How to Decide Which Medical School is Right for You

How to Decide Which Medical School is Right for You By Michelle Finkel, MD Insider Medical Admissions The following piece was written byDr. Michelle Finkel. Michelle has been featured in ourAdmissions Expert seriesand is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member. She is the founder ofInsider Medical Admissions. Managing the medical school interview day requires stamina, poise, and know how. Please look for my other guest posts on the Varsity Tutors blog where Ive covered both prominent and subtle aspects of the interview day. Check out my July entry for advice on how to let your story show your glory and how to fake it until you make it, and my August entry emphasizing that you can run; you can hide; but you cant escape the weaknesses in your application. Septembers piece reviewed geographical issues how to persuade programs that you are willing to relocate to a substantially different location and solid strategies for demonstrating interest in schools. Octobers entry included advice on how to tactfully navigate interview days social events shiny happy people holding hands and how to manage illegal questions with poise youve got to hide your love away. Novembers unforgettable highlighted how to leave an enduring impression after the interview day is over. As weve seen through these entries, the medical school interview day itself is complicated and imposing, and managing it graciously is critical. Having successfully navigated the hazards of the interview day, many applicants find themselves ill-prepared to make decisions about the institutions that will play such a major role in their personal and professional lives. It was the heat of the moment Ive written before about a psychological principle called reciprocal attraction, or reciprocal liking. The phrase refers to the phenomenon of peoples tending to like more of those people who like them. This idea can be used to a candidates benefit by preparing in advance to launch a charm offensive: Demonstrating a strong knowledge base about an institutions curriculum, geography, and faculty can transform an underdog candidate into an enthusiastic match. The problem with reciprocal attraction is that it can bite you in the butt. In the heat of the moment, interviewers may make promises they cant keep. As the saying goes, kisses arent contracts; although flattery feels good, never assume that any comments about your prospects are accurate. Take what is said with a grain of salt and certainly dont make decisions like foregoing an interview at another institution based on what you have been told about the strength of your candidacy. At most institutions, one interviewer does not have the power to single-handedly determine the course of a candidates application. Also, and perhaps most importantly, make sure that you dont inadvertently judge an institution as a better fit for you because someone has stroked your ego a bit. Destiny's Child Making decisions about where to go to medical school also depends on understanding and valuing your personal happiness. I received really bad advice from a well-meaning faculty advisor when I was applying for residency: I was interviewing around the country, and one program really stood out as a strong one, but I had major qualms about the residencys location. I had no friends or family in the city, and the weather was not to my taste. I was concerned about my future social life and my ability to do the outdoor activities I enjoyed in my free time. I approached a dean I knew and laid out my dilemma, hoping for insightful advice. The well-meaning dean told me that I would be working so hard during my training that it wouldn't matter where I lived. He said I should choose the most competitive program regardless of location. Fortunately, I ignored his advice. In applying to medical school and choosing where youll be, it's essential to think about what will make you happiest. Usually, that means being near your significant other, family, and friends. It might mean being in weather conducive to activities you enjoy, near a supportive religious community, or in a place where you can pursue your favorite hobby. Experience shows that many medical students end up matching for residency near the location where they went to school. This trend also continues after residency, for completely understandable reasons: Because theyre a known quantity to faculty, standout residents are offered local jobs after training. Because its a pain to move, and they have developed local support systems during residency, many doctors accept jobs near where they trained. None of this means that your choice of medical school will determine your destiny, but understanding how short-term decisions can have long-term consequences will help you choose the best location for the next four (or more) years of your life. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Varsity Tutors.

