MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

Office of Health Professions

Health Professions

Volume

2014-2015

HANDBOOK PART II

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MID DLEB URY COLLEGE OFFICE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS

2014-2015 Handbook Part II: Applicants for Health Professions Schools Who Wish to

Matriculate in Fall 2016

Middlebury College Office of Health ProfessionsAdirondack House • Room 102

Middlebury, VT 05753Phone 802.443.2455

Table of Contents

Introduction..................................................................................1Instructions For Applying to Professional Schools......................2

Function of the Health Professions Committee..................2Preparing to Apply to Professional Schools........................2

Requesting Dossiers and Transcripts..........................................6Association of Health Professions Schools.................................11Suggested Schedule for Professional School Applicants for Entry in 2016.......................................................................................11

September/October...........................................................11November.........................................................................12December..........................................................................12January/February..............................................................12March................................................................................13April/May..........................................................................13May...................................................................................14June...................................................................................14Summer.............................................................................14

Campus Interviews.....................................................................15Tips on the Professions Interview.....................................15

Instructions for Completing the Biographical Report................17Undergraduates,.....................................................18

Dossier Request Form................................................................25Non-AMCAS Schools..................................................................28Scholarships, Funding For Health Professions Schools............28

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Part

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Introductionhis section is intended for students who will apply to medical, dental, or veterinary school as:T

1. juniors who wish to matriculate to professional school immediately following graduation; or,

2. seniors who wish to matriculate to professional school the year following graduation or later.

Sophomores considering early admission may find much of the material in this guide useful, but a discussion with the Health Professions Advisor is advisable.

Applicants who wish to receive endorsement by the Health Professions Committee should initiate the internal review process during the fall by contacting the Administrative Coordinator after having attended the October 7th meeting held to kick off the cycle, but certainly no later than October 15th.

This guide outlines procedures for arranging committee interviews, describes the process for applying to schools, and explains the procedures for requesting dossiers and transcripts.

Please read the information in this handbook closely. Most questions from students concerning application to health professions schools are addressed in this document. Also, please make note of deadlines by which information must be submitted and certain activities completed.

The Health Professions Advisor is available to share her knowledge and expertise concerning the admissions process. However, it is the responsibility of prospective applicants to conduct research necessary to make informed decisions concerning their future plans.

2014-2015 Health Professions CommitteeHannah Benz, MD, Health Professions & STEM Clinical Research AdvisorJeff Byers, Philip B. Stewart & Sarah F. Cowles Stewart Prof. of ChemistryAnaya Christman, Assistant Professor of Computer ScienceFlorence Feiereisen, Assistant Professor of GermanErick Gong, Assistant Professor of EconomicsChong-suk Han, Assistant Professor of Sociology/AnthropologyJohn Huddleston, Fletcher Professor of Studio ArtMary Lothrop, Assistant Director, Internships & Career Services, STEM Advisor, co-chair

M I D D L E B U R Y H E A L T H P R O F E S S I O N S H A N D B O O K P A R T I I

Tom Root , Professor of BiologyRoger Sandwick, Associate Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry

Staff

Mary Lothrop, Assistant Director, CCI – mlothrop@middlebury.edu Hannah Benz, M.D., Health Professions & STEM Clinical & Research Advisor – hbenz@middlebury.edu Nicole Veilleux, Administrative Coordinator – nveilleux@middlebury.edu

2014-2015 Pre-Med Society LeadershipPresident – Michael Martini '14.5Vice President & Treasurer – Sonia Rodrigues '15

Health Professions Office Contact InformationAdirondack House 102802.443.2455hprofess@middlebury.edu

Instructions For Applying to Professional Schools(Please refer to these instructions throughout the applicant period.)

Function of the Health Professions CommitteeMost applicants for medical, dental, and veterinary schools from Middlebury College are evaluated by our Health Professions Committee. The function of this committee is to advise applicants on the application process; to screen applicants by careful appraisal of academic credentials, extracurricular experiences, and references; to prepare an appraisal of each applicant via a committee letter of recommendation; and to submit to the professional schools a dossier prepared on behalf of the applicant in support of his/her candidacy. Contents of the dossier prepared in support of the candidate are detailed below.

Applicants are encouraged to maintain communication with the Health Professions Advisor and to seek out answers to any questions they may have throughout the application period.

