freshman sophomore presentation final

7/31/2019 Freshman Sophomore Presentation Final

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Lindsay Dawson, MS1

Stacey-Ann Whitaker, MS4

Derek Mazique, MS1

Nana Asabere, MS1


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Although medical school is at least 2-3 years away,

there are steps you can take to better prepare

yourself for the application process, and for life after

graduation.


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There is no magic formula to get into medical

school, and no Penn Med student has an

identical journey.However, there are some basics which helped

all of us succeed.


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Rule #1: Decide to devote a significant time commitmentto preparing for medical school.

Rule #2: Research national medical school acceptancedata based upon GPA and MCAT scores.

Rule #3: Seek advice from those well-versed in themedical school application process.

Rule #4: Get to know your pre-med office!


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Confer with premed advisors, mentors, and

upperclassmen who can support you through the

application process.

Attend a medical school recruitment fair to learn from

representatives about their schools.

AAMC Calender: http://www.aamc.org/calendar/careerfairs
http://www.aamc.org/calendar/careerfairshttp://www.aamc.org/calendar/careerfairs


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Register withAspiringDocsfor information, guidance,

and inspiration about preparation for medical school and

medical careers.

http://www.AspiringDocs.org

ReadMonetary Decisions for Medical Doctorswhich

assists premedical and medial students in their planning

for the financial aspects of the medical education.

http://www.aamc.org/md2
http://www.aspiringdocs.org/http://www.aamc.org/md2http://www.aamc.org/md2http://www.aspiringdocs.org/


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The Medical School Admissions Requirements

(MSAR) profiles every medical school in the US

and Canada.

Check the MSAR before applying to get a senseof what a schools numbers are, their

requirements, and their curricula.

For example, more and more schools require

biochemistry, and same require two semesters ofcalculus.


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Before applying to medical school, you must take

the following courses (and LABS!):

Biology

General chemistry

Organic chemistry

Physics

English/writing

Meet with your pre-med advisor ASAP to discuss

your plan for taking these courses.


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I am a wonderful, amazing person who

Rescued children from burning houses

Built 50 houses with my bare hands by myself for 50different families

Volunteered in the ER

Holds leadership positions in 10 different organizations

It doesnt matter that I have a 2.9 GPA and a 25

MCAT score, right???


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WRONG! Grades matter.

Dont bank on being the outlier case.

Its stressful to take that risk (both financially and

emotionally).

No one will see how wonderful you are unless yournumbers get by the screening.


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Medical School Admission Committees WILL NOTreadevery applicants personal statement and the rest of theapplication.

Every school has to screen its applications to reduce thenumber they actually have to read.

Once the screening process is done, then they startreading the applications.


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GPA(Grade Point Average)

MCAT(Medical School Admissions Test)

Fact and figures can be found at: https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/

Table 19: MCAT scores and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to USMedical Schools by Race and Ethnicity, 2009
https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/


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MCAT

GPA:

2.80-

2.99

18-20 21-23 24-26 27-29 30-32 33-35 36-38 39-45

Acceptees 17 56 89 65 33 8 . .

Applicants 216 259 220 118 51 13 . .

Acceptance

Rate

2.7% 6.3% 21.4% 26.3% 36.8% 50.0% . .

For example, if you have a 2.9 and a 25 total

MCAT


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GPA Science All Other Overall MCAT VR PS BS WS

2009/2010 3.48 3.67 3.48 2009/2010 9.0 10.0 10.0 P

URM First Year Matriculants

GPA Science All Other Overall MCAT VR PS BS WS

2010 3.68 3.77 3.71 2010 11.0 12.0 12.0 Q

Max GPA: 4.0 Max MCAT: 45 T (15 each section)

URM Applicants


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Your early grades can have a lasting effect on therest of college make sure to maintain them!


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Balance your schedule and major you should bechallenged, but not to the point where you areunhappy and arent doing well.

Dont be ashamed or afraid to ask for help!

Go to professor AND TA office hours!

Work in groups to solve problems.

Dont get caught up in the hype of how others aredoing (or how they claim they are doing).

When things dont go quite right, troubleshoot askyourself, how can I do better next time?


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The MCAT is a multiple choice, standardized test required for

admission into medical school

Tested subjects include:

Biology

Physics

General Chemistry

Organic Chemistry

All sections except the Writing Sample will have many, manypassage-based questions

Dont forget about the Verbal Reasoning and Writing sections of

the MCAT


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You will need to get letters of recommendation that validate yourworthiness as a candidate for medical school from:

Pre-medical committee or adviser

Faculty members

Mentors

Supervisors

If possible, start an internship file at Career Services.

When a course is over, ask the faculty for a letter if not then, keep linesof communication open.

GO TO OFFICE HOURS!


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Okaygood grades and MCAT scores

are important to get past thescreening.

What else should I be thinking about?


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Extracurricular Activities!


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Allows you to develop personal interests outside

of class and build leadership skills.

Demonstratesyoure a wellrounded individual.

Brings together people from different majors/

levels of education.

Provides a chance to serve the community.

Exposes you to health/medically related project.


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Tip 1: Join extracurriculars you're interested in

early, with the hope of a leadership role in

junior/senior year.

Tip 2: Dont stretch yourself too thin! Seek quality

opportunities, rather than quantity.

Tip 3: Try to maintain a balance between

extracurriculars and good grades.


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Activities in which you are genuinely interested.

Organizations that allow you to use your talents.

Outreach activities that acquaint you with

community issues. Health or medically oriented programs/projects

that provide or reinforce reasons for wanting to

become a physician.

Activities that allow you to add to your sense of self.


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Is there anything else I shouldconsider?


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Shadow a physician!


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Its one of those intangible (and unofficial)

requirements to get into medical school.

It provides you with clinical exposure andstories to talk about in the admission

interview.

Shadowing allows you to see what medicineand a physicians life are like every day.

Its easy to set up and do.


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Meet with your pre-med/pre-health advisor

Learn and know the required pre-med courses

Begin basic science courses Seek volunteer experiences

Look for summer programs


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Choose a major

Run for an office

Explore other health career optionsBecome familiar with MCAT

Seek honors and scholarships

Ask for letters of recommendation

Seek summer programs


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Lets keep in touch!

Lindsay Dawson, MS1

[email protected]

Stacey-Ann Whitaker, MS4:

[email protected]

Derek Mazique, MS1

[email protected]

Nana Asabere, MS1

[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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