Health Professions Advising Open File Session 2015

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

Purpose of Open File Session  Details and guidance on the application process  For students applying to medical, dental and veterinary school, Rice submits a Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC) letter to formally introduce you to schools and provide a narrative on your candidacy  An optional service but a Rice tradition for over 25 years

Strong Candidate  Academic Performance at Rice (overall GPA and science GPA)  Standardized Test Scores (ex. MCAT, DAT, etc.)  Clinical Exposure and Experiences  Service and Community Involvement (Altruism/Empathy)  Uniqueness: Interests, Perspectives, and Experiences  Leadership and Teamwork  Research (Intellectual Curiosity)  Interpersonal/Communication Skills  Character: Ethics, Integrity, Honesty, Responsibility  Letters of Evaluation

Importance of Deadlines  Need significant information from you  Without sufficient information in a timely manner, cannot represent your candidacy  Most health professional schools operate on rolling admissions so delays significantly impact admission  We need your help to maintain this standard

Timeline  TaskDeadline Pay $100 Registration Fee (here)hereDecember 18, 2015 Complete HPA Applicant Information Form (Google Form here)Google Form here December 18, 2015 Submit Materials in OWL-Space Drop Box January 29, 2016 (by 11:59 p.m.)  Submit SJP Disciplinary Request Waiver  Submit High School Paragraph  Submit Curriculum Vitae (CV)  Submit Draft Personal Statement  Submit Informational Interview Form Request Supporting Letters of EvaluationJanuary 29, 2016 Schedule Informational Interview (Strongly Suggested)February 5 – April 1, 2016 Complete Informational Interview (Strongly Suggested)April 8, 2016 Start Applications to AMCAS and TMDSASOpen May 1, 2016 Supporting Letters of Evaluation ReceivedMay 13, 2016 Complete Applications in AMCAS and TMDSASMay 1 – Oct 1, 2016 (ASAP)

December 18: Open your File  Two Step Process:  $100 registration fee  Applicant Information Form  Waivers:  Access to individual letters & HPAC letter  Authorization for Student Judicial Programs (SJP) to release your disciplinary record information  Rice Alumni in Medicine

December 18: Open your File  Once all materials are confirmed, you will be added to the HPA-2017 Applicants OWL-Space using your NetID  If you are an alumnus, contact the OAA at for a new NetID

January 29: Submit Materials in OWL- Space  SJP disciplinary waiver request  High school paragraph  Curriculum Vitae (CV)  Personal Statement  Informational Interview Form

January 29: SJP Disciplinary Waiver Request  Allows communication between SJP and the OAA regarding your disciplinary record  SJP disciplinary waiver request SJP disciplinary waiver request  Release record to the “Office of Academic Advising”  Be sure to sign the bottom of the form

Honor Code or Conduct Violations  All students are asked to complete the SJP disciplinary record request  Review Questions 3 and 4 in the SJP FAQ documentSJP FAQ document  Remember: It is best to be honest

January 29: High School Paragraph  Summarize your achievements  Context about your accomplishments with respect to your college transition  Example: In the spring of 2006, Joseph graduated as valedictorian of his class from Rollins High School in San Diego, California with a perfect 4.0/4.0 cumulative grade point average, a perfect 1600 SAT score and a perfect 36 ACT score. He had also amassed 51 hours of Advanced Placement credit. While in high school, Joseph was also actively involved with Habitat for Humanity, and he participated in theater while competing on the tennis and golf teams. He was named a National Merit Scholar and upon his matriculation at Rice, he was given the Trustee Distinguished Brown Scholarship and the W.L. Moody, Jr. Engineering Scholarship.

January 29: CV  All applicants are required to use the template provided in Owl-Space as it is specifically formatted for the HPAC  Detail your academic achievement, research experience, clinical exposure, leadership experience, volunteerism, extra-curriculars, honors and awards, etc.

