Pre-Health Handbook Health Professions Advising Program Hartwick College Frequently Asked Questions Table of Contents (use side panel to navigate) Major selection and course sequencing 2-3 Repeating or withdrawing from courses 4 Standardized tests: MCAT and new MCAT 2015, GRE 4-6 What medical and professional schools are looking for 6-7 Acceptance rate and placement of recent Hartwick graduates 7 Resources at Hartwick 8-9 Letters of recommendation 10 Your image and credit rating 11 Writing your personal statement 11-13 Course Grid 14 Required or recommended courses according to professional school Year-by-Year Timeline 15-17 Checklists for each academic year and summer Individual Career Page 17-52 Allopathic Medicine (M.D.) 19-22 Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) 23-24 Dentistry (D.D.S./ D.M.D.) 24-27 Optometry (O.D.) 28-30 Podiatry (D.P.M.) 31-32 Veterinary Medicine (D.V. M.) 33-35 Physician Assistant (P.A.) 35-38 Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) 38-41 Occupational Therapy (O.T.) 42-44 Chiropractic School (D.C.) 45-46 Genetic Counseling (M.S.) 47-49 Pharmacy (Pharm. D.) 49-51 Public Health (M.P.H.) 52-55 Appendix: Application Services Factsheet: Gives opening dates and submission deadlines for all centralized application services and describes the services. (Copied by permission from the NAAHP New Advisor Handbook.)
2 Welcome to the Health Professions Advising Program at Hartwick College! Pre-Med, Pre-Allied Health or a term that covers both, Pre-Health all refer to a program that helps students become better informed about their choices and to prepare for the pursuit of professional school. One difference you ll find at Hartwick is the chance to gain hands-on experience to help you connect what you learn in your classes to the real world. With a strong liberal arts foundation, you ll also develop your ability to think critically, write clearly, and speak effectively. These experiences will lay the groundwork for success in your chosen field. You ll also discover the opportunity to make long-lasting, personal connections with the people and offices on campus that can help you reach your goals. You will get to know your pre-health advisors (located on the first floor of Golisano Hall in the PSGE & Advising Center) your academic advisors, and your professors. They will give you expert advice, track your progress, and support you as you begin your journey toward your new career. Frequently Asked Questions: What should I major in? Medical, dental, veterinary, and other health-related graduate schools are looking for excellent applicants with broad and balanced educational backgrounds. While most pre-health students choose to major in science, over the past few years, approximately 10% of students admitted to medical school were non-science majors. Approximately 60% of applicants were Biology majors and the other 30% were composed of other science majors. As a pre-health student, you can choose any of Hartwick s majors that interest you, as long as you take the courses required by the schools to which you want to apply and master material that will be on exams like the MCAT, DAT, and GRE. If you major in a field you are passionate about and excel in it, this will only strengthen your application to school. As you take courses in many disciplines, you will also receive a broad education and discover other interests, leaving you open to pursue a different career path if necessary.
What courses must I take? 3 While the requirements for many health related graduate programs are similar, required undergraduate coursework (prerequisites) vary according to field and school. See the grid (pg. 14) on recommended courses for advice, but you must also research individual schools that interest you early in your college career to see what they require. For more advice about requirements, see pre-health advisors Joe Ficano or Lara Sanford in the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising, located in the PSGE Center. The typical required courses for pre-med and pre-health programs are the following: Biology in Practice (BIOL 101) Concepts of Biology: Energy (BIOL 202) Concepts of Biology: Information (BIOL 203) General Chemistry (CHEM 107, 108 or CHEM 109) Organic Chemistry (CHEM 201, 202) Physics (PHYS 140, 141 or PHYS 201, 202) Calculus (MATH 121) and Statistics (Math 108) English composition and English literature (ENGL) To fulfill medical school prerequisites and changes in the MCAT 2015, Hartwick also recommends the following courses: Biochemistry (BIOC 405) Sociology course (SOCI) Psychology course (PSYC) What is the recommended sequence of courses? In your first year, you should begin either your chemistry sequence (CHEM 107, 108 or CHEM 109), or your biology sequence (BIOL 101, BIOL 202 and, eventually BIOL 203) or both sequences. You should also take one English course in your first year (English 110 or literature course, as determined by your writing level). Note that changes to the MCAT may also prompt you to take biochemistry. To do this, it is highly recommended that you begin chemistry sequence the first semester of your first year so that you can take general chemistry your first year, organic chemistry your second year, and biochemistry in your third year. You must complete most of the prerequisite courses above by spring of your junior year if you plan to start medical school in the fall after graduation. When planning your
