MARIST COLLEGE STUDENT GUIDE TO THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS Joseph S. Bettencourt, Ph.D.

Transcription

1 MARIST COLLEGE STUDENT GUIDE TO THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS Joseph S. Bettencourt, Ph.D.

2 Table of Contents i. Preface..ii Health Professions Information Form. 1 Health Professions Advisor Permission to Establish a File Form..2 General Information for Prospective Pre-Health Professions Students.3 Clinical Experience.6 Health Professions Reference Materials 7 Introduction to Health Professions Course.8 Four Year Timetable.9 Letter of Evaluation Request Form.10 Medical School General Information.12 Course Choices & Sequencing at Marist. 13 Allopathic Medicine (MD).. 14 Osteopathic Medicine (DO. 19 Dentistry (DDS/DDM..21 Podiatric Medicine (DPM) 23 Optometry (OD).24 Veterinary Medicine (DVM)..26 Pharmacy (Pharm.D) 28 Physical Therapy (DPT)..30 Occupational Therapy (OT).32 Physician Assistant (PA).33 Nurse Practitioner (NP).35 Chiropractic Medicine(DC).37 Genetic Counseling (Genetic Counselor).38 Public Health (MPH)...39 Naturopathic Medicine (ND).40

3 ii. PREFACE This guide provides an overview of essential information to pre-health students at Marist College. The information presented has been gathered through several sources including information presented at meetings of advisors for the health professions with the admission officers of the various health profession schools. We encourage you to join the Marist college chapter of the Phi Delta Epsilon International Medical Fraternity. This organization has annual national dues that cover subscription to a publication as well as resources available to its members. Joining this organization also demonstrates your commitment to the profession. This guide is updated on a two-year cycle and is meant to serve only as a resource of information to begin your search for a health career. You should feel free to meet with the Advisor for the Health Profession (AHP) at any time for specific questions that you may want answered. An on-line version of this guide is available at the Marist College website Lisa Stephens Advisor for the Health Professions (845) ext DN-228B Lisa.Stephens1@marist.edu Pre-Health Professions Committee: Lisa Stephens, M.S., Chemistry, Lecturer of Chemistry (Chair) Joseph S. Bettencourt, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology Amy Cahill, M.S. Teaching Associate of Biology Moira Fitzgibbons, Ph.D., Associate Professor of English Michael Powers, Ph. D., Associate Professor and Director for Athletic Training Program Henry Platt, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Philosophy Elizabeth Quinn, Ph.D., associate Professor of Psychology Andrew Ryder, Ph.D., Lecturer of Biology Elisa Woolridge, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Chemistry

4 HEALTH PROFESSIONS ADVISOR PERMISSION TO ESTABLISH A FILE FORM 1. I am planning to file for admission to a medical or other health profession school in the future. Please establish a file in my name. I hereby waive my right of access to examine any letters of recommendation or documents that the AHP receives or writes. Signed: Date: I do not waive my right of access to examine any letters of recommendation or documents that the AHP receives or writes. Signed: Date: Name (Print): Date: Return to: Lisa Stephens Advisor for the Health Professions (AHP) Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THIS FORM FROM THE AHP.

5 2. HEALTH PROFESSIONS INFORMATION FORM Name: Class: Campus Phone: Campus Address: Home phone Home Address: Major: Minor Health Profession Career Goal: Volunteer, Internship, Work Experiences Related to Health Professions: Other Colleges Attended: Special Interests: Extra-Curricular Activities: Signature: Date: YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THIS FORM FROM THE AHP,

6 3. GENERAL INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE PRE-HEALTH PROFESSION STUDENTS This section addresses the most commonly asked questions that the Advisor for the Health Professions has received over the past several years. Please feel free to ask any other questions 1. Must a student major in the sciences in order to apply to medical or other health profession schools? No. You may major in any subject area. However, the vast majority of students (80 + %) who apply to the various health profession schools major in the sciences. You must complete the required science courses for each specific health profession program before taking the specific entrance exam for each health profession. Generally, a year of biology with labs, a year of chemistry with labs, a year of organic chemistry, calculus I, a year of general physics with labs, and a year of English are minimum requirements for most medical fields. There has been a trend toward requiring a semester of biochemistry as well. Make sure that you examine the specific requirements for the profession you plan to enter early in your college career. 2. May I take summer courses elsewhere to meet science requirements for the health profession schools? Yes. However, you must use good judgment. Some schools perceive this as a means of taking an easier course load or that you are avoiding a difficult course at your home institution. You must take the course at an accredited four year college because health profession schools often judge junior or community college courses as easier and less desirable. Make sure that you obtain the Permission to Take a Course at Another College form from the Marist Registrar s Office before you sign up for the course elsewhere so that the course will be accepted and transfer to meet Marist requirements. This is an area that you must discuss with the AHP. 3. What grades and admission test scores do I need to be competitive for medical school acceptance? For allopathic medical schools (MD), you need a GPA of about 3.5 to be competitive, and an MCAT score of 30 to gain an interview. For osteopathic medical schools (DO) a GPA of 3.3 and an MCAT of 25 seem to be competitive to gain an interview. It is also very important to have gained clinical experiences prior to applying for both types of medical schools. We can assist with internships at both Vassar Brothers Medical Center and/or St. Francis Hospital, as well as with individual physicians. 4. What about grades in the required science classes? Your grades in science courses should be at the B level or better for serious consideration. The medical and other health profession schools are trying to assess your probability of

