At my Medical School Admissions Seminar last night, I had many students asking about the Admissions Process.

The 2014 Admissions Season has begun!

AMCAS 2014 opened on May 8.

AACOMAS 2014 opened on May 1.

Start applying early to get an admissions advantage.

If you have not already narrowed down your list of target schools, use these next coming weeks to complete your research. It's important that you Keep your options open, considering all of the opportunities that are available to you.

Among our many medical school admissions consultants are an M.D. from Columbia University's Medical School, a D.D.S from Columbia University and another from New York University.

Our consultants speak regularly with each other and share their knowledge of news and developments in medical school admissions. This makes them even more knowledgeable as a group than they are as individuals, and is an additional reason why we are able to truly maximize our clients' chances.

Contact for more information about our medical school admissions services.

Here are some things incoming college freshmen should know about college.

You Have Control Over Your Courses
You do not have to confine yourself to the standard program. As you select your courses, be sure that each one is on the right level for you. Once you have picked your program, you should attend each of the classes and decide whether the professor is someone from whom you can really learn.  By using the drop/add process, you may be able to get a much better teacher. Every class counts, so devote yourself to them.

You Are Expected to Do a Lot of the Work on Your Own
You need to be your own boss. Figure out when things need to be done and do them, week by week. No one will contact you when you have missed the test or have not handed in the paper.

You will also need to get yourself to study — even when there is no graded work that week.

You Don’t Have to Pick a Major in Your First Year
Many colleges now encourage students to declare a major at orientation. This actually forces students to get started on some directed course of study, and it helps colleges manage course offerings. In some cases it may be a good idea to declare your major right away, especially if yours is a four-year program like pre-med, or music, however, it is better to wait until you’ve taken a few courses — especially upper-division or advanced courses in a given field — before you commit to a major.

And keep in mind that even if you do declare a major at the outset, it is very easy to change your major if you find you don’t like the courses or you aren’t doing well in them. It is much better to get out of something you don’t like than to go through 10 or 12 required courses.

International students can prepare for the TOEFL in 3 ways.

Students should make an effort to speak English every day and prepare for the TOEFL well in advance of your test date.

1. Don't try to cram. It's not easy memorizing a language in one night. The TOEFL test involves all aspects of the language - speaking, reading, writing and listening - definitely too much to cover in a few hours.

2. Turn study into something more pleasant. Crouching over a stack of books is no fun. Learn by speaking English every day. Write a story in English or a daily journal. Meet new English-speaking friends and speak to them in English.

When it comes to reading, the Internet is your best friend. Browse websites you usually do not spend time on and read about things you normally would not pay attention to. Time magazines or New York Times are excellent starting points.

To practice listening, watch movies and TV shows without subtitles, or download and listen to podcasts.

Ask your English teacher to correct your essay – he or she will most likely be more than happy to help.

3. Get familiar with the exam: Uncertainty about the format of the test could make you anxious on test day. There are lots of online practice tests that will give you a taste of what to expect on the test day, at no cost.

The Internet-based test (iBT) begins with a reading section that lasts about 60-80 minutes, and then jumps straight into a listening section that lasts 60-90 minutes.

After that, you get a 10-minute breather and have a chance to go to the bathroom or grab a snack.

Next comes the speaking section, which takes 20 minutes, followed by 50 minutes set aside for writing. At that point you'll probably feel rather exhausted, but try to keep it together. It will be worth it.

4. Get some rest: Finally, make sure to stay in and get some rest the night before. It's a long exam and the more stressed you are, the more it will drain you.

So, for the International students, come prepared, stay calm during the exam and get to go home feeling content about your effort. If you do that, you could be one big step further on your path toward studying in the U.S.

Lee Academia's expert consultant, Stephenie, is certified in TESOL/TEFL. She has worked with many International students on English skills and on their TOEFL test prep. For assistance, contact her at Stephenie@Leeacademia.com.



*TOEFL is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Senior friends graduating, finals approaching, the first days of summer and the last days of school all make it easy for rising juniors to get wrapped up in fun and festivities. However, June offers many opportunities for rising seniors to start and continue the college admissions process.

June is a tough month for juniors. With warmer weather, classes coming to an end and the opportunity to sleep past 7 a.m. can lull students into an early case of senioritis.

During these final days of classes, you are putting on the icing on a high school transcript that will soon make its way into the hands of college admissions officers in the Fall.

