The Pathway to Medical School

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The Pathway to Medical School

• Steven T. Case, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean for Medical School Admissions

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University of Mississippi Medical Center
(UMMC)

• gt75 of the counties in Mississippi are medically
  underserved
• UMMC has the only School of Medicine in
  Mississippi it is state-supported.
• Its role is to train competent and effective
  physicians for all Mississippians.

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Medical School Education
Step 1
USMLE
Step 2
M1 M2 M3
M4
BA BS
MD
Basic Sciences Anatomy Biochemistry Microbiology
Pharmacology/Toxicolgy Pathology Physiology/Bioph
ysics Psychiatry/Human Behavior
Clinical Training Anesthesiology
Ophthamology Emergency Medicine Orthopedic
Surgery Family Medicine Pediatric Medicine
Internal Medicine Preventive Medicine
Neurology Surgery Neurosurgery Obstetrics/Gyn
ecology
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Academic Preparation

• Bachelors degree preferred
• Any major/accredited college acceptable
• Required college-level courses (1 year each AP
  credit not acceptable)
• Biology
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• English
• Advanced science

8 hours each including laboratory
(senior college)
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MCAT Preparation

• Acquire Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
  review book
• practice exams
• answers to questions
• explanations for all answers
• Review subject matter
• Simulate timed practice exams
• Analyze performance
• read every explanation to every answer to every
  question and
• chart reasons for incorrect answers
• I dont have a clue! (go to 2)
• I knew that! (go to 3)

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Personal Preparation

• Exposure to medicine
• the sights, sounds, feel and smell
• awareness of time and financial commitment
  required for training
• Extracurricular activities indicative of
• effective interaction with diverse people
• service to individuals, family, community groups
• responsibility, integrity, leadership
• academic interests beyond the classroom
• cultural interests
• time management

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Desirable Applicant Qualities

• Accept Diversity Leader
• Academically Qualified Listener
• Bright Overcome Adversity
• Compassionate Polite
• Communicator Respectful
• Courageous Sensitive
• Enthusiastic Tolerant
• Family values Trustworthy
• Forgiving Well spoken

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You are ready to apply if you...

• are a Mississippi resident (or can meet the 1
  year residency requirement before matriculation)
• will complete all academic requirements within
  the current academic year
• prepared to matriculate next August (deferments
  discouraged)

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UMMC School of Medicine http//som.umc.edu
admissions tab

• Details about UMMC
• Academic and residency requirements
• Program deadlines
• Curriculum
• Links to Association of American Medical Colleges
  (AAMC)
• American Medical College Application Service
  (AMCAS)
• Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
• April exam, scores reported in June
• August exam, scores reported in October
• Fee Assistance Program (FAP)

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Application Timeline

• April Take MCAT
• May Request transcripts letters
• June Complete AMCAS application
• August Re-take MCAT
• September Interviews begin

Dont flirt with deadlines verify receipt of
each item
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Early Decision Program(apply to one school)

• AAMC by 8/1
• AMCAS Application
• Transcripts from all schools attended
• UMMC by 9/15
• Secondary Application
• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Three faculty evaluation letters

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Regular Decision Program(apply to multiple
schools)

• AAMC by 10/15
• AMCAS Application
• Transcripts from all schools attended
• UMMC by 12/1
• Secondary Application
• Transcripts from all schools attended
• Three faculty evaluation letters

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Combined M.D./Ph.D. Program(dual degree)

• 7 year program, 3 blocks
• M1, M2, Step 1 / G1, G2, G3 / M3, M4, Step 2
• Highly competitive applicants
• Stipend
• Tuition scholarship
• Select this program on AMCAS application
• Regular Decision Program deadlines
• Sequential acceptance to MD, PhD programs

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UMC Selection Process...

• All decisions rendered by Medical School
  Admissions Committee (MSAC)
• MSAC is independent of internal/external
  political/financial influence all applicants
  assured equal and unbiased consideration
  regardless of academic major, school attended,
  age, sex, religion, race, or ethnicity.

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UMC Selection Process...

• Initial Screen
• uBCPM GPA (2003 mean 3.66)
• MCAT (2003 mean 28.3)
• Interview
• Two faculty (scientist and physician)
• Associate Dean for Admissions
• Lunch campus tour with M4

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UMC Selection Process

• MSAC deliberations consider
• Full academic record
• Interviewer comments
• Exposure to medicine
• Extracurricular activities
• Faculty/other appraisal letters
• Special circumstances
• Decisions rendered
• Accepted (rolling 10/15 3/15)
• Not accepted (rolling 10/15 3/15)
• Alternate (3/15)

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Class Entering in 2004

• 238 applications
• 45 colleges and universities
• Mean MCAT 24.5
• Mean uBCPM 3.45
• Mean oGPA 3.57
• 158 interviewed

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Class Entering in 2004

• 118 accepted to fill a class of 100
• Mean MCAT 27.8
• Mean uBCPM 3.64
• Mean oGPA 3.70
• 10 schools in-state, 13 out-of state
• 22 different majors, 47 biology
• 51 female, 12 minorities

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MSU Applicants for 2004
Min Ave Max All (39) BCPM 2.62 3.58 3.9
6 MCAT 17 25.2 33 Accepted
(20) BCPM 3.13 3.66 3.96 MCAT 24 27.9 33
Not Accepted (19) BCPM 2.62 3.49 3.89 MCAT 1
7 22.4 33
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M1 Students from MSU
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For additional information

• Steven T. Case, Ph.D.
• Associate Dean for Medical School Admissions
• The University of Mississippi Medical Center
• 2500 North State Street
• Jackson, MS 39216-4505
• Telephone [phone] Facsimile 601-984-5008
• Email AdmitMD_at_som.umsmed.edu URL
  http//som.umc.edu