4 coursework, keep in mind that not every course will be offered every semester and try to map out a workable plan. What if I m not doing well in one of my required courses? Should I withdraw or repeat the course? In general, you should avoid repeating courses. You will want to earn grades of B or better in your basic science courses. If you develop a pattern of low grades (C and below), you may want to reevaluate your career path. Still, you can make up for a low grade in one course by earning a higher grade in a course in the same subject area. Other times, you may want to repeat a required course to improve your performance. Your academic or pre-health advisor can advise you more about the pros and cons of withdrawing (W) or repeating (R) courses. Will I need to take the MCAT or another exam? Applicants to allopathic and osteopathic medical schools and podiatry school will need to take the MCAT. Applicants to veterinary, physician assistant, physical therapy, and some occupational therapy and genetic counseling programs must take the GRE. Optometry schools, dental schools, and some veterinary schools each have their own exams. See the section on the MCAT and sections on specific professions for more information. How do I prepare for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE? The amount of time you need to spend studying for these tests will vary. Have you finished the courses that will have content on the exam? Do you feel comfortable with all topics? Have you familiarized yourself with the online format of the exam? Have you taken a practice exam to get a baseline score and to determine your strengths and weaknesses? Create a study plan that fits your needs. Determine which topics you must study most and develop a schedule to help you review these topics in manageable chunks at a comfortable pace. Some students feel most comfortable using a review course like those offered by Kaplan or Princeton Review. These centers offer small classes, or individual, or online tutoring. For more information about what these centers offer, visit their websites. http://www.princetonreview.com/ and http://www.kaptest.com/.
5 I have heard that the MCAT is changing. How should I prepare for this? First, learn which MCAT you will take. This will depend on when you want to apply to and enter medical school. If you plan to apply to and start medical school before fall 2016, you will take the current MCAT. Format of the 2013-2014 MCAT: Note that the Writing Sample section has been removed to make room for the Trial Section. Topic Content Number of Questions Number of Minutes Physical Sciences General chemistry and physics 52 70 Verbal Reasoning Comprehension, evaluation, and 40 60 application of information gathered from written passages Biological Sciences Organic chemistry and biology 52 70 Trial Section (Optional) Biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physics or Psychology, sociology, biology 32 45 Scores for each section range from 1-15. For much more information about the current MCAT, visit https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/ If you plan to apply to and start medical school in the fall of 2016 or later, you should take the MCAT 2015. Changes to the MCAT: The New MCAT 2015 According to Dr. Darrell Kirch, President of the American Association of Medical Colleges, the new MCAT will help medical schools find the students who are not just the most academically prepared to become doctors, but those who have the potential to become the best doctors in a changing world. Format of the MCAT 2015: Topic Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Content Introductory-level biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, and physics concepts; Approx. Number of Questions Approx. Number of Minutes 67 95
6 Systems Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills biochemistry, cellular & molecular biology; basic research methods & statistics; scientific inquiry and reasoning Concepts in psychology, sociology, and biology that provide a foundation for learning about the behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health Comprehension, analysis, reasoning, and critical thinking about information presented in written passages; content from ethics, cultural studies, population health, social 67 95 67 95 60 90 sciences, and humanities Scores will be reported on a scale similar to the current 1-15 scale. A separate score will be recorded for each of the four sections. For much more information about the new MCAT 2015, visit: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015 When should I take the MCAT, DAT, OAT or GRE? The MCAT, DAT, OAT, and GRE are offered several times each year at Prometric testing centers. You will want to take the MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE in the spring or summer of your junior year if you plan to apply to schools by the fall of your senior year. The advantage of taking the exam in the spring is that you can take it again in the summer if you re not happy with your first score. Remember, however, that you don t have to rush. Many students do not begin medical school immediately after college. In fact, the average age of first-year medical students is twenty-four (Johns Hopkins Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising). What do professional schools look for in a candidate? Schools will look at these dimensions of your application: Academic Profile/Metrics: GPA: Your GPA is very important. Most programs have minimum required GPAs or at least provide data about average GPAs of accepted students. Note that your science GPA in biology, chemistry, physics, and math (BCPM) is especially important. See the profession specific sections for more information about GPA ranges for different programs.
