Study Finds Perseverance the Most Common Theme of the AMCAS W&A Entries of Highly Successful Medical Students

Earlier this year, researchers Joseph M. Maciuba, Yating Teng, Matthew Pflipsen, Mary A. Andrews, and Steven J. Durning published findings from early research into the qualitative differences in the AMCAS applications of medical students identified as high performing (via entry into a medical school honor society) and low performing (referred for administrative action). The study’s scope included 61 students who graduated from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD from 2017 to 2019. 

The researchers found significant differences in the AMCAS Work and Activities submissions: 

• Among the high performing students, seven themes emerged frequently in their Work and Activities submissions: teamwork, altruism, success in a practiced activity, wisdom, passion, entrepreneurship, and perseverance. High performers, on average, referenced the themes 7.86 times per application as compared to the low performers’ 3.81 times. 

• High performers also showcased a more diverse array of themes within their applications than low performers. On average high performers referenced 4.5 different themes in their applications, while low performers averaged 2.5.

• The most notable differences between high and low performers occurred in use of “perseverance.” Fifty five percent of high performers referenced the trait (19 percent of low performers). 

• 73 percent of high performers included a reference to their success in a practiced activity (38 percent of low performers). 

• Among low performing students, common themes emerged as well: Witnessing teamwork (taking a passive versus an active role in a team environment), describing a future event (event that has not yet occurred), and embellishing an achievement.

Temple’s Katz School of Medicine Incorporates Local Community Into Medical School Admissions

For the selection of the Class of 2026 at Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine, the admissions team included members of the surrounding community. This made Katz one of the first medical schools to incorporate the opinions of local residents in admissions decisions. Among the five community members, all of whom live and/or work in the neighborhoods surrounding the medical school and hospital, one served as a voting member of the admissions committee (alongside medical school faculty and physicians) and the others interviewed and evaluated prospective students. 

The community members, who mostly hailed from social service backgrounds, received interview training prior to spending about four hours per week facilitating 30-minute interviews and writing evaluations for hundreds of candidates. The community member interviews, which included two to three prospective students at a time, engaged interviewees on topics such as: Why Temple? What does community mean to you? How would you engage with marginalized groups and groups that suffer disparate access to care? How would you handle a sensitive clinical conversation?

While the idea of incorporating local community members into the admissions team had been discussed previously, according to Jacob Ufberg, Associate Dean of Admissions, it was the medical school’s Student Diversity Council—a group of 60 students—who was responsible for implementing the plan. Randolph Lyde, MD, PhD, and Student Diversity Council Chair (at the time of implementation) described the Council’s work, “We feel it makes our admissions process better. It makes our school community better, and it makes us a better steward and partner in our community,” he said. “And hopefully, it will allow us to bring more culturally sensitive and culturally aware students into our medical school.”

Prospective students also found their interview experience meaningful. In a post-interview survey, 90 percent of the interviewees said that the community members had added value to their experience and given them a better understanding of the community and of the medical school’s values. 

The Must-Knows if You’re a Premed Considering EMT Training

Many premedical students consider EMT training and certification because it can provide excellent clinical experience and patient interactions. Could it be the right fit for you? 

There are a lot of benefits that medical school admissions committees view favorably.

• As an EMT, you will develop your leadership skills and understanding of some of the work and challenges physicians may face. 

• You will gain foundational medical knowledge and clinical experience that will be useful throughout medical school and may ease the transition between your undergraduate and medical studies. In a recent study at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, which added EMT certification into the first-year curriculum, most students agreed that the certification eased the transition into medical school (82 percent) and “increased awareness of patient’s lives and circumstances” (91 percent). 

• You will hone your ability to stay calm and clear-headed under duress, which will certainly benefit you as a medical student, resident, fellow, and attending physician.

EMT Certification Process. To become a certified EMT, you must take the equivalent of about six college credits at an accredited school, which includes CPR, controlling blood flow, and patient communication and interactions. You will then take the NREMT exam which is made up of two components: a written, cognitive section that measures your medical knowledge and a psychomotor skills assessment that measures practical skills in patient assessment and emergency response skills. After passing the test, you can apply for EMT certification through your local EMS agency. 

After certification, you will want to consider paid versus volunteer opportunities. Paid employment generally takes shift structures. Volunteer work is more flexible. If you consider paid employment, you will want to look for emergency response or ambulatory work, rather than interfacility transfers. Emergency work will provide you with the most opportunities for meaningful clinical experiences. To understand the opportunities available, check with your local EMS agency, fire departments or hospitals. 

Is it the right fit?:

• What types of clinical and/or research experiences have you already had? In what areas might your future medical school application benefit most?  

• Do you have the time… really? If you want to gain EMT certification, consider it earlier in your undergraduate career or as an activity during a gap year. You won’t want to combine EMT certification with studying for the MCAT, coursework, and medical school applications and interviews.

• What volunteer or employment opportunities are available for you locally? Are they a good fit with your schedule and interests? Gaining the certification without the associated patient experiences from working or volunteering will not provide you with any meaningful benefit as an applicant or medical student.