Am I Competitive for Medical School?

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Am I Competitive for Medical School? Workshop
by Cynthia Lewis, Ph.D. Pre-health Advisor
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Who is Dr. Lewis?

• Marine Biologist
• Developmental Biology Researcher
• Pre-Health Advisor
• San Diego State University, 11 years, including
  Director of Health Careers Opportunity Program
  for minority and disadvantaged pre-health
  students
• Lewis Associates Medical Strategies

3
Who are the Admissions Committee and Staff at
health professions schools?

• Faculty in basic sciences and clinical practice
• School administrators Deans, Directors of
  Admissions, student services, curriculum, etc.
• Alumni clinicians

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Why is it important to know who the Gate-keepers
of the profession are?

• Because they are your audience who evaluate you
  for admissions
• You need to see the world from their perspective

• Because they are your audience who evaluate you
  for admissions
• You need to see the world from their perspective
• They already understand what it takes to
  complete their training programs, and they know
  what clinical practice is

5
Why is it important to know who the Gate-keepers
of the profession are?

• Gatekeepers want to understand

• Your motivation for this career
• Your experiences clinical, service, leadership,
  research, etc.
• Why did you select to do each?

• Your motivation for this career
• Your experiences clinical, service, leadership,
  research, etc.
• Why did you select to do each?
• What did you learn from each?
• How did each affect you?
• What new experiences did you take on because of
  each?
• How did each change you?
• Did your perspective change?

• Your motivation for this career
• Your experiences clinical, service, leadership,
  research, etc.
• Why did you select to do each?
• What did you learn from each?

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Barometer for Participation in Any
Extracurricular Activity

• Showing up

• Showing up
• Showing up for a long time

• Showing up
• Showing up for a long time
• Leadership

• Showing up
• Showing up for a long time
• Leadership
• Advocacy

• Showing up
• Showing up for a long time
• Leadership
• Advocacy
• Innovation

• Showing up
• Showing up for a long time
• Leadership
• Advocacy
• Innovation
• Legacy

Source Gabriel Garcia, MD, Professor of
Medicine, Peter E. Haas Director, Haas Center for
Public Service, Associate Dean of Medical School
Admissions, Stanford University
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Commitment

• Track record reflecting a desire to impact the
  health care of all our communities as clinicians,
  academicians or policy makers
• Public service

• Track record reflecting a desire to impact the
  health care of all our communities as clinicians,
  academicians or policy makers
• Public service
• Cultural Activities
• Educational Endeavors

• Track record reflecting a desire to impact the
  health care of all our communities as clinicians,
  academicians or policy makers
• Public service
• Cultural Activities
• Educational Endeavors
• Scholarly Pursuits

Source Gabriel Garcia, MD, Professor of
Medicine, Peter E. Haas Director, Haas Center for
Public Service, Associate Dean of Medical School
Admissions, Stanford University
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Educational Context Distance Traveled
Interpret the scholastic record taking into
account

• Interpret the scholastic record taking into
  account
• Parental income, education and occupation

• Interpret the scholastic record taking into
  account
• Parental income, education and occupation
• Pre-college education

• Interpret the scholastic record taking into
  account
• Parental income, education and occupation
• Pre-college education
• Hours per week of work while attending college
  for financial support

• Interpret the scholastic record taking into
  account
• Parental income, education and occupation
• Pre-college education
• Hours per week of work while attending college
  for financial support
• Cultural barriers
• Geographic location where applicant was raised

• Interpret the scholastic record taking into
  account
• Parental income, education and occupation
• Pre-college education
• Hours per week of work while attending college
  for financial support
• Cultural barriers
• Geographic location where applicant was raised
• Prior experiences with any type of prejudice
• Impact of stereotype threat

• Interpret the scholastic record taking into
  account
• Parental income, education and occupation
• Pre-college education
• Hours per week of work while attending college
  for financial support
• Cultural barriers
• Geographic location where applicant was raised
• Prior experiences with any type of prejudice
• Impact of stereotype threat
• Special family circumstances

Source Gabriel Garcia, MD, Professor of
Medicine, Peter E. Haas Director, Haas Center for
Public Service, Associate Dean of Medical School
Admissions, Stanford University
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Holistic Review Issues

• Cognitive factors
• Not just the academic record

• Cognitive factors
• Not just the academic record
• Experiential factors
• Characterologic factors
• Behavioral factors

• Cognitive factors
• Not just the academic record
• Experiential factors
• Characterologic factors
• Behavioral factors
• Race, ethnicity, language, culture

• Cognitive factors
• Not just the academic record
• Experiential factors
• Characterologic factors
• Behavioral factors
• Race, ethnicity, language, culture
• Mission fit

Source Robert A. Witzburg, M.D., Associate Dean
and Director of Admissions, Boston University
School of Medicine
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Desirable Traits How to Measure
(Doctors Applicants) Traits

• Intellectual ability
  Academic record

• Intellectual ability
  Academic record
• Commitment to service
  Prior history

• Intellectual ability
  Academic record
• Commitment to service
  Prior history
• Cultural sensitivity
  Past behavior

• Intellectual ability
  Academic record
• Commitment to service
  Prior history
• Cultural sensitivity
  Past behavior
• Empathy compassion
  Essay, references
• Capacity for growth
  Adversities overcome
• Emotional resilience
  Distance traveled
• Strength of character
  Testimonials
• Interpersonal skills
  Interview, references
• Curiosity engagement
  Life choices

Source Robert A. Witzburg, M.D., Associate Dean
and Director of Admissions, Boston University
School of Medicine
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Jim First Time Applicant, not ready

• Imagine yourself attending a research university
  with large classes, where to enter, you need
  strong GPA and SAT/ACT scores from high school.
  OKyou are ready to conquer the world

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Jim First Time Applicant, not ready
But, sometimes, a student has no career goals
But, sometimes, a student has no career goals Or,
is so smart that they did not develop strong
study or collaborative skills
But, sometimes, a student has no career goals Or,
is so smart that they did not develop strong
study or collaborative skills Or, does not
prepare in a timely fashion for submitting a
competitive application
But, sometimes, a student has no career goals Or,
is so smart that they did not develop strong
study or collaborative skills Or, does not
prepare in a timely fashion for submitting a
competitive application Or, there is an imbalance
between academic achievement, service, clinical
experience, leadership, research, etc.
But, sometimes, a student has no career goals Or,
is so smart that they did not develop strong
study or collaborative skills Or, does not
prepare in a timely fashion for submitting a
competitive application Or, there is an imbalance
between academic achievement, service, clinical
experience, leadership, research, etc. Or, does
not connect personally with individuals during
the preparation process, thus having a difficult
time securing letters of recommendation
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Jim First Time Applicant, not ready

• 3.7 College Overall GPA

• 3.7 College Overall GPA
• High School Service

• 3.7 College Overall GPA
• High School Service
• No College Service

• 3.7 College Overall GPA
• High School Service
• No College Service
• No College Leadership

• 3.7 College Overall GPA
• High School Service
• No College Service
• No College Leadership
• College Research

• 3.7 College Overall GPA
• High School Service
• No College Service
• No College Leadership
• College Research
• 2 Years Direct Patient Care

• 3.7 College Overall GPA
• High School Service
• No College Service
• No College Leadership
• College Research
• 2 Years Direct Patient Care
• 1 Term Study Abroad

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But People are Complex

• Missed Advising Appointments
• Letters of Recommendation Late

• Missed Advising Appointments
• Letters of Recommendation Late
• Good on Paper

• Missed Advising Appointments

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Jim Next Year

• New Personal Statement

• New Personal Statement
• Use of Medical Degree Concrete Vision for
  Future Career

• New Personal Statement
• Use of Medical Degree Concrete Vision for
  Future Career
• Submitted Early Application (mid June)

16
Jim Outcomes

• Interviewed at 6 MD Schools

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Susan First Time Applicant, ready

• 1st generation immigrant

• 1st generation immigrant
• ESL

• 1st generation immigrant
• ESL
• Professional parents

• 1st generation immigrant
• ESL
• Professional parents
• Minor health care policy/management

• 1st generation immigrant
• ESL
• Professional parents
• Minor health care policy/management
• Artist

• 1st generation immigrant
• ESL
• Professional parents
• Minor health care policy/management
• Artist
• Science/Overall GPA strong

• 1st generation immigrant
• ESL
• Professional parents
• Minor health care policy/management
• Artist
• Science/Overall GPA strong
• MCAT 28

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Susan Outcomes

• Interviewed at 8 MD Schools
• Accepted to 5
• Waitlisted at 1

• Interviewed at 8 MD Schools

• Interviewed at 8 MD Schools
• Accepted to 5

• Interviewed at 8 MD Schools
• Accepted to 5
• Waitlisted at 1

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Maria Re-Applicant, ready after 4 years
additional work

• Application 1 2006

• Application 1 2006
• 2.8 science/3.2 overall GPA

• Application 1 2006
• 2.8 science/3.2 overall GPA
• MCAT 22Q

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Maria Re-Applicant, ready after 4 years
additional work

• Application 2 2008
• Persistence

• Application 2 2008

• Application 2 2008
• Persistence
• 4.0 GPA 6 units of Postbaccalaureate

• Application 2 2008
• Persistence
• 4.0 GPA 6 units of Postbaccalaureate
• No new MCAT scores or personal statement!

• Application 2 2008
• Persistence
• 4.0 GPA 6 units of Postbaccalaureate
• No new MCAT scores or personal statement!
• Outcome

• Application 2 2008
• Persistence
• 4.0 GPA 6 units of Postbaccalaureate
• No new MCAT scores or personal statement!
• Outcome
• 1 interview

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Maria Re-Applicant, ready after 4 years
additional work

• Application 3 2009

• Application 3 2009
• 1 year MS (applied medicine) 30 units of 3.7 GPA

• Application 3 2009
• 1 year MS (applied medicine) 30 units of 3.7 GPA
• Retook MCAT (no accommodations)

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Maria Re-Applicant, ready after 4 years
additional work

• Application 4 2010

• Application 4 2010
• Capitalized on Strengths

• Application 4 2010
• Capitalized on Strengths
• Established new science, service, research
  (public health), Osteopathic medical experiences

• Application 4 2010
• Capitalized on Strengths
• Established new science, service, research
  (public health), Osteopathic medical experiences
• Got new letters

• Application 4 2010
• Capitalized on Strengths
• Established new science, service, research
  (public health), Osteopathic medical experiences
• Got new letters
• Retook MCAT with accommodations

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Maria Re-Applicant, ready after 4 years
additional work

• Outcome

• Outcome
• Applied 32 MD 4 DO schools

• Outcome
• Applied 32 MD 4 DO schools
• Interviewed 10 MD schools / did not submit DO
  secondaries

• Outcome
• Applied 32 MD 4 DO schools
• Interviewed 10 MD schools / did not submit DO
  secondaries
• Accepted at 1 MD school

• Outcome
• Applied 32 MD 4 DO schools
• Interviewed 10 MD schools / did not submit DO
  secondaries
• Accepted at 1 MD school
• Waitlisted at 4 MD schools, withdrew 2, rejected
  1

• Outcome
• Applied 32 MD 4 DO schools
• Interviewed 10 MD schools / did not submit DO
  secondaries
• Accepted at 1 MD school
• Waitlisted at 4 MD schools, withdrew 2, rejected
  1

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Am I the BEST applicant I can be?
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How will I know?

• Take the self-assessment test at
• www.lewisassoc.com

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Personal Assessment by Dr. Lewis

• 805-226-9669
• imaclewis_at_lewisassoc.com
• www.lewisassoc.com
• Facebook Lewis Associates Pre-Medical Advising

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Am I Competitive for Medical School?

• Questions ?
• Thank You!