7 success in science courses in their programs. If you receive low grades in several basic science courses, then you may want to reevaluate your career choice. A single low grade does not mean an end to your dream. However, you better be prepared to explain the reason for the low grade in your application/interview. You must have at least a C grade in the required course. Medical schools require you to calculate your science GPA separate from your overall GPA to assess your ability to handle the science courses at the medical school. 5. What factors will the medical schools look for in my application for admissions? GPA, MCAT scores, clinical experiences, and letters of recommendation are the major factors used in deciding acceptance to medical schools. Research is encouraged but is not necessary unless you plan to enter into medical research or a MD/Ph.D. program of study. Other health profession programs also will require hands-on clinical experiences and some will even specify a specific number of required documented hours even to apply (PA and PT schools). GPA and MCAT scores are critical in screening applicants for serious consideration. In many cases, if you do not achieve the cut off for GPA and or MCAT scores, they do not even get to read your recommendation letters. 6. What about P/NC grades for courses? In general, we do not recommend taking the P/NC option for any courses. In calculating your GPA for the application, these grades do not fit into the scheme or may be judged as equal to a C grade. If you take any grades in the P/NC format, then be prepared to justify your reasons. This does not pertain for courses which are only graded as P/NC, such as physical education courses, or out Intro to the Health Professions and Interns. 7. What if I decide to become a pre-med or other pre-health profession sometime after my freshman year?: You may still be a pre-med, etc. student. You should meet with the AHP as soon as possible in order to establish the best time-table to meet your career goals. This may require summer school courses or extra time in order to meet the requirements for the professional schools. This should not be a concern as the average age entering medical school is about and this is also true for other health professions. 8. Can I be a pre-med student and still spend a semester abroad while at Marist? Yes. However, this will require careful planning. Traditionally, students study abroad during the junior year. The other advantage now is that the entry exams (MCAT, DAT, etc.) are administered more frequently now which makes it more possible than in the past. You may also want to consider the mini abroad options now available at Marist. generally you want to keep your senior year open so that you can be available for interviews when called by the professional schools. 4.

8 9. Can I be an athlete and still be a pre-med or pre-health student? 5. Yes. As both a student and athlete you must develop good time management skills. Several of our students have been able to successfully balance academics and athletics and gain entry into medical and other health profession schools. You may have to arrange to miss a practice in order to meet lab requirements but most coaches are understanding and will accommodate your schedule. 10. I plan to transfer to another college after my sophomore year, will this cause any problems in applying to medical schools? Possibly. The area of greatest difficulty with transferring is obtaining meaningful letters of recommendation, because faculty at your new school will not have much time to get to know you and may not have been able to evaluate your performance in the required basic science courses. They may not be able to compare you to their students whom they know from the freshman year on. I suggest that if you do this, get letters of evaluations sent to the AHP at your new college and get to know the faculty at your new college as well. 11. If I don t get into an American medical school, should I apply to a foreign or off-shore medical school? This is a difficult question to answer. In general, this takes a serious commitment on your part as this is a more challenging route to go as there are obstacles put in your way. There cultural differences that you will have to adapt to, extra exams to take to get back into the US in some cases, living conditions to adapt to, foreign language to learn in some cases, etc. Some off-shore programs have arrangements to do the first two years of didactic years abroad while taking the last two clinical years in US hospitals. Veterinary medical school is the easiest to do this with the off-shore programs. You should discuss this with the AHP. 12. Where may I get information about the health professions and getting into medical and other health profession schools? You should meet with the AHP, who has many sources of information as well as manuals, and books available that you may borrow. also, there are many web sites which provide information from the various health profession associations and schools themselves.

