From High School to Med School : Guaranteed Admissions

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From High School to Med School Guaranteed
Admissions
Presented at the 2004 IACAC Conference Wyndham
Hotel Itasca Illinois

• University of Illinois at Chicago - Kate Knicker
• Northwestern University - Margaret Miranda
• Michigan State University - Christine Shafer,
  M.D.
• St. Louis University - Michelle Rogers

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The GPPA Program at UIC

• Guaranteed Professional
• Program
• Admissions Initiative

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What is GPPA?

• A program which offers guaranteed admission to
  graduate or professional school for a select
  group of beginning freshmen at the University of
  Illinois at Chicago
• 16 different programs
• Largest are Medicine, Pharmacy, Engineering

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GPPA Pre-Medicine Program Features

• Students complete a bachelors degree in the
  discipline of their choice while completing a
  standard pre-medicine curriculum
• Students are encouraged to explore a broad range
  of disciplines
• 5 special semester-long seminars taught by
  faculty from the UIC College of Medicine

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GPPA Pre-Medicine Program Features

• Students participate in UIC Honors College
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities
• No minimum MCAT score requirement
• Community of student scholars with similar
  interests and goals
• Special opportunities to meet with faculty

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GPPA Pre-Medicine Program Features

• Students participate in UIC Honors College
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Undergraduate Research Opportunities
• No minimum MCAT score requirement
• Community of student scholars with similar
  interests and goals
• Special opportunities to meet with faculty

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What do we ask of our students?

• Complete the pre-medicine curriculum
• Participate in the Honors College
• Maintain a 3.5 GPA
• Attend meetings and special programs
• Be a full-time student
• Take ALL coursework at UIC (except study abroad)
• Get a well-rounded education!

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GPPA Pre-Medicine Program Statistics

• Our most popular guaranteed program
• Average incoming class 40
• Average applicants per year 350
• Average ACT of admitted students 33
• Minimum time spent in program 7 years

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Who is eligible?

• Students must meet the following requirements
• 28 or higher composite ACT (1240 SAT)
• Rank in the top 15 of high school class
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Be an Illinois resident

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Application Process

• The GPPA program requires a separate application,
  available by contacting the Office of Admissions
  at [phone]
• Students who apply to GPPA do not need to fill
  out a regular UIC application or an Honors
  College application
• Finalists for admission are brought to campus for
  two rounds of interviews

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Scholarships

• GPPA Scholarships
• Chancellors GPPA Excellence Award
• 5,000 renewable award
• Chancellors Outstanding Applicant Award
• 2,500 one time awards
• GPPA students comprise majority of Honors College
  Freshmen Scholarship awards

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Important Dates and Deadlines

• GPPA pre-medicine applications are due
• December 15, 2004
• Scholarship applications due
  January 28, 2005
• Admissions decisions are announced in late March
  for all programs

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Other Important Notes

• Those not admitted still have a place in the
  regular freshman class
• Students may apply to other medical schools
  without penalty
• GPPA presentations are made at all Fall Freshman
  Preview Days

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Contact Information

• Please feel free to contact me with questions
• Kate Knicker
• gorczyca_at_uic.edu or [phone]
• GPPA Web Page
• http//www.uic.edu/depts/oaa/spec_prog/gppa

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Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) at
Northwestern

• A pioneering program established in 1961, the
  HPME provides highly motivated and gifted
  students a flexible and individualized curriculum
  that shortens premedical preparation and assures
  entry into medical school.