Preparing to Apply to Professional SchoolsResearch the field: The Health Professions Office has guides to medical, dental, veterinary, nursing, and international medical schools, as well as reference materials and information from many professional schools to which Middlebury students apply. This is a useful resource for anyone wishing to

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apply to a professional school in the health professions. It is also possible, of course, to research schools on the internet.

It is critical to apply to professional schools as early in the application cycle as schedules allow. Begin to make preparations to submit applications in the spring, about one and one-half years before the targeted matriculation date. Applications to the central application service (for example, AMCAS, AADSAS, or VMCAS) should be made early in the summer, and applications to schools should be made by late summer or early fall (about one year in advance of matriculation). This is recommended because many professional schools use a rolling admissions process and begin making selections before the application deadline date. The closer to the deadline date an application arrives, the greater the competition for the remaining openings at schools with rolling admissions.

In preparing for application through the Middlebury Health Professions Committee, a number of steps must be taken:

1. Entrance Exams: MCAT [Medical College Admissions Test]: The MCAT is now a computerized exam with 30-day scoring, given approximately thirty times over the course of 2015. It is best taken between spring and summer of the calendar year preceding the year of matriculation. APPLICATION is on-line: www.aamc.org/mcat.

a. Commercial preparation courses are available for the MCAT: Kaplan offers live, interactive courses via the internet;

courses are extracurricular and cost around $2,000. Kaplan offers some financial aid.

Princeton Review has on-line instruction for $2,000. Their course runs for 15 hours, times and dates arranged per group. See http://testprep.princetonreview.com/CourseSearch/Search.aspx?productType=C&rid=1&Zip=05753&itemCode=19

“CLEaRS for MCAT” is an interactive on-line course in MCAT prep. It costs $599 for the complete course: a viable alternative to Kaplan. See http://www.learningaccord.com/

Examkrackers provides preparation for standardized exams through books, audio CDs, DVDs, internet forums, and live classes [not in Vermont, though].  See their website: http://www.examkrackers.com/about.php

The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) offers practice tests for the MCAT, which are available for $35 per test. See their website at https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/preparing/

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b. DAT [Dental Admissions Test]: This exam can be taken online throughout the year. See http://www.ada.org/dat.aspx .

c. GRE [Graduate Requirement Ecam]: Most veterinary schools require the GRE; some will accept scores from the GRE or MCAT; at least one veterinary school requires the MCAT. Check the requirements of each school of interest. The GRE can be taken on-line throughout the year. See http://www.gre.org/.

2. Interfolio Account: We have entered into an institutional agreement with Interfolio as our electronic dossier and credential service for applicants to medical school: you will use their services at this point in the application cycle to have the bio report and recommendation letters submitted for HPC interviews, and later for medical school.

a. To open your account and establish your credentials file, please go to: https://account.interfolio.com/dossier/signup?institution_id=9164. Using that link will automatically affiliate you with the Middlebury College Health Professions affiliation.

b. Interfolio charges $19 to set up a 1-year account, and $6 to send out the typical dossier. They also have an unlimited plan, where for $40 a year you can send out as many as you wish (doing the math reveals that if you send out four or more dossiers, this is the way to go. Note: sending the dossier to AMCAS is just one sending, no matter how many schools AMCAS will send it to). You can pay online, using a credit card, or by check or money order. Attached is a more complete listing of Interfolio costs.

c. Applicants who are approved for AAMC fee assistance, or who are otherwise unable to afford this service, should immediately inform me accordingly.

3. Biographical Reports: a. Each candidate should complete a BIOGRAPHICAL REPORT

(example on pages 17-23), which will be sent as an e-mail attachment from the Health Professions Office in the fall of the year the candidate goes through the Health Professions Committee process.

b. It should be submitted electronically to the Interfolio account during the fall as part of the internal review process. Details concerning all activities during the academic year, vacation periods, and summer experiences should be provided, including all jobs and volunteer efforts. Experiences prior to college should be included only if these are pertinent or significant.

c. Applicants update their bio report on Interfolio after the committee review but before the dossier is released: usually in early summer of the year they apply.

