So You Want to be a Doctor, Dentist, Vet, Chiropractor…, Essential Knowledge for Prehealth Students So You Want to be a Doctor, Dentist, Vet, Chiropractor…, Essential Knowledge for Prehealth Students Dalene M. Aylward, Prehealth Advisor Libby Morsheimer, Coordinator of Preprofessional Advising Nicole Schwab, Prehealth Advisor University at Buffalo

Prehealth Advising Basic Facts for Competitive Applicants Basic Facts for Competitive Applicants Getting Started! Getting Started!

“Prehealth” Refers To: Allopathic Medicine (MD) Allopathic Medicine (MD) Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Chiropractic Medicine (DC) Chiropractic Medicine (DC) Dental Medicine (DDS/DMD) Dental Medicine (DDS/DMD) Podiatric Medicine (DPM) Podiatric Medicine (DPM) Optometry (OD) Optometry (OD) Physician Assistant (PA) Physician Assistant (PA)

Why? How Do You Know?

Ask Yourself The Following Important Questions  Do I care deeply about other people, their problems, and their pain? Do I enjoy using my skills and knowledge to help people?  Do I enjoy learning and gaining new understanding?  Do I enjoy and value learning in the sciences and overall not just earning good grades?  Am I intrigued by the way medicine can be used to improve life?

Reframe Your Thinking ”What is everything I need to do to get into medical school or dental school or vet school, etc?” ASK INSTEAD: ”What is everything I need to do to get into medical school or dental school or vet school, etc?” ASK INSTEAD: “What do I need to do to become the best possible doctor or dentist or vet I can?” “What do I need to do to become the best possible doctor or dentist or vet I can?”

Choosing a Major Students from ALL academic majors are admitted to US professional health schools. Admissions’ Committees value applicants who have a broad based, varied educational experience. Students from ALL academic majors are admitted to US professional health schools. Admissions’ Committees value applicants who have a broad based, varied educational experience. GRADES MATTER. GRADES MATTER. ALL grades count; though, the professional health schools will look at the overall trend of grades. ALL grades count; though, the professional health schools will look at the overall trend of grades.

Basic Facts: Recent Average GPAs Allopathic Medicine 3.6/3.7+ Allopathic Medicine 3.6/3.7+ Osteopathic Medicine 3.3/3.4+ Osteopathic Medicine 3.3/3.4+ Dentistry 3.4+ Dentistry 3.4+ Veterinary Medicine 3.5+ Veterinary Medicine 3.5+ Optometry 3.4+ Optometry 3.4+ Podiatry 3.1+ Podiatry 3.1+ Chiropractic Medicine 3.0+ Chiropractic Medicine 3.0+

GPAs Excellent academic credentials is a critical piece of the application, but alone it is not enough. Admissions’ committees will review the ENTIRE application. Applicants need to strive for overall excellence. Excellent academic credentials is a critical piece of the application, but alone it is not enough. Admissions’ committees will review the ENTIRE application. Applicants need to strive for overall excellence. Minimize repeated courses as ALL courses are viewed and considered. Minimize repeated courses as ALL courses are viewed and considered.

Basic Facts: Prerequisite Courses One Year with Two Semesters of Lab for Each of the Following One Year with Two Semesters of Lab for Each of the Following General Chemistry General Chemistry Organic Chemistry Organic Chemistry Biology Biology Physics Physics One Year of English One Year of English Recommended Recommended - One Year of Calculus Recommended for Non-Bio Majors - Additional Science (Biochemistry, Physiology, etc.) Recommended for Non-Bio Majors - Additional Science (Biochemistry, Physiology, etc.)

Basic Facts: Additional Prerequisites CHIROPRACTIC: Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities CHIROPRACTIC: Psychology, Social Sciences, Humanities OPTOMETRY: Statistics, OPTOMETRY: Statistics, Microbiology, Psychology, Microbiology, Psychology, Biochemistry Biochemistry VETERINARY MEDICINE: Biochemistry, Genetics, Animal Nutrition, Microbiology VETERINARY MEDICINE: Biochemistry, Genetics, Animal Nutrition, Microbiology

Basic Facts: Admissions’ Exams Medicine - MCAT Medicine - MCAT Dentistry - DAT Dentistry - DAT Optometry - OAT Optometry - OAT Podiatry – MCAT Podiatry – MCAT Veterinary - GRE or MCAT Veterinary - GRE or MCAT Chiropractic - NO admissions test is required Chiropractic - NO admissions test is required

Basic Facts: Beyond Academics Volunteering/Shadowing Volunteering/Shadowing Institutions (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, etc.) Institutions (Hospitals, Nursing Homes, etc.) Private/Group Practices Private/Group Practices Community Service Community Service Extracurricular Activities Extracurricular Activities Research Research Employment Employment Honors/Awards Honors/Awards

Basic Facts: What Else are They Looking for in Candidates? Integrity/Values Integrity/Values Professionalism Professionalism Inside & outside of professional settings Inside & outside of professional settings Maturity/Character Maturity/Character Motivation/Dedication Motivation/Dedication Overall preparedness to be a health care provider Overall preparedness to be a health care provider

Letters of Recommendation Highly sought by ALL the professional health schools. Highly sought by ALL the professional health schools. Provides insight and detail regarding individual applicant (e.g., explains context of academic record) Provides insight and detail regarding individual applicant (e.g., explains context of academic record) Advice? Get to know your faculty, clinical staff, researchers, etc. Advice? Get to know your faculty, clinical staff, researchers, etc.

Being a Prehealth Student at UB Specialized Advising Specialized Advising Individual Appts/12 Months Individual Appts/12 Months Numerous Info Sessions (e.g., summer orientation, fall/spring semesters) Numerous Info Sessions (e.g., summer orientation, fall/spring semesters) Connections to local healthcare community Connections to local healthcare community Guest Speakers Guest Speakers Student Clubs (e.g., shadowing, service, social events, support, info) Student Clubs (e.g., shadowing, service, social events, support, info) Website/Listserv/Blog Website/Listserv/Blog

How Do I Get Started? VISIT THE PREHEALTH WEBSITE VISIT THE PREHEALTH WEBSITEhttp://prehealth.buffalo.edu VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER TAKE A SCIENCE COURSE TAKE A SCIENCE COURSE ATTEND A WORKSHOP(S) ATTEND A WORKSHOP(S) JOIN A UB PREHEALTH CLUB JOIN A UB PREHEALTH CLUB REGULARLY READ “PREHEALTH BULLETIN” REGULARLY READ “PREHEALTH BULLETIN”

ALTERNATIVES TO DOCTORAL LEVEL HEALTH CAREERS Nurse Practitioner Respiratory Therapist Occupational Therapist Physician’s Assistant Speech therapist Physical Therapist Counselor Pharmaceutics Perfusionist Drug Information Specialists Psychologist Cardiovascular technologist Medical Technician Biomedical Programmer Nuclear Medical Technician Biomedical Engineer This list is not exhaustive. This list is not exhaustive...

Good Luck!