Being a PreMedical Student at UCONN

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Being a Pre-Medical Student at UCONN

• FAQs, Coursework, the Application Process

Presented By UConn Pre-Medical Society September
11, 2009
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Pre-Med is not a Major!!

• Major in anything you want

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Course Work

• Minimal Requirements for Medical School
• Chemistry 1124/1125/1126 or 1127/1128
• Chemistry 2443/2444/2445 (Orgo Orgo Lab)
• Physics 1201/1202 or 1401/1402 or 1501/1502
• Biology 1107/1108
• 2 semesters of English classes  

• Strongly suggested
• MCB 2410 (genetics)
• MCB 2000 (biochemistry)There is usually no
  requirement for math courses and math is not
  covered on the MCAT exam.
• http//premed.uconn.edu/coursework.html
• NOTE This is true for MOST U.S. Medical
  Schools. Check each schools website for specific
  requirements

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Involvement Leadership

• Get involved on campus
• Continuity
• Stand out, do something different
• Be passionate!!
• Good to be a member of a club, but even better to
  be a leader of the club
• Hones leadership skills
• Become comfortable with public speaking
• Shows commitment, time management, and
  organization
• Research Lab Involvement
• Work closely with professors great letters of
  recommendation!
• Better to stick with one lab/group/internship
• Understand what you are doing and why you are
  doing it

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Medically Related Experience

• A strong community service record and experience
  in the medical field are crucial to your
  application
• Med schools look for committed, sustained
  involvement and experiences with direct patient
  contact
• Schools want to know that your decision to become
  a physician is well-informed and based off actual
  exposure to the medical field
• These experiences can make for great topics for
  your personal statement or interview responses

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Where to Find Experience

• Job Shadowing
• Hospital Volunteering
• EMT ? Direct Patient Contact
• Undergraduate Research Look for translational
  research labs that incorporate patient treatment
  into research
• Summer is a great time to get long-term
  experience
• http//premed.uconn.edu/summer.html
• Heads up Deadlines for most programs are early
  Spring!

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Volunteer.uconn.edu
Community Service Days
Semester Long Projects
Alternative Breaks
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Up Coming Volunteer Opportunity

• October 4th (Friday)
• Help set up Willimantic Downtown County Fair
• Times range from 830AM to 130 PM
• Volunteering can be done for any allotted hours
• For More information contact us at
  uconnpremedicalsociety_at_gmail.com

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The Notorious MCAT

• What does it test?
• Biological Sciences- ORGANIC CHEM and BIOLOGY (70
  min)
• Physical Sciences- PHYSICS and CHEMISTRY (70 min)
• Verbal Reasoning (60 min)
• Writing (Two 30min essays)
• When do I take it?
• After you have completed General Chemistry,
  General Physics, Organic Chemistry, General
  Biology
• Normally, summer before Senior Year
• ABSOLUTELY by September
• RECOMMENDED by July
• Summer before Junior year is a recommended option
  if above coursework is complete

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How do I study for it?

• Taking a Prep Course is NOT Required, but
  recommended
• Keeps you on a study schedule
• Provides plenty of practice materials and help
• PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!
• After reviewing content, go over as many practice
  questions as you can

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ExamKrackers at UCONN

• Four 2 hour classes over a period of 9 weeks.
• 5 CBT based MCAT practice tests.
• Same or lower price than discounted Kaplan for
  our members (still being negotiated).
• Requirement of minimum 15 students to initiate a
  course at UCONN.
• Those who are interested need to send an email to
  subtain.zia_at_uconn.edu so that we have a better
  idea of how many students would like to join.

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Medical School Applications and Interviews

• Make sure that you take your MCAT no later than
  the September of the year before you want to
  begin Med School
• Start your applications the summer a year before
  you want to attend Med School
• Timeline
• AMCAS Application becomes available at the
  beginning of June Start working on it then if
  you can!
• Request Letters of Recommendations as early as
  possible
• Submit AMCAS Application by mid-October
  (recommended to submit by July-many schools have
  rolling admissions!!!)
• You will then be sent the Supplemental
  Applications for schools indicated on your
  Primary AMCAS Application
• Complete Supplemental Applications early
  (deadlines btwn mid-October Jan 1)
• Make sure that Composite Recommendation Packet is
  submitted by Supplemental Deadline
• Invited to Interviews around Nov-Feb.
• Get responses from schools during Spring
• Good luck!!!!! )

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FAQs

• What is AMCAS?
• Is the organization through which you complete
  your Primary Medical School Application
• What is a Primary?
• The FIRST part of your Medical School Application
• Includes Biographical Info, Activities,
  Volunteer Work, Courses, Personal Statement, AND
  you designate all the schools you want it sent to
• Is similar to the CommonApp for Undergrad
  Applications (one form, sent to more than one
  school at a time)
• Where do I find the application and more
  information?
• Online http//www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.h
  tm
• Key Website to Use www.aamc.org
• MCAT http//www.aamc.org/students/mcat/
• Do the course designations matter?
• YES!
• Do Primaries matter?
• YES!!!!!

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More Fun Stuff

• Secondaries
• Get them in ASAP
• Reflect yourself
• Interviews
• Be yourself!
• Be prepared!
• Be relaxed )
• Any Questions?
• Contact
• Joseph.crivello_at_uconn.edu
• Jim.hill_at_uconn.edu
• Contact AMCAS via website, www.aamc.org
• GOOD LUCK!!!

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Website Navigation

• Important Websites and Resources
• www.aamc.org
• HuskyCT Pre-Med Society Resources
• www.Premed.uconn.edu
• www.E-mcat.org
• www.Studentdoctor.net Great resource, straight
  from the source!
• Student Doctor Forums
• www.futuredoctor.net
• http//www.aamc.org/members/great/summerlinks.html
  
• www.Google.com (not a joke!)

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Why Join Pre-Medical Society?
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Any Questions?