4. Committee Interviews:

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a. Our candidates are interviewed by selected members of the Health Professions Committee on a one to one basis. Each candidate will meet individually with three members of the committee. An effort is made to arrange interviews with faculty with whom the candidate has had little or no contact, to maximize the number of committee members who are familiar with each candidate. Committee interviews serve to introduce the candidate to the interview process that must be undertaken at professional schools. They are typically completed during Winter Term and early spring semester.

b. When the health professions file is ready for the interview stage (bio report, photo, unofficial grade report, at least two letters of recommendation), the candidate is notified of his or her committee interviewers. To arrange a meeting with assigned members of the committee, students should contact each committee member directly. It is the student’s responsibility to know the status of the file, so he or she can work to complete any deficiencies: check with the Health Professions office coordinator often!

c. Over the past couple of years, we have had several requests from our applicants for Skype interviews. For the most part, the requests have been quite legitimate; a recent grad not wanting to incur the expense and time away from work or school that a visit to Vermont entails, or a current student who is studying abroad. A Skype interview is particularly appealing when all three interviews cannot be scheduled during one return visit to campus. We do believe, however, that there is tremendous value in conducting a “face to face” interview. Much is gleaned from the body language, hand gestures, and affect that are lost when Skyping. If nothing else, in-person interviews are excellent preparation for medical school admission interviews. For this reason, we recommend that all interviews be “face to face”, allowing for the appropriate circumstance when Skype is a true necessity, rather than a preference. If you believe your situation warrants a virtual interview accommodation, please describe why performing a face to face interview would present a significant hardship and send your request to Nicole Veilleux at hrprofess@middlebury.edu by November 21, 2014.

d. Interview reports are included in the overall appraisal by the committee. Students are encouraged to meet with the advisor to receive feedback and recommendations that result from the committee evaluation. NOTE: The committee rating is noted on the committee letter: Superior, Excellent, Very Good, Good, or Not Recommended. Committee ratings are confidential

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5. References: Letters of recommendation are a vital part of the dossier. One should take great care in selecting individuals who are to serve as references: consultation with the Health Professions Advisor is recommended. Be sure to discuss overall academic work, non-academic activities, and professional goals with these individuals. It is best to furnish them with a résumé or bio report, the bio-report essay, and a current unofficial transcript. One should not hesitate to ask whether or not an individual is willing to give strong support (this does not mean that he/she should not discuss weaknesses as well as strengths).

a. For purposes of the committee interviews, at least two letters are required to be submitted to Interfolio—one of which must be from a Middlebury faculty member, and at least one of which should address performance in the sciences. These letters will also be included in the final dossier sent to medical schools. Additional letters can arrive later in the year, but should be in an applicant’s Interfolio file before the Committee letter is written—by June of the intended application cycle. Note: we strongly advise that letters be submitted by the writers to Interfolio as a PDF on letterhead, dated, and signed by the recommender. Some med schools are requiring this now. Please specify this format when requesting a letter, before sending the document request from Interfolio.

b. The final dossier should include a minimum of three letters, two of which should be written by faculty in the natural sciences; check each school for their requirements. We strongly recommend a four-letter maximum unless applying to an MD/PhD program; exceptions should be cleared through the Health Professions advisor.

c. Faculty referees should be contacted as early as possible to avoid their very busy period at and near the end of each term. Each referee should indicate clearly that the candidate is being recommended for medical (or dental, or veterinary) school. Recommendations are considered very seriously by the professional schools.

d. Recommenders need to know before they compose the letter whether or not it will be confidential. When candidates request each referee to write for them, their choice is indicated on a waiver on the form sent to them from Interfolio. Note: It is very rare for letters to be open (non-confidential)—it is thought that referees will write more candidly if they do not think the candidate will see the letter. Do consider carefully the impression that an “open” letter will make at the med school. Each letter is boldly marked if it is not confidential.

6. List of Schools: Applicants to medical, dental, or veterinary schools should consider applying to all of the schools in their home state system, since preference is often given to in state residents. [Note: students

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applying to home-state medical schools should be aware that if they register to vote, register their cars, or get a driver’s license in Vermont, they may be jeopardizing their in-state status at certain medical schools.] Private in-state medical schools should also be considered. Candidates should develop a preliminary list of schools and review this list periodically, deleting and adding schools as necessary. The Health Professions Advisor is available to discuss the candidate’s selection of schools. Information regarding many professional schools is available in the Health Professions Office, as well. Visit schools of interest prior to submitting the primary school application, if possible. It is also recommended that each candidate purchase a copy of the latest edition of one of the following publications to assist in preparing a realistic list of schools:

a. Medical School Admission Requirements [MSAR] [American Association of Medical Colleges] – www.aamc.org

b. Admissions Requirements of US & Can. Dental Schools [American Dental Education Association] – www.adea.org

c. Veterinary Medical School Admissions Requirements [VMSAR] [Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)] Purdue University Press - http://www.thepress.purdue.edu/titles/vmsar-2010-2011

7. AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS and VMCAS: Most professional schools require applicants to apply through a central application system: allopathic medical schools through AMCAS [American Medical College Admissions Service], osteopathic schools through AACOMAS [American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service], dental schools through AADSAS [American Association of Dental Schools Application Service], and veterinary schools through VMCAS [Veterinary Medical College Application Service].

