgraduate coursework. 

How many times can I take the MCAT?

You can take the MCAT up to three times in one calendar year and four times across two calendar years. There is a lifetime cap of seven times. We recommend taking the MCAT a maximum of three times—really, you should aim for two. Medical schools prefer it. 

How do schools use updated MCAT scores? Will they use my best score?

Different schools use different strategies for multiple score submissions. In an AAMC admissions officer survey (2017), representatives mentioned the following methods: 

• Review all submitted scores in conjunction with respondent’s explanation of the score change

• Use only the highest score

• Average all of the submitted scores

• Use only the most recent score 

If you are considering retaking the test in order to target a particular school, we recommend that you contact the admissions office first to ask how they will use the updated MCAT score. This is because achieving a particular score can be more challenging if a school averages the submitted scores, rather than using either the best or most recent exam result.

What do I need to consider as I think about retaking the MCAT?

--First and foremost: is it necessary to retake the test? 

Review the average MCAT scores for the schools that you are interested in. Are you within the average range of scores at your desired schools? Would you consider adding schools to your list that do match your performance? 

If you fall below the average for your target schools and you do not want to reconsider your school list, you will likely need to retake the test. MCAT scores are often used as a preliminary filter for secondary applications. 

--How are the other components of your application?

A low or borderline GPA creates a stronger case for retaking the MCAT. You want to be sure that your application demonstrates your ability to thrive in a rigorous academic environment, so if both scores are on the low end, you should consider how to bolster at least one of them by retaking the exam or taking additional classes. 

--Is it clear why you didn’t achieve the score you had expected and/or do you understand how to improve your test prep process?

Is your score much lower than your practice exams? Did you have a stressful situation or an illness that impacted your performance? Is there good reason to believe that with some changes in your preparation, such as hiring a tutor, you will do better on the test? If you only achieved a point or two below your typical practice exams, do you have a plan to reinvigorate your efforts? If you do retake the exam, you’ll want to improve your score. So, consider carefully if you have a clear path to do so.

--Do you have the time to retake the test?

If you retake the test, you’ll want to commit to a study plan that will ensure you improve your initial score. Doing so will take time away from other endeavors including extracurricular activities, research, and clinical experiences. Consider your overall application and where you are most likely to benefit by spending time. 

We encourage you to make the decision that will best help you to meet your goals. You will need to achieve an MCAT score high enough to keep you in the running for the schools that you’re interested in. But you’ll want to balance that with gaining other meaningful experiences that will also prepare you for medical school. Admissions committees review applications holistically because they’re looking for great candidates, not perfect ones.

U.S. News Announces Updates to the Law School Rankings in an Open Letter to Law Deans

Earlier this week, U.S. News announced that it will make updates to the 2023-2024 Best Law Schools ranking in response to the public criticism and boycott of its rankings by a number of leading law schools. In an open letter to law deans, which was published on Monday just prior to the start of the American Association of Law Schools meeting, Robert Morse, Chief Data Strategist, and Stephanie Salmon, Senior Vice President of Data and Information Strategy, described the organization’s reaction to the recent public discourse. They wrote that the U.S. News interviewed more than 100 law school deans and representatives to gain a better understanding of the criticisms and strengths of the current ranking. Generally, they said, complaints were centered around a few key topics, including the weight placed on peer assessment surveys, a need for greater emphasis on outcome measures (e.g. bar passage, employment), re-consideration of the weight assigned to various employment outcomes, and a review of student expenditures and student debt metrics. The organization also conducted an internal review. 

As a result, U.S. News will make the following changes to the ranking:

• All law schools will be ranked using publicly available data required by the ABA, regardless of whether school representatives respond to the annual U.S. News survey. However, U.S. News will publish in-depth profiles for those schools that do respond to the survey. 

• There will be updates to the methodology that increase the weight on outcome measures and reduce the weight given to peer assessment survey results.  Additionally, the employment outcomes measure will be updated to give full-weight to those who receive fellowships (including school-funded fellowships) or enroll in further graduate studies. 

• U.S. News will make more of the collected data available to students in order to allow them to make more informed comparisons between law schools. 

• Over time, the organization will work alongside key stakeholders to better recognize and represent other key factors such as loan forgiveness/repayment and student aid/financial assistance, as well as socio-economic and diversity metrics.

For some deans, the updates are still not enough to reverse their position. Heather Gerkin, Dean of Yale Law School, spoke to Law.com. “Having a window into the operations and decision-making process at U.S. News in recent weeks has only cemented our decision to stop participating in the rankings,” Gerkin said. Similarly, University of New Hampshire Law School Dean, Megan Carpenter, noted to Law.com that because U.S. News did not specify the modifications they plan to make to the formula, it raises concerns that the response “simply devolves into an exercise about tweaking their monolithic formula.” 

Related:

• Two Law Schools Announce Continued Participation in U.S. News Ranking

• Yale and Harvard Law Schools Will No Longer Participate in the U.S. News Law School Rankings