9 Contact: or DN-102 Clinical Experiences 6. One of the criteria that medical and health profession schools either require or desire is the basic understanding of the day-to-day life of the specific health professional. Therefore, it is very important that you obtain such exposure through volunteer service, internship, work, etc. This experience serves many purposes including informing you about whether you have wisely chosen your specific career plan. It is better to find out early that you have had a false concept about what is required of a specific health profession. In addition, this conveys to the admissions committees an understanding of what you are getting into and that you have a clear understanding of and commitment to the desired profession. Admissions committees can assess that you know what is involved in working with people, and particularly with people who have problems related to health. You have to demonstrate commitment and not just an attempt to meet minimum criteria for acceptance. You should make certain that you understand the clinical experience expected, or required, by the specific program you plan to enter. Some health professions require very specific numbers of documented clinical experience hours before application. The AHP can assist you in determining how best to qualify for application and to meet the clinical experience requirement. We have internship opportunities with many local facilities including Vassar Brothers Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital. You should carefully and thoughtfully develop a timetable which includes all areas that you need to address to make yourself a strong applicant. In general, the freshman year should be one that focuses on adjusting to college life and the demands of your courses. You should plan to do some form of volunteer service or work over the summer in a health area or in an area that demonstrates the ability to work with people and that you have a basic understanding of the chosen field. The sophomore year should include some clinical experience sometime during the year but not to the detriment of your studies. Remember you will be taking Organic Chemistry and and/or General Physics which are both demanding courses for pre-health students. You should schedule volunteer service at a hospital, home for the aged, etc. or an internship. Again, over the summer at home get involved in some form of volunteer clinical experience. The junior year should continue with an internship locally at St. Francis Hospital or Vassar Brothers Medical Center and you should plan on a summer experience as well. The fall semester of the junior year also marks the start of the application process. (See Any letters of evaluation and recommendation based upon your clinical experiences that you plan to add to your references should be addressed to the AHP at Marist College and should preferably be written on letterhead stationery. If documented clinical hours are needed, then these should be noted in the letter to be placed in your file. Please see for important information about forms for letters of evaluations.

10 7. Health Professions Reference Materials Those marked with an * are available in the office of the AHP 1. * AAMC Medical School Admission Requirements(MSAR) published annually. 2. * Medical School Interview by Randall Zielinski (booklet) $ * Write for Success: Preparing A Successful Professional School Application by E.W. Jackson & Harold Bardo. 4. * Admission Requirements for US & Canadian Dental Schools annual publication 5. * Physician Assistant Program Directory on line annual 6. * Osteopathic Medical College Information Book annual 7. * Admission to Schools & Colleges of Optometry annual 8. * Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements annual on-line 9. * Directory of Accredited Physical Therapy Education Programs annual on-line 10. * Directory of Accredited Occupational Therapy Educational Programs annual, on-line 11. * Pharmacy School Admission Requirements annual, on-line 12. * Directory of Chiropractic Colleges annual, on-line 13. Peterson s Guide to Nursing Programs Peterson Guides Publ Careers Available in the Health Professions-at Career Services in the Library 15. Directory of Chiropractic Colleges available as a free CD-ROM Included elsewhere in this guide are websites of the professional associations which have information available on line. An excellent website to begin an informational search is

11 INTRODUCTION TO THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS COURSE 8. This course(hlth110) consists of a series of guest speakers from various medical/health professions presenting information about their professions. The class meets on Wednesday evening from 6:30-7:45 PM every other week throughout the academic year. There are twelve presentations over both semesters and students enrolled in the course must attend ten presentations in order to earn one credit on a P/NC basis. A schedule is available as to the dates at the beginning of the fall semester. Each speaker will present about his/her profession including defining the field, what the professional school is like, daily routine, specialty areas, opportunities, potential income, what each likes most and least about the profession, etc. There will be time for student questions. Attendance is taken during the fall semester and students formally register for the course in the spring semester. The presentations are available to all students whether enrolled in the course or not. Please see the AHP for more information about this course.

12 FOUR-YEAR TIMETABLE 9. Freshman Year During this year, you should primarily concentrate on adjusting to college life and your courses. You should register with the Advisor for the Health Professions (AHP) by filling out the Health Professions Interest Form (this is primarily so that the AHP can communicate information to you when necessary). You should plan on registering for the Introduction to the Health Professions course in the spring, but start attending in the fall. The AHP will discuss your progress toward your goal during the pre-registration period for the spring semester. You should plan on work/volunteer or internship experiences during the summer. Sophomore Year This is very challenging year as this generally is when you take Organic Chemistry and General Physics. You may want to think about an internship for the spring semester for one credit which we can assist you in setting it up. Junior Year This is the busiest year for pre-meds and other health profession students. Pre-meds should prepare and plan to take the MCAT exam in the spring. Make sure you register for the exam on time. The exam is electronic and is given at least 22 times per year. For other health profession entrance exams, check with the specific required test to be taken (DAT, OAT, GRE, etc.) You should continue completing internship experiences. In the fall, you will start the application process as you request faculty and others for letters of recommendation to be sent to the AHP for your file and to be used in the construction of a Committee Composite Letter. You must also submit an autobiographical form to the AHP by March 1. Details ABOUT THESE REQUIREMENTS MAY BE FOUND at Students who plan to apply to medical (MD/DO),veterinary medicine, dental or optometry schools will have to undergo an interview with the Marist College Pre-Health Professions Committee at the end of the junior year. This interview, along with the information in your file, will provide us with information to access your strengths and weaknesses as well feed back to the student about interview skills. This is required in order for the Committee to write a composite committee letter of recommendation. It is very important that applications are submitted early because the schools begin to begin evaluations in July and set up interviews for early in the Fall of the Senior year. Senior Year This is a year of waiting and hoping to be contacted by the professional schools for interviews. Performance in fall semester course may be strongly considered by admissions committees. You will spend a lot of time checking your mail for interview notices, acceptances and rejections.