7 MCAT/ Other Test Scores: Your test scores are also very important. See individual career pages for required tests and average scores for accepted students. Experiences: This work is critical to your application. Schools will want to see evidence of your commitment to altruism and a willingness to get your hands dirty engaging in service to others. Medical school and most other programs require significant shadowing or volunteer experiences in the health field. Some programs (like PA programs, for example) even require a certain number of hours of this kind of work (often from 500-1,000 hours or more). The Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising in the PSGE Center can help you begin to find these experiences locally and in your hometown. See the section about resources at Hartwick for more information. Personal Qualities: Getting accepted to medical or other professional schools is no longer just about metrics (GPA and test scores) or your experiences in the field. The personal side of your application is just as crucial. You must be able to interview well; show empathy and altruism; engage in self-reflection; demonstrate maturity, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills; and tell a compelling story about why you are committing yourself to this career. You must work as hard at learning to presenting yourself well in interviews, in writing, and online as you do on your coursework and medical experiences! Hartwick s Pre-Heath Advisory Committee (HPAC) and the PSGE Center are key to your skill development in these areas. See the section on Hartwick resources for more information. You will also want to educate yourself about current issues in the health field and health care policy so that you can speak confidently about them in an interview. You may want to investigate current or pending legislation, the needs of underserved communities, and global health concerns. Take advantage of everything that a small liberal arts college like Hartwick has to offer. Attending professors talks or campus events on campus like the Health Policy Summit can boost your health IQ. What are Hartwick s acceptance rates to professional schools? Over 70% of students applying to medical school who were recommended by HPAC (Health Professions Advising Committee) were accepted into allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. There are approximately 6-8 students that interview with HPAC per application cycle.
8 What professional schools have accepted Hartwick graduates in the last five years? Medical Schools (Allopathic): Ross University School of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University (Syracuse), St. George s University School of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University School of Medicine, University of the West Indies School of Medicine, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Medical Schools (Osteopathic): New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of the New York Institute of Technology Dental Schools: Stony Brook School of Dental Medicine, SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine Veterinary Schools: Royal School of Veterinary Studies, Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University Physician Assistant Schools: Rochester Institute of Technology Physician Assistant Program, Physician Assistant Program at PACE University Physical Therapy Schools: Boston University School of Physical Therapy, University of Vermont Physical Therapy Program, SUNY Upstate Medical University Physical Therapy Program, Stony Brook Physical Therapy Program, Temple University Physical Therapy Program What resources are available at Hartwick to help me reach my goals? Hartwick has many people and programs to help you set goals, chart your progress, and strengthen your applications to schools. The Health Professions Advising Program (HPAP) includes two dedicated pre-health advisors: Joe Ficano (curricular focus and process coordination) and Lara Sanford (experiential learning and events planning) as well as a Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC). HPAC members are faculty members who serve as additional advisors and evaluators for students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare as a physician, dentist, veterinarian, optometrist, podiatrist or other health related profession. Pre-Health Advisors can assist students with their application to health professional schools by individualized advising, providing workshops and presentations, assisting wtih standardized test preparation, interview skills, ethical issues, financial aid sources, internships, career exploration, and opportunities to meet local professionals.
9 Heatlh Professions Advising Committee (HPAC) will interview candidates who have fulfilled the requirements of the Health Professions Advising Program and who wish to pursue committee sponsorship. Requirements include a cumulative GPA and BCPM GPA of at least 3.5 (or a marked upward grade trend); experience in the health care field; experience doing research and/or evidence of leadership ability; and completion of several reflection statements, a resume, and a personal essay. The committee does not consider MCAT or any other test scores in its evaluation. The committee assesses the candidate s knowledge, skills, and experience in the following four competencies: interpersonal, intrapersonal, thinking and reasoning, and science. Candidates are rated as: highly recommend, recommend, recommend with reservations or do not recommend. The committee will also write the committee or composite letter that many medical or professional schools require. Think of your work with this committee as your first step in the medical school/ professional school admissions process and use their feedback to help strengthen your candidacy. Other Resources from the Academic and Pre-Professional Advising Office, and Career Services (located in first floor Golisano in the PSGE center): Contact Lara Sanford (sanfordl@hartwick.edu) or Joe Ficano (ficanoj@hartwick.edu) to learn more about any of the programs below. Orientation Sessions, Workshops and Advising: The Health Professions Advising Program offers a fall orientation session for first-year students interested in exploring pre-health careers. This session will be followed by a workshop in the spring for students seeking further experiences. In addition any student can drop in or make an appointment for assistance related to their academic program choices and coursework. HealthLinks Program HealthLinks is a local, day-long shadowing program connecting students with health professionals at Bassett Hospital in Oneonta and Cooperstown and with a variety of practitioners in Albany. Links Experiences Links experiences connect Hartwick students to professionals in a variety of career fields. MetroLink students shadow professionals in Boston and New York during February break; in Washington DC during spring break; and in Albany during the spring semester. The program can help you learn more about health careers you are considering and hone your networking skills. Volunteer Opportunities
