PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS ADVISING University Advising and Career Center Hood House (603) Caitlin Bannon Pre-Professional Health Programs Advising Office Preparing for the 2018 Application Cycle

Do you need to request a Committee Letter of Evaluation?  Yes: Applicants to medical (MD/DO), dental, and podiatric programs.  Committee Evaluation is expected and preferred  No: Applicants to all other graduate level programs (PA, OD, PharmD, PT, ND, and DC)  Generally, no Committee Letter is required/requested  Start reviewing the letter requirements for schools of interest now.

Centralized Application Services  AMCAS: Most US allopathic (MD) medical schoolshttps://  AACOMAS: doctor/applying/aacomas: Osteopathic (DO) medical schoolshttp:// doctor/applying/aacomas  TMDSAS: Texas public medical and dental schoolshttps://  AADSAS: Dental schoolshttps://portal.aadsasweb.org/  CASPA: PA programshttps://portal.caspaonline.org/  PTCAS: Physical Therapy programshttp://  OptomCAS: Optometry programshttp://  PharmCAS: Pharmacy programshttp://  AACPMCAS: Podiatry programshttps://portal.aacpmas.org/

How do you know if you are ready to apply?  Read the 10 Good Reasons to Delay on our website under Application Process/Forms10 Good Reasons to Delay  Ask yourself – would I be a substantially stronger applicant in one year, based on courses I will be taking, research I will be doing, or experiences I will be having, improved exam scores?  Do I have 3-5 individuals (including two science faculty) and others who can write detailed, specific, and personal letters of recommendation on my behalf?  Can I articulate why I have chosen this path, and that I am a good fit for this profession?  Do I have evidence to demonstrate these claims?

How Schools Evaluate Schools do not evaluate applicants on their major. Evaluation is based on:  Grades: All years and schools attended, science GPA, total GPA, non-science courses  Experiences: Sustained commitment, knowledge of field and healthcare in general, personal attributes and desire to serve others  Letters of Recommendation: Faculty, providers, supervisors, mentors, and Committee (medical/dental applicants)  Entrance Exams: Taken only after pre-reqs are completed  Interviews: UNH Committee and Medical Schools

National Averages: Accepted Applicants (Previous Application Cycle) Note: averages do not reflect other factors used when evaluating an applicant’s file FIELDGRADE POINT AVERAGE Overall/Science EXAM SCORE MedicineMD: 3.77 Overall/ 3.64 Science DO:3.58 Overall/ 3.47 Science Mean MCAT Percentile: 83% (MD) 53% (DO) Dentistry3.54 Overall/ 3.45 ScienceDAT: Mean - Academic Average: 20.2 Optometry3.32 OverallNot available (OAT) Physician Assistant3.53 Overall/ 3.48 ScienceGRE Average Percentile: 53% Podiatry3.3 Overall / 3.2 ScienceMCAT: 22 Pharmacy3.38 OverallNot available (PCAT) Physical Therapy3.57 Overall/ 3.43 ScienceNot available (GRE)

Questions to Consider  Why have you chosen to prepare for a career in health?  How familiar are you with healthcare environments?  Have you volunteered or worked in a medical or health-related environment? If so, in what capacity?  What do you know about what it’s like to be a patient?  What do you know about what it’s like to be a physician/dentist/other?  If you have worked in a health-related environment, what did you find most enjoyable and most challenging about this work?  If you haven’t, what has kept you from doing this ?

Cautions  Low Grades  It is very difficult to overcome multiple semesters with a low GPA (< C’s in pre-requisites)  Consult with the HP advisor – what are your options?  Limited experiences  Unprepared to make informed decision about a healthcare career.  Judicial Sanctions and/or Criminal Record  You will be asked on applications – whether the record has been expunged or not.

Important Attributes of Healthcare Professionals How have you developed/demonstrated these qualities?  Adaptability  Critical Thinking  Integrity  Logical Reasoning  Intellectual curiosity-resourceful  Personal Maturity  Reliability  Self Discipline  Work Habits  Motivation for Healthcare  Persistence  Teamwork  Professionalism  Ability to use good judgment  Ability to balance multiple priorities  Resilient  Strong interpersonal skills - listening and speaking  Ethical, cultural, and social awareness/understanding  Dedication to service  Empathy  Compassion  Altruism

UNH Committee Letter Process for Medical and Dental Applicants

Why a UNH application file?  All submitted documents are reviewed by HP advisor and will be used for your primary application  Helps you to pace yourself and be prepared for an early application  You are given feedback about documents prior to submission  Content of file is given to your Committee Interviewers  Content of file, including interview notes, are used to write your Composite Letter  Your Committee Letter packet is submitted by HP advisor to all schools you apply to

What UNH sends to schools from your completed file:  Your letter packet, which includes:  Committee Letter of Evaluation  Supporting letters of recommendation received We do not send any other materials, such as transcripts or personal essay

Two Year Process Year One: Developing Your Portfolio Fall 2016-Summer 2017 Application File (Fall) Committee Interviews (Spring) Entrance Exams UNH Primary Application (May and June) Secondary Applications (Summer) Professional Schools

Two Year Process Year Two: Decisions Summer 2017 – Summer 2018 Secondary Applications (Summer) School Interviews (Late Summer through Spring) Apply For Financial Aid Professional Schools Accepted Reapply Other Decisions

 This timetable is designed to help you complete your application and be considered for admission at the earliest possible date (May or June submission)  Assuming you have a strong application, it is in your best interest to submit your application as early as you can Important:  Most schools use a rolling admissions process  Schools evaluate applications as they are completed  Schools offer interviews as applications are received  There are very limited interview slots given the number of applications received  No interview = no acceptance.

Pre-Requisite Courses  1 year General Biology w/lab (BIOL 411/412)  1 year General Chemistry w/lab(CHEM 403/404)  1 year Organic Chem. w/lab (CHEM )  1 year General Physics w/lab (PHYS 401/402)  1 year English  1 year Math (Statistics and 1 semester Calculus)  1 semester Biochemistry w/lab  Psychology/ Sociology * AP Credit is not universally accepted by medical or dental schools. It is strongly recommended that you take the course at UNH. If you do not take the course, you will need to take additional upper level courses in that subject area.

You have:  Explored the health professions o Gained exposure to the profession over the past 3-4 years o Volunteer/paid experiences o Shadowing o Informational interviews  Researched the options – been informed o Looked at health professions websites o Subscribed to an online health profession newsletter

You have:  Maintained a balance between academics and social activities Earned good grades (ideal: 3.5> GPA) Gotten to know your professors and advisors Been involved in your major– research opportunities/independent study

You have: Been involved – It’s not a checklist!  Demonstrate committed participation in areas that are truly important to you, such as:  Campus and community organizations  Healthcare environments  Service and volunteering  Leadership  Research  Mentoring/tutoring  Employment  Hobbies  Athletics  Travel

Finding the right school  MSAR: Medical School Admissions Requirements, M.D. s/msar/ s/msar/  CIB: College Information Book, D.O. events/publications/cib events/publications/cib

MSAR

Start the Process  Doubts? Questions? Meet with Caitlin or other trusted advisors. Schedule an appointment via Wildcat Advising. appointment appointment  Ready to start? Review UNH file requirements, materials, deadlines, and timeline at  Deadlines are not negotiable – stay up to date  New Applicant Files can be opened between now and Nov. 18 th