Spring 2016 Presentation
Transcript of Spring 2016 Presentation
Levere% House Resident Pre-‐Med Commi%ee:
Jonathan Abraham Amy Chen
Manjinder Kandola Shervin Tabrizi
Overview
Completed
Coming Up Pre-med courses
MCAT Extracurriculars
Letters of rec Lev pre-med packet AMCAS application
Interviews
Introduction
Overview
Completed
Coming Up Pre-med courses
MCAT Extracurriculars
Letters of rec Lev pre-med packet AMCAS application
Interviews
Introduction
Applying to Medical School � Medical school admission is competitive: in 2013, 48,014 students applied and 20,055 were accepted (41.8%)
� Competitive medical schools have low acceptance rates. Top 10 lowest rates in 2013 ranged from 1.6-‐3.8%
� However, Harvard students traditionally do very well! � 96% of Harvard applicants with GPAs > 3.5 were accepted in 2013, compared with 87% of Harvard applicants overall and 44% of national applicants
� Harvard students are accepted with lower science and overall GPAs compared to their national counterparts (science 3.53 vs 3.63; overall 3.59 vs. 3.69 in 2013)
Overview
Completed
Coming Up Pre-med courses
MCAT Extracurriculars
Letters of rec Lev pre-med packet AMCAS application
Interviews
Introduction
3
medical school requirements for admission(as of july 2014)
I. Course Requirements• One year of general or inorganic chemistry with lab• One year of organic chemistry with lab• One year of general physics with lab• One year of biology with lab• One year of English
It is recommended that you complete these courses before taking the MCAT and before applying to medical school.ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
• Over 50 medical schools require one or two semesters of mathematics (college math, calculus, and/or statistics).
• Currently the following 30 medical schools require one semester of biochemistry. We expect this number to increase over the next several years.
University of Arizona College of Medicine, PhoenixUniversity of California, Irvine School of MedicineCase Western Reserve University School of MedicineGeisel School of Medicine at DartmouthDuke University School of MedicineFlorida State UniversityUniversity of Florida College of MedicineHarvard Medical School (new requirements only)University of Hawaii at Manao, John A. Burns School of MedicineIndiana University School of Medicine (new requirements only) Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine in ShreveportUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolMayo Medical SchoolUniversity of Miami Miller School of MedicineUniversity of Missouri-Kansas City School of MedicineUniversity of Nebraska College of MedicineUniversity of Nevada School of MedicineUniversity of New Mexico School of MedicineNew York Medical CollegeState University of New York-Upstate Medical UniversityOhio State University College of Medicine and Public HealthOregon Health and Science UniversityTexas A&M Health Science Center, College of MedicineTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of MedicineUniversity of Texas Medical School at San AntonioMedical College of WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthMarshall University-Joan C. Edwards School of MedicineYale University School of Medicine
medical school requirements for admission
http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/students/careers/medicine/premedguide14.pdf
MCAT
5
The following diagram summarizes changes in the structure and format for MCAT 2015:
In preparation for MCAT 2015, we recommend that students take an introductory psychology course such as SLS 20, and Sociology 10 or any of the Sociology 20-series courses. As Harvard courses are not designed specifically to prepare students for the MCAT, there may be some topics that are included on the MCAT but not covered in your courses. Depending on your background, you may find it necessary to learn certain concepts on your own or through a review class.
Note: In collaboration with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the AAMC, Khan Academy has created Khan Academy MCAT Collection, a collection of educational tutorials for concepts that will be tested by the MCAT 2015 exam. You can find the available tutorials at: www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcatThe tutorials are also included in the Pre-health Collection of the AAMC’s MedEDPORTAL® iCollaborative: www.mededportal.org/pre-health
medical school requirements for admission
� To prepare, recommend taking after finishing pre-‐med Bio, Gen Chem, Orgo requirements (Physics series may not need to be completed if strong Physics background in high school)
� Recommended to take intro Psych course such as SLS 20, Soc 10, Soc 20
MCAT Dates ¡ For 2017 cycle: latest MCAT June 2, 2016.
¡ 30 days to receive scores.
¡ Take once (unlike SATs)
MCAT Resources � Examkrackers 2015 series � Kaplan 2015 series � Berkeley Review for Critical Reading practice � AAMC practice tests (two currently released) � Old MCAT practice tests
MCAT Validity � Q: How long are MCAT scores valid for?
� A: From the AAMC website: “in general, most schools require that your MCAT scores not be more than 2-‐3 years old.”
