HEALTH PROFESSIONS SOPHOMORE SESSION September 2, 2015 Farnsworth Pavilion

Overview of the Presentation  Strong Candidate  Application Process  Rice Applicant Information This presentation is meant to build upon information presented during the Health Professions Advising Orientation. Students who were unable to attend orientation are encouraged to review the slides on our website: oaa.rice.edu

Office of Academic Advising Professional Advisors – OHPAs with AAMC  Director of Academic Advising: Aliya Bhimani  Assistant Directors of Academic Advising: Brad Blunt, Laura Kirkland, Christine Martinez & Davinia Rodriguez-Wilhelm Administrative Staff  Health Professions Advising Coordinator: Noreen Hoard  Department Coordinator: Aurora Zarate

THE STRONG CANDIDATE

The Strong Candidate Medical schools are interested in more than your GPA and MCAT score. There are several common characteristics medical schools look for which include:  Academic Performance  Standardized Test Scores  Clinical Experiences  Service  Leadership and Teamwork  Research  Letters of Recommendation It is important that you incorporate these components into your Rice experience

Curricular Requirements  Common entrance requirements *Most Texas medical schools require additional upper level biology coursework (300- & 400-level course offerings) * Some schools may have additional requirements and many have recommendations. Most Texas schools require 12 credit hours in biological sciences along with 2 credit hours of lab. Check AMCAS and TMDSAS to be certain. *Dental schools require additional coursework in microbiology. BIOC 424 will satisfy this requirement. Research carefully! CourseRequiredRecommendedHoursRequired Lab courseHours English ● 6 General Chemistry ● 6 ● 2 Organic Chemistry ● 6 ● 2 Biology* ● 6* ● 2 Biochemistry* ●● 3 Physics ● 6 ● 2 Mathematics* ● 3-4 Statistics* ●● 3 Humanities/Social Sci (hours=n) ● 12<n

Curricular Requirements (P/F & AP)  Cannot take required courses as Pass/Fail  Must score “C” or better for Texas medical and dental schools (highly recommended for others)  AP credit acceptance – see OAA website  Must be on college transcript  Safer to take upper level courses to meet requirements  May consider forfeiting AP credit and taking courses to prepare for MCAT  Earn a good Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Math (BCPM) GPA in the process

Curricular Requirements (Summer Classes)  Though accepted, schools prefer that you complete your sciences at your home institution  Try to complete at a four-year university  Cannot complete prerequisites outside of the US  Additionally, the summer is a great time to pursue other types of experiences

Curricular Requirements  Check program requirements online at each school’s website  Some compilations exist:  Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)  For Texas, TMDSAS website  Osteopathic Medical College Information Book  ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools  PharmCAS, VMCAS, SOPHAS, CASPA, PTCAS, etc. Rice does not make the decision about which courses meet premedical requirements. Each medical school will determine which courses they will accept. If you have any doubt about a course substitution, you should check.

MCAT  Changed in 2015, longer exam with new section  Plan to take junior year (or when you are ready)  Fee Assistance Program (FAP) available (early spring semester deadline)  MCAT scores are generally valid for three years. Check with school on their specific policy.

MCAT Scoring

 Scores for the four sections are combined to create a total score  The total score ranges from 472 to 528, midpoint is 500  Do not compare to previous scale

MCAT Resources  Studying depends on your discipline and style  Typical courses: Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc.  Study and Practice Resources  Official Guide to the MCAT  MCAT full-length sample test online  Khan Academy MCAT Video Collection  Psychology/Sociology Textbook Resource  Pre-Health Collection on iCollaborative

DAT Resources  DAT:  Four hours and 30 minutes  Offered year around  Details of how to register for the DAT are available on the ADA website  Scoring: 1-30 (national average is 17)  Numerous prep books and other materials  ADA offers a full-length test online Practice DAT test can be purchased for $37

Clinical Exposure  Significant clinical exposure  Provides understanding of clinical settings  Start with your own network  Relevant experience:  REMS  Hospitals  Physician Offices  Health Care Clinics  Screening Agencies  Public Health Programs  Medical Translation

Community Service  Volunteering at one of the hospitals across the street  Valuable to volunteer in other capacities as well  Examples: Habitat for Humanity, PAIR, Outreach Day  Empathy and altruism important in health professions

Co-curricular Activities  Participate in things you enjoy and stay involved  Examples: community involvement, volunteering, tutoring, cultural activities, scholarly pursuits, college government, athletics, IM sports, O-Week  Builds communication, leadership and teamwork  All qualities medical schools value in an applicant  Way for you to pursue unique interests, perspectives & experiences

Rice Pre-Medical Society (RPMS)  OAA sponsors RPMS  Student-based organization for pre-health students  Big Owl/Little Owl (BOP) mentoring program  Physician’s Speaker Conference (February)  Guest speakers from health professional schools  Special panels  Free MCAT prep materials

Rice Pre-Dental Society  OAA sponsors RPDS  Shadowing opportunities  Volunteer opportunities (T-MOM, Project Smile)  Guest speakers from dental schools

Study Abroad/International Service  Study abroad is possible with careful planning  Take interesting courses, learn a new language or conduct research  Opportunity for personal growth and broader understanding of global health issues  Engineers Without Borders (EWB) has service projects abroad during winter and summer breaks

