MEDICAL SCHOOL: THE BASICS, SOME TIPS, AND HOW WE ENDED UP HERE A talk by UCSF students Sharon Orbach Jonathan Robbins 9/21/11

ABOUT US 3rd Year UCSF Medical Students In Salinas at Natividad Medical Center, currently completing our Family Medicine clerkship

OUTLINE Topics you want us to cover Basic requirements/Timeline Alternate paths Tips from Sharon Jonathan Sharon Questions

GENERAL PREMED REQUIREMENTS A year of Chemistry along with the appropriate laboratory courses A year of Organic Chemistry along with laboratory courses A year of Biology along with laboratory courses A year of Physics along with laboratory courses A year of English A year of Calculus or other advanced math classes, including Statistics MCAT: computerized, multiple-choice test Offered monthly at Prometric testing sites throughout the country Four sections: Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Writing Sample, and Biological Sciences

SAMPLE 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

ALTERNATIVE TIMELINE A year off between undergraduate and medical school Post bac programs – finish your pre-med requirements! Strengthen your application working in a medical field, Teach For America, MPH, Research, Volunteer work, and travel abroad

ABOUT THE AMCAS The AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) is a common online application used by all medical schools during the application process Required sections include Undergraduate transcript Activities & Awards Personal statement explaining desire to go to medical school Secondary applications vary by school Questions tailored to school Short answer questions about ethics

FINANCIAL AID Medical school tuition generally costs $50k per year Most schools offer financial aid The federal government offers loans through the Stafford program, which don’t have to be paid back until after graduation and accrue interest with a fixed, subsidized rate Physician salaries depend on specialty, but here are some averages: Family practice: $204k Pediatrics: $175k Emergency Medicine: $216k General surgery: $291k Radiology $354k

M ORE THAN G RADES AND T ESTS Extracurricular Activities Volunteering/shadowing/Jobs Teaching Role Leadership Role Community engagement Sports Hobbies—eg music Research Letters of Recommendation

**TIPS** Keep a CV Do what YOU love (it’s your time) Show interest/Take initiative/Be Curious Be proactive Collect Mentors (advocates)

JONATHAN’S PATH University of Virginia, 2005, Political and Social Thought, minor in biology Most certainly NOT pre-med in college

TO MED SCHOOL OR NOT TO MED SCHOOL PhD vs. MD MD vs. MD/PhD vs MD/MS or MD/MPH Post-bac requirements The interviewing trail Joint Medical Program 5 year, UC-Berkeley, UCSF combined MD/MS No lectures! Small group, case based learning Serious thesis

“YOU ARE EXCHANGING YOUR YOUTH FOR THIS SECRET KNOWLEDGE.” DR. WILLIAM P. SCHECTER TRAUMA SURGEON SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL HOSPITAL