John GriffithLafayette College 2009

Drexel University College of Medicine 2013

Who am I?

SMAC

Peer Tutor

My experience as a student representative on the admission committee…

Applicant X

• MCAT = 40 S• BCPM GPA = 4.0

• Accepted?

REJECTED. Why?

• MCAT• BCPM GPA – Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math• Clinical Experience • Motivation for Medicine• Community Service• Extracurricular Activities• +/- Research

MCAT

• Do whatever works for you. No simple formula for success.

• Class vs. No-Class• Review Books• Practice Tests **• Preparing for test day.• Take multiple times? Penalty for not improving?• IS NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR!

BCPM GPA

• Course Requirements – All you need to take?• Non-science Majors - take more than one

science course at a time

• If this is your weakness, what to do next? Post-bac?– Different types

Clinical Experience

• Volunteering• Research• Shadowing– Where? School specific?– How long?– Get recommendations from– Different specialties

Motivation for Medicine

• Ever since I was born……. Please don’t.• Because my father/mother is a physician….Fine

if they are but need to justify why it is for YOU.• At birth I had a PDA……Not going to do the trick. • GET OUT AND EXPERIENCE!• Why is this important? Med school ain’t easy or

cheap.

Community Service

• Can be anything really.• Do what interests you.• Number isn’t important, quality and

dedication towards means a significant amount more.

• Examples- Hospice, Nursing homes…etc.

Research Experience

• GREAT opportunity here at Lafayette.• EXCEL Scholars, Independent Study, Honors

Thesis• Can really distinguish you – but you need to

have a genuine interest in the research you are doing

Extracurricular Activities

• This is really just where anything else that interests you falls.

• Although, it can make a BIG difference

DO NOT APPROACH THIS AS A CHECKLIST!

“Seems to have just checked the boxes, without any real passion for any of the things listed”

Personal Statements

• Important but doesn’t usually make a difference.

• Don’t try to do too much with this.• NO TYPOS• Answer the prompt- why you want to be a

doctor• Don’t just rehash your credentials

Random other thoughts…

• Its not the end of the world if you get in trouble in college – just admit it and take responsibility

• Except if its plagiarism. That’s not good.• A DUI isn’t either.• If you are disadvantaged or under represented

in medicine, please note that you are, but do not try to stretch the truth with these things.

Life in Medical School

• Questions….

Basic Science Coursework

• Year 1:– Anatomy– Microanatomy– Embryology– Genetics– Physiology– Neuroscience– Biochemistry– Immunology

• Year 2:– Pathology– Pharmacology– Pathophysiology– Microbiology– Psychology

Year 3 - Core Rotations

• 6 Week Rotations– Pediatrics– Psychiatry– Family Medicine– Ob/Gyn

• 12 Week Rotations– Surgery– Medicine

Questions?

• Contact – JJG84@drexel.edu