Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program

1. Medical, Dental, Podiatry, Optometry and Veterinary Aspirants Application Meeting Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program Professor Nancy Waters Faculty Health Professions Advisor Dr. Julia Goldberg Associate Dean Health Professions Advisor 6 November 2013

2. HPAC HPAC reviews and interviews candidates beforestudents apply for admission to HP school. HPAC faculty write a Composite Letter of Evaluation (CLoE) for you, which is valued by schools including: Medicinae Doctor (Allopathic MD) Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Dental Medicine & Surgery (DMD &DDS) Podiatric Medicine (DPM) Veterinary Medicines (DVM & VMD) Optometry (OD)…as well as helping CS with Targeted Post-Baccalaureate Programs

3. …shout out for HP/CS events Practice tests at: http://bit.ly/LafayetteCollege Practice interviewing at: https://lafayette.interviewstream.com/Default.aspx HP sponsored events such as: 6 November 2013 Alumni Dinner Panel, 13 November 2013 SMDEP Noon info session, for example… …stay abreast of HP events and in touch with your CS Gateway Advisor!

4. How will medical schools select tomorrow’s doctors? • Who will best fulfill the mission of the school? • Who will serve the nation’s healthcare needs? • Who exhibits evidence of qualifications? scholarship accomplishments intellectual curiosity emotional maturity character interest in medicine sensitivity to others communication skills sense of care for others commitment to service critical thinking skills problem-solving skills

5. The current landscape? AMCAS Applications up ~6% over 2012AACOMAS applications up ~25% over 2012Criteria? Academic/Science grades (45-55%) Admissions tests (20-25%) Health-related experiences Community/Volunteer service Research experience Recommendations HP School interview

6. Preparation – Academic coursework • As Juniors/Seniors you should have nearly completed: 2 Introductory Biology with laboratory 2 General Chemistry with laboratory 2 Organic Chemistry with laboratory 2 Physics with laboratory 2+ Mathematics: at least 1 calculus and 1 statistics 3+ Writing-Intensive Coursework (e.g. English 110, FYS, VAST, plus two added “W” courses) Biochemistry • Check out YOUR preferred schools for specific ADDITIONAL requirements! If a course is not offered at Lafayette, plan ahead to enroll at another institution during summer or at an LVAIC school during the academic year.

7. Consider additional relevant courses: Biol 251 Human Physiology (HPAC recommended) Phys 220 Medical and Biological Physics Psych 240 Health Psychology Rel 223 Religion and Medicine Phil 245 Bioethics A&S 222 Medical Anthropology Biol 213 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Biol 340 Molecular Medicine …but plan early to meet prerequisites, especially since thoseprerequisites may be crucial to performance on MCAT2015 ! • Do not delay in making good selections! You are losing Degrees of Freedom!

8. Preparation – Co-curricular Experiences • Internships/Externships Shadow an MD! Volunteer at a shelter! Show your commitment! This IS your passion, right? Contact Career Services early to secure internships/externships. • Extracurricular Activities Demonstrate your ability to manage time commitments, work in a hierarchy, master communication, leadership, and collaborative skills…but show a long term sincere dedication! Medicine IS a demanding field, right? These should ENHANCE your academic record (gpa/mcat) not IMPEDE it! • Read widely on the subject of healthcare. Keep up-to-date with current health news. This will be your career, right? Check out recommendations on the HPAC web site. …be PASSIONATE! It is your LIFE!

9. Preparation: Character and Conduct HAVE INTEGRITY!!! Practice Principles of Intellectual Honesty Make judicious choices in your behavior! Exhibit high personal standards of ethics. Cheating, plagiarism, alcohol/drug violations, vandalism…even if only warnings…ALL compromise your character AND your HP application. Application services and individual schools will require you disclose and explain. Applications REQUIRE the Dean of the College to report all disciplinary warning, action and/or conduct violations to HP schools! So think & ACT carefully!

10. Application Timeline: To matriculate Fall 2015: -complete core coursework successfully -amass multiple competitive experiences in HP settings -recruit 3-5 recommenders 1 Dec 2013 to write for you; provide waiver forms and offer needed information -engage with HP individual advising sessions 27-30 January 2014 -submit completed Request for Dean of the College Clearance and conduct issue disclosure 1 February 2014 -submit completed Personal Information Form & CV 1 March 2014 -submit completed disclosure authorization 1 March 2014 -insure Letters of Recommendation AND accompanying waiver forms submitted to Scott Hall 1 March 2014 -interview on-campus with HPAC April/May 2014 -sit for MCAT by 1 May 2014 to have scores by 1 June 2014 -open application services begin ~4June 2014 -2ndary requests extended beginning July 2014 (2-7 day return) -interviews extended beginning August 2014 through 2014>2015 -offers? within 3 weeks… or as long as 6 months later …should you apply as a junior or as a senior? Do you see why the mean age of matriculating medical students is 23-24!

