week 3 non-academic factors influencing selection september 18, 2003 kent l. barrus pre-professional...

Week 3Week 3Non-Academic Factors Influencing Non-Academic Factors Influencing

SelectionSelection

September 18, 2003September 18, 2003

Kent L. BarrusKent L. BarrusPre-professional AdvisorPre-professional Advisor

Bio 311 - Professional School Bio 311 - Professional School PreparationPreparation

““The reward goes The reward goes not to him with the not to him with the greatest ability, but greatest ability, but to him with the to him with the greatest greatest determination.”determination.”

-Voltaire-Voltaire


Objectives:Objectives: Identify the non-academic characteristics that Identify the non-academic characteristics that

professional schools look for.professional schools look for. Identify opportunities to develop these Identify opportunities to develop these

characteristics.characteristics.


University of Utah Example-University of Utah Example-The three guiding principles for selection:The three guiding principles for selection:

Overall ExcellenceOverall Excellence

Humanitarian SkillsHumanitarian Skills

Diversity of ExperienceDiversity of Experience


University of Utah Example-University of Utah Example-““As important as grades and test scores are, by As important as grades and test scores are, by themselves they do not predict who will be themselves they do not predict who will be successful in medical school. The demands of successful in medical school. The demands of medical education and life as a physician are not for medical education and life as a physician are not for everyone. We consider how the applicant balances everyone. We consider how the applicant balances outside activities and responsibilities with outside activities and responsibilities with schoolwork as an indicator of ability to deal with the schoolwork as an indicator of ability to deal with the rigors of life as a physician. The committee is rigors of life as a physician. The committee is interested in motivation for attending medical interested in motivation for attending medical school and understanding of the medical profession. school and understanding of the medical profession. Commitment to community service, ethical Commitment to community service, ethical behavior, compassion, leadership ability and behavior, compassion, leadership ability and communication skills are important characteristics communication skills are important characteristics of physicians. We expect applicants to be courteous, of physicians. We expect applicants to be courteous, respectful and professional at all times.”respectful and professional at all times.”

-Dean of AdmissionDean of Admission University of Utah Medical SchoolUniversity of Utah Medical School


University of Washington University of Washington Example-Example-““One of the major shortcomings of many of the One of the major shortcomings of many of the applicants is the lack of awareness of societal and applicants is the lack of awareness of societal and especially healthcare issues and it still amazes me especially healthcare issues and it still amazes me how many people don’t have the faintest idea of how many people don’t have the faintest idea of issues facing the medical professional and, indeed, issues facing the medical professional and, indeed, of what the practice of medicine entails. Although of what the practice of medicine entails. Although working in a hospital, nursing home or shadowing a working in a hospital, nursing home or shadowing a physician is worthwhile, I don’t believe that it is an physician is worthwhile, I don’t believe that it is an absolute requirement and certainly is useless if one absolute requirement and certainly is useless if one goes through the experience with one’s eyes and goes through the experience with one’s eyes and ears closed. I do feel, however, quite strongly that ears closed. I do feel, however, quite strongly that especially in an era of rapid changes, one needs to especially in an era of rapid changes, one needs to be aware of healthcare delivery and ethical issues be aware of healthcare delivery and ethical issues and it is disconcerting to see how many of our and it is disconcerting to see how many of our applicants are quite uninformed about what is going applicants are quite uninformed about what is going on in the world…..on in the world…..


University of Washington University of Washington Example-Example-……. As I always point out, this can all be garnered by . As I always point out, this can all be garnered by reading the daily newspaper, a weekly news reading the daily newspaper, a weekly news magazine or an occasional relevant article in The magazine or an occasional relevant article in The New England Journal of Medicine. I also tell the New England Journal of Medicine. I also tell the students I meet that it is more worthwhile to stick students I meet that it is more worthwhile to stick to some activity, be it research, community service to some activity, be it research, community service or hospital service and have in-depth experiences or hospital service and have in-depth experiences rather than jumping from one activity to another, rather than jumping from one activity to another, often only in an attempt to fill up space on one’s often only in an attempt to fill up space on one’s application. Excelling in some activity, be it application. Excelling in some activity, be it research, community service, participation in research, community service, participation in intercollegiate athletics or the arts make the intercollegiate athletics or the arts make the applicant more “unique” and stand out from the applicant more “unique” and stand out from the usual “pre-med” crowd.usual “pre-med” crowd.

-Werner E. Samson, M.D.Werner E. Samson, M.D. Chairman, Committee on AdmissionsChairman, Committee on Admissions


ResearchResearch

Required by some, but NOT all schools.Required by some, but NOT all schools.

Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons.

Internships and Dr. Eckersell.Internships and Dr. Eckersell.

BRIN program.BRIN program.


Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular Activities

The more diverse your background and experience, the more The more diverse your background and experience, the more interesting you will become to the admissions committee.interesting you will become to the admissions committee.

Don’t avoid out of fear of a lower GPA.Don’t avoid out of fear of a lower GPA.

Make sure your participation is ‘Active’ Make sure your participation is ‘Active’ participation.participation.

Personal anecdotes in your application.Personal anecdotes in your application.


Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

Why do they want a commitment to the Why do they want a commitment to the community.community.

Humanitarian Service. Gordon Marler.Humanitarian Service. Gordon Marler.

http://www.byui.edu/activities/service/default.htmhttp://www.byui.edu/activities/service/default.htm


Demographic CharacteristicsDemographic Characteristics

State of Residency.State of Residency.

Rural candidates = Rural Medicine.Rural candidates = Rural Medicine.

Race and Gender.Race and Gender. University of Michigan Supreme Court RulingUniversity of Michigan Supreme Court Ruling

Courtesy and Respect

Appearance

Etiquette – making people feel comfortable in social situations.

Communication skills

Knowledge

Confidence

Maturity

Professionalism

Dependability

Industry and Initiative

Ethical Standards

Public trust in science can be undermined by dishonest scientists.

If scientists behave in professionally unethical ways, science suffers.

Fraud

•Falsification

•Fabrication

Plagiarism

Ethical Standards“The most important characteristic of a scientist is integrity.”

– Jeffery H. Lee

week 3 non-academic factors influencing selection september 18, 2003 kent l. barrus pre-professional...

Documents

medical professional

professional schools

community service

hospital service

demands of medical education

nonacademic characteristics

ethical issues

healthcare issues