Shows
Admissions Straight TalkInside UMass Chan: How Wellness, Community, and Leadership Shape Future Physicians [Episode 611]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 P...
2025-11-1324 min
Admissions Straight TalkStanford's MCiM Degree: Where Healthcare Meets Technology [Episode 610]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...
2025-10-3021 min
Admissions Straight TalkFrom Med School Reapplicant to Current M1 Student [Episode 609]If you are a medical school reapplicant, tune in for today's episode of the Admissions Straight Talk podcast! Accepted medical school expert Dr. Valerie Wherley is joined by Mory Gould, current M1 medical student and former Accepted client who worked with Valerie when reapplying to medical school. Mory discusses the med school application process, the weaknesses he identified in his profile after not receiving any acceptances, and how he and Valerie made his second application cycle a success. If you are applying to med school -- for the first time OR the second time -- this episode is full...
2025-10-1614 min
Admissions Straight TalkThe Fastest Way to Medical School Is Slowly: Avoiding Early Premed Mistakes [Episode 608]In this episode of the Admissions Straight Talk podcast, Dr. Valerie Wherley is joined by Accepted medical school consultant Dr. Barry Rothman. Valerie and Barry discuss some of the common mistakes that pre-med students make early on in their journey to medical school. Barry shares his thoughts on undergraduates majors, osteopathic medical schools, and the best types of patient-facing experience. If you are an undergraduate student planning to apply to medical school, you won't want to miss this episode!00:00 Welcome to the Admissions Straight Talk podcast00:58 Welcoming Dr. Barry Rothman01:20 Errors pre-meds make in their...
2025-10-0220 min
Admissions Straight TalkHow Many Medical Schools Should You Apply To? [Episode 607]The Admissions Straight Talk podcast is back with a fresh look, and new host! After retiring this summer, Accepted founder Linda Abraham turned the podcast reigns over to Accepted admissions expert Dr. Valerie Wherley. In this week's episode, Valerie talks with Dr. Herman "Flash" Gordon, Accepted medical school consultant and former admissions committee chair at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Valerie and Flash discuss a question we hear almost daily from medical school applicants: How many med schools should I apply to? They discuss target ranges, the importance of fit, and the truth about "reach schools" and "...
2025-09-1818 minAdmissions Straight TalkApplying to Medical School? The Pre-Med Competencies are What You Must Show [Episode 554]Show SummaryWhat are the pre-med competencies? And if you're pre-med and planning to apply in September 2024, what do they mean to you? That's the subject of this week’s podcast of Admissions Straight Talk, as Linda Abraham and Dr. Valerie Wherley, an Accepted consultant, dive into pre-med competencies. Dr. Wherley gives an overview of the 17 competencies identified by the AAMC as essential for success in medical school and beyond. She leans into her expertises as an Assistant Dean, medical school program director, and advisor to present practical tips on how to develop these traits and demonstrate them in an application. Sho...
2023-12-1941 minAdmissions Straight TalkHow to Get into Physician Assistant ProgramsDr. Valerie Wherley, Accepted consultant and past Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Career Development at William Beaumont School of Medicine, and former Director of Pre-Health Advisement and Director of the Pre-Health Postbac Certificate Program at Sacred Heart University, speaks in depth about the path to becoming a physician assistant. [Show Summary]Healthcare is a field that is growing, but what areas are really booming? According to US News citing Bureau of Labor Statics’ projections, between 2021 and 2031 “an estimated 38,400 jobs should open up” for physician assistants. Sound good? Let’s learn more about becoming a physician assistant.Interview with Dr. Valer...
2023-03-1443 min
Admissions Straight TalkMD/PA/NP/DO/DDS/MPH: What Do They Require?Discover the differences between and how to get accepted to common healthcare admissions tracks [Show Summary]Accepted consultant Dr. Valerie Wherley has an impressive and extensive background in pre-health, having advised thousands of students to acceptance at their dream schools and programs. In this highly informative podcast interview, she distinguishes the differences between common healthcare admissions tracks and shares how to craft a compelling application for each one.Interview with Dr. Valerie Wherley, Accepted admissions consultant and former post-bac program director & pre-health advisor [Show Notes]Welcome to the 499th episode of Admissions Straight Talk. Thanks for tuning in. We have...
2022-12-0637 min