• Northwestern University, Evanston IL
• www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/hpme/

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Features of HPME

• 3 years as undergraduate on Evanston Campus.
  Optional 4th year
• 4 years at Feinberg School of Medicine in
  Chicago.
• Choice of major in Weinberg College of Arts and
  Sciences, McCormick School of Engineering, or
  Communication Disorders major in the School of
  Communication.
• MCAT not required. (students do take step 1 of
  USMLE)

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HPMEEntrance Requirements

• Postmark inquiry card by December 1.
• Apply to Northwestern University by Regular
  Decision deadline of January 1.
• Complete HPME supplemental application by January
  1.
• SAT I or ACT with scores in high 600s/700s. ACT
  of 31 or above.
• Three SAT II subject exams math 2C, writing and
  chemistry. (no substitutions) Scores in high
  600s/700s

• A minimum of 16 units of H.S. credit 4 years of
  math, chemistry, biology, physics, 4 years of
  English, 2 years of foreign language.
• On Campus interview. Measures maturity,
  motivation, concern for others and
  extracurricular activities.
• Before beginning HPME, students are required to
  have a year of calculus, including differential
  and integral calculus.

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HPMEAdmitted Student Profile

• Top 1 of high school class
• SAT 1 verbal 760
• SAT 1 math 775
• ACT composite 34
• SAT II Chem. 765
• SAT II Writing 750
• SAT II Math 2C 785

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HPME 2004-05 Application Information

• Approximately 900-1000 sent inquiry cards
• Approximately 700 received supplemental
  application
• 90 of applicants completed the supplemental
  application.
• 140 applicants were invited to interview
• Approximately 60 students were offered admission
  to fill 50 spaces.

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M.D. Medical Scholars
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CHM Curriculum - Points of Interest

• Clinical Skills and Patient Contact
• Information Science
• Mentor Program
• Contract for Social Responsibility
• Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved
• Rural Physician Program
• Community-integrated clinical education

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CHM Overview- Three-year average

• Women (58)
• Age (M24.1)
• Underrepresented minorities (17)
• Non-Michigan residents (20)
• Rural background (13)
• Non-science majors (34)
• Advanced degrees (16)
• MCAT 9.8
• GPA 3.5

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Admissions Process
250 Applications
105 Secondary Applications
50 Invitations to Interview
10 Accepted into Program
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High School Academic Expectations

• High school GPA gt 3.6
• Class ranking in the top 10
• ACT gt 29 or SAT gt 1280
• College preparatory course work

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Our Admissions Philosophy
Perfect and Rare
Diverse and Colorful
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Information Sources

• Primary application academic profile
• Secondary application experience profile
• 3 letters of evaluation including a teacher
  principal or school counselor
• Interviews with a current medical student
  faculty member

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Secondary Application Review

• 2 independent ratings
• Faculty member of admissions committee
• Trained medical student employee who also reads
  and rates regular applicants materials
• Ratings and comments on 9 dimensions and
  continuum
• Third rating possible if difference gt10/30

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Admissions Rating Form Categories

• Commitment motivation
• Depth and breath of clinical experience
• Compassion
• Service leadership
• Communication skills (written/oral)
• Judgment problem solving
• Attributes as a student (Maturity)

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Rating Fit With CHM Mission

• Fit with CHM mission
• Interest in primary care
• Caring, compassionate, values PPR
• Likely to practice in Michigan
• Interest in underserved (rural or urban)
• Respects other different from self
• Commitment to life long learning

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Rating Potential

• Overall assessment of applicants potential to
  become a valuable member of the profession
• Category is double weighted

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Sample of factors to consider for the attribute
Compassion

• Experience helping underserved and/or
  disadvantaged individuals (Might occur during
  same activity as clinical)
• Experience mentoring and/or attending to the
  needs of others
• Values the patient/physician relationship
  Demonstrates respect for others
• Seeks to understand the experience and the needs
  of others
• Values the patient/physician relationship

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Be concerned if

• seems unaware of the doctor/patient relationship
  and its relevance to healing
• seems self-serving or self-centered
• has not assumed responsibility for the well being
  of others
• seems to lack a humanitarian spirit
• seems disinterested in making a contribution to
  society

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Be concerned if.

• may be unaware of or disinterested in the
  diversity of human experience
• does not have experience working with individuals
  unlike him/herself (consider differences in
  culture, race, ethnicity, age, gender,
  rural/urban experience, or socio-economic status
  to establish unlikeness)

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Balance of Motivation -Rating Continuum

• Loves people
• Prestige..
• Meets others
• Expectations..

