In this episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Accepted Admissions Consultant Alicia Nimonkar, an expert writing coach with a background in composition and rhetoric, to unpack one of the most important – and often most intimidating – parts of the medical school application: the personal statement. Alicia explains how applicants can use the AAMC’s premed competencies as a framework to craft authentic, focused narratives that highlight their strengths. From creating a timeline of formative experiences to developing an outline that connects recurring themes, she shares how to identify what makes your story uniquely yours – and how to make it resonate with admissions committees.

Alicia also offers practical insight into the writing process itself: how many drafts it really takes, when to stop editing, and how to avoid the “too many cooks in the kitchen” trap of excessive feedback. She and Dr. Wherley discuss the power of resilience, effort, and voice – exploring how applicants can address challenges without sounding apologetic and how to write from a place of strength and advocacy. Whether you’re starting your first draft or polishing your final version, this episode will help you approach your personal statement with clarity, confidence, and purpose.

Related Resources

• AAMC The Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students
• Mindsets: A View From Two Eras
• The Obstacle Is the Way
• Alicia Nimonkar bio and contact information

Related Admissions Straight Talk Episodes

• The Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]
• How to Overcome the Biggest Weaknesses in Med School Applications [Episode 605]
• Rejection and Reapplication: How to Respond [Episode 523]

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In this inspiring episode of Admissions Straight Talk, host Dr. Valerie Wherley sits down with Dr. Tracy Kedian, professor of family medicine and associate dean of admissions at UMass Chan Medical School. Together, they explore how UMass Chan fosters not only academic excellence but also personal growth, leadership, and wellness among its medical students.

Dr. Kedian discusses how programs such as WIN (“what I need”) Week and the Vista Curriculum create a supportive environment where students learn to lead with compassion and resilience. She also highlights the school’s emphasis on community engagement—from the Worcester campus to the Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) track in Springfield—and the critical importance of understanding the diverse communities physicians serve.

Listeners will gain insight into how UMass Chan’s holistic approach prepares future doctors to thrive in medicine while maintaining their well-being and purpose. Whether you’re an aspiring physician or advising premed students, this episode offers an authentic look at a medical school that truly “walks the talk” of student support and community-driven medicine.

Related Resources

• UMass Chan Medical School
• Vista Curriculum
• PURCH track
• LEAD@Lahey track
• Morningside University

Related Admissions Straight Talk Episodes

• The Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]
• How to Overcome the Biggest Weaknesses in Med School Applications [Episode 605]
• How Many Med Schools Should You Apply To? [Episode 607]
• Tuft’s MS in Biomedical Sciences: Your Pathway to Med School? [Episode 535]

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+1 (310) 815-9553

What happens when you combine medicine, business, and technology? The cross-disciplinary Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management degree at Stanford University combines all three of these disciplines. Over the course of just 12 months, students gain the skills to implement cutting-edge technologies, strengthen core business and leadership capabilities, and apply innovative solutions to mee the needs of diverse populations. In this episode of the Admissions Straight Talk podcast, Accepted medical school expert Dr. Valerie Wherley is joined by Dr. Kevin Schulman, Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and program director, to discuss the Stanford MCIM program. Dr. Wherley and Dr. Schulman they talk about tackling big problems in healthcare, why the MCiM degree was created, who the program is right for, and the options MCIM students have for their capstone project.

Learn more about the Master of Science in Clinical Informatics Management program here: https://med.stanford.edu/content/sm/master-clinical-informatics-management.html/

00:00 Welcome to the Admissions Straight Talk podcast
00:49 How (and why) the MCIM degree was created
02:05 Cross-disciplinary approach
04:01 Who is the MCiM program right for?
06:04 ROI and marketable skills
08:50 Capstone project options
12:56 The Stanford design process
14:32 MCiM application timeline and scholarship options
15:39 The importance of letters of recommendation
16:20 What makes an MCiM applicant stand out

Related Resources

• Dr. Kevin Schulman biography
• Stanford MCiM program information
• Stanford University Knight-Hennessy Scholars program
• Five Tips for Applying for Stanford’s Knight-Hennessy Scholarship

Related Episodes

• Transitioning from the Military to an MBA at Stanford GSB [Episode 471]
• What These Seasoned Startup Founders Have Done Since Earning Their Stanford MBAs [Episode 382]
• Stanford MBA Grows His Amazing Tech Startup [Episode 369]

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Contact Us
www.accepted.com
support@accepted.com
+1 (310) 815-9553