How to Choose a Medical School

Transcription

1 Selecting Medical Schools Office of Career Services Harvard University March 2013

2 Topics to Cover 1. The Process of Selecting 2. Rankings 3. Mission, Science/Clinical Curricula 4. Selectivity & State Residency 5. Student Culture 6. Costs & Financial Aid 7. Resources 8. FAQs

3 Selecting Medical Schools I can t distinguish between them. What are the top medical schools? I ll just apply to a lot and decide after I m accepted.

4 The Process of Selecting ~140 total U.S. medical schools Campus visit after application Goals today: Factors to consider Questions for schools/current students

5 Understanding Rankings

6 Criteria for U.S. News Assessment methods appropriate? Reputation (40% weight) Research $$ Total faculty Poor response rate Real-life value?

7 Understanding Rankings Meaningless statistics were up 1.5 percent this month over last month.

8 Relevance of Rankings Coming from Harvard, you will have more options that you may realize at this moment. You will cover the same material, read the same textbooks, get the same degree, and pass the same licensing exams no matter where you end up Don t make your decision based on the best school that you get into. Go where you will be happy. -Harvard Alum

9 Self-Assessment Interests and needs Learning style Priorities and environment

10 Mission of the School Caring for underserved rural or innercity population? Training primary care physicians? Religious focus? Preparing academic physicians?

11 Science Curriculum ( Pre-clinical ) Teaching Methods Problem- or Team-Based Learning Traditional Lecture Teaching Systems- vs. Subject-based Grading System

12 Science Curriculum ( Preclinical ) Teachers/Faculty Timing of science courses Technology resources Research required? Clinical exposure

13 Clinical Curriculum Most important factor Timing and choices (e.g., flexibility of rotation schedule) Diversity of patient population

14 Clinical Curriculum Number and diversity of affiliated hospitals Primary care focus? Level of autonomy

15 Additional Considerations Combined Programs International Opportunities Research Opportunities Family Support

16 Location Additional Considerations

17 State of Residence Interstate agreements (e.g., WWAMI) Residency definitions: Vary by state Contact Med Schools directly to learn more

18 Selectivity Difficult to predict (i.e., no safeties ) Diverse backgrounds and experiences Ways to gauge competitiveness MSAR (e.g., state resident preferences) Harvard data report

19 Students and Classmates Questions to ask: Is there a sense of community? Do you want to be around these people for 4+ years?

20 Costs and Financial Aid Types of assistance Annual budget Housing assistance? In-state vs. out-of state tuition Financial Aid office Aid award, including any merit aid, given after admission

21 Gathering Information Mission statements/school websites Medical School Admissions Data Report for Harvard Students Alumni evaluations on OCS webpage House Premedical Tutors

22 Gathering Information Residency match statistics (not all schools publish on web) School visits during interview Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR): Now online only Purchase from the AAMC for $19.99 at For a selection of MSAR information, see OCS Website licationprocess/selecting.htm

23 MSAR Application procedures and deadlines Selection factors such as MCAT & GPA data Medical school class profiles Costs and financial aid packages MD/PhD and other combined degrees Graduates' specialty choices

24 Deciding Look for gut feeling your gut has more smart nerves than you think. Go with your heart. I never in a million years thought I would end up in the south at Vanderbilt, every other school I applied to was in the northeast, and this place just felt genuinely friendly in a way I never even found at Harvard.

25 FAQs How many schools should I apply to? Can I plan to defer matriculation? How about non-u.s. med schools? What is Early Decision (EDP)? I m an international student: what should I expect? Learn more at International Students Applying to U.S Medical Schools Information for Canadian Students