University Advising and Career CenterHood House Room 102

(603) 862-7740www.unh.edu/premed-advising

PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS ADVISING

Caitlin Bannon

Pre-Professional Health Programs Advising Office

Preparing for the 2016 Application Cycle

Yes: Applicants to medical (MD/DO), dental, and podiatric programs.

Committee Evaluation is expected and preferred

No: Applicants to all other graduate level programs (PA, OD, PharmD, PT, ND, and DC)

Generally, no Committee Letter is required/requested

Start reviewing the letter requirements for schools of interest now.

Do you need to request a Committee Letter of Evaluation?

AMCAS - https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/: Most US allopathic (MD) medical schools

AACOMAS- http://www.aacom.org/infofor/applicants/Pages/default.aspx: Osteopathic (DO) medical schools

TMDSAS: https://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/: Texas public medical and dental schools

AADSAS: https://portal.aadsasweb.org/: Dental schools CASPA: https://portal.caspaonline.org/: PA programs PTCAS: http://www.ptcas.org/: Physical Therapy programs OptomCAS: http://www.optomcas.org/: Optometry programs PharmCAS: http://www.pharmcas.org/: Pharmacy programs AACPMCAS: https://portal.aacpmas.org/: Podiatry programs

Centralized Application Services

Read the 10 Good Reasons to Delay on our website under Application Process/Forms

Ask yourself – would I be a substantially stronger applicant in one year, based on courses I will be taking, research I will be doing, or experiences I will be having, improved exam scores?

Do I have 3-5 faculty (including two science faculty) and others who can write detailed, specific, and personal letters of recommendation on my behalf?

Can I articulate why I have chosen this path, and that I am a good fit for this profession?

Do I have evidence to demonstrate these claims?

How do you know if you are ready to apply?

Schools do not evaluate applicants on their major.

Evaluation is based on: Grades: All years and schools attended, science GPA, total GPA, non-

science courses

Experiences: Sustained commitment, knowledge of field and healthcare in general, personal attributes and desire to serve others

Letters of Recommendation: Faculty, providers, supervisors, mentors, and Committee (medical/dental applicants)

Entrance Exams: Taken only after pre-reqs are completed

Interviews: UNH Committee and Medical Schools

How Schools Evaluate

National Averages: Accepted Applicants (2013 Cycle)

Note: averages do not reflect other factors that come in to play when evaluating an applicant’s file

FIELD GRADE POINT AVERAGEOverall/Science

EXAM SCORE

Medicine MD: 3.69 Overall/ 3.63 Science DO:3.50 Overall/ 3.38 Science

Mean MCAT: 31 (Allopathic Schools) 27 (Osteopathic Schools)

Dentistry 3.54 Overall/ 3.46 Science* DAT: Mean - Academic Average: 18.8 Perceptual Ability: 19.3 Total Science: 18.6

Optometry Accepted range 3.28-3.92 Not available

Physician Assistant 3.51 Overall/ 3.45 Science* 303 average on GRE

Podiatry 3.2 Overall / 3.0 Science MCAT: 21

Pharmacy 3.38* PCAT Not available

Physical Therapy 3.54 Overall/ 3.40 Science Not available (GRE)

Questions to Consider

Why have you chosen to prepare for a career in health?

How familiar are you with healthcare environments?

Have you volunteered or worked in a medical or health-related environment? If so, in what capacity?◦ What do you know about what it’s like to be a patient?◦ What do you know about what it’s like to be a physician/dentist/other?

If you have worked in a health-related environment, what did you find most enjoyable and most challenging about this work?

If you haven’t, what has kept you from doing this?

Important Attributes of Healthcare Professionals

How have you developed/demonstrated these qualities?

Adaptability Critical Thinking Integrity Logical Reasoning Intellectual curiosity-resourceful Personal Maturity Reliability Self Discipline Work Habits Motivation for Healthcare Persistence Teamwork

Professionalism Ability to use good judgment Ability to balance multiple priorities Resilient Strong interpersonal skills -

listening and speaking Ethical, cultural, and social

awareness/understanding Dedication to service Empathy Compassion Altruism

Cautions Low Grades

It is very difficult to overcome multiple semesters with a low GPA (< 3.3 + C’s in pre-req)

Consult with the HP advisor – what are your options?

Limited experiences Unprepared to make informed decision about a healthcare

career.

Judicial Sanctions and/or Criminal Record You will be asked on applications – whether the record has

been expunged or not.

UNH Committee Process for Medical and Dental Applicants

Why a UNH application file?

All your file documents

Go to your UNH Committee interviewers

The contents of your file, including interview notes, are then used to compose:

The UNH Committee Letter of Evaluation which is submitted to every

school to which you apply.

What UNH sends to schools from your completed file:

Your letter packet, which includes:◦Committee Letter of Evaluation◦Supporting letters of recommendation

received

We do not send any other materials, such as transcripts or personal essay

Two Year Process

Year One: Developing your portfolio

• Fall 2014 – Spring 2015 • UNH:

• Application File• Committee Interviews• Entrance Exams

• Professional Schools:• Primary application

submissions (June)• Secondary Applications

(Summer)

Year Two: Decisions

•Summer 2015 – Summer 2016•Professional Schools:•Secondary Applications• School Interviews•Apply for Financial Aid

•Decisions:• Accepted• Reapply• Other

This timetable is designed to help you complete your application and be considered for admission at the earliest possible date (June submission)

Assuming you have a strong application, it is in your best interest to submit your application as early as you can

Important: Most schools use a rolling admissions process Schools evaluate applications as they are completed Schools offer interviews as applications are received There are very limited interview slots given the number

of applications received No interview = no acceptance.

◦ 1 year General Biology w/lab (BIOL 411/412)◦ 1 year General Chemistry w/lab(CHEM 403/404)◦ 1 year Organic Chem. w/lab (CHEM 651-654)◦ 1 year General Physics w/lab (PHYS 401/402)◦ 1 year English ◦ 1 year Math (Statistics and 1 semester Calculus)◦ 1 semester Biochemistry w/lab (can be completed over summer

or next year)◦ Psychology/ Sociology

*AP Credit is not universally accepted by medical or dental schools. It is strongly recommended that you take the course at UNH. If you do not take the course, you will need to take additional upper level courses in that subject area.

Pre-Requisite Courses

Explored the health professions◦ Gained exposure to the profession over the past 3-4

years Volunteer/paid experiences Shadowing Informational interviews

◦ Researched the options – been informed Look at health professions websites Subscribed to an online health profession newsletter Reading daily paper

You have:

Maintained a balance between academics and social activities

Earned good grades (ideal: 3.5> GPA)

Gotten to know your professors and advisors

Been involved in your major–research opportunities/independent study

You have:

Been involved – It’s not a checklist!

◦ Demonstrate committed participation in areas that are truly important to you, such as: Campus and community organizations Healthcare environments Service and volunteering Leadership Research Mentoring/tutoring Employment Hobbies Athletics Travel

You have:

Doubts? Questions? Meet with Caitlin or other trusted advisors. Schedule appointment by calling 603-862-7740.

Ready to start? Review UNH file requirements, materials, deadlines, and timeline at http://www.unh.edu/premed-advising/2016-application-cycle-new-applicant

Deadlines are not negotiable – stay up to date New Applicant Files can be opened between now

and Nov. 14th

Start the Process