10 Many professional schools will want you to have significant volunteer experience in the health field before you apply. The Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (APPA) can help you connect with local volunteer opportunities. Recently, students have volunteered at A.O. Fox Hospital and the Oneonta Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and have interned as pharmaceutical technicians at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, as physical therapy interns at FoxCare Center in Oneonta, and as pre-veterinary interns at Oneonta Veterinary Associates. The center can also guide you toward finding opportunities in your hometown when you are home for a vacation or the summer. Skill Development Career Services can also help you develop the personal qualities dimension of your application. Make an appointment with the center to work on your interviewing skills, to review your personal statement, or to craft and refine your resume. How should I seek letters of recommendation? Letters of recommendation are very important to your application. These letters help the admissions committee understand your personal qualities in a way that your GPA and test scores cannot show them. Specifically, they will be looking for evidence of your interpersonal skills, intellectual ability, curiosity, motivation, and maturity. Take advantage of your small classes at Hartwick and get to know your professors. Ask questions in class, attend office hours and study sessions, and inquire about their research interests. If you enjoy the professor s class and excel in it, you may try to take more than one his/her classes or even conduct research with him/her. This will further your intellectual growth and may also help the professor write you a stronger letter. When deciding whom to ask for letters, first check the requirements for schools that interest you. Some schools will require a certain number of letters from science faculty. Others will want a letter from a non-science faculty member, and a personal recommendation. If you have done significant volunteer or paid work or research in the medical field, you will also want to include a recommendation from your supervisor. Ask your recommenders for letters early to give them plenty of time to complete them. Provide them with a resume, transcript, and personal statement to help them write a more effective letter. Many students rely on professors from upper-level courses to write letters for them, but if you took a course your freshman year in which you excelled and got to know the professor, don t be afraid to ask for a letter at that time.
11 If you are applying to allopathic or osteopathic medical school, dental school, optometry school, podiatry school, or veterinary school, the Heath Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) will use your letters of recommendation and their evaluation of you to craft the composite letter that these schools require. These letters will be sent as part of your secondary application materials. Are my online image and credit rating important? Yes! Working in the health care field requires excellent judgment and good character. Be aware that your actions throughout your college career will impact your applications. On the AMCAS application, medical schools will ask you to answer this question honestly: Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw? They also state You must answer Yes even if the action does not appear on, or has been deleted from, your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition. Many medical schools also conduct criminal background checks through AMCAS. For more information and the list of schools who do this, see: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/faqs/63230/faq_background.html Also, consider your social media pages as part of the public face you show the world. Look at them closely and consider what they say about you that might hurt or help-- your chances of getting into professional school. Some admissions committees will look at these pages as examples of your character and image. For more info, visit this page: https://www.aamc.org/students/aspiring/324178/socialmediadoesnthurt.html Finally, most applicants need to borrow money to pay for school. You will need a strong credit rating in order to secure these loans. Pay your bills on time and pay off as many short-term debts (credit card, car loan, etc.) as you can. For more information about building your credit, see: https://www.aamc.org/students/aspiring/332180/goodcredit.html How should I prepare my personal statement? As part of your primary application, you will need to write a personal statement. The admissions committee wants to know who you are and why you are applying to school.
12 The personal statement should be an exercise in self-reflection. Medical and other professional schools can be demanding and stressful, and the admissions committee wants to admit people who have thought carefully about this path and know why they are there! They are looking for evidence of your maturity, sincerity, self-awareness, and passion. Possible questions to consider: Try freewriting about some of these as a pre-writing exercise. Write as much as you can for as long as you can. Some of your best material may come after you push past generalities and clichés and truly reflect on why you have chosen this path. Why do you want to work in this field? Be as specific and personal as you can. Avoid clichés like I want to help people. What experiences have confirmed this choice for you? Think back about one or two events with a patient or professional that deeply affected you. What did you about yourself, the profession, the world from these experiences? Who have been the most influential people in your life and why? What s your background (family, values) and how has it shaped you? How have you demonstrated leadership? What skills and ideas are you learning in your classes that are relevant to a career in medicine? What kind of impact do you want to have on your community? How have you demonstrated service to others? How have you challenged yourself? When have you failed? How well do you work with others? Think of your proudest moment. Why was this experience meaningful to you? Writing Advice: Journaling: Open a file on your computer for health-related experiences. When you read something interesting, interact with a patient, or observe something in your volunteer work, take a few minutes to write about it. What did you see? What did you do? What might you do differently next time? Not only can you use some of this material in your personal statement or for secondary applications, you will develop the habit of being a reflective practitioner, an invaluable quality in medicine.