13 10. Letter of Evaluation Request Form Marist College Pre-Health Professions Committee Applicant: for School (name) (med, vet, dental, etc.) Evaluator: Address: Phone: Applicant: Check one box and sign below the appropriate statement: { } I request that the above named person write an evaluation on my behalf to be used by the Pre-Health Professions Committee in support of my application to medical or other health profession schools. I understand that the evaluation is held in confidence by the Advisor for the Health Professions in my file. Accordingly, I hereby waive any and all rights to inspect and review this recommendation under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of Signature Date: { } I request the above named person write an evaluation on my behalf to be used by the Pre-Health Professions committee in support of my application to medical or other health profession schools. I reserve my right to inspect this recommendation. Signature Date PLEASE SUPPLY YOUR EVALUATOR WITH A RESUME, CV, OR OTHER RELAVENT BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION. THE EVALUATOR MUST RETURN THIS FORM WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO DR. BETTENCOURT BY MARCH 1.

14 Dear Evaluator: 11. Your evaluation will aid the Pre-Health Professions Committee in writing a composite letter of evaluation that will be sent to schools on behalf of the applicant. Your letter will be included in its entirety in the applicant s composite materials. With your permission, illustrative quotes from your evaluation letter may be used in the composite letter that is written. therefore, please print or type your recommendation on official letterhead and refrain from referring to other students or make informal comments. The applicant has been instructed to provide you with a resume and/ or other relevant biographical materials. Please contact the applicant if she/he has not completed the student portion of the waiver form. Please make an assessment on this applicant as a person, as a student, and as a potential professional in a health profession by addressing the following: 1. How long have you known the applicant and in what capacity? Briefly describe the course, the internship, the employment position, etc. in which you came to know the applicant. 2. Describe the applicant s intellectual capability, problem-solving skills, academic motivation, etc. please limit descriptive information on the course you taught, or the research you have published. Emphasize the student s performance. 3. Is the applicant s scholastic record a good index of his/her ability and potential? 4. Describe personal characteristics of the applicant. This list of characteristics may help you to focus your descriptive insights into the applicant (not listed in any preconceived order of priority): Perseverance/Diligence Integrity Maturity Sincerity Motivation Imagination/Creativity Innovation Judgment Humor Independence Ability to Cope w/stress Enthusiasm Leadership Initiative Self-Confidence Responsibility/Dependability interpersonal Curiosity Organization Acceptance of Ability to relate to others Communication skills Ability criticism 5. What are the applicant s primary strengths? In what areas will the applicant need to further develop? 6. What distinguishes the applicant as a student and as a candidate for admission to health profession schools? does the applicant standout inany way? Specific observations and examples are especially useful because they provide important insights that distinguish the applicant and add weight to the overall evaluation.

15 Please address your Letter of Evaluation to the Marist Pre-Health Professions Committee, print it on letterhead (don t forget to sign the letter and include your title/position) and send it to: Lisa Stephens Advisor for the Health Professions School of Science Marist College 3399 North Road Poughkeepsie, NY THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION. 12. THIS FORM IS AVAILABLE ONLINE AT one the Pre-med site.