Research  Not absolutely necessary unless pursuing MD/PhD  It is valued and enhances application  Provides understanding and appreciation of research process  Yields distinctive letters of recommendation  Remember you do not have to complete bench work, you can complete research in any field that interests you

Research  Attend Research Fair  Join BioSciences Opportunities OWL-Space  Major-related research  Attend CCD Career Expo  a professor at Rice or a PI in the Texas Medical Center

MD/PhD Programs  7-8 year commitment  Minimum of 2 years of research, 3 preferred  Publishing increases competitiveness  Understand the difference MD, PhD and MD/PhD  Must have strong passion for research  Application is slightly different than MD track

Letters of Evaluation  Cultivate relationships early  Get to know your professors  Ask well in advance  Consider:  1 Science or Engineering  1 Major  1 Character (College Master, Clinical, Job)  1 Research, if appropriate

Summer Activities  Summer is a great time to explore your interests  Research and Clinical Programs  Study Abroad  Fellowships  Volunteering  Planning Ahead  Research early! Most programs have early deadlines Annual applications available around mid November  Apply to programs during winter break/early spring

APPLICATION PROCESS

Application Process  Research schools based on fit, location, cost and a variety of other factors  Rice submits a Health Professions Advising Committee Letter to formally introduce you to medical schools and provide a narrative on your candidacy. When you decide you are ready to apply, attend an Open File Session.  Collaborate with the OAA  Open File Information Sessions  Health Professions Advising Committee Letter  Informational Interviews  Personal Statement & CV Resources  Mock Interviews

Personal Statement  Organized, thoughtful, and personalized statement:  Personal and career goals  Philosophy of health care  Motivation for health profession  Any unique circumstances or life experiences  Mirror to your character and ambitions  Start early, seek help, polish statement

CWOVC - Center for Written, Oral, and Visual Communication  Located on the 2 nd floor of Fondren Library  Offers one-on-one meetings, as well as workshops and non-credit courses (including ESL)  Extremely useful for personal statements and presentation skills!

Interviews  Medical schools invite for interviews in the fall after you apply  Preparation:  Research the health professional school  Make sure your story is concise  Practice possible questions The Medical School Interview by Dr. Desai & Dr. Katta Multiple Mini Interviews by Dr. Desai  Show energy and passion  Mock Interviews  Sponsored by OAA, CCD, CWOVC, RPMS  Alumni MDs and senior interviewers  Remove some nerves and kinks

Honor Code and Medical Ethics  Honor/Character of Applicants  Pressures on Pre-Health Professions Students  Know the Honor Code at Rice  If Violate Code, Admit Mistake, and Move Forward  Importance in Relation to Medical Ethics

Rice Applicants Mean Cumulative Grade Point Average and MCAT Score Rice Medical School Applicants ( ) Calendar Year Mean Grade Point Average Rice Mean MCAT Score National Mean MCAT Score I n the past 12 years, 87% of Rice UG first-time medical school applicants using the OAA services have been accepted to at least one medical school, whereas the national acceptance rate is about 41%. Even when including all alumni (including seniors who take a “gap year”), the Rice acceptance rate is more than double the national acceptance rate.

Where Do Rice Grads Go?  Students are encouraged to apply to schools in their home state  In fall 2014, Rice graduates went to the following states for medical school: TX = 64% PA, NY, NJ, MA = 8% IL, OH, MO, TN = 8% MD, NC, Washington DC = 6% Other = 14%

Cost of Applying to Medical School  AMCAS (MD programs)  First school is $165, $36 for each additional school  Supplemental applications range from $25-$100  TMDSAS (Texas programs)  Flat fee of $140, regardless of the number of schools applying to  AACOMAS (DO programs)  First school is $195, $35 for each additional school  There are application waivers for qualified students for AMCAS and AACOMAS  In addition to paying for medical school applications, students will pay for their Rice transcript, Open File Fee, costs associated with interviews including transportation, meals and accommodations

OAA Tips  Take a writing class  Begin a professional resume/CV (template online)  Keep a journal of your volunteer work/activities  Practice talking about yourself  Be proactive and take ownership of the application process  Abide by timelines  Abide by the Honor Code

Suggested Timetable Sophomore Students Fall SemesterSpring Semester  Continue focus on your coursework  Get to know your professors  Use the OAA website & explore online resources  Plan the intellectual focus of your curriculum, narrow choices for a major – declare if ready  Study Abroad for international program opportunities during for junior/senior year  Get involved in some type of clinical experience  Attend Rice Career Expo sponsored by the CCD  Identify summer program/job opportunities  Begin preparation for standardized tests: Independent review, Kaplan, Princeton, etc.  Look for announcements of health-related events, lectures, and opportunities  Continue focus on your coursework  Get to know your professors  Declare a major and seek major advising  Check medical/dental/vet school admission requirements  Continue preparation for standardized tests  Register for appropriate standardized test(s)  Apply for summer programs  Continue volunteer work/altruistic activities  Continue research, if applicable  Look for announcements of health-related events, lectures, and opportunities

Gap Years & Post Baccalaureate Programs  Gap Year  Travel & Fellowship opportunities  Gather more volunteer, shadowing or work  Gain valuable experience outside of medicine  Post Baccalaureate Programs:  Career-changer  Academic record enhancer  Shift application timeline

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