13 Outlining/Planning: Read your journal entries and freewrites, looking for common themes. Make a brief outline (list, bullet points) and shape these into a working draft. Drafting: You will want to include elements of narrative and description in your statement. Using vivid, precise language to show and not tell the reader about your experiences will make your essay more powerful and memorable. Set a deadline for yourself and work steadily towards it. Seek feedback early and revise, revise, revise: Once you have a draft, seek feedback from many sources. Make an appointment with the PSGE Center and the Writing Center to go over your work and make changes. Focus first on your content and ideas, then on perfecting grammar and spelling. Don t throw anything away: Keep early drafts of your essay, and don t discard sections that you omit from your final statement. You may choose to use some of this material in your supplementary applications.
COURSE GRID Course Med Dental Vet Opt Pod PA PT OT Chiro Pharm MD/DO BIOL 101 X X X X X X X X X BIOL 202 X X X X X X X X X BIOL 203 X X X X X X X X BIOL 206 X X X X X X (Anat & Phys I) BIOL 207 Upper-level X X X X (Anat & Phys II) biology BIOL 306 courses X X X A Programs X (Microbiology) BIOL 312 (Molecular Cell) BIOL 314 (Immunology) usually required X Some recommend semes ter of upperlevel biolog recommend another semester of science with lab besides Anat. & Phys. and physics. BIOL 313 X (or 420) X X X y Consider BIOL (Genetic Analysis) usuall 101-203 or CHEM BIOL 420 X (or 313) Some recommend y 107-109. Required by (Developmental Genetics) requir some BIOL 317 ed Some recommend (Exercise Phys) CHEM 107 X X X X X X X X X CHEM 108 X X X X X X X Some X Recommend CHEM 201 X X X X X X X CHEM 202 X X X X Some Recommend X BIOC 405 (Biochemistry I) BIOC 406 (Biochemistry II) PHYS 140 and 141 or PHYS 201 and 202 MATH 108 (Statistics) MATH 121 (Sing Var. Calc) MATH 233 (Multivar. Calc) X X X X Some recommend X X X X X X X One semester X One semester X X X X X X X X Required by some Required by some X X X Required by some Required by Required by X some some ENGL 110 (Composition) X X X X X X X X X X ENGL Literature X X X X X X X PSYC 110 X X X X X X X PSYC 301 (Developmental Psych) PSYC 302 (Abnormal Psych) SOC 105 (Intro to Soc) X X X X Another advance d PSYC course recomme nded X X X X Required by some 14 STUDIO ART: X X = Course required by most programs. This chart is meant only as a general guideline for minimum requirements. Always check requirements for individual schools
15 Use this timeline as a general guide to keep you on track, but also check with your pre-health advisor for more specific advice. First Year of College Talk with your academic advisor about fall courses. Attend any fall pre-health orientation sessions and/or follow-up workshops. Begin biology or chemistry course sequence, or both. Study hard and keep your GPA up! Visit the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (APPA) in the PSGE Center! Make an appointment with the pre-health advisors to introduce yourself, plan your coursework, and learn about Hartwick resources. Investigate schools that interest you and get familiar with their admissions requirements. Attend pre-health events on campus. Develop relationships with faculty and staff. Go to office hours and get to know your professors. You will need these relationships for letters of recommendation. Seek opportunities to volunteer in patient/provider settings, shadow, or get involved in research. Identify summer opportunities paid, volunteer, or internships-- in the medical field. Apply to summer enrichment programs or research programs. Try these links from the American Association of Medical Colleges: https://www.aamc.org/members/great/61052/great_summerlinks.html https://services.aamc.org/summerprograms/ Or this one from the Summer Medical & Dental Education Program: http://www.smdep.org Summer after First Year Participate in volunteer, shadow, research, or internship positions in the healthcare field Second Year of College Check-in with your academic and pre-health advisors to make sure you re on track for degree requirements. Check-in with the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (APPA) to find out about pre-health events on campus. Continue to investigate schools that interest you and their admissions requirements. Continue to develop relationships with faculty and staff on campus. Complete second-year degree coursework and maintain your GPA. Consider returning to your previous summer position or find a new opportunity for summer internship, research, or volunteer work. (See links above.)