16 13. Course Choices and Sequencing at Marist Many students enter Marist having already completed some of the course work required for the College s Core/Liberal Studies (C/LS) program. Some students have additional commitments (athletics, music, work-study, etc.) beyond academics. Thus it is difficult to provide a single recommended four-year curricular sequence to fit the needs of all students. You my view the recommended course sequences for pre-health students at: htpp:// but please recognize that these recommendations may not pertain to your specific situation. The following recommendation should be kept in mind when scheduling your courses each semester: 1. General Biology I, II (BIOL ) and General Chemistry I, II (CHEM ) should be completed by the end of the freshman year if at all possible. You should also fulfill your College Writing requirement (ENG116,117) as a freshman. 2. Organic Chemistry I, II (CHEM211, 212 and 215, 216) and General Physics I, II (PHYS 211, 212 and 213, 214) calc based or College Physics I, II and labs (PHYS 201, 202 and and PHYS 213,214) algebra based should both be completed by the end of the sophomore year for pre-med students which means you will need to take Calc I (MATH243)in your freshman year for the calc based physics course. Most pre-health students take the algebra based course as calculators are not available for the MCAT. Other pre-health profession students can split the Organic and Physics over the sophomore and junior years. 3. Because medical and other health profession schools want evidence that you can perform well while taking a rigorous course load, you should plan to take credits each semester. 4. Spread your C/LS courses over all 8 semesters. You will need to take Ethics PHIL300) before (preferably in your junior year) your senior year as it is a pre-requisite for the Science Capping course Science Medicine and Ethics. 5. The Spring of your junior year should be light as it is when your should prepare and take the MCAT or other entrance exams. Regardless of your major the following elective courses are good choices, as they will assist you in preparing for entrance into the various health profession programs. In some cases these may be required and in others strongly recommended by the health profession schools: comparative anatomy, genetics, biochemistry (several are now requiring this), immunology, vertebrate physiology, and advanced chemistry courses. Quantitative skills are also very useful in judging by the professional schools.

17 ALLOPATHIC MEDICINE (M.D.) Admission Requirements The minimum admission requirements listed in the MSAR ( Medical School Admission Requirements published annually) are: General Biology I, II and Labs 1year General Chemistry I, II and labs.. 1 year Organic Chemistry I, II and labs.. 1 year Calculus I..1 semester General Physics I, II and labs..1 year English including Composition. 1 year *Biochemistry with lab is being required by more medical schools now and will probably be required by all in the near future. These are minimum requirements which must be completed before taking the MCAT admissions exam. Admissions Exam (MCAT) This exam is given about 22 times each year and is now a completely electronic exam. It is about 41/2 hours long with test results available in about 4-6 weeks. There are several test sites established and students must register on line to select a date and test site. Sites include Poughkeepsie, Albany, Brooklyn, NYC, etc. The sections of the exam are: Biological Sciences (Biology and Organic), Physical Sciences (General Chemistry & Physics), Verbal Reasoning (read science passages and then answer questions), and Essay Writing (your are given two questions and then organize and write an essay on each). Each area of the exam is scored on a 0-15 basis with a total score of 45 possible while the essays are scored separately and graded on a J-T scale ( average range is M-Q). The essay scores do not seem to be significantly weighed by the medical schools and most admit they never request or read the essays The score reported to be significant for getting interviews seems to be about 30 in recent years. The cost of the exam is $270 per test. There are several test prep methods available. The AAMC website has available for purchase The Official Guide to the MCAT Exam current cost is about $30. They also have for purchase past exams for practice. In addition, they provide study areas without cost on their website. For example, they suggest that they emphasize vertebrate and microbe areas in the biology section. Marist also has available on campus The Kaplan MCAT Prep Course which generally is offered from October to April on weekends primarily but some weeknights as well. The cost of this is about $2000. They also offer an online course as well.

18 In 2015 there will be a new MCAT exam (MCAT 2015) which will be broader in scope. The exam will be longer (about 6 hours and 15 minutes as opposed to 4 hours and 30 minutes) Each section of the exam will be scored on a total of 15 so the score will be reported in each area as 1-15 with a total score of 60 (4 sections as opposed to the 3 sections on the old exam). The sections of the exam will be Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (67 questions, 95 minutes), Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (67 questions, 95 minutes), Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (67 questions, 95 minutes) and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (60 questions, 90 minutes). There will no longer be a Written Essay section to the exam. The AAMC has a Preview Guide for the MCAT 2015 which provides a study guide and sample questions are provided. This will be a valuable tool for students to user to prepare for the exam. 15. GPA In general the competitive nature of the applicant pool is a determining factor in getting through the first screening for medical school admissions. In the past several years we have found that students need to have at least a 3.6 GPA to be considered along with an MCAT of generally above a 30 (now closer to 31-32) to be considered for interview. Choosing a Medical School You will be advised about the prospective pool of medical schools that is feasible for you based upon your GPA and MCAT scores as well as considering school we have had students admitted to in recent years. Medical schools are ranked and the upper tier schools (Harvard, Duke, U. San Francisco, etc.) require higher GPA and MCAT scores as they have a much more competitive pool of applicants. For example, Harvard has an MCAT score of 35 as its starting point for applicants. Cost is another factor to consider where state medical schools cost significantly less that the private schools. As an example, NYU lists a cost of $75,000 per year for tuition, supplies, room and board for the entering class for while a state school such as Stony Brook Medical School lists tuition and fees cost of $31,050 for residents and $55, 070 for nonresidents. There are other fees such as health insurance, travel, etc. Another factor in choosing a medical school may be whether you plan on becoming a clinician or a researcher. Some medical schools have national reputations as training research physicians such as Harvard and Johns Hopkins.

