1. Applying to Medical School in 2014 and Beyond
Lee Witters
Sarah Berger
Annette Hamilton

2. Some Medical School Admission Statistics: 2012 Matriculants
# applicants: 139
% alumni: 83%
% lst time applicants accepted: 84%
# schools/applicant: 19
# acceptances/applicant: 2.7 (1-10)
GPAs accepted:
Overall: ( )
BCPM: ( )
GPA not accepted:
Overall: ( )
BCPM: ( )
MCAT
Accepted :
10.6VR/11.8PS/11.7BS/34.1/Q
Not Accepted:
8.9VR/9.6PS/9.5BS/28/Q
Dartmouth
Some Medical School Admission Statistics: Matriculants
# applicants: 43, 542
# accepted: 19, 597 (45%)
GPA all applicants: (3.44 BCPM)
GPA accepted: 3.68 (3.63 BCPM)
MCAT all takers
8.4VR/8.8PS/9.3BS/26.5/O
MCAT accepted applicants VR/9.9PS/10.3BS/29.5/P
National
BCPM=Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Math (also Neuroscience (not Psych), Some Engineering)
VR=Verbal Reasoning, PS=Physical Sciences, BS=Biological Sciences

3. Factors Influencing Admission Statistics
OVERALL GPA
>3.3 overall GPA 95% of ‘accepted’; 70 % of ‘not accepted’
BCPM GPA
>3.3 BCPM % of ‘accepted’; 37% of ‘not accepted’
MCAT
>30 MCAT % of ‘accepted’; 57% of ‘not accepted’
Timeliness (Application verified before Sept 1 (= early August submission date)
80% of ‘accepted’; 63% of ‘not accepted’
OTHER DATA
Science GPA < 3.3; MCAT <30: Only 3% accepted
Other factors:
Clinical Experience/Exposure
Community Service
Research Experience
List of Schools (# and appropriateness relative to credentials)
Personal statement & Interview
Letters of evaluation
Utilization of advising services

4. Elements of a Successful Application to Medical School
Courses (GPA, Science GPA)
MCAT
Letters of Evaluation
Extracurricular Experiences
Personal & Professional Characteristics
Skills & Abilities
Clinical Exposure
Altruistic Service
Scholarly Activity
(outside classroom)

5. Evaluating Beyond Grades,MCAT Scores and Prior Experiences in Health
Skills & Abilities
Personal & Professional Characteristics
Resiliency
Integrity/Judgment
Adaptability
Reliability/Dependability
Persistence
Motivation
Intellectual curiosity
Empathy
Altruistic service
Active listener
Problem solver
Communicator (oral, written)
Critical thinker
Multilingual

6. First Things First
Make your intention to possibly apply known to our advising system..i.e. SIGN IN
Have an individual conversation with an advisor as to whether 2014 is the optimum time for you to be applying to medical school or whether you should consider delaying till 2015 or later
Familiarize yourself with all the sources of information
KEEP TO ANNOUNCED DEADLINES!

7. Applying to Medical School in 2014 and Beyond
Overview: Where is help?
Important web sites:
NSS (
Several links in “Medical School” section including Alumni Advice network &‘Medical School Application ’(podcasts, documents)
NSS Blackboard site (need to self-enroll; see instructions on NSS home page)
All important documents and podcasts to be posted here in ‘Pre-Health Information’ >>>>’Medical School’ folder
American Association of Medical Colleges (
Links on right: AMCAS, MCAT, Aspiring Docs.org, Medical Schools/More Resources

8. Applying to Medical School in 2014 and Beyond: A POP QUIZ!
Should I apply in 2014?
When should I take the MCAT exam and how should I prepare for it?
When should I begin to ask for letters of evaluation and how does the Dartmouth letter system work?
How does the actual AMCAS application process work and what dates am I aiming for to complete it?

