PREMED ADVISING Freshmen:

Freshman Premed Advising What is premed? Ultimately, medical school admissions committees want to know 3 things: 1.Can you handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why do you want to be a doctor… do you want to be a doctor for the “right” reasons? 3.Do you have the diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor?

Freshman Premed Advising 1.Can you handle the academic rigors of medical school?  GPA  Academic Coursework  MCAT

Freshman Premed Advising Courses and academic work: – This Fall: Should be taking either BIO 150, CHEM 123, or PSY 150. – For those who do well this semester there should be the opportunity to take BOTH BIO or PSY 151 AND CHE 123 in spring. – Courses to meet the standards of, and prepare for, the MCAT: Biology courses: we recommend a minimum of genetics, cell, and physiology for those not majoring in biology 4 semesters of chemistry and 2 semesters of physics Biochemistry (CHE 302 Biochemistry or BIO 433 Cellular Biochemistry) Psychology/sociology course for non-psych majors: recommend PSY 110 (but other courses can help prepare you such as PSY 220/240/250/270 or SOC 210) Summer school may be required to fit all of that in before MCAT (end of Jr year) – Courses that are requirements for medical school admissions? – Although not required for SC med schools, many require 2 semesters of college-level math; we suggest 1 calc, 1 stats. Stats early on since this will help with courses and MCAT prep. Magic Number for GPA: 3.3

FYI: Wofford’s acceptance rate quite a bit higher than the national average. Since 1994, 78% of Wofford applicants in good academic standing were accepted. – Students were considered in good academic standing if they had at least a 3.3 GPA and 25 MCAT Most go to home state schools. We currently have students going to MUSC, USC, Cornell, Emory, and Wake Forest. This year we have 5 going to osteopathic schools, including 4 at VCOM. Average ACCEPTED from Wofford last year: – 3.63 science & math GPA – 3.64 overall GPA – 30 MCAT

Freshman Premed Advising 1.Can you handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why do you want to be a doctor… do you want to be a doctor for the “right” reasons? 3.Do you have the diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor?

Freshman Premed Advising Ways to strengthen your application and allow admissions to answer the questions 2 and 3: Faculty evaluations Recommendation letter written by a committee of all your science professors Get to know faculty by active participation in lab and lecture, lab assisting, doing research, some sort of thesis, etc. Clinical experience Recommend most of these acquired in Junior year. Why? “Set yourself apart”: Specialty area of study: computational science, medical humanities, neuroscience program Study abroad Fluency in Spanish Research experience “Leadership” and service to the community It is more about depth of experiences not creating a long laundry list!!!

Freshman Premed Advising If you have questions or need more information: 1) See the following website: 2) Send me an or come by my office: Office: RMSC 203J

PREMED ADVISING Sophomores

Sophomore Premed Advising Courses and academic work: – Should be taking both bio 212 and chem 123. If you’ve already taken one of those, substitute organic or physics. – Magic Number: 3.3. You should be shooting for nothing below a ‘B’; B+ in your sciences! First year often a bit lower. – To meet the standards on, and prepare for, the MCAT : Some # of bio courses, preferably 3 or more: sophomore core (BIO 212 & 214) and physiology 4 semesters of chemistry and 2 semesters of physics Summer school may be required to fit all of that in before MCAT, end of Jr year. – Consider chem or physics this coming summer. Not planning on applying till end of senior year: be aware of MCAT 2015! – Although not required for SC med schools, most require 2 semesters of college-level math; we suggest 1 calc, 1 stats. Stats early on. – Although not usually a requirement, many med schools such as MUSC strongly recommend taking biochemistry

Sophomore Premed Advising Ultimately admissions committees want to know 3 things: 1.Can you handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why do you want to be a doctor… do you want to be a doctor for the “right” reasons? 3.Do you have the diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor?

Sophomore Premed Advising Other things that strengthen your application and allow admissions to answer the questions above: Clinical experience – Recommend most of these acquired in Junior year – Interim – Document: “clinical evaluation forms” on web site “Leadership” and service to the community Faculty evaluations Get to know faculty by lab assisting; doing research; some sort of thesis. “Set yourself apart”: Specialty area of study: computational science, medical humanities, neuroscience program Study abroad Fluency in Spanish Research experience It is more about depth of experiences not creating a long laundry list!!!

