Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program Professor Nancy Waters Faculty Health Professions Advisor Dr. Julia Goldberg Associate Dean Health Professions Ms Simona Glaus HP Administrative Assistant November 4, 2015 Medical, Dental, Podiatry, Optometry and Veterinary Aspirants Application Meeting

HPAC and our goal today: Remind you of the timetable ahead and elements needed Flag changes and updates in application processes Review your portfolio to give guidance and feedback Provide tools to self-assess your decisions going forward

…coming attractions: Nov 18 th lunch Start Your Personal Statement CWP/HP Nov 23 rd 4 pm ‘Candid Conversations’ Mark Koshar ‘70 MD To be scheduled: CWP/HP Workshop on Personal Essays Armed Services financing ‘Outside the Box’ rescheduling Strategies for choosing schools How to finance your education CS/HP Interview preparation (practice with

Qualities sought in a candidate: Persistence Sympathy Compassion Character Critical thinking Problem-solving Endurance Resilience Warmth Team working Confidence Long-life learning Excitement Commitment Organization Responsibility Trustfulness Intellectual curiosity Maturity Passion Empathy Global awareness Exhibits hierarchy understanding

AMCAS (2015) 20,343 seats…731,595 apps AACOMAS (2015) 6,392 seats…185,162 apps ADEA-ADSAS (2013) 5769 seats…46,000+ apps AAVMC (2013) 4127 seats…50,000+ apps OPTOMCAS xxxx seats…13,164 apps AACPM (2103) 671 seats…4800+ apps CASPA (2010) 5,816 seats…106,302 apps The landscape now?

…Admissions Tests… MCAT Target: 510 (80 th %ile) and GPA 3.6+ DAT pplicants/Pages/TaketheDAT(DentalAdmissionTest).aspx Target: (75 th %ile) and GPA 3.6 OAT Target: 350 (75 th %ile) and 3.5 GPA GRE- General Test, Subject Tests home_greabout_a_ VET and PA Target: ~ (70 th %ile) and GPA

Preparation – Your Academic Coursework  Graduate with a major/minor that suits you.  Successful completion of foundational science 2 Biology with laboratory 2 General Chemistry with laboratory 2 Organic Chemistry with laboratory 2 Physics with laboratory 2+ Mathematics: calculus & statistics plus…? 3+ Writing-Intensive Courses Biochemistry Competency in Psychology and Sociology  More specific requirements? (e.g. nutrition or microbiology or immunology). Check out YOUR preferred schools! Plan ahead!!

 Other relevant courses include: A&S 222 Medical Anthropology Biol 213 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Biol 251 Human Physiology Biol 274 Bioinformatics** (also modeling etc) Biol 340 Molecular Medicine CM 151 Introduction to Computational Science NSc 201 Introduction to Neuroscience Phys 220 Medical and Biological Physics Psych 240 Health Psychology Rel 223 Religion and Medicine Think Outside the Box for your electives! Plan early meet prerequisites, check MSAR, ADEA for guidance Use Degrees of Freedom wisely!

And you already know about…… Advanced Placement Summer School Pass/Fail Study Abroad Research Electives Be true to who you are to be broadly well-educated

Selection criteria simplified…… GPA (overall AND science) Strength of transcript ALL grades get reported Admissions test scores Application information/Essay Letters of Recommendation Experience/Hours Research Reflection …to reduce your chance of admission just ignore any below-average component in the selection criteria list!

“Things I wish I had known/done…” -STUDIED available online resources! MSAR, HPAC handbook, links, etc! -PREPARED BETTER for admission tests -PRACTICED interviews, REVIEWED questions, READ more -OWNED my personal choice of schools— ASKED myself the “ONLY” question! -HONESTLY assessed my application; AVOIDED this trap: “Except for xxxx, my app is good.” -Thought more STRATEGICALLY

What strengthens your portfolio? Internships/Externships ACTIVE! Clinical! Demonstrably devoted! Clubs, Sports, Activities ENHANCE, not impede! Evidence of time management, collaboration, hierarchical work, communication, some leadership Read healthcare, health news, the ACA, health challenges beyond televised/internet media Take yourself OUT of your comfort zone!

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! Prepare! Some obvious topics? healthcare reform, euthanasia, HIV, Ebola, resistance to vaccination, emerging infectious diseases, obesity, cancer, aging, end of life issues. Others? Your favorite course, book, leisure activity. Be able to answer: “How has SOMETHING IN YOUR RECORD prepared you for a medical career?” Timely Application Submission/Turnaround With rolling admissions the later you apply, the more intense is competition for fewer available slots. Plan time to complete requests for secondary applications quickly!

Academic Integrity and Conduct HAVE INTEGRITY!!! Practice Principles of Intellectual Honesty Make judicious choices in your behavior! Exhibit high personal standards of ethics Think before you ACT! Disclose fully ETIQUETTE: MANNERS MATTER! Do your homework! Be informed Demonstrate respect Behave politely

Are you ready to apply? Is your application strong and competitive?

Application Timeline for AY ‘15-’16 To matriculate Fall core coursework completed successfully -multiple competitive experiences in HP settings -recruit 3-5 recommenders Nov/Dec 2015 to write for you -start your reflective essay & personal statement Nov sit for solo GreenSheet Advising Jan/Feb arrange for disclosures by 1 February arrange for waivers/letters by 1 March submit completed Personal Information Form 1 March interview on-campus with HPAC in March/April/May sit for exams by 1 May 2016 to have scores by 1 June open application services begin ~1 June ndary requests extended beginning July 2016 (2-7 days) -interviews extended beginning August offers extended within 3 weeks… or by late August 2017! …is it any wonder why incoming classes are ages 24-25!

Weighing the alternatives, so consider… Submitting in Spring of your JUNIOR year only completed experiences can be included in primaries level of experiences may limit your competitiveness concurrent testing preparation and immersion in coursework …you will matriculate in the fall following baccalaureate graduation Submitting in SPRING of your SENIOR year optimizes range of experiences deepens evidence of maturity and insight enhances technical proficiency expands dossier of research and clinical experiences …delays matriculating so more time before you practice medicine How to choose the timeline that works for YOU?? >REALISTIC self- and external assessment! >small group curricular advising NOW >Greensheet solo advising January/February …and you can re-activate if you decide to defer! Check out the website!

M ULTIPLE SPECIFIC BACKUP PLANS ! Assess your portfolio REALISTICALLY Enhance targeted clinical activities Find innovative and compelling ways to broaden your experiences… …raise your competitiveness among ever-escalating pool of applicants! …STAY CONNECTED with deadlines and information so HPAC can work with you!

What do we ALL need? Compassionate Constructive Criticism (external) Courageously Honest Informed Self-Assessment (internal) C AN I DO B ETTER ? C AN I BE B ETTER ?

All of us at Lafayette look forward to your success! We want to help further your career plans! Stay abreast of what is happening by visiting our web site: Register for and Attend HPAC events; BE PROACTIVE & TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR CAREER!!!

Costs of Application? Strong Admissions Test Score (MCAT, DAT, OAT, or VCAT/GRE), taken as early as possible when you are ready! Plan on 500 hours! Limited test dates and locations. Early registration reduces costs. TESTING FEES (scores reported 1-4 weeks): MCAT$300 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 $ VMCAS$190 + $95

Consider financing… Median cost for 4 years of HP school: $278,455 (private) or $207,868 (public) Median debt for 4 years of HP school: $174,000 Federal loans: % Undergraduate indebtedness: $29,400 Residency training salaries average $55,300 annually for 3+ years, so an added debt load of ~$30,000 yearly first-advisors/