11. When Should You Apply? Spring/Summer of the SENIOR year is OPTIMAL. Why? Deeper experiences, enhanced maturity, greater insight, stronger technical capabilities, more competitive dossier of research, clinical, and suitable extra- and co-curricular experiences….entering the HPAC application queue as a SENIOR gives you a gap year prior to matriculating. If you plan to attend in the fall immediately upon graduation, you must engage in application for Fall-Spring-Summer of your JUNIOR year. If you begin application as a junior, but reconsider to delay as a senior, you must still meet all deadlines for the next cycle with updated materials! Likewise if you apply anew or reapply during a gap year. Choose the timeline that works best for YOU! But HPAC needs your package to be ready! Today’s ‘greensheet’ is critical to getting an advising session to assist you in this decision! Submit it!

13. Enter…the GAP year…NOT a ‘year off’ • What to do??? Targeted post-bac programs; innovative and compelling ways to broaden your experiences and increase your competitiveness among applicants! >delay your entry to HP school by 1+ years >may enhance probability of admission to HP school With a gap year, you enter on-campus HPAC application cycles during your senior year or during the year after graduating, not your junior year; you complete secondaries and interviews in the subsequent year to matriculate that fall! But you STILL MUST meet on campus deadlines for submitting your materials so HPAC can work with you!

14. Components of a Successful Application Strong Admissions Test Score (MCAT, DAT, OAT, or VCAT/GRE), taken timely as early as possible in Spring 2013 for matriculation Fall 2015. Test dates are limited and variable by discipline, so check back frequently! TESTING FEES (scores reported 1-4 weeks): MCAT $270 DAT $385 OAT $270 GRE general $185 GRE subject test fees $150 APPLICATION FEES (verification 4-6 weeks): AMCAS $160+ $34 AACOMAS $195 + $35-50 ADEA AADSAS $244 + $90 OptomCAS $150 + $50 VMCAS $190 + $95

15. Insightful Personal Essay (see space limitations at each Admissions Service) Use resources of the WA Program to your benefit! Make it perfectly error-free. Well-Honed Interview Skills Be articulate, maintain good eye contact and confident body posture! Practice! A lot! Read and prepare! Some topics reported? healthcare reform, euthanasia, HIV, obesity, cancer, aging, stem cell research, end of life issues. Other topics? Your favorite course, book, leisure activity. Can you answer: “How has ______ prepared you for a career in medicine?” Timely Application Submission/Turnaround Rolling admissions means the later you apply, the more intense is the competition for the declining number of available slots. And complete requests for secondary applications quickly!

16. Your Ongoing Obligations? 1) Study – Maintain your grades! 2) Be fully prepared for your application test! We recommend an April, May, or June test date for score release timing, but sit for the exam when you are ready to perform well! Again, be strategic! 3)APPLY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE; PORTALS ARE OPEN ~ 1June 2014! 4) Get additional PRACTICAL experience over Interim 2013-2014; apply for internships; volunteer during Spring 2014. Summer 2014 experiences will count …but only on 2o applications, and only if completed. 5) Complete your undergraduate RESEARCH experience, preferably with resultant product (poster, paper, etc.) by 1 June 2014. 6) Provide evidence of commitment through community service and extracurricular experiences to display your people and social skills, leadership potential, teamwork ethic, communication strengths. 7) Have a back up plan…or three! Outcomes may elude us…for a while! Be prepared with a gap-year plan and stay on top of reapplication deadlines.

17. We look forward to your success! We want to help further your career plans! Stay abreast of what is happening by visiting our web site: • http://healthprofessions.lafayette.edu • Register for and Attend HPAC events; remember—we write that letter for you ! Do not be a stranger! BE PROACTIVE & TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CAREER!!!

19. How important are good grades I? * Source: aamc.org, aacomas.org

20. How important are good grades II?For students entering in Fall 2012 ** Source: aamc.org and aacomas.org

21. How important are good grades III?

22. Changes for MCAT2015? • Revision 1991: 4 sections: verbal reasoning, writing sample, physical and biological sciences • 2015 REVISIONS: • Writing sample deleted (already done for some); replaced with Critical Analysis & Reasoning sections • Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior subsection added • Different question/time distribution: 60-65 question items allowing 95 minutes for each of 4 sections • Implications? You need to include introductory level sociology, psychology and statistical experience among your preparation courses! Check out: • http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015