January 29: Informational Interview Form  Expand on elements of your CV  Opportunity to articulate your motivation  Provides perspective about the steps taken to prepare  Reflect on information admissions committees want to know

January 29: Personal Statement  Opportunity to personalize your application and can address:  Personal and career goals  Philosophy of health care  Motivation for health profession  Unique characteristics, circumstances, or life experiences contributing to diversity of class  Reflect on the experiences in your CV: describe how these experiences have shaped your motivation to pursue medicine

January 29: Personal Statement  Start early, seek help from those who know you well  Will require several iterations  Rice Pre-Medical Society will host workshops  Center for Written, Oral, and Visual Communication available for consultation

January 29: Request Letters  Need to consider the following:  Number of letters: more than 4 for MD/PhD only  Who, how, and when to ask  Provide evaluators with Letter of Evaluation waiver (found in OWL-Space)

January 29: Request Letters  We suggest the following letters:  Professor in your academic major  Professor of science or engineering course (could overlap with major)  Supervising research professor or related to clinical activities  Individual who can provide a strong character reference

Resources in Owl-Space  Open File Presentation & Document  Guidelines and templates:  HS paragraph  CV  Personal statement  Informational interview form  Guidelines for requesting letters  Letter waiver request form  Opportunities and announcements (workshops on personal statements, mock interviews)

February 5 – April 1: Schedule Informational Interview  Students are encouraged to participate  Not a formal interview  Opportunity to clarify documents submitted in OWL- Space  Business casual attire suggested

Before May 1: Research Schools  Deciding where to apply is critical yet challenging and time consuming  Important factors include:  Public school residency requirements  Curricular approach  Traditional lecture or problem-based learning  Schedule (block class or multiple class)  Basic sciences structure  Grading system  Focus on research, primary care or specialty  School culture  Location  Cost of attendance

Before May 1: Research Schools  AMCAS American Medical College Application Service  First school is $165, $36 for each additional school  Supplemental applications range from $25-$100  TMDSAS Texas Medical Dental School Application Service  Flat fee of $140, regardless of the number of schools applying to  AACOMAS American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service  First school is $195, $35 for each additional school  AADSAS Associated American Dental Schools Application Service  First school is $244, $90 for each additional school

Before May 1: Research Schools  Resources:  Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)  Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service website Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service website  AACOMAS and AADSAS books available in OAA office

Where do Rice students go?  In fall 2015, Rice graduates went to the following states for medical school:  TX = 67%  PA, NY, NJ, MA = 6%  IL, OH, MO, TN = 6%  MD, NC, Washington DC = 5%  Other = 16%

Before May 1: Application Processing Details  All students are required to carefully read the application manuals available online (~April)  AMCAS  AACOMAS  TMDSAS  AADSAS  Most schools operate on rolling admissions, it is best to apply early  Questions should be directed to each service:  AMCAS:  TMDSAS:

After May 1: Application Processing Details  Letters of Evaluation  List all evaluators in your Information Interview form  If you change evaluators, submit an updated document in your dropbox and to notify us – do not delete your old forms  All applicants receive an from the OAA when all supporting letters of evaluation have been submitted to our office  If your evaluator submits an electronic copy of your letter, they will receive an confirmation from our office that it was successfully submitted on your behalf

After May 1: Application Processing Details  Letters of Evaluation Section (AMCAS)  Please select committee letter  Provide contact information listed in your packet

May-October: Processing Details  Transcripts:  Students are required to submit transcripts for each accredited institution attended  To request a transcript, visit the Registrar’s websiteRegistrar’s website  Each service requires a Transcript Request Form to be sent with your transcript, include applicant ID on form  Study Abroad courses on Rice approved study abroad programs are generally accepted on a Rice transcript  Be sure to follow guidelines for each application service regarding transcript submission and study abroad credits

May 1-October 1: Secondary Applications  Secondary applications vary  Certain schools do not have any  Some are available immediately online (some Texas schools)  Some schools will send you a link to their school specific website after receiving your application  Some schools will send you a link to their school specific website after an initial review of your application  Submit as soon as possible, within ~2 weeks of receipt

August April 2017: Interviews  Prepare  Research interview format: traditional versus multiple mini interviews  Practice possible questions  Make sure your story is concise  Inform your professors of dates as you accept invitations  Mock interviews  Hosted by Rice Pre-Medical Society and Rice Pre-Dental Society in February 2016 for students who meet OAA deadlines on a first come, first serve basis  CWOVC and CCD as well

The Application Timeline  The application process is long and challenging; be prepared and have patience  Good luck!

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