9. Applying to Medical School in 2014 and Beyond: A POP QUIZ!
Should I apply in 2014?
EVERYONE needs to have an individual one-on-one conversation with Sarah or Lee now to select an application year that best fits your credentials and your aspirations

10. Applying to Medical School in 2014 and Beyond
The MCAT exam, registration and preparation
When/where? Cost? ($240) Details: Official Guide
How to prepare? MCAT Survey: ‘How NSS Prepares’
Other issues: testing accommodations; fee assistance
Posted
on NSS home
page

11. The Application
AMCAS application (released early May; earliest submission early June; ideal by late June/early July)
Personal information (issue of institutional action/misdemeanor/felony)
Grades from all institutions (with transcripts (paper))
Personal statement
Activities & Experiences
School list (how to decide?)
$$$ ($160 (one school); $35 for each additional school)
Letters of evaluation
MCAT Score
Secondary applications (more essays; more $$)
Interview invitation (Sept to mid-March)

12. Composite Letter of Evaluation
REQUIRED unless you are class of 2011 or previous
No more than six (6) writers including your composite writer.
3-5 writers will write supporting letters (these + your composite letter = composite packet)
Who will be your letter writers?
TWO science faculty who’ve taught you
Major professor
Extracurricular letter

13. Credentials Consult Documents in “Medical School Application 2014-15 ” on NSS web site
Open your Interfolio account
Waiving your rights of access
Ask letter writers – give them timelines
Create & upload supporting documents
Autobiographical Sketch
Resume
Transcript (“official” from Registrar (order on-line))
Release to Composite Writer
Additional letters (after composite) – talk to Annette
Timelines/Deadlines (Agreement form)

14. Questions About Interfolio?
Send to

15. Timeline Fall Winter Spring Summer 13- 14 14-15
- Is this the best year for you to apply?
-Ask for LETTERS
-Sign up for early MCAT
-Workshops
-Early MCAT (or sign up for spring/summer)
-Open Interfolio account
-LETTERS
-MCAT
-Begin AMCAS application, incl. personal statement & school list
-Transcript (after spring term)
-Submit AMCAS application target date 6/30
-Begin secondary applications
-Send LETTERS
14-15
-Complete 2° by early Sept
-Schools to have everything by now
-Interviews & Offers
- Update Letters
-Decision Day: May 15
-Get ready for med school classes!

16. Timeline Fall Winter Spring Summer 13-14 14-15
- Is this the best year for you to apply?
-Ask for LETTERS
-Sign up for early MCAT
-Workshops
-Early MCAT (or sign up for spring/summer)
-Open Interfolio account
-LETTERS
-MCAT
-Begin AMCAS application, incl. personal statement & school list
-Transcript (after spring term)
-Submit AMCAS application target date 6/30
-Begin secondary applications
-Send LETTERS
14-15
-Complete 2° by early Sept
-Schools to have everything by now
-Interviews & Offers
- Update Letters
-Decision Day: May 15
-Get ready for med school classes!

17. Summary of Deadlines (Ideal (i.e. target) & Final)
Task
Ideal (target) date
Final deadline
Taking MCAT
By mid-June
August dates
Submitting AMCAS
June 30
Sept 1
Submitting 2o Apps
Oct 1
Documents Due (to HPP Office or Interfolio)
Timeline Agreement
ASAP
April 1
Composite Letter Worksheet
End of winter term classes
May 1
Supporting Documents
July 1
Supporting Letters
Release to Composite Writer
May 15
Composite Letter
September 1

18. Timeline Agreement Sheet
Please review, sign and return by the end of this meeting or to HPP office in Carson Advising Center
Composite Letter Work Sheet
Submit by end of winter term
to Annette Hamilton

19. Applying to Medical School in 2014 and Beyond A Few More Things
Medical Application Newsletter
Winter/Spring Term Workshops
How to Ask for Letters, Getting Started on a Personal Statement, Filling out the AMCAS Application, Choosing Schools, Interviewing, Post- Bacc/Gap Year Options
Fee Waivers
Investment of your time to do all of this

20. Early Assurance Program for Dartmouth College Class of 2015
Web site for application:
Geisel Admissions Officers Andrew Welch, Bill Brown & Aileen Panitz willing to speak to interested students

21. Streamlined application to identify up to five students a year
Evidence of potential to become outstanding physicians
Character, experiences, academic skills, broad education (holistic evaluation)
Potential to work with patients from a variety of backgrounds
Need not have completed all of med school course requirements, but a sufficient number to give a good basis for evaluation of overall performance
MCAT examination not required
Opportunity for gap year experience

22. TIMELINE
Application Deadline 1 October 2015
Application Fee $130
Letters of Reference 2-5, suggest two from science faculty
Interview Notifications By late October
Interviews November – first week January
Program Decisions Late January

23. CONTINGENCIES
Candidate reply within two weeks
Binding unless candidate withdraws from program OR applies to other programs
Commensurate academic performance
Commensurate involvement in activities
Completes following year AMCAS Application (no fee)
Criminal background check