Requesting Dossiers and TranscriptsThere are two ways to apply to medical, dental and veterinary schools:

1. Apply through a central application service, as described in (6) above. Schools using the application service may use the information obtained to make first-cut selections. They may reject the applicant on this basis, or they may invite the applicant to complete the school’s own application, otherwise known as the secondary application.

a. To apply through a central Application service : i. Complete and send the central application forms to the

proper address: Allopathic: AMCAS -

http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm Osteopathic: AACOMAS - https://aacomas.aacom.org/

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Dental: AADSAS - http://www.adea.org/AADSAS/default.htm

Veterinarian: VMCAS - http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm

ii. For the essay section of the primary application, here are prompts for the most common fields:

AMCAS American Medical College Application Service (MD)- Prompt: Use the Personal Comments essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Some questions you may want to consider while writing this essay are:

o Why have you selected the field of medicine? o What motivates you to learn more about

medicine? o What do you want medical schools to know about

you that hasn't been disclosed in another section of the application?

o In addition, you may wish to include information such as: Special hardships, challenges or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits. Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

o Length: 5300 Characters (includes spaces) AACOMAS American Association of Colleges of

Osteopathic Medicine Application Service - Prompt: No prompt. Just "Personal Statement goes here".

o Length: 4500 Characters (includes spaces) AADSAS Associated American Dental Schools

Application Service - Prompt: The personal essay provides an opportunity for you to explain why you desire to pursue dental education. The Admissions Committee members who read your essay are looking for individuals who are motivated, academically prepared, articulate, socially conscious, and knowledgeable about the profession. Write about your experiences and any qualities that will make you stand out

o Length: 4500 characters (including spaces) VMCAS Veterinary Medical College Application Service

- Prompt: Our personal statement should help the admission committee(s) learn something about you as a person, about the development of your interest in veterinary medicine, and about your career goals.

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o Length: 5000 characters (including spaces) CASPA Central Application Service for Physician

Assistants - Prompt: USING YOUR OWN WORDS, write a brief statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant. You are encouraged to save your work often in the event that you are timed out of the system.

o Length: 5000 characters (NOT word) limit of 5,000.

PTCAS Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service - Prompt: What personal characteristics and motivating factors have led you to pursue the profession of physical therapy?

o Length: 4500 characters (including spaces) PharmCAS Pharmacy College Application Service -

Prompt: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals. The personal essay is an important part of your application for admission and provides you with an opportunity for you to clearly and effectively express your ideas.

o Length: 4500 characters (including spaces) AACPMAS The American Association of Colleges of

Podiatric Medicine Applications Service - Prompt: State below why you are interested in becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. Provide information about your development for a career in Podiatric Medicine

o Length: 4500 characters (including spaces) OptomCAS Optometry Centralized Application Service -

Prompt: Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals.

o Length: 4500 characters (may also create different essays for different programs)

OTCAS Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service - Prompt: Your personal essay should address why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long term professional goals. Describe how your

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personal, educational, and professional background will help you to achieve your goals.

o Length: 4500 characters (including spaces) Length: 4500 characters (including spaces)

iii. Transcript Request : An applicant contacts the Registrar’s Office (for both enrolled students and alumni) to send an official transcript to the central application service and/or school to which he or she is applying. TRANSCRIPTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE DOSSIER AND ARE NOT SENT OUT BY THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS OFFICE. Transcripts must be requested in writing (a downloadable request form is available on the Registrar’s website). Requests must include the requestor’s name (plus name at time of attendance if different), current address, telephone number, SSN, dates attended or degree and date if received. Requests cannot be processed without a signature. Transcript requests are accepted in person Monday through Friday during regular office hours: they are processed in a timely fashion, but may take longer at the end of a term—and there is a three-week delay after each term end for posting of grades. Students and alumni may also mail requests to:

Registrar’s Office, Forest Hall5142 Middlebury CollegeMiddlebury, VT 05753Attention: Transcript Request

Pricing: There is a fee of $5 per copy. Payment must be included with the request.

iv. After the central application has been completed and submitted, and all pertinent transcripts submitted, the applicant will begin to receive applications from medical schools, called secondary applications. The applicant should inform the Health Professions Office when he/she has submitted the first secondary. This notice puts the applicant’s file, once it is complete and not before, in the queue that establishes the order by which committee letters are written.

