Stephen C. Frederico

If I had a nickel for every time I have heard the term “holistic review,” I would probably be able to retire. Medical schools advertise it. Admissions panels reference it. Pre-med advisors repeat it. Applicants cling to it. But what does that actually mean? Applicants often interpret that phrase to mean: “If my GPA or MCAT is lower, they will overlook it because they consider the whole person.” That is not how holistic review works in practice. As a former voting member of a medical school...

Post-baccalaureate programs and Special Master’s Programs are often marketed as second chances for those with low GPAs aspiring to attending medical school. But how do medical school admissions committees actually evaluate them? As a former voting member of an MD admissions committee, I can tell you the answer is nuanced and highly strategic. These programs can absolutely strengthen an application. But they can also expose weaknesses more clearly than before. Understanding how they are...

Every application cycle, I receive messages from students and parents asking the same question. “Do I really need a medical school admissions consultant?” The honest answer is this: not everyone does. But the right guidance, at the right time, can dramatically change outcomes. As a former medical school admissions committee member who now works closely with MD and BS/MD applicants, I have seen both sides of the table. I have watched highly capable students get rejected because of strategic...