2011 medical school application workshop timelinetimeline mcatmcat choosing schoolschoosing schools...
TRANSCRIPT
2011
Medical School application Workshop
• Timeline
• MCAT
• Choosing Schools
• Letters of Recommendation
• HPAC application
• AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS
• HPAC Interview
• Confirming your letters have been sent
• Secondary applications
• Interviews at the schools
• Accept/deny/hold
Preparation for the MCAT
Kaplan
• Built-in accountability
• Popular
• All materials included
• Class does NOT replace Study!
DIY
• BYOD
• AAMC tests are the best
• AAMC Guide
• Examcrackers – Amazon or B&N
• UA course going on now – Wednesday/Sat/Sun
2: Choose your medical schoolsAllopathic
• MD Degree
• UAB, USA, etc.
• State of Residency Matters
• 131 US Schools
• AMCAS
• National Avg: 31 MCAT, 3.7 GPA
Choose your medical schoolsOsteopathic
• DO Degree
• Schools in MS, TN, GA, FL
• Essentially the same residency options
• Less research oriented
• Slightly more emphasis on primary care
• About half consider January MCAT
• AACOMAS
• National Average: 3.5 GPA, 25.5 MCAT
Messin’ with texas
• TMDSAS – Most Texas Schools
• Application very similar to AMCAS/AACOMAS
• Application available May 3
Offshore medical schools
• No centralized service; apply directly to the schools
• INVESTIGATE graduation rates, board pass rates
• May (and probably will) take longer than 4 years
• Limited residency options
• Extremely limited transfer options
HPAC pre-application
• Application at www.premed.ua.edu
• CANNOT SAVE. Create your documents in Word & copy/paste.
• Very similar in content to AMCAS/AACOMAS
Activities
• 15 slots
• What do you do when you’re not studying?
• Nothing off limits – almost
• Don’t feel like you need to use every available character!
• GUESS on # hours invested
Sample activities
• Honors/Awards/Recognitions
• Conferences Attended
• Presentation/Posters
• Publication
• Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocations
• Leadership – not Listed Elsewhere
• Other
• Intercollegiate Athletics
• Artistic Endeavors
• Paid Employment - not Military
• Paid Employment – Military
• Community Service/Volunteer – not Medical/Clinical
• Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical
• Research/Lab
• Teaching/Tutoring
Personal statement
• 5300 Characters AMCAS 4500 AACOMAS• (approximately 1.5 typed pages single spaced)• Good articles & examples online
• Tell your story• Address (but don’t dwell on) deficits• This and LOR most carefully read part of the
application
Letters of recommendation
• MAX of 5 Letters: 3 from Faculty, 2 personal
• Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you?
• AT LEAST ONE from a BCPM professor (engineering OK) • Content of the letter more important than the author• DO schools want a letter from a DO
How to ask for a letter:
our form
resume with a picture
When to ask for a letter
Ask now
• Someone you already work with/know well
• Someone you’ve worked with in the past.
• Someone who isn’t likely to have new information on you in the next few months
Ask later
• Someone you don’t know well (YET!)
• Someone who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few months
Sabbatical? Summer?
2 Interviews
HPAC interview
• In Lloyd Hall
• Basis for your committee letter
• Must be done before other letters sent to the schools
• March-September
• NOT Blind
School Interview
• At the medical school
• Some blind, some not
• September-March
Primary vs. Secondary
Primary Application
• AMCAS
• AACOMAS
• TMDSAS
• Individual application for non-service schools
Secondary application
• Request from the individual school for more information
• Time sensitive
• Most schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondary
• Costly
• Be concise!