joel oppenheim presentation (fall 2012)

“Preparing for and Applying to PhD,

MD/PhD and MD Programs: A Dean’s

Perspective”

Presentation for the

Preprofessional Advising Center October 29, 2012

Joel D. Oppenheim, Ph.D. Senior Associate Dean for Biomedical Sciences

NYU School of Medicine

Topics to discuss….

• Introductions

• What Program Should You Be applying To?

• College preparation

• Who is looking for what

• Medical School Information

• New Changes in the Medical School Admissions Process

• The Application Process

• The Interview Process

• Some general words of advice

PhD, MD, or MD/PhD?

The Biomedical Enterprise

The Spectrum

Physical

Sciences

Basic

Biological

Sciences

Integrative

Biological

Sciences

Disease-

Oriented

Research

Patient-

Oriented

Research

Patient

Care

Rod Ulane- NYU School of Medicine

The Physical Sciences

Mathematics

Physics

Chemistry

Computational Sciences

PhD, (MD/PhD), ((MD))


The Basic Biological Sciences

Molecular Genetics

Cell Signaling

Structural Biology

PhD, MD/PhD, (MD)


The Integrative Biological

Sciences

Cell biology

Developmental Biology

Physiology

Immunology

Neurosciences

Evolutionary Biology

PhD, MD/PhD, (MD)


Disease-Oriented Research

Cancer Biology

Sickle Cell Anemia

Cardiovascular Disease

Auto-Immune Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

PhD, MD/PhD, MD


Patient-Oriented Research

*Hypothesis-Driven

Congenital Disorders

Aortic Aneurisms

Auto-Immune Disease

Cardiovascular Disease

MD/PhD, MD


Patient-Oriented Research

*Observational

Epidemiological Studies

Environmental Studies

Drug Trials

Longitudinal Studies

Outcomes Research

MD, (MD/PhD)


Patient Care

History and Physical

Diagnosis

Treatment

MD, (MD/PhD)


The Biomedical Enterprise

The Spectrum...Revisited

Physical

Sciences

Basic

Biological

Sciences

Integrative

Biological

Sciences

Disease-

Oriented

Research

Patient-

Oriented

Research

Patient

Care

PhD

MD/PhD MD


Preparation

Freshman & Sophomore Years

• Take broad spectrum of introductory sciences courses (including laboratories): biology, chemistry, physics, math, computer sciences

• Take courses which help develop skills in reading comprehension, writing and public speaking

• For MD or MD/PhD • arrange at least one hospital experience which includes patient contact sometime

during your sophomore or junior year

• Participate in a meaningful community service activity

• Take a leadership role in some university related activity

• Establish a good relationship with your school’s health careers or undergraduate research advisors

• Get involved in research at your home institution and begin to think of off-campus research experiences (i.e. summer programs), especially at schools that you are considering applying to

• Make sure that you do not over-extend yourself and remember that ACADEMICS COME FIRST!!!

“REALITY CHECK”

Somewhere between the end of the second year and the end of the third year you must ask yourself:

“Have I prepared myself appropriately and do I have a strong enough record to apply for the graduate or professional program in which I am interested?”

If the answer is “no” it is time to candidly re-examine your career goals, your learning strategies or your educational goals

Junior Year

• Take advanced level science courses: biochemistry, cell biology, molecular

biology, genetics, microbiology, physiology, organic chemistry,, etc. These

courses will prepare your foundation for all graduate and medical school

curriculum

• Take liberal arts courses that expand your comprehension of behavioral science,

economics, psychology, sociology, etc • Expand your research experiences

• For PhD and MD/PhD you must carry out in depth research at your home institution

• Summer research programs (summers between your sophomore and senior years)

• Chose a program directed at your career interest

• Chose a program at a school you are interested in attending

Junior Year…

• Begin preparation for MCAT or GRE: take preparation courses (Kaplan,

Princeton Review, etc.),

• MCAT is a computerized exam which is given 22 x a year beginning in

January; it should be taken before you submit your AMCAS application

• GRE exams are also computerized and you can take most any time; fall of

your senior year is most common; also must check if schools require a

subject test

Senior Year

• Submit your applications early (be realistic in your choice of programs)

• File AMCAS application for MD or MD/PhD by earliest possible date

(early June); apply to ~14 schools

• File individual grad school applications in early fall; apply to 6-8 schools

• If possible, visit the schools that interest you before applying

• For MD and MD/PhD applicants expect the fall semester to be very demanding (and expensive): be sure to take this into account when planning class schedules and other social commitments; most MD/PhD interviews are between Sept 15 - Jan 30

• PhD interviews are usually paid for by the visiting school; between Jan 15 -March 15 • For PhD and MD/PhD bound students be sure to take advanced level science courses,

especially those which are research and techniques oriented and complete any ongoing research projects

• Take “life-enriching” courses that you will enjoy: art history, religion, etc.