FYI: Wofford’s acceptance rate quite a bit higher than the national average. Since 1994, 78% of Wofford applicants in good academic standing were accepted. – Students were considered in good academic standing if they had at least a 3.3 GPA and 25 MCAT Most go to home state schools. We currently have students going to MUSC, USC, Cornell, Emory, and Wake Forest. This year we have 5 going to osteopathic schools, including 4 at VCOM. Average ACCEPTED from Wofford last year: – 3.63 science & math GPA – 3.64 overall GPA – 30 MCAT

PREMED ADVISING Juniors

Junior Premed Advising Courses and academic work: By end of year, you should have completed all science requirements: Bio 212, 214, and Physiology 4 chemistry and 2 physics – Magic Number: 3.3. You should be shooting for nothing below a ‘B’; B+ in your sciences! First year often a bit lower. – To meet the standards on, and prepare for, the MCAT : Some # of bio courses, preferably 3 or more: sophomore core (BIO 212 & 214) and physiology 4 semesters of chemistry and 2 semesters of physics – Although not required for SC med schools, most require 2 semesters of college-level math; we suggest 1 calc, 1 stats. Stats early on. – Although not usually a requirement, many med schools such as MUSC strongly recommend taking biochemistry

Junior Premed Advising Ultimately admissions committees want to know 3 things: 1.Can you handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why do you want to be a doctor… do you want to be a doctor for the “right” reasons? 3.Do you have the diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor?

Junior Premed Advising Other things that strengthen your application and allow admissions to answer the questions above: Clinical experience – Recommend most of these acquired in Junior year – Interim – Document: “clinical evaluation forms” on web site “Leadership” and service to the community Faculty evaluations Get to know faculty by lab assisting; doing research; some sort of thesis. “Set yourself apart”: Specialty area of study: computational science, medical humanities, neuroscience program Study abroad Fluency in Spanish Research experience It is more about depth of experiences not creating a long laundry list!!!

FYI: Wofford’s acceptance rate quite a bit higher than the national average. Since 1994, 78% of Wofford applicants in good academic standing were accepted. – Students were considered in good academic standing if they had at least a 3.3 GPA and 25 MCAT Most go to home state schools. We currently have students going to MUSC, USC, Cornell, Emory, and Wake Forest. This year we have 5 going to osteopathic schools, including 4 at VCOM. Average ACCEPTED from Wofford last year: – 3.63 science & math GPA – 3.64 overall GPA – 30 MCAT

HELL BEGINS DECEMBER 15….. Importance of that MCAT! Average getting into SC = Kaplan? (practice exam Oct 15) Interim COME DECEMBER 15, THE MCAT NEEDS TO BE YOUR TOP PRIORITY. PERIOD. ‘B+’ and ‘A-’ examples…

PREMED ADVISING SENIORS

Is your AMCAS IN YET??? WHY NOT?? Essay: reviewed. Committee evaluation: ACMAS Letters, contact info Dr. Moeller – One form only – Packet will include clinical evaluations – Alternative: 3 letters – Still must request clinical evals from Ms. Thomas, with an AMCAS letter form! MCAT scores: 25 min to apply; 28 (pref 29) to stop taking it. 2ndary: On their web sites, or mailed to you. Mock interviews MUCS’s “wait list” UNLESS have those 3.6 and 30 numbers, plan for alternatives just in case: – Osteopathic medicine – Other health fields – Reapply – M.S.; – Prep programs, such as at VCOM, USC [and why I’m not a fan]

Senior Premed Advising Ultimately admissions committees want to know 3 things: 1.Can you handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why do you want to be a doctor… do you want to be a doctor for the “right” reasons? 3.Do you have the diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor?

FYI: Wofford’s acceptance rate quite a bit higher than the national average. Since 1994, 78% of Wofford applicants in good academic standing were accepted. – Students were considered in good academic standing if they had at least a 3.3 GPA and 25 MCAT Most go to home state schools. We currently have students going to MUSC, USC, Cornell, Emory, and Wake Forest. This year we have 5 going to osteopathic schools, including 4 at VCOM. Average ACCEPTED from Wofford last year: – 3.63 science & math GPA – 3.64 overall GPA – 30 MCAT