Free guides
No sign-upStraight answers, high school to residency
Free guides to the questions students and parents ask us most, from the SAT vs. the ACT to MCAT study time, pass/fail boards, and the residency application. Each one opens with a quick answer, shows when its facts were last checked, and lists official sources.
High school students and parents
Choosing between the SAT and the ACT, and building a calm plan around test dates.
Premeds and medical school applicants
MCAT study time, the application calendar, and the personal statement.
How long should you study for the MCAT?
AAMC surveys point to about 3 to 5 months of part-time MCAT prep. Size your plan to your baseline and use AAMC practice exams to judge readiness.
Updated
ReadMedical school application timeline: what to do and when
A month-by-month medical school application timeline: MCAT timing, letters, AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS dates, secondaries, interviews, and acceptances.
Updated
ReadHow to write a medical school personal statement
How to write a medical school personal statement: purpose, structure, AMCAS and AACOMAS limits, common mistakes, revision, and using your own words.
Updated
ReadMedical students
Boards after pass/fail scoring, the residency application cycle, and clinical notes.
How to prepare for USMLE Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 now that they are pass/fail
Step 1 and COMLEX Level 1 are pass/fail. Plan dedicated study, use NBME and COMSAE self-assessments, judge readiness, and see why Step 2 CK matters more.
Updated
ReadResidency application timeline: ERAS, interviews, and Match Day
The 2027 residency timeline: away rotations, letters, ERAS and MSPE dates, program signals, interviews, the rank list deadline, Match Week, and SOAP.
Updated
ReadHow to write a SOAP note (with an example)
How to write a SOAP note: what goes in Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan, a fictional inpatient progress note example, and common mistakes.
Updated
ReadResearch, from premed to residency
Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, step by step.
How our guides are written
Answer first
Every guide opens with a short, direct answer, then explains the reasoning and the details.
Checked against sources
Facts come from official organizations first (AAMC, NBME, NBOME, NRMP, ERAS, the College Board, ACT) and are listed at the end of each guide.
Dated
Each guide shows when its facts were last checked. Policies change, so confirm dates and rules with the official source before you act.
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