Completed files include: a current (or final) unofficial Middlebury transcript,

which the Health Professions office obtains from the registrar for office use only [it is also most helpful for the Health Professions advisor to have from the applicant an unofficial transcript of all related coursework taken elsewhere];

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all letters of recommendation; current Biographical Report; Dossier Request form; signed Committee-Letter Release form.

v. Dossier Request Form : A Dossier Request form (example on pages 39-40) should be completed and filed in the candidate’s folder at the Health Professions office immediately after an applicant completes the AMCAS/ AACOMAS/AADSAS/VMCAS [primary] application. This form authorizes the Health Professions Office to release the candidate’s dossier to Interfolio.

Health Professions will send paper dossiers to any foreign schools, but only after the applicant notifies us that a secondary for each school has been sent in.

vi. Contents of Dossiers : Electronic (Interfolio) dossiers are confidential. They include:

a cover letter identifying the applicant, listing the contents of the dossier, describing how Middlebury applies the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to designate the confidentiality of certain portions of the dossier, and certifying the applicant’s status regarding academic probation and disciplinary action;

information outlining the GPA distributions of Middlebury students, a profile of the candidate's class, a brief explanation of Middlebury's 4 1 4 academic calendar and credit system, and an explanation of the Health Professions Committee review process for all candidates during that cycle;

a confidential committee letter of evaluation written by the Health Professions Committee Co-Chair;

photocopies of all letters of recommendation the candidate has had submitted in support of his/her application;

an academic report, which includes a data sheet detailing the academic record of the candidate and a list of distinctions won by the candidate; and

a biographical report, which includes the first few résumé-like pages of the Biographical Report submitted by the applicant, including academic and extra academic activities [the essay written in the Biographical Report is not included].

vii. Paper Dossiers include : a cover letter identifying the applicant, listing the

contents of the dossier, describing how Middlebury

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applies the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 to designate the confidentiality of certain portions of the dossier, and certifying the applicant’s status regarding academic probation and disciplinary action;

information outlining the GPA distributions of Middlebury students, a profile of the candidate's class, a brief explanation of Middlebury's 4 1 4 academic calendar and credit system, and an explanation of the Health Professions Committee review process for all candidates during that cycle;

a confidential committee letter of evaluation written by the Health Professions Committee Co-Chair;

photocopies of all letters of recommendation the candidate has had submitted in support of his/her application;

the first few résumé-like pages of the Biographical Report submitted by the applicant, including academic and extra academic activities [the essay written in the Biographical Report is not included];

a post card, stamped and addressed to the applicant, which will notify him or her that the school has received the dossier. It is important to save these as a record of application activity.

viii. Sending Dossiers : For allopathic medical school admission: Upon the candidate's notification to the Health Professions office in writing that he or she has submitted the first secondary, the committee letter is written. The complete dossier is sent to Interfolio, where it is available to the candidate to send to AMCAS, TMDSAS, and any schools that do not use the letter services provided by these services. [Later in the process, candidates are encouraged on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the Health Professions advisor, to submit additional supporting material to individual schools that have not reported a final status on the candidate's application].

ix. The later a request is received, the later a committee letter will be written and dossiers sent out. This delay may be compounded by the fact that the Health Professions advisor is also the Student Fellowships director, and both programs have peak activities during September and October. Completed files must arrive in the front section of the letter-writing queue by September 1 in order to have a committee letter written for the applicant. Any files that do not make that deadline will be sent out as letter packets only, with no

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committee letter. —Please do not wait until the last minute to request a dossier.—

x. For P.T. schools and other Allied Health Sciences, the applications are quite varied, and will depend upon the individual school. Committee letters are not typically required.

2. To Apply Directly to Medical School :a. Dossier Request : The applicant should provide the Health

Professions Coordinator with a complete list on the dossier request form of the schools to which application will be made.

b. Transcript Request : Transcripts are normally required as part of these applications and should be sent using the proper transcript request forms and the procedure noted in (B) above.

