1. 2012 Medical School application Workshop TimelineTimeline MCATMCAT Choosing SchoolsChoosing Schools Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation HPAC applicationHPAC application AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSASAMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS HPAC InterviewHPAC Interview Confirming your letters have been sentConfirming your letters have been sent Secondary applicationsSecondary applications Interviews at the schoolsInterviews at the schools Accept/deny/holdAccept/deny/hold

2. 1: Register for the mcat REGISTER NOW

3. Preparation for the MCAT Kaplan and TPR Built-in accountabilityBuilt-in accountability PopularPopular All materials includedAll materials included Class does NOT replace Study!Class does NOT replace Study! DIY BYOD (Bring your own discipline)BYOD (Bring your own discipline) AAMC tests are the bestAAMC tests are the best AAMC Guide (cheap & effective)AAMC Guide (cheap & effective) Examcrackers – Amazon or B&NExamcrackers – Amazon or B&N AED course in spring 2011AED course in spring 2011

4. 2: Choose your medical schools Allopathic MD Degree MD Degree UAB, USA, etc. UAB, USA, etc. State of Residency Matters State of Residency Matters 131 US Schools 131 US Schools AMCAS AMCAS National Avg: 31 MCAT, 3.7 GPA National Avg: 31 MCAT, 3.7 GPA

5. Choose your medical schools Osteopathic DO Degree DO Degree Schools in AL, MS, TN, GA, FL Schools in AL, MS, TN, GA, FL Essentially the same residency options Essentially the same residency options Less research oriented Less research oriented Slightly more emphasis on primary care Slightly more emphasis on primary care About half consider January 2012 MCAT About half consider January 2012 MCAT AACOMAS is the primary application service AACOMAS is the primary application service National Average: 26 MCAT, 3.5 GPA National Average: 26 MCAT, 3.5 GPA

6. Messin’ with texas TMDSAS – Most Texas Schools use this instead of AMCAS or AACOMASTMDSAS – Most Texas Schools use this instead of AMCAS or AACOMAS Application very similar to AMCAS/AACOMASApplication very similar to AMCAS/AACOMAS Application available May 2012Application available May 2012

7. Offshore medical schools No centralized service; apply directly to the schoolsNo centralized service; apply directly to the schools INVESTIGATE graduation rates, board pass ratesINVESTIGATE graduation rates, board pass rates May (and often will) take longer than 4 yearsMay (and often will) take longer than 4 years Limited residency optionsLimited residency options Extremely limited transfer options Extremely limited transfer options

8. The application: AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS 3 parts:3 parts: TranscriptTranscript ActivitiesActivities Personal statementPersonal statement

9. TRANSCRIPT

10. Transcript Obtain copies of your transcript from each school attended.Obtain copies of your transcript from each school attended. Enter each course you have taken exactly as it appears on your transcript(s).Enter each course you have taken exactly as it appears on your transcript(s). Send official transcripts from each undergraduate school attended to AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSASSend official transcripts from each undergraduate school attended to AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS

11. ACTIVITIES

12. Sample activities Honors/Awards/RecognitionsHonors/Awards/Recognitions Conferences AttendedConferences Attended Presentation/PostersPresentation/Posters PublicationPublication Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocatio nsExtracurricular/Hobbies/Avocatio ns Leadership – not Listed ElsewhereLeadership – not Listed Elsewhere OtherOther Intercollegiate AthleticsIntercollegiate Athletics Artistic EndeavorsArtistic Endeavors Paid Employment - not MilitaryPaid Employment - not Military Paid Employment – MilitaryPaid Employment – Military Community Service/Volunteer – not Medical/ClinicalCommunity Service/Volunteer – not Medical/Clinical Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/ClinicalCommunity Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical Research/LabResearch/Lab Teaching/TutoringTeaching/Tutoring

13. Documenting Activities

14. Activities 15 slots15 slots What do you do when you’re not studying?What do you do when you’re not studying? Nothing off limits – almostNothing off limits – almost Don’t feel like you need to use every available character! Some may not warrant long descriptions.Don’t feel like you need to use every available character! Some may not warrant long descriptions. Estimates are fine when listing the number of hours invested in each activity; don’t get mired down in the details.Estimates are fine when listing the number of hours invested in each activity; don’t get mired down in the details.

15. Personal statement 5300 Characters AMCAS 4500 AACOMAS5300 Characters AMCAS 4500 AACOMAS (approximately 1-1.5 typed pages single spaced)(approximately 1-1.5 typed pages single spaced) Good articles & examples online at www.premed.ua.eduGood articles & examples online at www.premed.ua.eduwww.premed.ua.edu Tell your storyTell your story Address (but don’t dwell on) deficitsAddress (but don’t dwell on) deficits This and LOR most carefully read part of the applicationThis and LOR most carefully read part of the application

16. Letters of recommendation MAX of 5 Letters: 3 from Faculty, 2 personal MAX of 5 Letters: 3 from Faculty, 2 personal Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you?Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you? AT LEAST ONE from a BCPM professor (engineering OK)AT LEAST ONE from a BCPM professor (engineering OK) Content of the letter more important than the authorContent of the letter more important than the author DO schools want a letter from a DODO schools want a letter from a DO How to ask for a letter: ~ our form ~ For recommenders who don’t know you as well, providing a resume with a picture is a good idea.

17. HPAC pre-application For UA use only: application at www.premed.ua.eduFor UA use only: application at www.premed.ua.eduwww.premed.ua.edu Complete this in addition to your primary applicationComplete this in addition to your primary application We need both the Pre-Application and a copy of your primary application if you wish to interview with our committee (recommended by medical schools).We need both the Pre-Application and a copy of your primary application if you wish to interview with our committee (recommended by medical schools).

18. When to ask for a letter Ask now Someone you already work with/know wellSomeone you already work with/know well Someone you’ve worked with in the past.Someone you’ve worked with in the past. Someone who isn’t likely to have new information on you in the next few monthsSomeone who isn’t likely to have new information on you in the next few months Ask later Someone you don’t know well (YET!)Someone you don’t know well (YET!) Someone who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few monthsSomeone who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few months Sabbatical? Summer?

19. 2 Interviews HPAC interview In Lloyd HallIn Lloyd Hall Basis for your committee letterBasis for your committee letter Must be done before other letters sent to the schoolsMust be done before other letters sent to the schools March-SeptemberMarch-September NOT BlindNOT Blind School Interview At the medical schoolAt the medical school Some blind, some notSome blind, some not September-MarchSeptember-March

20. VIRTUALEVALS & AAMC LETTER ID

21. Primary vs. Secondary Primary Application AMCASAMCAS AACOMASAACOMAS TMDSASTMDSAS Individual application for non-service schoolsIndividual application for non-service schools Secondary application Request from the individual school for more informationRequest from the individual school for more information Time sensitiveTime sensitive Most schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondaryMost schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondary CostlyCostly Be concise!Be concise!

22. timeline

24. Questions? premed@ua.edu