Ask Dr. S

Shemmassian Consulting
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Ask Dr. S is your direct line to the truth about becoming a doctor. Hosted by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting, each episode answers the real questions premed and medical students are asking. From acing interviews to navigating a nontraditional path, Ask Dr. S brings in physicians, deans, and admissions committee members to pull back the curtain on how admissions decisions really get made.

Episodes

  1. 1d ago

    Premed Extracurriculars Playbook: Clubs, Clinicals, and Commitment

    Wondering which extracurriculars actually matter for medical school? In this episode, Dr. S answers five real questions from future premeds about choosing clubs, research, non-medical activities, high school experiences, and whether you need to do something “unique” to stand out. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✅ Whether to join lots of clubs freshman year or commit to just a few ✅ How admissions committees view non-medical activities like band or debate ✅ Whether research is required, and what counts if you don’t love lab work ✅ Why “unique” is the wrong goal, and what actually helps you stand out ⏱️ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:35 What kind of clinical experience can you get at 18? 05:30 Do non-medical extracurriculars count? 08:25 Is research required for medical school? 14:57 How many clubs should you join freshman year? 19:20 Do you need a “unique” extracurricular? 🩺 WORK WITH OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS EXPERTS https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/medical-school-admissions 📝 AMCAS WORK AND ACTIVITIES PREMIUM EXAMPLE HUB https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/premium/amcas-work-and-activities-section-premium-example-hub-enrollment 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED How to Get Into Medical School: The Ultimate Guide https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-to-get-into-medical-school Premed Extracurriculars: What Counts and How Many Hours You Need https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-to-choose-extracurricular-activities-medical-school AMCAS Work and Activities Ultimate Guide https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/amcas-work-and-activities Medical School Requirements: Your Definitive Guide https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/medical-school-requirements How to Get Clinical Experience for Medical School https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/clinical-experience ✉️ Submit a question for a future episode: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O-c5L4CEgaStlOBiaHCRctLpHN7BRIh207OpcAF0jMk 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes on medical school admissions Who we are: Shemmassian Academic Consulting (SAC) was founded by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, a medical school admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping thousands of students get into top programs such as Harvard, Mayo, and UCSF. Despite a roughly 40% medical school matriculation rate nationally, our team’s approach has resulted in over 90% of our students getting accepted the first time they apply. SAC has been featured on The Washington Post, US News and World Report, and NBC. #medschool #premed #premedextracurriculars #medschoolapplication

  2. Oct 23

    From Freshman Year to Interview Invites: Med School Questions Answered

    Whether you’re a college freshman just getting started or an applicant waiting on interview invites, the medical school process raises a lot of questions. In this episode, Dr. Shirag Shemmassian answers five real questions from premed students at every stage of the journey. In this episode: Why mid-October silence isn’t a rejection, and when to send a letter of interestHow to prepare now to apply early in the coming cycleHow to get strong letters of recommendation, even if you’re not close to your professorsWhy your major won’t hold you back, and how non-science majors can stand outWhat premed freshmen should focus on in their first two years, and what can waitChapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:54 No interview invites yet? What to do in mid-October 05:04 Applying next year: How to prepare now 08:25 Getting strong letters of recommendation 14:18 Applying to medical school as a non-science major 19:01 What premed freshmen should focus on Resources mentioned: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/medical-school-application-timeline How to Write a Letter of Intent or Letter of Interest: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-to-write-medical-school-letter-of-intent-or-letter-of-interest The Ideal MCAT Study Schedule: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/mcat-study-schedule Medical School Letters of Recommendation: The Definitive Guide: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/medical-school-letter-of-recommendation Premed Extracurriculars: What Counts and How Many Hours: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-to-choose-extracurricular-activities-medical-school Medical School Update Letter Premium Example Hub (35 real-world letters of interest and intent): https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/premium/medical-school-update-letter-premium-content-enrollment Work with our medical school admissions experts: https://info.shemmassianconsulting.com/meetings/shemmassianconsult/medschool Watch this episode on YouTube: [episode link] Submit a question for a future episode: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O-c5L4CEgaStlOBiaHCRctLpHN7BRIh207OpcAF0jMk About Ask Dr. S: Ask Dr. S is hosted by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and a medical school admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping thousands of students get into top programs such as Harvard, Mayo, and UCSF. Each episode answers real questions from premed students and features conversations with admissions leaders about how selection decisions are made.

    From Freshman Year to Interview Invites: Med School Questions Answered

  3. Oct 9

    Everything MCAT: Retakes, Timing, & Study Strategy

    Wondering whether to retake the MCAT, stuck on a practice score plateau, or unsure what "test strategy" actually means? In this episode of Ask Dr. S, we answer five of the most common MCAT questions premeds send in and explain how to make the most of your study time. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ How to decide whether a retake is worth it, and why 43% of recent test-takers were retesters ✅ How to weigh testing in the spring against delaying your application a full year ✅ Why a practice score plateau is a signal, not a wall, and how to break through it ✅ How often to take full-length practice tests, and how to use them to guide your studying ✅ What "test strategy" really means, and why SAC's tutors spend 70% of sessions on it 🩺 WORK WITH OUR MCAT EXPERTS https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/mcat-tutoring 📝 PRACTICE WITH OUR MCAT QUESTION BANK https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/premium/mcat-question-bank 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED MCAT: The Ultimate Guide https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/mcat The Ideal MCAT Study Schedule https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/mcat-study-schedule How Hard is the MCAT? The Honest Truth https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/how-hard-is-the-mcat ✉️ Submit a question for a future episode: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O-c5L4CEgaStlOBiaHCRctLpHN7BRIh207OpcAF0jMk 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes on medical school admissions Who we are: Shemmassian Academic Consulting (SAC) was founded by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, a medical school admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping thousands of students get into top programs such as Harvard, Mayo, and UCSF. Despite a roughly 40% medical school matriculation rate nationally, our team's approach has resulted in over 90% of our students getting accepted the first time they apply. SAC has been featured on The Washington Post, US News and World Report, and NBC.

