College of science Medical/Dental School Info

College of Science Mr. Robby Bowen Ms. Kim Kubicek Ms. Courtni Guidry Ms. Krista Baron Ms. Rachel Singleton Ms. Martha Cedotal, Asst. Dean

Medical & Dental School 2 years Basic Sciences Step 1 Licensure exam (USMLE) 2 years Clinical Rotations Step 2 Licensure Exam Post-graduate Residency Step 3 Licensure Exam Licensure

Premed/Predent @ LSU 1200 entering freshmen declare PMED/PDEN ~400 LSU students apply to medical/dental/optometry/podiatry school 200-220 LSU students are accepted

Application Procedure Core course requirements Test scores Formal application Faculty & Committee letters

Four Year Plan

Freshman Year Focus on academic performance Develop maturity and independence Work on core requirements Explore majors Read!!

Sophomore Year Choose a major Develop relationships with faculty Get Clinical Experience Get involved Summer Programs Read!!

Junior Year Maintain good grades Finish core requirements Build your resume (clinical experience, leadership, etc.) Attend Application meeting (Fall) Take MCAT/DAT (Spring) Apply to professional school

Senior Year Complete degree requirements Professional School Interviews Keep in mind a parallel plan

LSU Medical School Statistics Average overall GPA: ~3.7 Average science GPA: >3.7 Average MCAT composite score is ~30 (9+ in each category) BS/BA degree Limited out of state resident seats (up to 40 in New Orleans)

Out of State/Private Medical Schools Louisiana residents wanting to go out of state: 3.8 GPA 32+ MCAT Composite minimum Competing with applicants nationwide

LSU Dental School Statistics ~3.6 Overall GPA ~3.6 Science GPA 20 Academic Average DAT 19 Perceptual Ability DAT No subtest scores below 18

Choosing a Major Students can choose any major but you need a good science foundation Choose what you enjoy and earn good grades Take as many science courses as possible

Non-science Majors Science GPA is crucial Above average overall GPA Extra science course work MCAT/DAT implications Possibly earn a science minor Biological Sciences Chemistry

Core Requirements Biology 1201/1208, 1202/1209 LSU Dental: MBIO and BCH now required LSU Med-Shreveport requires 2 additional semesters of BIOL; General Chemistry 1201, 1202, 1212 Organic Chemistry 2261, 2262, 2364 Physics 2001, 2002, 2108, 2109 English 6-9 hours of credit Changes coming—statistics/Biochemistry

Core Requirements At least 90 hours of credit Complete an undergraduate degree Many schools may have additional requirements (calculus, genetics, psychology) Always check with admissions office at any school of interest

Suggested Courses Biology 4087 (biochemistry) Biology 3156 (devl. zoology) Biology 4160 (vert. physiology) Biology 4104 (histology) HUEC 1110/3010 (nutrition) KIN 2500 (human anatomy) EXST 2201 (statistics) Psychology/Sociology/Anthropology Bio-ethics

Suggested Courses Interpersonal Communication Pre-dental students Jewelry making Ceramics

Good Advice Take labs with lectures Don’t put off math Balance science with non-science Take advantage of free tutoring, supplemental instruction & learning assistance

Good Advice Visit faculty during office hours Know your degree requirements Challenge yourself academically, taking the easy way out doesn’t help in the long run; remember the competition. Take Personal responsibility!!!

Advanced Placement Prerequisite courses should be taken in residence Check the policy at the medical/dental schools you are interested in attending Preference is given to courses earned in classroom with a grade

Admissions Committees ask 3 questions: Can the applicant “do it”? grades; MCAT/DAT; semester loads; time management; juggle responsibilities; critical thinker; handle stress; Will the applicant “do it”? challenges self; works hard; team player; perseveres; solves problems; motivated for right reasons; Should the applicant “do it”? Compassionate? Caring? Good communication skills; ethical? Honest? Integrity? Professionalism?

Competency Based Admissions Interpersonal Competencies Service oriented Social/Interpersonal Skills Cultural Competence Team Work Oral Communication

Competency Based Admissions Intrapersonal Competencies Integrity and Ethics Reliability and Dependability Resilience and Adapatability Capacity for Improvement

Credentials Academic Record Extracurricular Activities Test Scores Personal Characteristics Letters of Evaluation

Academic Record GPA Course loads Upper Division Credits Research “W” grades

Average Course Loads 15 to 17 hours per semester MCAT/DAT semester Work schedule is considered Should be advancing in your major/taking higher level courses

Research Faculty members need good, dependable student assistants Opportunity to get to know faculty Shows responsibility and interest Active learning

Extracurricular Clubs/Organizations Work Volunteer service Medical/Dental experience

Health Related Experience Local hospitals-paid or volunteer Doctor’s offices Nursing homes Hospice

Dental Experience Work Observe different practices Volunteer and specialty areas Volunteer Extremely Important for Pre-dental students!

