A PPLYING TO M EDICAL S CHOOLS : A P RACTICAL G UIDE Advisors: Jacqueline Sedgwick, MD Aparna Sreenivasan, PhD Robert Lerrigo UCSF – MS3

O UTLINE About Me Project Goals Timelines MCATs Extracurriculars Taking a Year Off Available Resources Questions

A BOUT M E 3 rd Year UCSF Medical Student Working at Natividad Medical Center, completing the Family Medicine clerkship Continuing community project: CSUMB PreHealth Advising

P ROJECT G OALS Create long-term solutions to CSUMB’s PreHealth advising needs: Dynamic online repository for application information Revised course timetables MCAT aids and resources Help initiate the CSUMB chapter of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA ® ) Students helping students: Mentor-mentee pairs Identify existing barriers to application process

T IMELINES Application process: 18 months Preparation process: several years Know the course requirements: CSUMB Premedical Pathway pathway AAMC General Course Requirements MSAR Create a Four-Year Plan* The earlier you submit your AMCAS, the better! June 1, first day submission

T IMELINE – P REMED F RESHMAN P ATHWAY FreshmanSophomoreJuniorSenior CHEM110/L, 111/L 211, 212 BIO240/L, 241/L242/L, , 320/L, 310, 414, 490 PHYS220, 221 MATH/ STAT MATH 150, 151 STAT 100 or 250 ENVS CST101 FYS100 Language23 Others Creative/Artistic Expression; Literature and Popular Culture Community ParticipationUpper division Service Learning; Culture & Equity; MLO 9 Service in Biology (all 300 level or above) Vibrancy ActivityVibrancy Theory ConcentrationMLO 10 Bio Capstone and Adv Elective Democratic Participation; US Histories

S AMPLE TIMELINE FOR APPLICATION DIRECTLY AFTER UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES First and second year – finish premedical requirements, participate in prehealth activities such as volunteering, research, Third year – continue prehealth activities, maintain a strong GPA, take MCAT, and find recommenders Summer after third year – apply online using the AMCAS, the earlier the application is submitted, the better! Fourth year – Secondary applications, received invitations to interview, matriculate by May 15

T IMELINE – MCAT D ATES 2011 Test DateExam Start Time Registration Opens Regular Registration Closes* 11:59 p.m. ET Late Registration Closes** 11:59 p.m. ET Tentative Score Release Date After 5 p.m. ET Friday, January 28, a.m.October 6, 2010January 14, 2011January 21, 2011March 1, 2011 Saturday, January 29, p.m.October 6January 15January 22March 1 Saturday, March 26, a.m.October 6March 12March 19April 26 Saturday, April 9, a.m.October 6March 26April 2May 10 Saturday, April 16, a.m.October 6April 2April 9May 17 Friday, April 29, p.m.October 6April 15April 22June 1 Saturday, May 7, a.m.October 6April 23April 30June 7 Friday, May 20, a.m.October 6May 6May 13June 21 Saturday, May 21, a.m.October 6May 7May 14June 21 Thursday, May 26, p.m.October 6May 12May 19June 28 Thursday, June 16, a.m. and 2 p.m.TBDJune 2June 9July 19 Wednesday, July 6, p.m.TBDJune 22June 29August 9 Saturday, July 16, a.m.TBDJuly 2July 9August 16 Thursday, July 28, a.m.TBDJuly 14July 21August 30 Friday, July 29, a.m.TBDJuly 15July 22August 30 Friday, August 5, p.m.TBDJuly 22July 29September 7 Saturday, August 6, a.m.TBDJuly 23July 30September 7 Friday, August 12, a.m. and 2 p.m.TBDJuly 29August 5September 13 Thursday, August 18, p.m.TBDAugust 4August 11September 20 Friday, August 19, a.m.TBDAugust 5August 12September 20 Tuesday, August 23, p.m.TBDAugust 9August 16September 27 Thursday, September 1, p.m.TBDAugust 18August 25October 4 Friday, September 2, a.m. and 2 p.m.TBDAugust 19August 26October 4 Thursday, September 8, a.m.TBDAugust 25September 1October 11 Saturday, September 10, p.m.TBDAugust 27September 2October 11

MCAT: W HEN D O I T AKE IT ? When you are prepared: When course material is fresh When you’re done studying Test prep courses (Kaplan, etc.) are popular, but not required: know deadlines and test prep center locations (San Jose, La Jolla) At the very latest, aim for a summer MCAT the year you are applying (>1 year before the start of medical school) Scores obtained before submitting AMCAS Taking a June test  scores in by July: The option of retaking the test Consider taking the MCAT earlier: June 1 AMCAS submission Keep in mind: You can only register for one test at a time July and August test dates fill up quickly Retaking the MCATs may mean taking the test at another location Medical schools don’t review applications until receiving the MCAT scores: September test scores of the year of application may delay the date when the application will be reviewed

MCAT: T HE B ASICS Medical College Admission Test An important exam Know your enemy Computer-based Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Writing Sample, and Biological Sciences Have a plan: 1) Start your research early 2) Read up on essentials from the AAMC 3) Take a free practice test: Your baseline 4) Commercial review courses vs. self-studying 5) Explore the forums (StudentDoctor.net)

What are my chances of getting in?

E XTRACURRICULARS * Medical schools want to know why you want to be a doctor Passion, dedication, progress Shadowing clinicians: Contact local hospitals Contact your childhood doc Volunteering: Hospital Auxiliary Social work Evidence of academic rigor Research Publications

T AKING A Y EAR O FF Is not frowned upon, may in fact be beneficial Most students take 1-2 years off after graduating Most common reasons: Students feel burnt-out Students need time to build their application Post-baccalaureate programs Time for reflection Time to satisfy your interests

T AKING A Y EAR O FF : C OMMON O PTIONS Volunteering in health and non-clinical settings Internships/fellowships in your field of interests Studying abroad Medical mission trips Becoming active in school groups Shadowing physicians Clinical/laboratory research Coordinating projects, teaching Peace Corps Becoming an EMT Armed Forces – Reserves

A VAILABLE R ESOURCES Student Doctor Network Premedical Career Pathway Research – Stanford Association of American Medical Colleges: Makers of the MCAT and AMCAS American Medical Student Association MCAT Review Courses princetonreview.com/home.asp

G ENERAL A DVICE You are not alone: Talk to advisors Talk to upperclassmen Scour the message boards and take notes Do not be intimidated by others – you have strengths nobody else has The Personal Statement: Be honest Display your values and your passion Do not reiterate everything that’s been written elsewhere in the application – emphasize what is important Journal writing: ask yourself every month why you want to become a health care professional.

I NTERESTED IN STARTING AN AMSA C HAPTER ? Member benefits: Access to national AMSA scholarships, internships, shadowing opportunities Involvement in a well-known medical organization Involvement in health care politics Contact Chanelle Shamoun,

Q UESTIONS ?