• Loves science
• Altruism
• Initiative,
• self-direction

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Interviews

• Two independent 30-minute interviews
• Faculty
• Medical student
• Each has 3 assigned questions
• No academic performance information
• Use essentially the same rating form
• Ratings for interview questions
• Oral communications
• Maturity instead of Student Attributes

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How Letters of Reference Are Used

• Personalized view of applicant
• Describes applicants attributes behaviors
• Non-cognitive characteristics
• Related to success
• Related to school mission

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My intention when writing a letter of reference
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When I am aware of problems or something negative
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I consider applicants abilities mainly in terms
of match with
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When writing a letter my intention is to
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Entering Medical Scholar- Class Profile 2004

• GPA average 3.9 (3.36-4.0)
• SAT average 1440 (1330-1550)
• ACT average 31 (29-33)
• AP or college courses 12 (4-19)
• IB credits - one scholar, 31 credits

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Program Goals

• Assist students preparation for medical school
  and eventual career
• Set high expectations for academic excellence,
  and for competency in the fundamentals of
  biological science
• Develop wisdom

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How Program Goals are Achieved

• Coordinated guidance regarding selection of
  courses and activities
• Time and strong encouragement to enrich the
  overall experience
• Development of a relevant supportive peer
  group

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Special Opportunities

• Honors College
• Lyman Briggs
• Specialization in Health and Humanities

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Thematic Component

• The Inquisitive Physician
• Relationship-centered Care
• Moral Dimensions of Medicine
• Changing Medical Paradigms

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Experiential Component

• Clinical and community service
• Research
• Other
• Overseas studies
• Music and athletics, etc
• Dorm mentor, aide, etc

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Format for Thematic Component

• Readings and preparation
• Monthly large group activities
• Unique presentations
• Small group discussion and interactive exercise
• Projects

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Requirements Expectations

• Attend an advising session with coordinator each
  semester
• No more than 2 absences per year from scheduled
  meetings!
• Periodic meetings with Dean for Admissions

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Requirements Expectations

• Graduate from MSU with no less than a 3.2 GPA
  (3.7)
• Graduate within 3-5 years
• Fulfill premedical courses
• requirements with no less than a 3.0 in each
  course

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Requirements and Expectations, continued

• Participation in the thematic program
• Fulfill experiential and research expectations
• Continue to meet technical standards and conduct
  expectations

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Saint Louis University

• Pre-Med Scholars Program

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Requirements

• Composite score of 30 ACT or 1320 SAT or higher.
• High GPA with mostly As in science and math
  courses
• No Cs in any science courses
• Recognize volunteer or research related
  activities in high school

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• Student must achieve an official SLU GPA of
• 3.4 in science and mathematics and an overall GPA
  of 3.40 their freshman year.
• 3.50 in science and mathematics and an overall
  GPA of 3.40 their sophomore year.

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• The Facts
• Almost 1000 pre med applications per year
• 400 applications are reviewed for the pre-med
  scholar program
• 250 students invited to attend the Scholars
  program
• 90 100 will attend as freshman
• Approximately 45 will interview sophomore year.
  99 acceptance rate.

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• The Rest
• 253 freshman at Saint Louis University declare
  themselves pre-med students.
• These students are NOT in the pre-med scholars
  program.

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Benefits

• Cove Internship Program A pre-med scholar
  student can receive preference to participate in
  this program. It offers 60 hours of community
  service/volunteer work and earns 1 credit hour.
  Volunteer in a hospital emergency room and
  teaching hospital.
• Better acceptance ratio for the med school. Our
  medical school receives 6000 applications for 150
  first year spots.

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• Curriculum
• Students in all pre-med tracks have the same
  curriculum freshman and sophomore year.
• Scholar students take more science courses as an
  undergraduate (they are highly encouraged to take
  additional science). Sets them up for a better
  transition in medical school.

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• For more information
• www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/phs/scholars1.html

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Thank You!