Health Professions Office Elizabeth Vogel, Ph.D. Administrative Director Gregory Sobol, Ed.M A-207 Nelson Biological Laboratories (848) 445-5667 Visit us at: hpo.rutgers.edu

What is the Health Professions Office and why is it important to you What is the Health Professions Office and why is it important to you? The HPO provides services to students interested in applying to: Allopathic Medical School (MD) Osteopathic Medical School (DO) Dental School (DDS/DMD) Optometry School (OD) Podiatry School (DPM) Chiropractic School (DC) Physician Assistant Programs (PA) We also provide information and advising for students interested in other health professions

What we provide for students: Advising, appointments, walk-ins, presentations Health professions file and electronic database for storing letters of recommendation and advising Information via newsletter, Facebook page, website, presentations Coordination with student groups, alumni, and local hospitals to create opportunities for undergraduates to gain clinical, research, and volunteer experiences Assistance in the application process to professional schools Committee interview and composite letter of recommendation Assistance with digital submission of letters of recommendation for MD, DO, DMD/DDS programs

What courses do you need What courses do you need? Pre-requisites for most MD, DO, DDS/DMD, PA programs 1 year of Biology with Lab (119:115-116, 117) ** 1 year of General Chemistry with Lab (160:161-162, 171) 1 year of Organic Chemistry with Lab (160:307-308, 311) 1 year of Physics with Lab (750:203-204, 205, 206) 1 year of College level math (Calculus and Statistics) 1 year of English/Writing (355:101, plus 1 additional course) 1 semester of Psychology 1 semester of Sociology 1 semester of Biochemistry (694:301 or 694:407) 1 semester of Statistics (any Stats course will suffice) **If you receive AP credit for the Biology sequence, you need to take at least two upper level Bio electives in college.

What major should you choose? Composition of the MD Class (entering 2016) National RU Biological or Other Sciences 65% 71% Social Sciences 10% 9% Humanities 4% 2% RU students with 27 different majors applied and were admitted to medical school in 2016 Most popular - Biological Sciences 143 applicants Second most popular – Cell Biology and Neuroscience For more information see hpo.rutgers.edu

Rutgers offers over 100 majors Medical schools are not “looking” for certain majors. They expect you to perform well in the sciences and to have challenged yourself with demanding science course loads during your college career but, if you are interested in other subjects and choose to explore those other interests during college, that is wonderful. Don’t try to major in something to be “different” or “stand out.” Major in something you are passionate and excited about studying. Rutgers offers over 100 majors Many students complete minors or even double majors, depending on their interests. Many majors offer options and concentrations within the larger subject areas Rutgers offers over 120 minors and certificate programs

Common mistakes as an undergrad Not taking the required courses Being the subject of institutional action Not enough clinical, volunteering, and shadowing experience No leadership experience Reading too much studentdoctor.net instead of coming to the HPO! Average letters of recommendation Lacking strength in the competency areas important to medical and health professions schools: Thinking and reasoning: Science: -critical thinking -living systems -quantitative reasoning -human behavior -scientific inquiry -written communication Competence in these areas is largely demonstrated by your coursework, grades, and test scores.

Competencies continued…………… Interpersonal: Intrapersonal: -desire to help others -ethical responsibility -social skills -reliability & dependability -cultural competence -resilience & adaptability -teamwork -capacity to improve -oral communication These two categories encompass your extracurriculars, life experiences, work, etc. Caution: Looking at these competencies as a list of items to be ticked off with no thought to how or why you are doing them is not a good idea. Instead, think of them as ways to make yourself a better person who could, potentially become a great health care provider.

Admission Statistics 2016 Medical School All applicants 2016-17 RU NB 52% accepted National 40% accepted Applicants 3.5+ BCPM and MCAT 86% (@512+) RU NB 70% accepted Dental School Applicants 3.5 + and DAT 20+ RU NB 86% accepted

Common mistakes as an applicant Not taking the personal statement seriously Not taking enough time to prepare for the MCAT Lack of contact with the HPO Not reading and following the instructions provided by the application service Getting the primary application in late (August) Taking longer than two weeks to submit secondary applications Doing a sloppy/superficial job on the secondary apps (using the same essays for every school) Thinking the application process ends after the secondary apps Applying to the wrong schools Lack of professionalism Lack of preparation for interviews For more information on how medical schools review applications see:https://students-residents.aamc.org/choosing-medical-career/article/how-medical-schools-review-applications/

The Health Professions Office For more information e-mail us at HPO@biology.rutgers.edu visit our website http://hpo.rutgers.edu/ visit us in A-207 Nelson Labs, Busch Campus The Health Professions Office