19 Expenses of Applying to Medical School 16. Most of the 141medical schools use a central application service (AAMCAS) which requires you to fill out only one application and then pay a fee for this application service to send your application to the specific schools you want your application sent. The fee for was $160 for the first school and then $34 for each additional school. You also have to keep in mind that you may have the expense of traveling long distances to interview for acceptance as part of your application as well as the deposit required to hold a place if you gain acceptance which can be as much as $1500 dollars. Cost of Financing A Medical Education The cost for medical school continually increases and there is a significant difference in tuition and fees at the private medical schools versus the cost for residents at state medical schools. You should consider applying for scholarships to help cover some of the expenses of a medical education. The military services all have scholarships which are very competitive but you incur a service obligation for each year of your medical training scholarship. They provide all costs and a stipend monthly to live on (i.e. Army pays all fees and gives you an allotment of more than $2000 monthly to live on). These are also available to DO, Optometry, Veterinary Medicine areas. There are many other scholarships available including agreements to work in underserved areas as part of the National Health Corps Program and also the NY Physician Shortage & Regents Scholarship which requires a competitive exam to qualify. You can get assistance on these programs from the AHP. The AAMC reports for 2012 the average mean debt for public (state) medical schools was $155,987 and for private schools $183,066. It will be higher at private schools than for public state schools due to the huge difference in tuition costs. The more expensive medical schools have higher debts incurred. Foreign Medical School Education Interest in foreign medical school education as an alternative has increased due to the many students who want to become physicians. There are some risks to this choice although many students start this route. The Caribbean schools are tailored toward those who cannot gain acceptance into an American medical school. Many of these programs have established clinical experience years in the US with affiliated hospitals. Generally, the student begins at the foreign school for 2-3 years doing the didactic (course learning part of a medical education) and then competes for openings at rotations for the clinical part of the medical education (generally the last two years of an American medical school education) spends a year or two in the these hospital settings. Large numbers of students begin the education at the offshore school but many do not complete their training. Ross and St. Georges Medical Schools are well established and have a solid track record of students passing the medical board exams at high rates comparable to the American medical schools. These programs are taught in English.

20 17. Some of the obstacles to consider when choosing this pathway include the following: 1. Cultural problems-customs are strange to you and you need to adapt as the outsider. 2. Political Issues- you may have to be very careful with what you say as it may differ dramatically with the views of the residents of the country you are in. 3. Although the structure of most Caribbean schools has been adopted to follow the format of the American system, there can be less lab materials, scarce clinical experiences available, attendance policies, etc. 4. Pathways back to the US may require extra exams to qualify for licensure, residencies, etc. In some cases you may not have as many choice residencies available as the students educated at US. schools. Note: read the January 1, 2010 article from the St. Petersburg Times (Florida) by Kris Hundley which sites some statistics which Congress is beginning to look into about the offshore schools. Ross University in Dominica is the largest of these schools with 3500 students. Less than 33% of students complete the MD degree in four years (66% complete in 6 years), 20% do not gain residencies in the US, entrance requirements are very low with MCAT of 17 used (MCAT of 30 for MD schools in the US). Tuition is about $30,000 per year and you pay tuition for the clinical hospital years in the US as well. Make sure you really give this deep thought before undertaking this route. Although many students have become practicing physicians in the US from these programs, there are obstacles to overcome. Residencies After graduation from medical school students must do a residency with the duration based upon the area of medicine in which the individual wants to be licensed. The residencies are listed and students apply for the specific residency at a particular hospital. There is what is called a match where students then are matched to a specific residence and decide to accept or not. During residencies in general, there is a salary which is generally in the $50,000- $60,000 yearly salary. Durations of residencies depends upon the area of medicine with the lowest time required as 3 years for internal medicine, general or family practice or pediatrics. Other areas may require longer period of residency requirements such as orthopedic surgery being 7-8 years. You may go to the AMA site to find out the time required for specialty areas for certification.

21 18. Income Potential There are various sources to find the annual income expected with such factor as geographic area of practice, specialty areas and liability insurance cost, etc. One site is called www. shoirtwhitecoats.com and there is also one at the AMA site. I will site just a few examples here of average salaries for 2012 from the Medscape Report : Family Medicine $ , Pediatrics $145,000, Radiologist $315,000, Orthopedic Surgery, $315,000, Anesthesiologist $315, 000; one of our graduates in 2008 started as a General Radiologist in San Francisco with a salary of $550,000. There differences depending upon the geographic region of practice in the US. There are many sources with differences in salaries reported. Licensure This is determined by the state in which a person chooses to practice. There is a licensure state board exam which must be taken and passed in order to gain a license to practice in a particular state.

