Title: Becoming a Doctor
1Becoming a Doctor
2There are many paths to medical school
3Applying to medical school
- http//www.aspiringdocs.org
4Traditional path First year
- Find out what resources are available at your
school Career Placement Office, premed advisor - Take biology
- Join pre-med clubs
- Apply for summer programs early
- Look for future research opportunities
- volunteer
5Traditional path Second Year
- Take chemistry with lab
- Apply for summer programs or jobs early
- Volunteer
- Find a mentor!
6Traditional Path Third Year
- Take physics and organic chemistry
- Prepare for MCAT early
- Meet with advisor and request recommendations
early - Avoid difficult courses in spring (MCAT)
- File AMCAS and non-AMCAS applications in June
- Investigate medical schools
7Traditional Path Senior Year
- Take biochemistry and other major requirements
- Check Career Placement Office for help with
interview skills - Interviews
- Have fun during summer. Your last chance!
8Key Points!
- Be certain that you want to be a doctor
- Find a mentor
- Get to know your professorsGo to office hours
- Spend a few months writing a good essay and ask
someone to review it - Dont over commit! One or two activities that you
love better than 10
9Extracurricular Activities
- Community service Volunteer work-- medical or
non-medical - Tutoring
- Researchlab or clinical
- Sports, hobbies, talents
- Jobs
10Summer Programs for Minority Students
- NYU School of Medicine-- summer research program
- Weill Cornell--Gateways to the Laboratory Summer
Program - Harvard Medical School--Summer Honors
Undergraduate Research Program - www.aamc.org/members/great/summerlinks.htm
11Other research opportunities
- NIH www.training.nih.gov/student/sip/catalog/
- index.asp
- Pediatric research www.pediatricresearch.org
- Mayo Graduate School www.mayo.edu/mgs/surf-old.ht
m - http//cpmcnet.columbia.edu/dept/ps/minority/minor
ityaffairs/resources.html
12The Application (AMCAS)
- 1. Biographic information
- 2. Post-secondary experiences Extracurricular,
awards, honors - 3. Personal comments Very important! Why
medicine? Motivations? Hardships or challenges?
Anything else that needs to be explainedlike
that D- in organic last semester.
13The photo
144. Schools attended 5.Transcript request
form 6. Coursework all classes in which you
have enrolled 7. Certification and
submission Institutional actions against
you Felony convictions Certification
15Choosing a school
16Choosing a school
- Apply to 12 to 20 schools
- State schools less expensive
- Where is the school located?
- What is their record for minorities and
disadvantaged students? - What is the reputation of the school?
- Will you be happy there?
17TIPS
- AAMC Fee Assistance Programreduces MCAT fee from
180 to 75 and 10 medical school applications
free. - Register with Medical Minority Applicant Registry
at the time that you take the MCAT (minorities
and disadvantaged) - Keep good records!
18Record Keeping
- Make photocopies of everything you send
- Record dates
- Keep track of your applications. When will you
hear from the schools? - If you dont hear in 2-3 months, call or email to
make sure your application is complete
19Spreadsheet
- School name
- Date application requested (non-AMCAS)
- Date application received
- Due Date
- Date mailed
- Date secondary received
- Date secondary mailed
- Date application complete
- Phone or email contact notes Person you
- spoke to, with dates
20Letters of recommendation
- Choose people who know you and can comment
positively about your personal qualities and/or
intellect - Waive your right to see letters
- Request EARLY!
- Make an appointment to request letternot email
- Ask if they can write a strong letter
- Provide resume, personal statement
- Send a thank you note
21Strengthening your application when you have weak
GPA or MCAT
- Retake MCAT in fall
- Raise GPA by taking additional science courses or
post-bac year - D or lower, you must retake course
- Take science courses during summer or at
different school - Get graduate degree
- Take a year off and apply later
22Admissions Committee What are we looking for?
- GPA overall (undergrad and grad/post-bac)
- GPA science
- Is there a upward trend in grades?
- MCAT score (highest score)
- Extracurricular activities/ leadership/
commitment/ personal statement - College attended/ major/ letters of rec.
- Interview
23Personal statement and Interview
24The personal statement
- Your chance to talk to the admissions committee
and convince them to accept you. - Make it interesting. Tell a story.
- Hook the reader in the first paragraph.
- Make it personal
- FocusDont ramble on about too many topics.
25- Have a beginning, middle, and end
- Focus on what is unique about you
- Make sure all statements are accurate.
- Be prepared to talk about it during interviews
- End with a conclusion
26The personal statement Getting started
- How do you know that you want to be a doctor?
- What experiences led you to this decision?
- How has your interest in medicine changed or
developed over time? - What were major turning points in your life?
27Personal statement Getting started
- What are your goals?
- Why do you think you will be a good doctor?
- What have you done to demonstrate your interest
in medicine? - What person most influenced your life?
28Tips
- Write and re-write
- Read and proof-read
- Dont depend on spell check
- Check grammar and punctuation
- Read your essay into a tape recorder and listen
to it - Ask others to read and comment
29More tips
- Avoid political statements
- Stay positive
- Dont complain
- Avoid the I trap
- Lecture the reader
- Dont use words that you dont understand
30The Interview
- An interview offering means that you are
acceptable for admission - Prepare for interview
- Study the school catalog
- Make sure you ask questions
- Dress for success
- Be on time
31Dressing for success
- Suits for males and females
- Minimal jewelry
- Conservative make-up
- Remove excess piercings
- Neat hair
- Take care of hygiene
- SMILE!
32Interview Tips
- Remain calm, relaxed and composed
- Look at the interviewer
- If you dont know the answer, be honest
- Enthusiasm and interest in the school count
- Write thank you note to interviewer
33GOOD LUCK!