Make sure you finalize your senior schedule. Colleges are admitting students who are engaged in challenging courses, so make sure your senior year schedule is your most rigorous. Seek help from your teachers, counselors, parents and contact Lee Academia, if you need advice to create the best possible senior year schedule.

Have you asked for Teacher Recommendations yet? Do you know which teachers and how many to ask for a letter from?  Who knows you best? Ask these teachers (11th-12th grade teachers) who can describe your academic abilities and performance. If they hesitate, consider asking someone else.

Make summer plans. Colleges want to know how you spend your summers. Did you watch reruns of "The Walking Dead" or catch up on "Assassins Creed III"? This is not what you want to list on the extracurricular section of your college application. Need an idea or summer plan? Contact our experts.

Start writing your college essay! The college essay is a chance to introduce yourself to the admission committee. This is your opportunity to tell them who you are, what you value and what they would not know about you from the rest of your application. The five new Common Application essay prompts are now available and are a good place to begin thinking about what you will write. Lee Academia is offering their summer College Essay workshops

Are you thinking about pursuing the arts or playing a sport in college? If so, your application process may include a few additional components.

If you are an athlete, use this time to create an athletic résumé and collect highlight film footage. Artists should find out what their prospective colleges require and use this time to prepare an art portfolio or, if applicable, select a piece to perform for auditions.

Visit college campuses this summer. Contact Lee Academia to find out how to start, and what you need to do while you're visiting colleges this summer.

Now is the time to talk to your family about paying for your college education. Don’t be scared away by the listed cost of attendance. With financial aid, the most expensive institution can often become the most affordable.

Relax this summer. The fall will be very busy, and you want to make sure you return to school ready for all that senior year will require of you. Summer is a great time to move forward with the college admission process, but it is also an important time to recharge and spend time with family and friends.

Make time for yourself and the activities you enjoy. Senior year will be here in no time, so enjoy your time off, and be ready to start strong in the fall!

Congratulations on almost finishing your high school career.

Make sure you finalize your admission. Start making a list of tasks you need to complete before you arrive on campus this fall. Have you:

• Accepted your financial aid offer?
• Contacted the financial aid office if you have questions about your aid package?
• Completed housing and health forms?
• Answered roommate preference surveys?
• Filled out meal plan application?
  

Read all mail and e-mail correspondence from your college, which will provide instructions on how to complete these tasks. Keep track of what is done and what is left to do. Make copies of any forms you submit.

Submit Your final transcript to your college, the N.C.A.A. and waiting-list schools.

Keep in mind that there may be limited waiting-list activity during the summer. Once a waiting list has closed, the college will notify you that its class is full.

Submit your A.P. scores If you expect college credit for Advanced Placement exams, send your official scores to your college directly from the College Board.

If your college offers a summer orientation program, be sure to attend. This will be an opportunity for you to meet your academic adviser, register for fall classes, and meet new college friends.

Your college roommate will be a new and interesting person, someone to learn from and learn about, whether the two of you are just alike or completely different. Connect with him/her.

You don’t have to be best friends with your roommate, but you will have to co-exist. Say hello and decide how best to manage your small space.

Thank the people who helped you on your way. Hug your family and friends The summer after your senior year can be a happy, but tense, time at home. While you may be excited, your family may be equally sad and sentimental about your leaving home.

Try your hand at managing all aspects of your life. Wake up on your own, to an alarm. Do your own laundry. Learn how to cook your favorite meal. Schedule your own health care appointments. Figure out when and how to exercise. Set a budget and live within it.

Find some quiet time to set academic, extracurricular and personal goals for next year. Are you ready to discover something new about yourself? College is a fresh start, a new slate. Set your goals.

College is going to be great, but it isn’t always perfect.

This summer, endings and beginnings meet in memorable ways. There is so much ahead of you!

Hello Pre-medical Students:

I am writing to inform you that the opening for 2014 AMCAS application submissions is being delayed until Monday, June 10 at 9:30 a.m. ET.   At this time, some applicants have reported problems viewing the summary sections of the Course Work and Work/Activities section of the application.  The delay will allow the problems to be fully resolved and to allow applicants to review their applications in their entirety for accuracy prior to submission.  

As a reminder, the initial transfer of 2014 AMCAS application data medical schools is scheduled for June 28.

Good luck to all.

Lee Academia medical school experts are here to help you, if you need any assistance. Contact us here.

NYSACAC posted an article written by our very own Educational Consultant.