• Be sure to graduate!

Who’s looking for

what?

What students should be looking for

Academic Considerations: • Does the program offer a curriculum that meets your needs

MD programs:

- traditional or problem based learning

- research or primary care based medical school

PhD programs: umbrella vs. departmental

• PhD and MD/PhD programs

- are there sufficient faculty choices in the research areas you are interested in

- is there flexibility within the PhD to change directions

• Do you feel comfortable with the program’s structure and organization; this is

especially important for MD/PhD applicants

• Are there adequate university research support systems to carry out the type of

research you are interested in (library, computer facilities, specialized equipment, etc.)

What students should be looking for…

Special MD Considerations

• Does the school offer (and/or encourage) specialized programs that could

enhance your medical school experience:

o combined degree programs (MD/MPH, MD/MA, MD/JD, etc.)

o research opportunities for medical students (NIH Honors Programs, HHMI, Sarnoff,

etc.)

o international clerkships

o educational and clinical opportunities outside the normal curriculum (humanities and

social science events)

• New 3 year MD programs

What students should be looking for…

Financial Considerations • Can you afford it….This is not usually a consideration for students

pursuing PhD and MD/PhD programs, but is a major issue for MD

applicants (though it really does not have to be)

• Anyone can afford to go to medical school… It becomes a question of how

much debt you are welling to incur (the average medical school graduate

in has a debt of >$180,000)

• There are many ways of financing your medical education (loans, stipends,

work study). Seek the help of the Financial Aid Office

• Alternate ways of funding your education (i.e. National Loan Repayment

Program, Armed Forces and PHS support, etc.)

• Indirect funding: attend you state university medical school: this will save

you >50%

What students should be looking for...

Other Considerations

• Geographic location of the school

• Campus environment

• Size of the class

• Appropriate support systems (advisors, tutoring-services, etc.)

• Diversity of student body

• Intangibles for PhD and MD/PhD

- time to degree (national average 6 yrs for PhD, 8 yrs for MD/PhD)

- % completions

Record on placement of graduates

- MD and MD/PhD: Residency placement

- PhD: postdocs, industry, government, etc

- outcomes (# in academic positions)

What schools are looking for

• Strong undergraduate academic performance as indicated by

• Strength of course load & GPA (compared to other candidates from the same

institution)

• MCAT or GRE scores

• For PhD and MD/PhD applicants, sustained research experience(s)

• Letters of Recommendation from appropriate individuals (and/or Committee

Letter)

• Highly motivated students, who understand why they are applying

• Students who can clearly express themselves both in writing and orally

• For MD applicants, students who understand the social and economic

implications of the career they have chosen and who have demonstrated leadership capabilities

What schools are looking for…

• For PhD applicants, superior preparation in the discipline for which the

student is applying

• For MD/PhD applicants, an understanding of why you are applying to a

combined program

Medical School

Information

National Applicant Data: for Fall 2011

By Gender and Ethnicity*

• Number of accredited medical School 141

• Total Number of MD Applicants 43,919** (increase 2.8%)

MD/PhD Applicants 1,813 (4%)

• By Gender:

Male 23,135 (53%)

Female 20,780 (47%)

• Underrepresented students 7,257 (~16.5%)

Hispanic 3459

Black 3365

Native American 433

• Non US 1,646 *From AAMC database

**Total # of Applications = 609,312 (14 application/applicant)

MCAT (mean ave.)

GPA (mean ave.)

- Science

- Non Science

Applicants Matriculates

28.2/P

(31.1 Q)

31.1/Q

(34.4/Q)

3.53 (3.61)

3.43

3.65

3.67 (3.76)

3.61

3.74

*Source AAMC database

(MD/PhD data)

National Applicant Data: Fall 2011

Applicant vs. Matriculate Data*

National Applicant Data: Fall 2011

Medical School Matriculants*

• Total: MD & MD/PhD 19,230 (43.6%)** MD/PhD 633 (3.3%)

• By Gender:

Male 10,193 (53%)

Female 9,037 (47%)

• Underrepresented students 2,957 (15.5%)

• Non US Citizen & Perm Res 228 (1.2%)

*AAMC Database

**3% increase in matriculates from 2010

2012 Admissions Data Highlights

• As of fall 2012 there qre 141 accreditied US medical schools

• More than 45,000 students (45,266) applied to attend medical school in 2012,

an increase of 3.1 percent.

• All major racial and ethnic groups saw increases in applicants and enrollees

this year. A record number of Black/African American students (3,824) and

Hispanic/Latino students (3,701) students applied to medical school and both

groups reached new highs in enrollment of 1,416 and 1,731, respectively.

• Asian applicants increased by 5.6 percent and enrollees by 5 percent.

