So, you wanna be a doctor veterinarian dentist physician assistant physical therapist nurse practiti

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So, you wanna be adoctorveterinariandentis
tphysician assistantphysical therapistnurse
practitioneretcetcetc.April 16, 2009
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Before you apply

• Have you identified the schools youll apply to?
• Do they have special requirements?
• Are your prerequisites complete?
• Courses
• Extracurricular
• When will you take your entrance exams?
• What are you doing to prepare?
• Do you have time to re-take them if necessary?
• Have you requested letters of recommendation?

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Application calendar overview

• To enter school in August 2010
• Spring 09 Entrance Exams
• May - June 09 Application Services open
• August 09 Secondary applications
• October 09 First deadlines Interviews
• January 10 Final deadlines

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Why is this timeline so important?
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Why is this timeline so important?
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Identifying schools youll apply to

• Curriculum
• Teaching methods
• Specialties
• Affiliations (hospitals, research, service
  programs)
• Timing of clinical experience
• Average entering GPA, test scores
• Location, size, demographics, cost of living
• Residencies
• Tuition, financial aid
• Reputation

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Prerequisites

• Academic course requirements
• Standard
• Non-standard
• Extracurricular expectations
• Clinical experience
• Research
• Understand your competition
• Stand out from the rest

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Understanding your competition
Average MCAT Scores
(Source AAMC)
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Understanding your competition
Median Grade Point Averages
BCPM Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math All
Other all courses not classified as
BCPM Cumulative all courses
(Source AAMC)
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Understanding your competition
Applicants Matriculants by Primary
Undergraduate Major
(Source AAMC)
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In 2008, MHC students went to

• Dartmouth,
• Stony Brook,
• Tufts,
• Johns Hopkins,
• Buffalo,
• U. Penn,
• Michigan State,
• UCSF,
• Cornell,
• Mass General,
• BU,
• Penn State,
• UNECOM,
• Yale,
• UCONN,
• Toledo,
• Chicago,
• U. Washington,
• Minnesota,

Average GPA 3.68 Clinical experience ranged
from 75 to 1500 hours
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Is there a correlation between MCAT score and
GPA (and admission)?
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Is there a correlation between MCAT score and
GPA (and admission)?
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Entrance Exams

• What do the schools require?
• Know about the contents of the exams
• Complete courses first!
• Preparation
• Self-study
• On-line practice
• Commercial prep courses
• Scheduling
• Opportunity to re-take

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Entrance Exams

• Medical School, Osteopathic Medical School MCAT
• Register at www.aamc.org
• Dental School DAT
• Register at www.ada.org
• Veterinary, Nursing, Public Health GRE
  (usually)
• Register at www.ets.org
• Foreign students may need to submit TOEFL scores

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On-line Application Services

• American Medical College Application Service
  (AMCAS)
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic
  Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS)
• Associated American Dental Schools Application
  Service (AADSAS)
• Veterinary Medical College Application Service
  (VMCAS)
• School of Public Health Application Service
  (SOPHAS)
• Pharmacy College Application Service (PHARMCAS)
• Physical Therapy College Application Service
  (PTCAS)
• Central Application Service for Physician
  Assistants (CASPA)
• Links to all can be found at http//www.mtholyok
  e.edu/acad/prehealth/resources.html

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American Medical College Application Service
(AMCAS)

• http//www.aamc.org/audienceamcas.htm
• Available May 5, 2009
• Submit in early June
• 160, plus 31 per school

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American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic
Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS)

• https//aacomas.aacom.org/
• Accepting Applications May 15, 2009
• 155 and up (sliding scale)

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Associated American Dental Schools Application
Service (AADSAS)

• http//www.adea.org/dental_education_pathways/aads
  as/Pages/default.aspx
• Opens June 1, 2009
• 195, plus 60 per school (sliding scale)

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Veterinary Medical College Application Service
(VMCAS)

• http//aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm
• Opens early June 2009
• 135 and up (sliding scale)

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Schools of Public health Application Service
(SOPHAS)

• http//www.sophas.org/index.cfm
• Open continuously, but with a black-out period
  typically in August September
• 95 and up (sliding scale)

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Your Application
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The MHC Pre-Application and Your Advising File

• Alerts your advisor and the Committee to your
  intent to apply.
• Helps get you organized.
• File contents (accessible to advisor)
• Pre-application
• Resume
• Transcripts
• Letters

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Things your application should reflect

• Every aspect of your qualifications
• Solid, consistent performance
• Exceptional traits, personal experiences
• That you have chosen this career through a
  thoughtful, fully-informed process
• Enthusiasm, motivation, professionalism
• Exquisite attention to detail

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The main parts of your application

• Biographical data
• Resume section
• Exam scores
• Official transcripts
• Essay(s)
• Recommendation letters
• Interview

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• Biographical Data self explanatory
• Resume Section blocks to provide dates,
  locations and brief descriptions of work,
  internships, activities, etc.
• Exam scores MCAT, DAT internally reported
  through application service and attached to your
  primary application. GRE must be sent from ETS to
  schools.
• Transcripts Official transcripts from every
  institution sent directly to application service
  (or to school if not using application service)

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Essays

• The most personal (and personalized) part of your
  application package
• Your best chance (other than the interview) to
  stand out from the pack
• Catch the readers attention
• Tell a compelling, original story
• Highlight pertinent biography, but dont be
  redundant
• Make your essay memorable

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Recommendations

• Usually three individual, one committee
• Individual
• Professors (1 science) who know you well
• Research mentors
• Clinical internship mentors
• Committee
• Authored by your Health Professions Advisor on
  behalf of the Committee, draws from individual
  letters, scores, transcripts

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Recommendations

• All of your letters should go directly to your
  account at Interfolio
• http//www.interfolio.com/
• Recommenders can submit electronically or in hard
  copy
• We can pull copies back into your file for your
  advisors reference
• Once your individual letters are all in, you must
  formally request your committee letter

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Interviews

• Individual or GroupInformed or Blind
• Tours, informal aspects of the day, insider
  information and the duality of the acceptance
  decision
• Be prepared
• Know as much as you can about their program
• Know your application inside and out
• Have questions for them
• Practice beforehand (Well give you a mock
  interview!)
• Dress properly
• Write a thank-you note

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Get all the help you can..

• Give yourself enough time
• Write multiple drafts, revise and refine
• Use available resources
• Get input on your essay
• Proof read
• Get good references
• Keep your advisor informed
• Request a practice interview

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QUESTIONS