UGA Amsa - Workshop 1

1. UGA Amsa- Workshop 1 The Basics of pre-healthcare

2. Why healthcare? • A common question that will be asked of you (and one you need to ask yourself) • The right reasons • Preparing yourself for what lies ahead • The allied healthcare field • Who is involved in healthcare?

4. Undergrad • Traditional vs. Nontraditional students • Statistics • Recovering a low GPA • Post-bac programs • Special Masters’ programs • Gaining more experience • Saving money • Travel Medical School

5. Background information • Pre-Med • MD vs DO – Allopathy and Osteopathy • AAMC – Association of American Medical Colleges • AACOM – American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine • Pre-Pharm – AACP - American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy • Pre-PA – PAEA - The Physician Assistant Education Association • Dental, Podiatry, Optometry, Veterinary Medicine

6. Differences between different disciplines for undergrads • PA – common requirements + 2000 hours of direct patient care hours – 3 years (PA-C) • What is and what is not “direct patient care” • Pharmacy – bachelor’s degree not required; specific courses, 69 total academic hours – 4 years (PharmD) • Anatomy / Physiology, Microbiology, Economics • Medicine – the common requirements – 4 years (MD or DO) • Individual requirements will vary school to school

7. The basic coursework • Chemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry, and Physics (both semesters of each, lab with each) • English and Mathematics (1102 and 2250) • Get the basics completed as soon as possible • Be wary of individual medical school requirements • “AP out” not allowed – some schools • Supplementary courses for MCAT knowledge

8. Additional coursework • Biochemistry (BCMB 3100) • Psychology / Sociology – New MCAT – PSYC (1101, 3230, 3810, 4150, 5850) SOCI (1101) • Anatomy/Physiology (CBIO3710, VPHY3100, PMCY3000)*, Microbiology (MIBO3500), Cell Biology (CBIO3400)**, ENTO 3650 • Genetics – GENE 3200 • Immunology - CBIO(MIBO)(IDIS) 4100/6100,

9. Choosing a course of study • What do I major in? • Balancing interests with practicality • Common “pre-med” majors: Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Physics, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biological Science • Franklin vs. College of Agriculture (Biology and Biological Science) • Dual Majors • Minors – Biology, Cell Bio, Chemistry, Genetics, Microbiology, Pharmaceutical Science, humanities • Arts/Humanities

10. What you need to do after registration • Create your plan • Altering your plan • Setbacks • Contingency plans • Health, well-being > Grades/academics > everything else

11. Comparing yourself to others

12. Example Academic plan http://premed.uga.edu

13. SO What do healthcare schools really look for? • GPA • The fabled “cut-off” GPA • MCAT/PCAT/DAT score • Extracurricular activities • Clinical experience • Shadowing • Research experience • Letters of recommendation • Impressions made during an interview • Personal goals – vary depending on school

14. The importance of GPA and mcat Example: Student A has a 3.7 GPA and a 31 on the MCAT. 67.7% of students fitting Student A’s profile got into medical school.

15. academic advisement • Their role • Establishing a relationship • Different types of academic advisors • The Freshman Advisor • The Gatekeeper • The Cheerleader • The Coach • Utilizing them as a resource

16. Standardized tests • The MCAT – Medical College Admissions Test • New MCAT – Four sections -- Biology/Biochemistry, Chemistry/Physics, Psychology/Sociology/Behavior, Critical analysis/reasoning • The PCAT – Pharmacy College Admissions Test • Writing, verbal, biology, chemistry, reading/comprehension, quantitative ability • DAT/OAT – Biology, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Perceptual Ability, Reading, Quantitative word problems • Prep courses – Kaplan (Brian Allen -- brian.allen@kaplan.com), Princeton Review • Self-Study – Exam Krackers

17. Extracurricular activities • Clubs clubsclubs!! • Healthcare related clubs • AMSA, AED, Pre-Pharm Society, Pre-PA Society, Predental Club, Medlife • Other clubs! • https://uga.collegiatelink.net/Organizations • Clinical experience • Shadowing • Research • Leadership • Service and volunteer work • Awards and achievements

18. Non-health related extracurricular activities • Many healthcare schools want a human being • Excelling at what you do • Being well-rounded • Outside interests • Passion • Commitment

19. The Personal touch • Letters of recommendation • Impressions after the interview • What sets you aside from other applicants? • How are you able to demonstrate the attributes that would make you an effective healthcare provider? • Were you faced with adversity? • Personal struggles • A story • How would a medical school and a healthcare system benefit by accepting you?

20. Building relationships with faculty • Letters of recommendation • When to begin • AMCAS guidelines – at least 5 letters. Max of 11. • A variety of sources (Ex:) 2 Science, 1 non-science, 1 physician, 1 research professor / other mentor) • People who know you well • Classes you have done well in • Office hours • UGA Premedical Studies office packet and the little-known loophole • Maintaining the relationship

21. The application process • Attend pre-med orientation • Keep track of names, dates, hours, etc. • Have an active resume beginning freshman year • Set up an appointment with the office for your respective advisor the year you plan to apply • Know the right time to apply • Begin building faculty relationships • Summers! – Stay busy • The personal statement – begin pre-writing it anytime • 15 activities section

22. (Continued) • The process begins incredibly early on • Be wary of due for different things dates • Apply as early as possible – “batches” • Take advantage of EDPs if you know where you want to go • AMCAS and AACOM have different requirements (if applying to both) • GPA, MCAT, and resume are important

23. interviews • Dress and act professionally • Be prepared to talk about everything you’ve submitted to the school • Practice sample interview questions • Open and closed interviews • Group interviews • Panel/Committee interviews • Mock interviews and critique • Be confident!

24. Places and faces • UGA Premedical Studies Program – 111 Memorial Hall • Podiatry, Optometry, and Dentistry • AED listserv - http://aed.uga.edu/Listserv.htm • Dr. Alan Langford – previous director of UGA Premedical Program • Recent changes • BIOL2900 • Dr. David Eisner – Interim Director • dirpremed@uga.edu • Keisha Chandler - Senior Academic Advisor for Premedical • kchan@uga.edu

25. (Continued) • Carol Roberts - Senior Academic Advisor for Predentistry & Preoptometry • robertsc@uga.edu • Pamela Tolbert – Business Manager and Administrative Support • ptolbert@uga.edu • Dr. Martin Rogers - Associate Director of Honors & CURO • martyr@uga.edu • Dr. Joseph Crim - Professor Emeritus in Cellular Biology • jcrim@uga.edu

26. (Continued) • Dr. Mark Farmer - Professor and Director of the Division of Biological Sciences • mfarmer@uga.edu • Dr. Kathleen Anderson – Senior Pre-pharmacy Advisor • kanderso@uga.edu • Susan Herda – Pre-Pharm Admissions Counselor • admissions@rx.uga.edu • Brian Allen – Kaplan Representative - brian.allen@kaplan.com • The Career Center - 2nd Floor, Clark Howell Hall • Katelyn Kivett – Pre-health - kkivett@uga.edu

27. Helpful websites • AAMC - https://www.aamc.org/ • AAMCAS - https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/ • AACOM- http://www.aacom.org/Pages/default.aspx • AADAS - https://portal.aadsasweb.org/ • AAOPT - http://www.aaopt.org/ • Bulletin - http://www.bulletin.uga.edu/ • UGA Premed – http://premed.uga.edu– links to many other useful things! • SDN - beware

28. Questions?