22 19. Osteopathic Medicine (D. O) The philosophical difference is the osteopath is more oriented toward family practice and preventative care. There is a manipulative aspect of the training in addition to all other components required of allopathic training. In practice, few osteopaths continue to use the manipulative aspect. There are no separate osteopathic residencies and the DO competes with the MD for residencies. Many now choose specialties where the original aim was for family medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine. The major difference at this point in time is the letters at the end of your name. Many are in group practices with MDs. There are at the present time 29 colleges of osteopathic medicine at 34 sites (some have more than one campus location) over 23 states. Admission Requirements The courses required are the same as those for allopathic medical schools. In addition, several DO schools are now beginning to require Biochemistry for admission. Many of the DO schools also either require or strongly recommend a DO letter of recommendation. Some DO schools are now requiring Biochemistry. GPA In general the GPA mean was described as 3.48 and above for entering students. In recent years to be competitive we have found that a GPA of 3.25 and above is needed and the higher the better. (source: 2013 Osteopathic Medical Colleges Information Book (CIB) which may be purchased for $15 or is free on line in a PDF format). MCAT The MCAT is required with a general average score of 26 for interview status. Some students have been admitted with lower MCAT scores at the DO schools as they take a more holistic view of applicants considering GPA, MCAT and letters of recommendation together. Expense of Applying The DO schools use a central application service called AACOMAS which costs $175 for one, school and then $32 per additional school. All other aspects are similar to applying to allopathic medical schools.

23 20. Cost of Financing a Medical Education This is also similar to allopathic medical schools with most DO school being private. Sources for information about costs can be reviewed in 2013 Osteopathic Medical Colleges Information Book. An example is NYCOM, tuition $46,180( )), estimated room, board, and books was $26,000 and Average Indebtedness for 2011 graduates was $182,000. Residency, Licensure and Income Potentials These are all similar to the allopathic physician (MD). Salaries for physicians by specialty can be found at several web sites. Examples include and

24 DENTISTRY (D.D.S./D.M.D) Dentistry is listed as one of the most trusted professions with a projected need in the future as the number of retirees exceeds the number of graduates each year. There are 63 dental colleges in the U.S. and 10 in Canada. It is a four year degree but specialty areas will require residency training with varying lengths of time beyond the DDS/DMD. Admissions Requirements The required courses are the same as those listed for medical schools. Admissions Entrance Exam (DAT) This is an electronic exam and you get your score immediately upon completion of the exam. You arrange an appointment at a testing center to take the exam when you register. There is no Physics tested on this exam even though Physics is required for admission to dental school. The fee for the DAT is $385. There is an academic and a perceptual analysis test area (PAT). The academic area includes subtest areas of natural sciences (inorganic,organic and biology), reading comprehension, and quantitative analysis. At this time the average academic score for entrance is about 20 and for the PAT 20. As competition has increased in recent years the competitive scores have also risen. There are various sources of review materials available including ware.com and the ww.ada.org site above including sample exams and study guide materials. Sample tests are also available on line for practice. All schools listed at the time you take the DAT will receive your scores but if you add schools after the test, you will have a fee charge of $32.50 per additional school you request to receive your scores.. For the first time, in March 2010, basic calculators will be provided for the quantitative analysis section of the DAT. GPA The mean GPA for entering students varies from school to school but median GPA are generally in the 3.5 range. A good science GPA is most important. Application Process All US dental schools use the central application service (AADSAS). The fee scale is $244 for the first school and then $90 for each additional school that you request to receive your application file. You fill out a single application and then list the schools that you wish to have the application sent.

25 Choosing a Dental School 22. You should refer to the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools to determine what schools you may select to fit your record and have a chance to be accepted. You may also want to confer with the AHP as to where we have had success in the past. Factor to consider also include geographic location, costs, etc. Costs Private schools are more expensive that public/state schools. Location also determines the cost of living for the region which adds to your expenses. Stony Brook(NY) for example, tuition and fees for residents is $23, 350 residents and $52,030 for non-residents. Living costs vary but it on Long Island which is expensive and Tufts University Dental (MA) estimates $91, 291 with tuition being $61, 920. All schools have financial aid available but this means the indebtedness will be higher as the cost is higher at the private schools. Income Potential This varies depending upon specialty or general practice type. The US Dept. of Labor lists the average salary for a dentist as $142,740(2011). Keep in mind incomes differ dramatically by geographic location. Higher cost and salaries are expected in the Northeast region of the country.