• The number of men applying to and enrolling in medical school increased

across all racial and ethnic groups, with strong gains among Black/African

Americans and Hispanic/Latino. The number of women applicants and

enrollees remained relatively unchanged.

• At the current pace of enrollment gains, medical schools are on track to

increase total enrollment 30 percent by 2016.

Medical Student Qualities: Admissions Assessment

Professionalism

Academics

Interpersonal

Skills

Motivation/

Investigative Mind Experience

□ Interpersonal

Communication

□ Empathy / Compassion

□ Teamwork Skills

□ Teaching Skills

□ GPA/MCAT Scores

□ Problem solving /

analytical reasoning

□ Academic Improvement

□ Consistency

□ Work ethic/Discipline

□ Integrity

□ Maturity/Insight

□ Time management skills

□ Ethical Decision- Making

□ Cultural Competency/Sensitivity

□ Commitment to Service

□ Leadership

□ Care of underserved

□ Exposure to different

cultures/ diversity

□ Patient Care Experience

□ Extracurricular Activities

□ Scientific aptitude

□ Intellectual Curiosity

□ Enthusiasm

□ Self-Motivation

New Changes in the Medical School

Admissions Process

New MCAT Examination

There will be a significant change in the MCAT

examination over the next 3 years (2013-2015) •As of 2013 there will be four sections on the exam and there will no longer be a

writing sample Writing Sample

• Physical Sciences

• Verbal Reasoning

• Biological Sciences

• Trial Section (beta test of questions for upcoming exam; this section will not be graded)

•As of 2015 the test will dramatically change

• Biological & Biochemical Foundations of Living systems

• Chemical & Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

• Psychological, Social, & Biological Foundations of Behavior (new section)

• Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills (new section)

Potential New Changes in Curricular

Requirements for Admissions

Parallel to the changes in the MCAT the AAMC & the

HHMI have recommended a dramatic change in the

undergraduate curriculum to match the new type of

physician that is envisioned for the future. The new

physician is expected to understand not only the hard

sciences but also have an understanding of the

behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health. This

means that applicants must have courses in psychology

and sociology. In addition, they must be able to integrate

all facets of the natural and biological sciences.

The Application Process

The Parts of Your Application

“Package” THIS IS A HOLISTIC PROCESS! EACH SEGMENT IS IMPORTANT

• Application Forms for MD and MD/PhD (entirely electronic)

- AMCAS Primary • 2 additional essays for MD/PhD

- Individual school secondary applications (range of questions)

• Application forms for PhD (mostly electronic)

• CV (PhD only)

• Transcripts

• Letters of recommendation (and/or Committee Letter)

• Statements (essays)

• National Examination results: MCAT & GRE

General Comments…

• The application represents you and your level of interest and seriousness.

• Print out and proof read carefully before you submit online. Any paper application should be neat, accurate, complete and typed.

• Read the directions completely and answer all the questions fully.

• Call the institution if an instruction is unclear to you.

• Make a copy of the completed application

• Send in all applications well before the deadline

• After you send applications in, keep track of their progress

• Are you getting notifications of completeness?

• Are you getting invited for interviews at the expected time?

• Keep records of any phone calls. With whom did you talk? (It’s okay to ask for the name.) When? What were the main points of the conversation?

Transcripts…

• Be aware that schools usually require official transcripts from EVERY

institution that you attended.

• Make sure your grades are recorded accurately on the AMCAS form and

secondary applications

• If your recent GPA, or your GPA in your major (or science courses) is

considerably higher than your overall GPA, emphasize that fact in the

application. Ask your recommenders if they would consider doing so, too.

• Requesting transcripts often takes time - plan ahead!

CV or Resume….

• PhD applications only (dialog boxes serve this purpose

on AMCAS application)

• Used to supply supportive information that you do not

have space for in your personal statement

• honors and awards

• publications and presentations

• Special skills (computer, complicated equipment,

etc)

Letters of Recommendation…

• Check and follow the directions for submission of your letters.

• Choose letter writers who know you well enough to be able to describe your suitability for the program to which you are applying.

• Find out if someone will write a good letter for you. How? Ask! “Do you think you know me well enough to write a letter of recommendation for me?”

• Choose a mixture of letter writers, whose letters will complement each other and

address different aspects of your qualifications.

• Choose letter writers who can discuss more than one aspect of your qualifications

• Choose letter writers who know you currently, or who have known you in the recent past.

• When possible, choose recommenders who can compare you with other applicants (“food chain theory”)

Letters of Recommendation… more Help your recommenders help you!

• Ask for letters well ahead of deadlines. Provide a list of schools, programs, and due dates.

• Make sure your recommenders know what you are applying for (PhD or MD/PhD).

• Give your recommenders a copy of your resume and, if appropriate, your personal statement.

• Remind them of things they might want to say about you.

• If you’ve had some academic difficulty, ask if the recommender will explain the reasons in the letter.

