Universal Healthcare Coverage in the Works?

One of the biggest challenges facing the 110th Congress is finding the cure for one of the country’s peskiest chronic ailments – the lack of health coverage for all its citizens.

With a staggering 45 million Americans uninsured, the controversial topic of universal health care will shape Capitol Hill’s political agenda for months to come. And, with the 2008 presidential race on the near horizon, this hot-button issue will likely spark and fuel heated debates on the campaign trails as well.

“Medical costs are hitting every part of this nation like a wrecking ball,” said Sen. Ron Wyden, D-OR, a member of the Senate Finance Committee. “Getting this on the presidential agenda so that candidates of both political parties have got to get beyond position papers, is an especially important point.” Read more »

The Price of MCAT Prep

Studying for the MCAT can set you back almost as much as you’re willing to pay, with prices ranging from over $2,149 to as low as $35, depending on what you’re looking for and how much work (and money) you want to put into it.

Kaplan

Kaplan’s Complete Preparation for the Computer-Based MCAT costs $1,749 for Classroom or Online Courses. They offer the “Kaplan Higher Score Guarantee” that states that if you feel you’re not ready to take the exam, you can study with them again for free for the next test date. They also say that, no matter how many points you improve, if you’re not satisfied with your overall score, you can study with them again for free for the next test date. Lastly, if for any reason you don’t raise your overall score, you can study with them again for free or get your money back. Read more »

MCAT Study Guides Feature All You Need to Know, And Then Some

Venture inside any bookstore and you know there’s a book for just about everything, and studying for the MCAT is no exception. There are shelves and shelves of MCAT prep books, some of which you’ve probably already heard of (or own) and some you may not.

Here’s a rundown of the tip of the iceberg of what’s available in the MCAT prep world:

The Gold Standard MCAT, by Dr. Brett Ferdinand, covers all science sections in detail, and includes a review for verbal reasoning, a “Five minute, Five step” approach to the writing sample, conversion tables for MCAT scores, and over 100 diagrams and illustrations.

Available at mcat-bookstore.com for $60, the 842-page Gold Standard includes a comprehensive and easy-to-understand review of the MCAT, and three pull-out full-length practice exams with explanations. This manual covers all aspects of medical school admissions, as well as tips for improving your grades, preparing for medical school interviews, and strategies for autobiographical materials and letters of references. Read more »

What does the 110th Congress Hold for Healthcare Legislation?

Nancy PelosiJust before the lame-duck 109th Congress wrapped up in December, it offered the family physicians across the U.S.A. some glad tidings: the 11th hour legislation that averted a scheduled 5 % Medicare pay cut to go into effect in January 2007.

But as family doctors welcome this news, some pressing questions remain. For example:  when the 110th Congress is gaveled to order on January 4, will the cure – or at least some relief — for America’s health care ills be on the horizon?

To paraphrase Bob Dylan – the answer to the question on every health care provider’s mind is blowing in the winds of political change that has swept across Washington after last November’s midterm elections. Suddenly, health topics such as universal coverage, prescription drug prices, and Medicare reforms, are getting the emergency treatment that all too often eluded them in the past. Read more »

Are You One of Us? (Interview Advice Column)

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

No question is more important to your success than this one. Convincing the admissions committee that you are “one of them” transcends the individual importance of the interview, your personal statement, your GPA and even your MCAT score. Understanding why this is will help your application rise to the top.

What’s it all about?

If not on a conscious level, certainly on a sub-conscious level, admission committee members are trying to determine if an applicant is one of them. There are two main reasons for this inquiry. First, they want to know if this person falls within the generally prescribed norms of a standard physician. Second, they want to know if he or she seems like the kind of person they would trust with their own health care. Read more »

MCAT Testing Goes High Tech

MCAT Testing CenterTechnology strikes again—beginning in January 2007, the computerized MCAT became the only way to take the test. Although some may think the new test requires technological knowledge known only to IT specialists, it really only requires basic computer operating skills, such as familiarity with using a keyboard and a mouse.

Now, opportunities to take the test have increase from twice a year to 22 times, and the test day takes about half as long as the paper-test days of old. This is partly because the new test is shorter (with the amount of questions reduced proportionately in all sections of the test).

Because the number of questions has been reduced by about one-third, the amount of time allowed to take the test has been reduced by about 30 percent, to four and a half hours. Test results are speedier as well; they will be available in 30 days instead of 60, with plans to eventually reduce reporting to 14 days. Read more »

Introduction to “The #1 Factor” Interview Advice Column

By Jeremiah Fleenor, MD, MBA, author of The Medical School Interview: Secrets and a System for Success

This is a column dedicated to providing resources for success in the medical school interview.

There is precious little information on the subject of the medical school interview. This is unfortunate, because the data we do have indicates that the #1 factor for admission to medical school is the interview. I’d like to help change the lack of information.

This column has one main focus: to provide useful information that will help you accomplish your goal of getting into medical school. Far too many good applicants land an interview only to perform poorly and ultimately be rejected. I hate to see someone miss out on his or her dream simply because they lack the right information.

The entire admissions process is challenging at best; at worst it is downright cryptic. There is plenty of information about submission deadlines and application requirements. But when it comes to quality information about the inner workings of an admission committee or the interview, it’s tough to find. This poses a huge problem for the applicant. You’re giving everything to gain acceptance into medical school but have little guidance along the way. Read more »

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