APPLYING TO MEDICAL SCHOOLS: A PRACTICAL GUIDE

Advisors:

Jacqueline Sedgwick, MD

Aparna Sreenivasan, PhD

Robert Lerrigo

UCSF – MS3

OUTLINE

About Me Project Goals Timelines MCATs Extracurriculars Taking a Year Off Available Resources Questions

ABOUT ME

3rd Year UCSF Medical Student Working at Natividad Medical Center,

completing the Family Medicine clerkship Continuing community project:

CSUMB PreHealth Advising

PROJECT GOALS

Create long-term solutions to CSUMB’s PreHealth advising needs: Dynamic online repository for application

information Revised course timetables MCAT aids and resources

Help initiate the CSUMB chapter of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA®) Students helping students: Mentor-mentee pairs

Identify existing barriers to application process

TIMELINES Application process: 18 months Preparation process: several years

Know the course requirements: CSUMB Premedical Pathway

http://catalog.csumb.edu/undergrad-education/majors/biology/course-pathways/premedical-freshman-pathway

AAMC General Course Requirements https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/

MSAR https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/

Create a Four-Year Plan* The earlier you submit your AMCAS, the better!

June 1, first day submission

TIMELINE – PREMED FRESHMAN PATHWAY

Freshman

Sophomore Junior Senior

CHEM 110/L, 111/L

211, 212

BIO 240/L, 241/L 242/L, 300 311, 320/L, 310, 414, 490

PHYS 220, 221

MATH/ STAT

MATH 150, 151

STAT 100 or 250

ENVS 211 212

CST 101

FYS 100

Language

2 3

Others Creative/Artistic Expression;Literature and Popular Culture

Community Participation Upper division Service Learning; Culture & Equity; MLO 9 Service in Biology (all 300 level or above)

Vibrancy Activity Vibrancy Theory

Concentration MLO 10 Bio Capstone and Adv Elective

Democratic Participation; US Histories

SAMPLE TIMELINE FOR APPLICATION DIRECTLY AFTER UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

First and second year – finish premedical requirements, participate in prehealth activities such as volunteering, research,

Third year – continue prehealth activities, maintain a strong GPA, take MCAT, and find recommenders

Summer after third year – apply online using the AMCAS, the earlier the application is submitted, the better!

Fourth year – Secondary applications, received invitations to interview, matriculate by May 15

TIMELINE – MCAT DATES 2011Test Date Exam Start

TimeRegistration Opens

Regular Registration Closes*11:59 p.m. ET

Late Registration Closes**11:59 p.m. ET

Tentative Score Release DateAfter 5 p.m. ET

Friday, January 28, 2011 8 a.m. October 6, 2010

January 14, 2011 January 21, 2011 March 1, 2011

Saturday, January 29, 2011 1 p.m. October 6 January 15 January 22 March 1

Saturday, March 26, 2011 8 a.m. October 6 March 12 March 19 April 26

Saturday, April 9, 2011 8 a.m. October 6 March 26 April 2 May 10

Saturday, April 16, 2011 8 a.m. October 6 April 2 April 9 May 17

Friday, April 29, 2011 1 p.m. October 6 April 15 April 22 June 1

Saturday, May 7, 2011 8 a.m. October 6 April 23 April 30 June 7

Friday, May 20, 2011 8 a.m. October 6 May 6 May 13 June 21

Saturday, May 21, 2011 8 a.m. October 6 May 7 May 14 June 21

Thursday, May 26, 2011 1 p.m. October 6 May 12 May 19 June 28

Thursday, June 16, 2011 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

TBD June 2 June 9 July 19

Wednesday, July 6, 2011 1 p.m. TBD June 22 June 29 August 9

Saturday, July 16, 2011 8 a.m. TBD July 2 July 9 August 16

Thursday, July 28, 2011 8 a.m. TBD July 14 July 21 August 30

Friday, July 29, 2011 8 a.m. TBD July 15 July 22 August 30

Friday, August 5, 2011 1 p.m. TBD July 22 July 29 September 7

Saturday, August 6, 2011 8 a.m. TBD July 23 July 30 September 7

Friday, August 12, 2011 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

TBD July 29 August 5 September 13

Thursday, August 18, 2011 1 p.m. TBD August 4 August 11 September 20

Friday, August 19, 2011 8 a.m. TBD August 5 August 12 September 20

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 1 p.m. TBD August 9 August 16 September 27

Thursday, September 1, 2011 1 p.m. TBD August 18 August 25 October 4

Friday, September 2, 2011 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

TBD August 19 August 26 October 4

Thursday, September 8, 2011 8 a.m. TBD August 25 September 1 October 11

Saturday, September 10, 2011

1 p.m. TBD August 27 September 2 October 11

MCAT: WHEN DO I TAKE IT? When you are prepared:

When course material is fresh When you’re done studying Test prep courses (Kaplan, etc.) are popular, but not required:

know deadlines and test prep center locations (San Jose, La Jolla) At the very latest, aim for a summer MCAT the year

you are applying (>1 year before the start of medical school) Scores obtained before submitting AMCAS Taking a June test scores in by July: The option of retaking the

test Consider taking the MCAT earlier: June 1 AMCAS submission

Keep in mind: You can only register for one test at a time July and August test dates fill up quickly Retaking the MCATs may mean taking the test at another

location Medical schools don’t review applications until receiving the

MCAT scores: September test scores of the year of application may delay the date when the application will be reviewed

MCAT: THE BASICS

Medical College Admission Test An important exam Know your enemy

Computer-based Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Writing Sample,

and Biological Sciences

Have a plan:1) Start your research early2) Read up on essentials from the AAMC3) Take a free practice test: Your baseline4) Commercial review courses vs. self-studying5) Explore the forums (StudentDoctor.net)

What are my chances of getting in?

EXTRACURRICULARS* Medical schools want to know why you want

to be a doctor Passion, dedication, progress Shadowing clinicians:

Contact local hospitals Contact your childhood doc

Volunteering: Hospital Auxiliary Social work

Evidence of academic rigor Research Publications

TAKING A YEAR OFF

Is not frowned upon, may in fact be beneficial

Most students take 1-2 years off after graduating

Most common reasons: Students feel burnt-out Students need time to build their application

Post-baccalaureate programs http://services.aamc.org/postbac/

Time for reflection Time to satisfy your interests

TAKING A YEAR OFF: COMMON OPTIONS Volunteering in health and non-clinical settings Internships/fellowships in your field of

interests Studying abroad Medical mission trips Becoming active in school groups Shadowing physicians Clinical/laboratory research Coordinating projects, teaching Peace Corps Becoming an EMT Armed Forces – Reserves

AVAILABLE RESOURCES Student Doctor Network

www.studentdoctor.net Premedical Career Pathway Research –

Stanford www.pcpr.beagooddoctor.org

Association of American Medical Colleges: Makers of the MCAT and AMCAS www.aamc.org

American Medical Student Association www.amsa.org

MCAT Review Courses princetonreview.com/home.asp www.kaplan.com

GENERAL ADVICE You are not alone:

Talk to advisors Talk to upperclassmen Scour the message boards and take notes Do not be intimidated by others – you have

strengths nobody else has The Personal Statement:

Be honest Display your values and your passion Do not reiterate everything that’s been written

elsewhere in the application – emphasize what is important

Journal writing: ask yourself every month why you want to become a health care professional.

INTERESTED IN STARTING AN AMSA CHAPTER?

Member benefits: Access to national AMSA scholarships,

internships, shadowing opportunities Involvement in a well-known medical

organization Involvement in health care politics

Contact Chanelle Shamoun, cshamoun@csumb.edu

QUESTIONS?