26 www. aacpm.org PODIATRIC MEDICINE (D.P.M.) 23. There a nine colleges of podiatric medicine in the US with a four-year program of study. Most students who enter complete a BS degree (97%) with a few transferring after 3 years of undergraduate studies. There is a shortage and there will be growth needs due to increased longevity and the increased interest to stay active longer. Podiatry offers general practice as well as specialty areas including sports medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics, surgery and other areas. In most states licensure is for treatment involving the foot and ankle. Admission Requirements The requirements are the same as those listed for allopathic medicine. Admissions Test Most schools require the MCAT with a few permitting the use of the DAT or GRE. The average MCAT score for those admitted is listed as a 22. The GPA is listed as 3.0 but the median score for entrants was a 3.3 in 2008 (on the website listed above). Application Process All schools use the central application service American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service (AACPMAS). The fee for application to podiatry schools in $135 for the first school and $35 for each additional school to which the application is to be sent. Cost of Podiatric Medical Schools Each school differs as to costs which also are reflected in geographic location with housing expenses. For example, NYCPM $28,400 for tuition, fees and insurance while housing varies (you may contact them at Housing@NYCPM.edu. Temple University list $36,646 for tuition (nonresident). This does not includes books and housing expenses. Residencies General Residency is for two years with specialty residencies being 3-4 years. residencies are paid positions. Income Potential Most podiatrists are in private practices. The above website lists the average net income for 2011 as $195,0030.

27 Optometry (O.D.) Optometry was reported in the CNN Money (2012) ranked 12 TH Best Jobs in America in There are twenty schools of optometry in the US, one in Puerto Rico and two in Canada. Optometry is listed as the third largest independent health care area. 90% of people over 45 years of age require some form of equipment to assist vision through glasses, contact lenses or corrective laser surgery. Optometry is an area which is considered a growth area as life expectancy continues to increase and also due to the advent of more people using the computer for prolonged periods of time. There are specialty areas as well as opportunities for graduate level studies in research areas. This is generally a post baccalaureate degree requiring four years of study beyond the bachelors degree. Admissions Requirements The requirements are the same as for medical school with the addition of microbiology being required. Some schools are now beginning to require Biochemistry. You should refer to the Admission Requirements for Optometry Schools or check the websites for schools you are interested in attending. GPA In 2012 mean GPA was 3.4 for the entering class. Generally each school selects its own GPA requirement Admissions Test (OAT) There are various dates available for the OAT exam. The OAT fee is $213 and the exam is composed of four areas: Natural Science (Biology, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry), Reading Comprehension, Physics and Quantitative Reasoning. Each school uses its own score for acceptable performance. Application OptomCAS is the central application service and it is used by most optometry schools. The fee requirement is $125 for one school and $45 for each additional school to which the applicant wants an application filed.

28 Cost 25. The tuition and fees range from about $19,900 (resident) -$38,210 (non-resident) ay SUNY Optometry College. The housing and living expenses vary based upon the location of the school. Residency Many schools are now requiring residencies and there are matches just as in the medical schools. The Veterans Hospitals are a valuable site for residencies and the income for residents is generally in the $31, 965-$37,842 in This is also an area to gain training in specialty areas as well. Income Potential The income salaries for optometry are varied in depend upon whether it is a private practice or other type such as working for an optical chain (Pearle Vision, etc.) The AOA reports an average salary as $ 142, 645 for These differ as to private or working for a chain.

29 Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) 26. There are 28 US schools of veterinary medicine, 5 Canadian schools, and 8 international school (Ireland, England, etc.). There are also several Caribbean schools such as Ross, St. George s, and St. Matthew s as well as others. This profession is listed as one with high job satisfaction and the need continues to grow. Jobs include government, industrial and pharmaceutical companies, private practice, etc. Vet School is a four- year term to complete the DVM degree. In 2012 the AVMA accredited both Ross University and St. George s University Veterinary Medical Program. This is a profession that is significantly dominated by females. One must also keep in mind that states without a school of veterinary medicine may have contracts with vet schools in adjoining states. Admission Requirements The admissions requirements are even more demanding than those for medical school. In addition to the same requirements as medical schools, vet schools characteristically also require genetics, microbiology and biochemistry. Early in your undergraduate education, you should check on the requirements of the vet schools that you plan to apply to in order to make sure you meet all their requirements. The best source of information is The Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements in the U.S. & Canada which is published annually. (cost is $ shipping) The above website has the order information. Another essential component required for admission is to have clinical experience working with animals. This is best done by working, volunteering or doing an internship with a DVM or group practice. They generally want to see experiences with both small and large animals. Professor Amy Cahill can assit with setting up internships while at Marist for credit and volunteer or work during the summer is suggested as well. GPA Although each school of veterinary medicine has its own GPA requirement, the average in the US reported for those admitted was The mean age was 24 and almost 80 % of applicants had a BS/BA degree. Admission Test The entrance exam required is the GRE which is given as an electronic exam and is offered several times during the year. Each school has its own GRE score range for applicants to be competitive.