Essential French Vocabulary Words for Your Online Life

Essential French Vocabulary Words for Your Online Life Megan L. The French have their own set of words for the online world. Tutor  Tyler S.  shares how to type French accents, helpful phrases for email, and more! In the most recent decade, technological advances have affected languages all over the globe. Thanks to these advances, it is easy to communicate with others over  long distances at the touch of a button. The  internet and high-tech mobile devices have given rise to many new, abbreviated word forms. One example is the way the French use their own abbreviated language for social media and texting. This article will help you  modernize your  French skills for a world where people text, email, and use social media, plus youll  learn how to type accents on the daily! How to Type  French Accents There are a lot of ways to type accents using a computer keyboard or mobile device. Here is how to type accents in French using Mac, PC, Android, or iOS. 1. How to Type Accents on  a Mac Accents are easy to type when using a Mac. Below  are the common keystrokes. Remember to have the caps lock on when typing uppercase characters. Àà Press the [`] symbol and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [a]. Èè Press the [`] symbol and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [e]. Ùù Press the [`] symbol and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [u]. Éé Press [e] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [e] again. Ââ Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [a]. Êê Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [e]. Îî Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [i]. Ã"ô Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [o]. Ûû Press [i] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [u]. Ää Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [a]. Ïï Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [i]. Üü Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [u]. Ÿÿ Press [u] and the [options] key at the same time. Then press [y]. Å'Å" Press [q] and the [options] key at the same time. Çç Press [c] and the [options] key at the same time. 2. How to Type Accents on  a PC/Windows Accents are slightly tedious to type on a PC/Windows operating system. But, it does get easy once you’re in the habit. As long as you have the list below,  on either a sticky note or in a word processing file for reference, you will be fine. À Hold [ALT] and type 0192 à Hold [ALT] and type 0224  Hold [ALT] and type 0194 â Hold [ALT] and type 0226 Ä Hold [ALT] and type 142 ä Hold [ALT] and type  132 È Hold [ALT] and type 0200 è Hold [ALT] and type  138 É Hold [ALT] and type  144 é Hold [ALT] and type  130 Ê Hold [ALT] and type 0202 ê Hold [ALT] and type  136 ÃŽ Hold [ALT] and type 0206 î Hold [ALT] and type 140 Ã" Hold [ALT] and type 0212 ô Hold [ALT] and type  147 Å' Hold [ALT] and type 0140 Å" Hold [ALT] and type 0156 Ù Hold [ALT] and type 0217 ù Hold [ALT] and type  151 Û Hold [ALT] and type 0219 û Hold [ALT] and type  150 Ãœ Hold [ALT] and type 154 ü Hold [ALT] and type  129 Ÿ Hold [ALT] and type 0159 ÿ Hold [ALT] and type 0255 Ç Hold [ALT] and type  128 ç Hold [ALT] and type  135 3. How to Type Accents on  Android/iOS Accents are extremely easy to type using most smartphones. To type an accent using your phone’s touchscreen keyboard, simply press down on the letter you want to accent and hold your finger over that same letter. A small menu will appear over the letter you selected, and various accented versions of that letter are included in that menu. To select an accented letter, slide your finger while still holding down on the touchscreen in the direction of the letter you wish. You will see that the letter selected is  darkened so that you know it is selected. Once selected, release you finger from the touchscreen, and the accented character will be typed into your current message. For example, if you hold your finger over “u,” the following set of accented letters will appear over your finger on most smartphones: u,  Ãº,  Ã¹, ü, û French Vocabulary for Email Below is the basic structure of a typical French email. Each number on the left-side column represents a basic part of an email. Below the example email is an explanation of the email’s basic part and other suggestions for improving your vocabulary. (1) Chère Mme Blanc, (2) Je suis très desolé, mais je ne peux pas assister à votre classe aujourd’hui. Je suis malade, et il faut que j’aille au docteur. (3) Merci, (4) [Your Information] 1. Information of the Addressee This is the section where you want to correctly address  the person you are emailing. Assess the level of formality you need to use, and use the addressee’s correct title if applicable. Here are more words you could use in this part of the email: Cher = Dear _____, (for addressing a man) Chère = Dear _____, (for addressing a woman) Prof = Professor (as a title) Mr or Monsieur = Mr. (title) Mme or Madame = Ms. or Misses (title) Mlle or Mademoiselle = Ms. or Miss (title) 2. Your Message’s Information This section simply contains the information you wish to convey in  your email, such as the example used above. This example sentence is a notification to Professor Blanc to excuse the addresser of the email, because he or she is malade (sick). 3. Thank You/Farewell This is the section where you want to either thank the addressee for their time, or write other farewell messages, like we do in American email etiquette. Here are some common phrases used by the French: Cordialement  = Cordially Merci  = Thank you Sincèrement  = Sincerely Meilleurs salutations  = Best regards 4. Information of the Addresser This is the section where you provide your personal information, such as your name, your telephone number, your address (if pertinent), and your email address. Here is an example: Meilleurs salutations, Pierre Dubois 612-324-13423 80 Rue Saint-Louis 78001 Versailles, France French Vocabulary for Social Media Here is a useful list of commonly-used words from the online world of social media. * les médias sociaux = social media * le net = internet * l’ego-portrait = selfie * le statut = status * la page web = web site * ajouter a la liste d’ami(e)s = to add to your friendlist * amiradier = to unfriend * chatter = to chat * la publication = post * envoyer un poke = to poke * J’aime = Like (as in the button on Facebook) * Je n’aime plus = Unlike (as in the button on Facebook) * l’accueil = home page * la bôite de réception = inbox * la discussion instantée = chat * suivre sur Twitter = to follow in Twitter * le tweetage = tweeting French Vocabulary for Texting And last but not least, we have abbreviations commonly-used by French when texting. The French call these type of words “textos,” which, in English, are abbreviations similar to “lol” or “brb.” Texto Francais English bjr Bonjour  Good Morning / Hello. bsr Bonsoir Good evening. C c’est… it is… A+ à plus later a2m1 à demain see you tomorrow ALP à la prochaine until next time auj aujourd’hui today BCP beaucoup much; many 2 ri 1 de rien   you’re welcome Koi 2 9 Quoi de neuf? What’s new? Using these words will make you sounds très moderne in the world of French communication. Also, it is nice simply not to be confused when you encounter a texto or technological jargon. Practice using the new French vocabulary from this article, and you are sure to increase your understanding. Ct pour auj. À bi1to!  ?? (C’est tout pour aujourd’hui. À bientôt! That’s all for today. See you soon!) Have you come across any interesting French vocabulary online, in email, or in a text message? Share it with us in the comments below! Post Author:  Tyler S. Tyler S. teaches in-person Spanish and French lessons in Minneapolis, MN. He received his Bachelors degree in German and linguistics from the University of Minnesota, and has experience working as a teaching assistant and private tutor with TakeLessons since 2008. Whats more? He can speak 7 different languages! Learn more about Tyler here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher