Secrets of Medical School Admissions Julia Landry Director

Secrets of Medical
School Admissions
Julia Landry
Director
The Princeton Review
[email protected]
850.574.8378 • www.PrincetonReview.com
Agenda
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Welcome
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Research
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Finding the Right Med School
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Applying and Getting In
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Factors of Admission
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The Princeton Review
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Questions and Answers
TIP: Strategies for Making Yourself a Competitive Applicant
Page 2
Research
Where Do I Start?
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School websites and materials/publications/media
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PrincetonReview.com
1.
TIP: Advanced Med School Search - list of schools that match your needs and preferences-
www.princetonreview.com/medical/research/advsearch/match.asp
2.
3.
The Princeton Review's Med School Recruiter
The Tuition Cost Calculator
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Talk to professors, colleagues…
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Call schools/admissions staff
FSU Pre- Health Advising (850) 644-7678
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Talk to current students & alum
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Go to fairs and conferences
Dean’s Day- October 2010
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US News and World Report Rankings
Page 3
Finding the Right Med School
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TIP: Don’t Fall for the Brand Name Hype
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Choosing a Med School – 3 Factors
1.
Academic quality
2.
Chances of getting in
3.
Practical considerations
The Academic Fit
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Well-suited
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Specializations
Page 4
Finding the Right Med School
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What Else to Consider
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•
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•
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Rankings
Social atmosphere
Family factor
Career/job offers
Cost
Alumni influence/network
Environment
Size
Dr. Who?
Talk to the students
Research facilities
School curriculum
Page 5
AvO
Allopathic Medicine
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most widely available and recognized
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two years of basic science followed by clinical rotations
Osteopathic Medicine
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•
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curriculum is similar - four years long
clinical training
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spend more time rotating in primary care areas, rather than medical
subspecialties
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most do not have an affiliated teaching hospital; therefore, schools
usually partner with a number of med facilities and doctor's offices
More similarities than differences
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FSU
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Florida State University
Early Decision Deadline: August 1
*Extra Required Courses: Biochemistry
Recommended Courses: Psychology, Social Science, Spanish
Classes begin May 24 (Summer)
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UM
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University of Miami
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Early Decision: NONE
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Recommended Courses:
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Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Physiology,
Immunology, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Developmental Biology
Page 8
USF
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University of South Florida
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Early Decision Deadline: August 1
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Recommended Courses:
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Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Embryology, Comparative
Anatomy, Physical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biological Chemistry, Statistics,
Histology
Page 9
UCF
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University of Central Florida
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Early Decision Deadline: August 1
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Recommended Courses:
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Biochemistry, Genetics, Cell & Molecular Biology, Embryology, Comparative
Anatomy
Page 10
UF
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University of Florida
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Early Decision Deadline: NONE
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Extra Required Courses: Biochemistry
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Recommended Courses:
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Genetics, Physiology, Microbiology, Embryology, Comparative Anatomy
Page 11
Applying and Getting In
The Application Process
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State of Affairs
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Roughly 67,828 test takers
First-year enrollees total almost 17,800 students, a 2.3% increase over 2006
42,300+ applied, an increase of 8.2 percent over 2006
32,000 were first-time applicants, the highest number on AAMC record
Commonalities
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TIP: Apply Early
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Secondaries
Page 12
Factors of Admission
Objective Factors:
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1.
2.
GPA
MCAT
The Numbers
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Students focus on the numbers first
The numbers don’t get you in but ________
GPA (science) x 10 + MCAT > 65 (admissions index)
GPA and MCAT are between 30 % and 50 % of the admissions decision
Consider the #’s a baseline requirement
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Go to Demo.PrincetonReview.com to take a free practice test and to sample one of our lessons.
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Call 800-2Review or visit PrincetonReview.com for more info about The Princeton Review test prep options.
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What Does it Take To Get In?
School
Average Verbal
Score
Average Physical
Science Score
Average Bio
Science Score
Average Writing
Section Score
Harvard University
11
12
12
Q
Johns Hopkins
University
11.1
11.9
11.9
Q
University of
California—San
Francisco
10.6
11.5
11.7
P
Washington
University in St.
Louis
11.3
12.6
12.5
Q
Queen’s University
(Canada)
10.8
11.1
11
P
McGill University
(Canada)
10
11
11
P
Source: The Princeton Review’s Best 168 Medical Schools
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What Does it Take To Get In?
School
Average Verbal
Score
Average
Physical
Science Score
Florida State
University
Overall Average MCAT Score 29
University of
Florida
10.02
10.66
Average
Biological
Science Score
Average
Writing Section
Score
10.77
O
University of South Overall Average MCAT Score 27
Florida
University of Miami Overall Average MCAT Score 29.3
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Factors of Admission
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Subjective Factors:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Recommendations
Essays
Experience
Activities
Interview
Resume
The other 50 percent of admissions is based on
motivation, passion, and sense of purpose.
Stand out from the rest of the crowd.
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Letters of Recommendation
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Choose Wisely
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Academic

2 science, 1 non-science - min 3, max 5
5 areas of commentary
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1.
Classroom contributions
2.
Interest in the subject
3.
Level of achievement
4.
Personal anecdotes
5.
Likeability
Page 17
The Essay
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What Makes a Good Essay
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Do’s & Don’ts
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TIP: Give Yourself At Least 2 Months To Develop Your Personal Statement
It should…
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Be a sales pitch for yourself
Show committee something about yourself that they could never learn from
your application
Demonstrate that you are a mature, intelligent and focused person
Show that you’re different from the rest of the pack
Be the most powerful, positive element of your application
Answer the question!
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The Rest of The Package
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Experience
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Beyond shadowing, volunteering  goal is to make a connection
Exposure to the Medical Field
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Genuine commitment to helping and serving others
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Clinical
Research
Leadership/community service
Volunteer work
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TIP: Don’t try to “beef-up” your application by joining every activity
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Resumes
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Highlight your professional achievements
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FSU Career Center- Juliette McDonald [email protected] 850.644.9774
TIP: Take Courses of Interest (but don’t forget requirements)
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Is major important?
Page 19
Putting It All Together
Choosing Targets
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Make a list
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Eliminate - not academically strong enough or unacceptable due to
practical considerations.
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Divide the remaining schools into three groups: 1-2-1
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•
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100% sure/shoe-ins
good “match”
schools you'll get into only if touched by the hand of God
Page 20
Application Timeline
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TIP: Make a Plan-of-Action Calendar & Stick to It. Don’t Miss Deadlines!
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College Year 1-2
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College Year 3 – Junior Year, Fall Semester
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Prepare, register for, and take desired MCAT administration; best for timing on applications
Start researching schools
Contact potential recommenders
Spring Semester (May-June)
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Begin prep and register for desired MCAT administration
Successfully complete first-semester required premed coursework – physics and/or chemistry
Spring Semester (January-April)
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Successfully complete required premed coursework
Investigate available volunteer/paid medically related clinical or research activities
Finalize school list
Complete AMCAS application
College Year 4 – Senior Year
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September
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Complete and send supplemental applications
October - November
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Send thank you notes to recommenders
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Interview
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Admissions Timeline 2009-2010
MAY 1: Primary Application available to complete through AMCAS
JUNE 1: Primary Application available to submit through AMCAS
AUG 1: Most Florida Med Schools Early Decision Deadline
AUG 15: Most Florida Med Schools EDP Secondary's Deadline
OCT 1: Most Florida Med Schools EDP Admissions Notification
DEC 1: Most Florida Med Schools Regular Decision Deadline
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Questions?
Thank You
Julia Landry
Director- Tallahassee & NW Florida
[email protected]
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