Health Related Student Organizations Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Dental Society Minority Science Pre-Professional Society Student Christian Medical Association Multiculturalism in Healthcare

Good Activities Get actively involved in 1 or 2 organizations (quality over quantity) Seek leadership positions Keep record/journal of your activities and volunteer experiences Read journals to keep current on health-related issues Goal is to learn and develop skills

Current MCAT Computer based test format 32 Administrations on 30 days (January, April, May, June, July, August, September) 4.5 hrs. in length; AM/ PM test times. Results in 30 days (14 days in future) Register 3-4 months in advance: Prometric Testing Centers/LSU Testing Center

Current MCAT Physical Science Verbal Reasoning Biological Sciences Possible score of 15 on each subtest

BIG CHANGES FOR MCAT 2015 4 subtests now: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; 65 items; 95 minutes; 25% BCH; 65% intro biol; 5% Gen Chem; 5% Org Chem. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; 65 items, 95 minutes; 15% BCH; 5% Intro BIOL; 30% Gen Chem; 25% Organic Chem; 25% Physics;

BIG CHANGES FOR MCAT 2015 Psychological/Social/Biological Foundations of Behavior; 65 items; 95 minutes; 60% Intro PSYC; 30% intro SOCL; 10% Intro BIOL. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills; 60 items, 90 minutes; Reading passages from humanities areas, social sciences, ethics, philosphy, cross-cultural studies, health. Designed to test analytical reasoning skills.

BIG CHANGES FOR MCAT 2015-Implications Broader background of courses needed: Social Sciences, Statistics, Analytical Reasoning, Biochemisry; Focus on scientific inquiry and reasoning not memorizing and restating; Critical Analysis/Problem Solving; Goals: develop interdisciplinary science skills Integrate knowledge from many perspectives Understand connection between natural sciences and social sciences

More Info on MCAT 2015 https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/ expose yourself to as many different areas of knowledge as possible. Free tutorial videos: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/mcat

MCAT Register on-line (http:www.aamc.org/mcat) Review Courses Kaplan Princeton Review Practice tests at AAMC website

DAT Online test administration Prometric Registration Center May be taken year round May be repeated after 90 days; must obtain documentation after 3rd test. Suggest Spring of Junior year Registration on-line: www.ADA.org

DAT Natural Sciences Perceptual Ability Reading Comprehension Biology, Gen & Organic Chem Perceptual Ability Reading Comprehension Quantitative Reasoning Scores from 1-30

Personal Characteristics Mature Responsible Intelligent Honest Hard-Working Serving Compassionate Personable Leader Professionalism

Evaluation Letters LSU Premed/Predent Committee Faculty letters Critically important part of the application process!!! Get to know your faculty members

Important Publications Medical School Admission Requirements (online version) Admission Requirements of U.S. & Canadian Dental Schools

Application Process 15-16 months before enrollment—end of Junior year Take AdmissionTest Spring-Jr Year Two Stage Application: Online Standardized Application Service Individualized Secondary Application from each school

Professional School Application Services Association of Medical Colleges Application Service-MD (AMCAS) American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service- DO (AACOMAS) Texas Medica/Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS)

Professional School Application Services American Assoc of Dental Schools Application Service-DDS/DMD (AADSAS) Optometry Centralized Application Service – 0D- (OPTOMCAS) American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service-DPM-(AACPMAS)

Websites American Association of Medical Colleges: www.aamc.org American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine www.aacom.org American Dental Education Association: www.adea.org Association of Schools& Colleges of Optometry: www.opted.org

Nontraditional/Transfer Students May want to speak with a Premedical/Predental Counselor

Career Options Physician Assistant Teaching Pharmacy Research Nursing PODIATRY Pharmacy Research Nursing Occupational Therapy Medical Technology Optometry Industry

PMED/PDENT LISTSERV /Facebook SIGN UP to keep informed about pmed/pdent news and events: http://mcafmac.chem.lsu.edu/signup.html Join LSU Premed/Predent Facebook Group This is an LSU Community group page, so you will have to first join Facebook’s LSU community using your LSU e-mail address. Then search for “Pre-Med / Pre-Dent at LSU” to join the group.  

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