Applying to medical school

1
Applying to medical school

• Dean Ali Whitmer
• Dean Tad Howard
• Ms. Amy Waxman

2
Outline for presentation

• Are you ready?
• The basic steps to applying
• Pre-med committee review
• Primary applications
• Secondary applications
• The calendar for applying
• Common questions

3
Are You Ready?

• You should apply with your best application
• How are your grades? If your g.p.a. or BCPM
  g.p.a. are below 3.2 you may want to delay
  application. (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math)
• Do you have relevant medical experience? Students
  should have spent time in a medical setting that
  provided insights into the career and allowed you
  to reflect on this path.
• Do you have time to prepare for the MCAT?

4
Grades and the MCAT

• Ideally your grades and MCAT score are both
  positive indicators of your abilities.
• Students should consider retaking the MCAT exam
  if their score is below 30. Use your practice
  exams to help determine if you are ready to take
  the exam.
• Research on grades, MCAT scores, and institution
  selectivity have validated the use of these
  metrics for admissions. The two best predictors
  are grades and MCAT scores.

5
National Averages for 2008

• Number of applicants 42,231
• Number of matriculants 18,036
• MCAT scores of applicants
• V 9.0, P 9.3, B 9.8, Written P
• BCPM 3.4, Non-BCPM 3.6, Overall 3.5
• MCAT scores of matriculants
• V 9.9, P 10.3, B 10.7, Written P
• BCPM 3.6, Non-BCPM 3.73, Overall 3.66

Data from AAMC
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Types of Schools and Study

• Allopathic Medical Schools lead to an MD
• Osteopathic Medical Schools lead to a DO
• Podiatric Medical Schools lead to a DPM
• Dental School leads to a DDS or DMD or specialty
  degrees
• Web resources
• http//www.osteohome.com/SubPages/compare.html
• http//www.princetonreview.com/opinionAdvice.aspx?
  typemedicaluidbadge07
• http//www.medschoolready.com/app/default.asp

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Application Services

• American Medical College Application Service
  (AMCAS) Allopathic Medical Schools
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic
  Medicine (AACOAM) Osteopathic Medicine
• Texas Medical Dental School Application Service
  (TMDSAS)
• American Association of Colleges of Podiatric
  Medicine (AACPMAS)
• Associated American Dental Schools Application
  Service (AADSAS)

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Pre-Med Review Committee

• Dr. Ali Whitmer, Chair
• Dean Tad Howard
• Dr. John Delaghy GU School of Medicine
• Prof. Joseph McClure, Physics
• Prof. Jennifer Swift, Chemistry

• Prof. Douglas Eagles, Biology
• Prof. Ali Moghaddam, Psychology
• Prof. Charles McNelis, Classics
• Prof. Alan Angerio, NHS

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Pre-Med Review Committee

• Reviews application materials and makes
  recommendation
• Application consists of
• Application Form (download from website)
• Essay
• Resume
• Transcripts (we provide)
• Letters of Recommendation (download request
  forms)
• Does NOT require MCAT scores
• Application materials due on May 29

10
Pre-Med Review Committee

• Committee ranks students under the following
  schema
• Highest recommendation
• Highly recommendation
• Recommended
• Recommended with Reservation
• Not Recommended

11
Letters of Recommendation

• The Pre-Med Committee requires letters from four
  faculty members
• 2 must be from science (BCPM) professors
• NHS students may request letters from HSCI
  professors with pre-approval
• 1 must be from a non-science professor (not
  required for PBPM students)
• The 4th letter is flexible
• Another professor
• A research mentor
• Someone from a clinical experience (pre-approval
  required)

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Primary Applications

• The application consists of
• An essay (one page)
• A resume of activities (up to 15)
• Your transcripts
• Fill out the schools attended section
• AMCAS transcript request form
• Your MCAT score

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Secondary Applications

• Additional essays and letters of recommendations
• Some review primary applications first, some
  dont
• Complete and submit as soon as possible
• Might be able to send additional letters
• Check individual schools

14
Letters of Recommendation

• We use Virtual Evals (in combination with AMCAS)
  or mail them by Fed Ex
• Two steps
• Once you file your AMCAS application, let us know
  by sending a note to premed_at_georgetown.edu
• If you are applying to an AMCAS school, complete
  the AMCAS letter request form. There will be two
  numbers on the form your AAMC (8 digits) and
  your AMCAS letter (7 digits underneath
  barcode). Send those numbers to
  premed_at_georgetown.edu
• We will (1) upload letters to all schools that
  use VE, (2) upload letters to AMCAS, and/or (3)
  mail letters by Fed Ex.

15
Application Calendar

• Begin application materials now
• PMRC application form due May 1
• PMRC application materials due May 29
• Medical and dental school applications begin in
  June (you dont need our recommendation for your
  primary applications!)
• PMRC meets in mid- to late-June
• Secondary applications, which includes our
  letter, begin in August

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Application Calendar cont.

• Second PMRC committee meets in August
• Those due dates arent set yet but materials will
  be due in July
• Interviews begin in fall and continue through
  spring
• Student decisions must occur by May 15

17
Things to do now

• Start asking for letters
• Clean up your Facebook profile!
• Sketch out your resume
• Begin drafting your essay
• Check that you are coded as PMD in Access
• Manage your email account(s)
• Forward if you want
• Keep your GU account accessible
• Use your GU account for professional messages

18
Upcoming Events

• Writing your Medical/Dental School Essay
• Which Schools are Right for You?
• Essay Drafts and Reviews
• Contacts
• 108 WGR
• Dean Whitmer whitmer_at_georgetown.edu
• Ms. Waxman premed_at_georgetown.edu
• 303 ICC
• Dean Howard hrh_at_georgetown.edu