16 Summer after Second Year Work in or volunteer in the medical field. Take summer courses at a university if necessary. Investigate the application process for your field. Investigate the application timeline for schools that interest you. Remember that every school has slightly different requirements and deadlines so take note of these. Investigate the MCAT or other admissions test (GRE, DAT, OAT, etc.) and begin to prepare for it. Note deadlines for schools that interest you to make sure you take the test before their application cycle opens. See the appendix of this guide for these dates. Third Year of College Maintain your relationship with your academic and pre-health advisor. Complete required coursework by spring of your junior year if you plan to apply to school right after graduation. Maintain your GPA. Participate actively with pre-health events on campus and consider taking on a leadership role in these organizations. Continue your participation in clinical experiences, volunteer work, and research and again consider taking on a leadership role in this work. Continue to investigate schools you want to apply to. Meet with your advisors to strategize about your timeline for applying to schools; if you re considering a gap year, investigate meaningful medical-related work to do during this time. You may also want to consider a post-baccalaureate program if you need to strengthen your candidacy. (See https://services.aamc.org/postbac/) Ask faculty for letters of recommendation (See Letters of Recommendation section.) Work with the Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC). In the spring, interview with them so that they can evaluate you and write your composite letter. Research dates and locations for taking the MCAT, GRE, etc. Study for the MCAT. Take practice exams. If you re ready, take this exam in the spring. Familiarize yourself with online application services for different fields (like the AMCAS for medical school, the CASPA for Physicians Assistants, or the AADAS for dental school). Summer after Third Year If you plan to apply to school for the year after you graduate: Continue your involvement with the medical field through interning, working, or shadowing, especially if you plan to apply to medical school for the year after graduation Complete your applications, using the centralized online service if required.
17 If you re ready, take or re-take the MCAT, GRE, or other exam. Fourth Year of College Meet regularly with your pre-health advisor or consult HPAC to: Discuss your options in applying to schools, such as a post-baccalaureate pre-med program. (See link above.) Discuss the status of applications for schools to which you ve applied. After you apply to schools, be sure to: Complete any supplementary applications for schools Prepare for interviews and/or campus visits. Visit schools. Make sure you re familiar with your responsibilities as an applicant: (See https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/recommendations/applicants/). Continue with volunteer work and/or pre-health leadership experiences. Take or re-take the MCAT or other exam if you need to. Receive acceptances and/or rejections! Notify schools you will not be attending of your plans on or before their deadline. Submit all IRS and financial aid forms as early as possible. Complete degree requirements. Graduate! Summer after Graduation If you want to enroll in school right after you graduate, Make living arrangements. Purchase books, equipment. Attend all orientation activities. If you plan a gap/bridge year: Complete AMCAS applications & work on secondary applications. Ask faculty and other mentors to write letters of recommendation for you. Gap or Bridge Year(s) Seek meaningful employment or work experience related to your field. Pay off credit card and/or undergraduate debt as much as possible. Stay in touch with your pre-health advisor and HPAC. Continue to consult the Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising (APPA) for advice and support.
18 Complete primary and supplementary applications to schools. Interview at and/or take tours at schools that interest you. Professional Organizations: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): www.aamc.org American Medical Association (AMA): www.ama.org Allopathic Medicine (M.D.) What does an M.D. do? According to the AAMC, physicians diagnose and care for people of all ages who are ill or have been injured. They take medical histories, perform physical examinations, conduct diagnostic tests, recommend and provide treatment, and advise patients on their overall health and well-being. Physicians can usually be divided into three categories: Primary care physicians are the doctors patients visit most frequently. They treat a wide range of illnesses and provide preventive care. They also enjoy long-term relationships with their patients. Pediatricians, family practitioners, and general internists are primary care physicians. Surgeons perform operations to treat diseases and repair injuries. Specialists have expertise related to specific diseases, age groups, and bodily organs. Cardiologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, and ophthalmologists are examples of specialists (www.aamc.org). How much education does it take to become a doctor? The AAMC states: Becoming a doctor requires a serious educational commitment. It typically takes from 11 to 16 years to complete your education, including four years of college (undergraduate school), four years of medical school, and three to eight years of training in a specialty area (residency training), depending on which specialty you choose to pursue. What courses do medical schools require?
19 While individual schools will have their own requirements, minimum requirements include: Biology in Practice (BIOL 101) Concepts of Biology: Energy (BIOL 202) Concepts of Biology: Information (BIOL 203) General Chemistry (CHEM 107, 108 or CHEM 109) Organic Chemistry (CHEM 201, 202) Physics (PHYS 140, 141 or PHYS 201, 202) Calculus or Statistics (MATH 121,233 or 108) English composition and English literature (ENGL) To fulfill medical school pre-requisites and prepare for changes in the MCAT, Hartwick also recommends the following courses: Biochemistry (BIOC 405) Sociology course (SOCI) Psychology course (PSYC) What is the required entrance exam? The MCAT is required. See information about the current MCAT and MCAT2015 in the first part of this guide. What do I need to score on the MCAT? Most schools state that you must score at least a 30 out of 45 to earn an interview. What should my GPA be? According to statistics from the AAMC, Students accepted to medical school in the last few years had, on average, a 3.6-3.79 GPA. What clinical work is required? Medical schools look for a track record of service to others and experiences in the medical field. These work or volunteer experiences demonstrate your commitment to service, your leadership potential, and your ability to juggle academic and extra-curricular work successfully. The Office of Academic and Pre-Professional Advising in the PSGE Center can help you get started finding these experiences locally and in your hometown.