  4. Sep 25

    Reapplying, Letters of Intent & Choosing a Med School: 5 Real Questions, Answered

    In this episode of Ask Dr. S, Dr. Shirag Shemmassian of Shemmassian Academic Consulting answers questions submitted by premed students and applicants about what happens after (or instead of) getting into medical school: whether it's worth turning down an acceptance to chase a dream school, how many letters of intent you can actually send, whether a low GPA is worth fixing with a grad program, what to do with an unplanned gap year, and how to actually choose between multiple acceptances. Questions answered in this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:20 What actually matters when choosing between multiple acceptances? 09:08 How do you make the most of an unplanned gap year? 15:05 Is a post-bacc or grad program worth it for a low GPA? 21:53 Can you send a letter of intent to more than one school? 26:15 Should you turn down an acceptance to reapply for your dream school? 📌 RESOURCES MENTIONED 👩🏻‍⚕️ Looking for example update letters, letters of intent, and letters of interest? Access our premium library here: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/premium/medical-school-update-letter-premium-content-enrollment 🎤 1-on-1 reapplication strategy and advising: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/medical-school-admissions ✉️ Submit a question for a future episode: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O-c5L4CEgaStlOBiaHCRctLpHN7BRIh207OpcAF0jMk 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes on medical school admissions. Who we are: Shemmassian Academic Consulting (SAC) was founded by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, a medical school admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping thousands of students get into top programs such as Harvard, Mayo, and UCSF. Despite a roughly 40% medical school matriculation rate nationally, our team's approach has resulted in over 90% of our students getting accepted the first time they apply. SAC has been featured on The Washington Post, US News and World Report, and NBC.

  5. Sep 11

    BS/MD Programs: 5 Real Admissions Questions, Answered

    In this episode, Dr. S answers questions submitted by high school students and parents navigating BS/MD admissions: what actually differentiates applicants once stats stop being the differentiator, what "guaranteed" acceptance really means once you read the fine print, how to weigh a BS/MD offer against a strong premed track at an elite school, how to write a convincing "Why Medicine" essay as a 17-year-old, and how to sound like yourself instead of a rehearsed script in a BS/MD interview. Questions answered in this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:04 BS/MD Acceptance: What Actually Matters Beyond Stats 04:51 Is a "Guaranteed" BS/MD Acceptance Really Guaranteed? 07:27 UPenn Premed vs. BS/MD: Which Gives You the Best Shot? 10:30 How to Write a "Why Medicine" Essay at 17 12:27 How to Sound Mature (Not Scripted) in a BS/MD Interview 📌 RESOURCES MENTIONED 📖 BS/MD admissions guide: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/bs-md-programs 👩🏻‍⚕️  1-on-1 BS/MD admissions consulting: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/bs-md-admissions-services ✉️ Submit a question for a future episode: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O-c5L4CEgaStlOBiaHCRctLpHN7BRIh207OpcAF0jMk 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes on medical school admissions. Who we are: Shemmassian Academic Consulting (SAC) was founded by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, a medical school admissions expert with over 20 years of experience helping thousands of students get into top programs such as Harvard, Mayo, and UCSF. Despite a roughly 40% medical school matriculation rate nationally, our team's approach has resulted in over 90% of our students getting accepted the first time they apply. SAC has been featured on The Washington Post, US News and World Report, and NBC.

    BS/MD Programs: 5 Real Admissions Questions, Answered

  6. Aug 28

    How to Ace Your Medical School Interview: 5 Questions Answered | Ask Dr. S

    Dr. Shirag Shemmassian answers key med school interview questions, covering MMI prep, evaluation criteria, and handling unexpected prompts like "Tell me about yourself." (00:00) Intro (01:28) How do you answer "Why medicine?" when your family is full of doctors? (08:13) How do I prepare for the MMI? (Three things that matter most) (12:34) How much do medical school interviews actually matter? (15:52) How do you handle an interview question you didn't prepare for? (20:18) How should I answer "Tell me about yourself"? 📖 How to Ace Medical School Interviews (free guide): https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com... 🎯 MMI Interview: The Ultimate Guide — includes 150 practice questions: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com... 👩🏻‍⚕️230+ Sample interview responses - https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com... 🎤 1-on-1 mock interview and MMI coaching: https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com... ✉️ Submit a question for a future episode: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1O-c5... 🔔 Follow for new episodes on medical school admissions.

    How to Ace Your Medical School Interview: 5 Questions Answered | Ask Dr. S
  • 6 Episodes

About

Ask Dr. S is your direct line to the truth about becoming a doctor. Hosted by Dr. Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting, each episode answers the real questions premed and medical students are asking. From acing interviews to navigating a nontraditional path, Ask Dr. S brings in physicians, deans, and admissions committee members to pull back the curtain on how admissions decisions really get made.

Information

  • Creator
    Shemmassian Consulting
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Shemmassian Consulting
  • Show Website
    Ask Dr. S