� Q: How can I find out an individual school’s policies? � A: Call the school directly, look on their website, or: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/398586/data/mcatexampolicy.pdf
� 2017 application cycle:: accept both but prefer new MCAT � 2018 application cycle: most schools will accept only new
Extracurriculars � Explore medical interests
� Clinical exposure (shadowing) � Research experience (basic science, clinical) � Volunteering (hospital, nursing home, palliative care)
� Explore non-‐medical interests � Seek out leadership opportunities � Excel at something you are passionate about
Overview
Completed
Coming Up Pre-med courses
MCAT Extracurriculars
Letters of rec Lev pre-med packet AMCAS application
Interviews
Introduction
2016-‐2017 ApplicaNon Cyle
2015 2016 Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June
No#fy Pre-‐Med commi0ee of inten#on to apply Oct 15
Advisor/applicant pairings sent out Oct 31
First dra= of personal statement to advisor
March 25
Premed Ques#onnaire due to House Office First day to
submit AMCAS
Recommended submission deadline June 30
Meet with NRT advisor Timeline for applicaNon MCAT date and preparaNon LOR Important ECs and leadership Issues (grades, probaNon, etc) Time off (if applicable)
Meet with NRT advisor Work on AMCAS applica#on
Preliminary list of schools Ideas for personal statement
April 8
LORs to House Office April 22
June 1
Assemble applica#on materials Personal statement Premed quesNonnaire LOR
Spring Pre-‐Med Mee#ng
Meet with NRT advisor AMCAS primary Secondaries
Declare IntenNon to Apply
� Fill out the following form:
Personal Statement � Arguably most important part of AMCAS application � 5,300 characters (~1.5 pages) � Addresses questions:
� Why medicine? � What makes you an excellent candidate? � What other info should med schools know about you?
� Tips and sample personal statements: here, here, and here.
� Rough draft due to NRT by 3/25/2016 for feedback
Le%ers of RecommendaNon
� 3-‐5 for MD, 6-‐7 for MD/PhD � At least 2 science, 1 non-‐science � Ask TF to write, professor to co-‐sign � Letters due to House Office by 4/22/2016
Le%ers of RecommendaNon � http://leverett.harvard.edu/wiki/Premed:Welcome
Lev Pre-‐Med Packet � Available on Leverett pre-‐med website � Fill out information to help with first draft of committee letter � Basic demographic and high school info � Harvard academic and non-‐academic activities � Classes and GPA � Short answer questions � Personal statement
� Due to House Office by 4/22/2016
AMCAS: Primary � Opens June 1, 2016 � Consists of:
� Identifying information � Schools attended (high school, college) � Coursework and GPA � Work and activities (with 3 most meaningful experiences) � LOR � Medical schools to apply to � Personal essay 500 words (+ MD/PhD essay) � MCAT scores
� Try to submit AMCAS primary before end of June because of rolling admissions!
2016-‐2017 ApplicaNon Cycle
2016 2017 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
Commi0ee le0er uploaded* Aug 15
First AMCAS primary deadline
Oct 15
Consider upda#ng top choice schools
All applicants no#fied
March 15
Work on secondary applica#ons
Interviews!
No#fica#ons of acceptance, waitlist, rejec#ons
Inform OCS/Pre-‐Med Commi0ee if no interviews yet
Lev mock interview day
* We commit to uploading your commi0ee le0er to AMCAS by August 15 if you are able to turn in all of your required materials by the deadlines (Premed Ques#onnaire, Le0ers of Recommenda#on).
Meet with NRT advisor
Secondary essays Interview Nps, scheduling, logisNcs
AMCAS: Secondaries � Most secondaries are automatic � Expect to receive secondaries on rolling basis after AMCAS primary is approved (can take up to 3 weeks)
� Secondaries are school specific; will ask additional essay questions
� Research the school and tailor essay answers to each school
� Aim for 3 week turn-‐around time � Try to finish all secondaries by mid-‐Sept
Interviews � Interview invitations sent out Sept 2016 – Jan 2017 � Most interviews held Mon-‐Fri; need at least 2 days � Typical format:
� Informal social event night before � Option to stay with student host � Interview day: information session, lunch with current students, 1-‐3 interviews (with committee members or students)
� Traditional interview vs. MMI � Can try to group interviews to save on travel costs
Decisions � Rolling admissions: 6-‐8 weeks after interview date � Non-‐rolling admissions: mid-‐March � Decision types: accept, deny, continued review
� Can hold multiple acceptances until end of April 2017 � Can consider sending update letters
OCS Resources � Drop in hours � Online chat sessions � Workshops
� Selecting LOR � Completing AMCAS � Writing a Personal Statement
� MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements) available at OCS
� If you are not 100% sure you want to practice clinical medicine, don’t apply straight from undergrad
� If you are sure you want to be a doctor, think about taking time off anyways
� Harvard has great resources for going abroad
In 2011, 71% of Harvard applicants applied as alums. Maturity and real-life experience can make you a better
doctor AND a better applicant
Take your Nme
QuesNons? � Lev Pre-‐Med Website
http://leverett.harvard.edu/wiki/Premed:Welcome
� Jonathan Abraham (MD/PhD) [email protected] � Amy Chen [email protected] � Manjinder Kandola [email protected] � Shervin Tabrizi [email protected]