20 How can I learn more about medical school requirements? You may want to purchase the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) available as a book or online. It is a set of guides to medical school admissions requirements, updated each year: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/ Am I required to work with the Health Professions Advising Committee? Yes. Medical schools prefer that applicants have a composite letter from their undergraduate institution. See information about this committee s work in the first part of this guide. How much does it cost to go to medical school? In 2010 2011, annual tuition and fees at public medical schools averaged approximately $25,000 for state residents and $48,000 for non-residents. At private schools, tuition and fees averaged $42,000 for residents and $43,000 for non-residents These figures do not include housing or living expenses, which vary considerably by location. Online Application System: AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) at https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/ What is the application timeline for medical school? Early May: Early June: June- July: August 1st: AMCAS goes online First date that you can submit your AMCAS application. You will begin receiving secondary applications shortly after you submit your AMCAS application. Since most schools use rolling admissions, it is in your best interest to submit an application well before the deadline. Returning your secondary applications within a few weeks will increase your chances of getting an early interview slot. Early admissions deadline (including transcripts) October 1st-
21 December 31 st : September- Spring: Mid-October- March/April: August 15th March-July: Other application deadlines, depending on school Interviews at most medical schools Some schools will notify candidates of admissions as early as mid- October. Others will wait to notify all candidates in March or April. The last day that you can hold multiple acceptances to medical schools; however, you should withdraw your applications as soon as you know you will not be attending a particular school. Acceptances continue off waitlists How can I prepare for my medical school interview? Different schools will use different formats for interviews. For example, SUNY Upstate Medical Center uses the Multi-Mini-Interview format. This splits the traditional medical school interview into a series of brief, timed interviews that present applicants with a scenario, question, or task. This gives them the chance to interact with many faculty, administrators, physicians, and even students. Other schools use more traditional formats. For more tips on preparing for your interview, visit this section of Aspiring Docs from the AAMC: https://www.aamc.org/students/aspiring/basics/280914/interview.html Other Resources: Visit this link to the Aspiring Docs and Applicants section of the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges) website : https://www.aamc.org/students/aspiring/ It is a great place to start for all kinds of how do I questions like: How do I decide if a career in medicine is right for me? How do I decide where to apply to school?
22 How do I partner with my advisor? How can I get experience in the medical field? How can I pay for school? Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) is a FREE (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer academic enrichment program that offers freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation: http://www.smdep.org/ Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Professional Organization: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM): www.aacom.org What does a D.O. do? According to AACOM, Osteopathic medicine is a distinct form of medical practice in the United States. Osteopathic medicine provides all of the benefits of modern medicine including prescription drugs, surgery, and the use of technology to diagnose disease and evaluate injury. It also offers the added benefit of hands-on diagnosis and treatment through a system of therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention (www.aacom.org).
How much education does it take to become an osteopathic physician? It takes four years to earn a D.O. degree. In the first two years, students take basic science courses, and in the third and fourth years, they complete rotations in a hospital or family practice. After graduation, students complete residencies which may last from threeseven years depending on the specialty. What courses do osteopathic medical schools require? Courses required are the same for allopathic medical schools, including biochemistry. As always, check individual requirements for schools that interest you. What is the required entrance exam? The MCAT is required. See information about the current MCAT and MCAT2015 in the first part of this guide. What do I need to score on the MCAT? According to AACOM, in recent application cycles, average MCAT scores were 8.37 verbal, 8.28 physical sciences and 9.01 biological sciences. What should my GPA be? AACOM reports that admitted students had an overall grade point average of 3.41 and an average science GPA of 3.26. What clinical work is required? Clinical, volunteer, and work experience is similar for M.D. and M.O. programs. Both want to see a history of service and leadership. Many osteopathic colleges require applicants to get to know a D.O. and request a letter of recommendation as part of the application process. Applicants should meet and spend time shadowing the physician. This provides the applicant with exposure to the osteopathic profession and enhances awareness of osteopathic medical philosophy. 23 Am I required to work with the Health Professions Advising Committee? Yes. Osteopathic medical schools prefer that applicants have a composite letter from their undergraduate institution. See information about this committee s work in the first part of this guide. How much does it cost to go to osteopathic school?
