john griffith lafayette college 2009 drexel university college of medicine 2013
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John Griffith Lafayette College 2009 Drexel University College of Medicine 2013. Who am I?. Peer Tutor. SMAC. My experience as a student representative on the admission committee…. Applicant X. MCAT = 40 S BCPM GPA = 4.0 Accepted?. REJECTED. Why?. MCAT - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
John GriffithLafayette College 2009
Drexel University College of Medicine 2013
Who am I?
SMAC
Peer Tutor
My experience as a student representative on the admission committee…
Applicant X
• MCAT = 40 S• BCPM GPA = 4.0
• Accepted?
REJECTED. Why?
• MCAT• BCPM GPA – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math• Clinical Experience • Motivation for Medicine• Community Service• Extracurricular Activities• +/- Research
MCAT
• Do whatever works for you. No simple formula for success.
• Class vs. No-Class• Review Books• Practice Tests **• Preparing for test day.• Take multiple times? Penalty for not improving?• IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR!
BCPM GPA
• Course Requirements – All you need to take?• Non-science Majors - take more than one
science course at a time
• If this is your weakness, what to do next? Post-bac?– Different types
Clinical Experience
• Volunteering• Research• Shadowing– Where? School specific?– How long?– Get recommendations from– Different specialties
Motivation for Medicine
• Ever since I was born……. Please don’t.• Because my father/mother is a physician….Fine
if they are but need to justify why it is for YOU.• At birth I had a PDA……Not going to do the trick. • GET OUT AND EXPERIENCE!• Why is this important? Med school ain’t easy or
cheap.
Community Service
• Can be anything really.• Do what interests you.• Number isn’t important, quality and
dedication towards means a significant amount more.
• Examples- Hospice, Nursing homes…etc.
Research Experience
• GREAT opportunity here at Lafayette.• EXCEL Scholars, Independent Study, Honors
Thesis• Can really distinguish you – but you need to
have a genuine interest in the research you are doing
Extracurricular Activities
• This is really just where anything else that interests you falls.
• Although, it can make a BIG difference
DO NOT APPROACH THIS AS A CHECKLIST!
“Seems to have just checked the boxes, without any real passion for any of the things listed”
Personal Statements
• Important but doesn’t usually make a difference.
• Don’t try to do too much with this.• NO TYPOS• Answer the prompt- why you want to be a
doctor• Don’t just rehash your credentials
Random other thoughts…
• Its not the end of the world if you get in trouble in college – just admit it and take responsibility
• Except if its plagiarism. That’s not good.• A DUI isn’t either.• If you are disadvantaged or under represented
in medicine, please note that you are, but do not try to stretch the truth with these things.
Life in Medical School
• Questions….
Basic Science Coursework
• Year 1:– Anatomy– Microanatomy– Embryology– Genetics– Physiology– Neuroscience– Biochemistry– Immunology
• Year 2:– Pathology– Pharmacology– Pathophysiology– Microbiology– Psychology
Year 3 - Core Rotations
• 6 Week Rotations– Pediatrics– Psychiatry– Family Medicine– Ob/Gyn
• 12 Week Rotations– Surgery– Medicine
Questions?
• Contact – [email protected]