Comprehensive

Medical School (MD & DO) Admissions Consulting

Residency Programs
(Statements and Mock Interviewing)

_______________________________

Judy Colwell
M.A., Counseling Psychology

Former Assistant Director of Admissions
Stanford University School of Medicine

For further information:
judycolwell@yahoo.com (best)
(or 650.888.9477)

I am temporarily not accepting new clients.

Entering Class 2015: I will begin working with applicants for entering class 2015 starting Aug. 1, 2013.

GETTING STARTED: "Client Information/Release
Personal Inventory" Forms

Fees - A Drop In The Bucket

Congratulations (Some success stories)

Client Comments

Introduction

Help You May Need

Philosophy & Goals

Applying to Medical School - Information

"What can you do for me?"

What I do (in a nutshell): I counsel those who are interested in what it takes both academically and non-academically to become a well-qualified applicant to medical school.

Formerly Assistant Director of Medical School Admissions at Stanford University (1990-1999), and as an Academic Advisor to pre-med freshmen and sophomores, I understand your questions and uncertainties. With my 10 years medical school admissions committee, I have a unique knowledge of the admissions process from the "inside."

As a 22 year undergraduate advisor to pre-meds coming from every possible college major, I am able to blend this knowledge with my Admissions Committee experience.

- Evaluate your application credentials.
- Discuss the application process; timing; schools; transcripts; MCAT exam.
- Review your AMCAS application for style and content. (More than 50,000 AMCAS applications have crossed my desk. I know what constitutes an easy-to-read application vs. a glazed eye and "Next!")
- Review your personal statement and essays. (Do they convey who you are? Are they well written? Do they need editing? I look at content and style. I do NOT correct sloppy grammar, nor do I re-write.)
- Prepare for interviewing.
      What to expect in the interview process.
      How to handle difficult situations.
      Mock interviews.
- Choose a medical school. Which one is best for you?
- Evaluate the special needs of the re-applicant and the non-traditional applicant.

If you are within a year of applying, you and I will:

- Evaluate your coursework.
- Review your extracurricular activities.
- Discuss clinical opportunities and community service.
- And, I will remind you that your first responsibility is to get a broad-based college education.

I work both with local and distance clients. Please get in touch with me for more details.

Current Applicants for Residency Programs:

- Discuss and review your personal statement.
- Prepare for interviewing.
- Mock interviews.

(Back to top)

I want you to know the joy of a congratulatory acceptance

Working with college and post-college students has been the highlight of my recent career. Not only have I spent 18 years volunteering as an Academic Advisor for Stanford University freshmen and sophomores in their adjustment to campus life, but for 10 years I was Assistant Director of Admissions for Stanford University Medical School. I have reviewed tens of thousands of applications, and have been a member of the admissions committee - admitting, and rejecting, applicants. I have experienced the great joy of calling admitted students and giving them the good news. It was the best part of my job! I want to share that joy of acceptance. . .you becoming a successful healthcare professional. This may even mean looking at educational and career opportunities other than medical school.

You will define and focus your path toward your profession, not in order to "look good" to an admissions committee, but for you to know "who you are." You need to know yourself before an admissions committee can know you. And you need to be able to relate this knowledge to those evaluating you.

We will address questions involved in the general application process; we can discuss interviewing; and if you have been an unsuccessful applicant in the past, we will review ways to improve your candidacy.

It is my desire to help you as much as possible so that you, too, will experience the joy of hearing "Welcome to our medical school!"

(Back to top)

As you go through the daunting process of applying to medical school, or even considering if medicine might be your career, you may have many questions and concerns. Your campus pre-med/pre-health advisor is there to help you, but sometimes you need more personal attention than they have time to give you.

I will coach you through the admissions process, helping you through the application maze.

At our first conference. . . We will discuss and evaluate your application credentials. In future discussions we will continue to explore your progress toward your goal. You will have the opportunity to talk about your interest in medicine, how it began, how it is part of your life now, and how you envision your future career.

In contrast to many web sites, I welcome and encourage your phone call so that I may further help you understand what services I provide. There is no substitute for V2V (voice-to-voice: 650.888.9477) and F2F (face-to-face) contact!

(Back to top)

When I give workshops and talk with interested applicants, I am often asked, "Just what exactly do you do for me?"

Applying to medical school can be a long-term arduous project. We begin as soon as you decide that you will be applying to medical school within the year.

As a non-traditional applicant, we begin first by:
Evaluating your current credentials.
Discussing whether or not med school is even "a viable option."
What are the challenges?

Academic record
Current career path
Depth of passion for medicine
Support system

Create a plan (if necessary) to "fill in the gaps" and/or improve the academic credentials.
"Coach" you through the process, which may take longer than the traditional pre-med process.

At this point we pick up with the time-line/activities appropriate for any medical school applicant, traditional or non-traditional.

Pre-Med (the year prior to applying)
       Evaluation of credentials
        - grades, MCAT scores, "non-cognitive variables" (extra-curricular activities)

AMCAS application
       Timing
       Formatting
       Presentation of your material in the strongest possible manner
       Personal statement in-depth review for content/style
       Transcript discussion
       Recommendation letters
       Help in selecting med schools to which to apply
       Sorting through school-specific secondary applications
       Timing the return of the "secondary"
       Discussing/reviewing essays
       Handling the possible reject letter

Interviewing
       The interview trip - planning, etc.
       Dealing with the Admissions offices
The Interview Itself

Possible questions
Mock interviews (!)
"Too many interviewees are unprepared," according to Dr. Gabriel Garcia, Assoc. Dean of Admissions, Stanford U. School of Medicine
Post-Interview follow-up

Acceptance - CELEBRATE!

Each applicant is different - beyond the standard needs of the application process, someone may need to improve study skills, or develop time management skills, or learn stress-reduction techniques; whatever the issue, someone is dealing with it. I can be a useful resource for these other challenges.

I am often asked, "How many hours do your clients typically spend with you?"

There is no standard answer...anywhere from 2 to 6 hours (includes mock interviewing). Generally 4 hours is the average.

I am also asked, How are your current clients are doing in the application process?

Most of my clients, those who have wanted more than just a two hour consultation early in the season, received invitations for interviews.

Congratulations (Some success stories)   Client Comments   Introduction   
Help You May Need   Philosophy & Goals  
 Applying to Medical School - Information   "What can you do for me?"   Fees - A Drop In The Bucket  
 Payment Options   "Personal Inventory" Forms   My Credentials   Useful references/Other links

 

(Back to top) 

Judith J. Colwell, MA
Medical School Admissions Consultant
461 Menlo Oaks Drive
Menlo Park, CA 94025-2345
Tel: 650-888-9477
Email: Consulting@judycolwell.com or judycolwell@yahoo.com
Web:  http://www.judycolwell.com

Last updated: April 1, 2013
© Judy Colwell, 2003