24 Costs are similar to allopathic medical schools. For public schools, from $18,531 to $38,633 and for private schools, yearly tuition & fees range from $38,000 to $53,187. Public schools have lower tuition for in-state residents, although there are fewer public than private schools with D.O. programs. Online Application System: AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine) at https://aacomas.aacom.org Application Cycle: AACOMAS opens May 1 st, submission date is June 3 rd, with deadlines ranging from October to April Other Resources: Links to a list of U.S. Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: http://www.aacom.org/about/colleges/pages/default.aspx Professional Organization: American Dental Education Association: www.adea.org What does a dentist do? Dentistry (D.D.S/ D.M.D.)
According to the ADEA, Dentistry is the branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and other hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and adjacent structures. A dentist is a scientist and clinician dedicated to the highest standards of health through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases and conditions (www.adea.org). How much education does it take to become a dentist? Students complete the curriculum for a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree in four years. In the first two years, students take basic science courses, and in the third and fourth years, they complete rotations in the dental school and with practicing dentists to gain hands-on experience. Students interested in specialties like oral surgery or orthodontics complete postdoctoral programs that last one to three years and lead to board certification. Is there a need for dentists? Current projections predict a decrease in the number of dentists, particularly in rural and urban areas, which are often under-served. What courses do dental schools require? 25 Two semesters of biology with lab Two semesters of general chemistry with lab Two semesters of organic chemistry with lab Two semesters of physics with lab Some also require: English composition Additional upper-level biology classes like anatomy and physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry Math Be sure to check specific requirements for schools that interest you. Some have requirements like art (ceramics, jewelry-making) or business management. What is the required entrance exam?
Dental schools require the DAT (Dental Admissions Test). The DAT is a computer-based test administered at Prometric Testing Centers. When you register for the test, you will arrange am appointment to take the test at a certain center within a certain window of time. The test is made up of multiple choice questions and takes four hours and fifteen minutes. The four sections of the DAT are: 26 Survey of natural sciences: covers content related to general biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry (but not physics) Perceptual ability test (PAT: requires you to problem solve in two and three dimensions Reading comprehension: topics for this are taken from dental and basic sciences Quantitative reasoning: this involves algebra and numerical calculations and conversions You will receive your score results immediately and can choose to send them to schools. What do I need to score on the DAT? Average DAT scores for entering students ranged from 17-21. What should my GPA be? The average GPA for entering students is around 3.5. (Statistics from the ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools) What clinical work is required? While dental schools do not require a certain number of hours of work in the dental field, experience is definitely required. Volunteering in a dental setting for a certain number of hours per week shows your commitment to the profession and will give you more to say in your interview. See the first part of this guide for tips. Am I required to work with the Health Professions Advising Committee? Yes. Dental schools prefer that applicants have a composite letter from their undergraduate institution. See information about this committee s work in the first part of this guide. How much does dental school cost? In-state tuition at a public school vs. out of state or private school tuition can vary widely. For example, tuition at the University of Pennsylvania s dental school is $63,770, while tuition at SUNY Stonybrook is $18,597 for in-state residents and $34,487 for out-of-state residents.
27 For more info on paying for education and projected income for new dentists, see Financing a Dental Education, at ADEA: http://info.adea.org/dep/applytime/financing_a_dental_education/fianancing_a_dental_education/ Online Application System: ADEA AADSAS Online Dental School Application: https://portal.aadsasweb.org Application Cycle: ADEAD AADSAS opens on June 3; deadlines vary by school Other Resources: For more information about applying to dental school, see current ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools: http://www.adea.org/publications/pages/officialguide.aspx. Summer Medical and Dental Education Program (SMDEP) is a FREE (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer academic enrichment program that offers freshman and sophomore college students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation: http://www.smdep.org/
28 Optometry (O.D) Professional Organization: American Association of Schools of Optometry: http://www.opted.org What does an optometrist do? The American Optometric Association defines a Doctor of Optometry as the independent primary health care professionals for the eye. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases, injuries, and disorders of the visual system, the eye, and associated structures as well as identify related systemic conditions affecting the eye. Doctors of Optometry prescribe medications, low vision rehabilitation, vision therapy, spectacle lenses, contact lenses, and perform certain surgical procedures. Optometrists counsel their patients regarding surgical and non-surgical options that meet their visual needs related to their occupations, avocations, and lifestyle (www.opted.org). How much education does it take to become an optometrist? Students earn an O.D. degree in four years. In the first two years, students take basic science courses, and in the third and fourth years they complete clinical rotations in the optometry school and with practicing optometrists to gain hands-on experience. Is there a need for optometrists? According to the American Association of Schools of Optometry, the aging population of the U.S. will create an increased demand for vision care in the next several decades. Optometrists will also be needed to fill vacancies created through retirement What courses do optometry schools require? Most optometry schools require and/or strongly recommend the following courses: Two semesters of biology (with lab) Two semesters of general chemistry (with lab)