• Plan ahead!

The Statement of Purpose:

Some Things to Think About

Not all personal statements are created equal: Different emphasis

and content for MD, MD/PhD, PhD or MS

Every schools application are different so be sure to read

instructions carefully and answer specific questions

Your statement represents you and shows your level of interest

and commitment. .

It is expensive for schools to invest in educating you. Your goal is

to help admissions committees decide why they should invest in

you. Let the reader get to know you.

The Statement of Purpose:

Some Things to Think About

• Your statement represents you and your level of interest and commitment. It should be written in your own words, accurate and grammatically correct. Check spelling and punctuation. Be sure to stay within the word/character limitation

• Read the question(s) carefully and make sure you answer them completely.

• It is expensive for schools to invest in educating medical students. Your goal is to help admissions committees decide why they should invest in you. Let the reader get to know you.

• Show that your decision to pursue a graduate/professional career is an informed decision

- how has your interest developed over time?

- what kind of training will help you reach that career goal?

- explain why you are interested in the school that you are applying to.

More things to think about…

• Describe reasonable, well informed goals, and why they’re of interest to you,

rather than naïve idealism.

• For PhD and MD/PhD show that you understand the content of your previous research projects. Sound like a scientist, rather than a “pair of hands.”

• Include examples of your independent thinking, responsibility, inter-personal skills, leadership. But…document your strengths with facts rather than editorial comment.

• Adversity is not an acceptable excuse for mediocre credentials, but it may be

given some consideration.

A few more things…

• Members of admissions committees often read dozens of applications, if not more. Write in a way that helps the reader. Keep your statement relevant, well organized, and concise. For example, an introductory sentence in each paragraph is useful. Avoid “gimmicks”; they may get the readers’ attention, but often in a negative way.

• Writing a good statement takes time - give yourself enough time to think about what you want to say, to write several drafts, and to read them critically. How does the statement sound when you read it out loud to yourself?

• Ask someone who is experienced at reading statements to review yours and discuss it with you (not a family member).

• Reread your statement before your interviews: Anything in your written application is “fair game” for an interview. Is everything that you’ve written about something that you feel comfortable discussing in an interview?

The Interview

How to prepare…

• An interview is a “conversation with a purpose”. Be ready to participate.

• There are significant differences between MD, PhD and MD/PhD interviews

• MD: usually only one person will interview you; there is usually no formulaic questions; some schools have both students and faculty interview…don’t let your guard down just because it is a student interviewing you

• PhD: usually 3-5 different scientist will speak with you from 30 - 60 minutes; these tend to be in-depth discussions on the research you have already performed

• MD/PhD: same as PhD but will also usually include an MD interviewer

• PhD and MD/PhD candidates: If requested to select faculty you would like to interview with, choose faculty who have expertise in the area of research you have conducted so you can have a relevant discussion. Do not pick faculty in an unrelated area just because they have a “big name”

How to prepare… For all:

• Review your application before the interview.

• Avoid making prepared speeches.

• Have a positive expectation about the interview

For PhD and MD/PhD applicants:

• Be knowledgeable about the scientific content of your previous research

experiences

• have an in-depth understanding of the project(s) and be able to describe it

concisely and without jargon

• be able to articulate the how individual project(s) is related to the “big picture”

• be able to clearly explain what your role was in each project

•know what the status of the project is, even though you may have only worked on

it a short period of time and are no longer in that lab

•

What to Wear…

• Dress to be respectful of the situation

• Wear comfortable clothes that give you confidence

• What you wear should not distract from what you say

• Keep your interview clothes in carry-on luggage

What to Do…

• Practice your handshake

• Make good eye contact

• Stand when you are being introduced

• Avoid “couch potato” postures

• Avoid excessive use of slang and expressions such as “like” and “you know”

• Don’t do anything that will distract the interviewer (i.e. chew gum, scratching yourself, tug on jewelry, etc.)

Some General Words of Advise

• Always remember that there are > 20 applicants for every place in most

programs…schools/programs are looking for reasons not to accept you… do

not give they reasons

• Do not be a high maintenance applicant

• It is your responsibility to be sure all documents arrives on, or better yet,

before the deadlines

• Remember, everyone you speak to or meet during the application/admissions

process, whether that be a secretary or professor, can impact your

acceptance…treat everyone with respect

Useful URL’s

• American Association of Medical Colleges: http://www.aamc.org • Official Guide to the MCAT Exam

• Medical School Admission Requirements

• All the data you will need to make an informed choice

• GRE info: http://www.gre.org

http://www.aamc.org

http://www.gre.org/

GOOD LUCK

TO ALL OF YOU!

With my thanks to Drs. Jocelyn Spragg, Roger Chalkeley and Rod Ulane as well as the countless students, faculty and administrators who I have learned from over the years.

joel oppenheim presentation (fall 2012)

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