3. Early Decision Programs (EDP) : Applicants must follow the guidelines listed below:

a. Apply to only one U.S. medical school by the stated deadline date (August 1 for those schools which participate in AMCAS);

b. Provide the school with all required supplemental information by the stated deadline date (August 1 for those schools which participate in AMCAS); and

c. Attend only this school if offered a place under the Early Decision Program.

If these guidelines are met, applicants will be notified of the school's admission decision by October 1. If not accepted under the Early Decision Program, applicants will automatically be placed in the regular applicant pool by the school and may then apply to additional schools. EDP regulations apply to both AMCAS and non-AMCAS participating schools.

Association of Health Professions SchoolsName Acrony

mWebsite Links

American Dental Education Association(formerly Amer. Assn of Dental Schools, AADS)

ADEA http://www.adea.org/

Application Service (AADSAS): http://www.adea.org/AADSAS/default.htmDAT: http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp ; sample tests: http://www.dentaladmissiontest.com/

Association of American Medical

AAMC http://www.aamc.org/

Application Service (AMCAS): http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm MCAT:

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Colleges http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm American Association of Colleges of Nursing

AACN http://www.aacn.nche.edu/

GRE: http://www.gre.org/MAT: http://harcourtassessment.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/Harcourt/Community/PostSecondary/Products/MAT/

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry

ASCO http://www.opted.org/

OAT info: http://www.opted.org/info_oat.cfm

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

AACOM http://www.aacom.org/

Application Service (AACOMAS): https://aacomas.aacom.org/ MCAT: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

AACP http://www.aacp.org GRE: http://www.gre.org/

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

AACPM http://www.aacpm.org/

Application Service (AACPMAS): https://www.e-aacpmas.org/ MCAT or GRE required (by different schools). GRE: http://www.gre.org/ MCAT: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm

Association of Schools of Public Health

ASPH http://www.asph.org/

GRE: http://www.gre.org/

American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges

AAVMC http://www.aavmc.org/

Application Service (VMCAS): http://aavmc.org/vmcas/vmcas.htm GRE: http://www.gre.org/ MCAT: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htmVCAT: discontinued in 2003

Suggested Schedule for Professional School Applicants for Entry in 2016This is not meant to be a complete schedule. See also “Instructions for Applying to Professional Schools

September/October PRE-HEALTH APPLICANTS MEETING: Students who sign in and

indicate that they wish to go through the Health Professions Committee will receive an e-mail including instructions and all pertinent forms for this cycle shortly after the meeting. Exact deadline dates appear in this e-mail, as well as forms that are used through time, so it should be saved!

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COMMITTEE SELECTION FORM and HEADSHOT: Available by e-mail during the fall semester—fill out and submit to the Health Professions Office by October 10 for regular applicants, November 14 for Early Assurance Program Applicants. Interviewers are chosen for each applicant based on this form.

November LIST OF SCHOOLS: Start researching schools. MOCK INTERVIEW: Make an appointment at CSO to arrange a time.

Specify MOCK PREMED INTERVIEW.

December BIOGRAPHICAL REPORT: Begin writing the biographical essay.

Complete the Biographical Report, which will be sent electronically from the Health Professions Office and is due back (also electronically) on December 1. A photograph is also due on October 10, as is the current Degree Progress Report.

COMPLETE PRELIMINARY APPLICANT FILE: Only after the Health Professions Office receives students’ completed bio report—including essay—plus their unofficial grade report, a photo, and at least two letters of recommendation, will students be permitted to schedule committee interviews.

COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS: The Health Professions administrative coordinator will identify two committee members (in addition to one of the Health Professions advisors) with whom each student will interview.

STUDENTS MUST NOTIFY THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS OFFICE IF THEY ARE PLANNING TO APPLY UNDER AN EARLY-DECISION PLAN.

January/February RECOMMENDATIONS: Begin to request letters early (include bio report

essay, transcript, résumé, and credential waivers in your request). Credential-waiver forms (for all letters) are available by e-mail; return envelopes (for off-campus references) are available in the Health Professions Office. Have all references sent directly to the Health Professions Office at ADK 102. For the committee evaluation, at least one letter should be written by a Middlebury science professor. Recommendations are due by January 15.

UNOFFICIAL GRADE REPORTS: As soon as the fall, 2010, grades are posted (usually around mid-January), the office will acquire a copy of the grade report for each applicant and will upload it to Interfolio for the Committee members and your use. For alums, the final unofficial transcript is obtained.

MOCK INTERVIEW: Complete this if not done previously.

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M I D D L E B U R Y H E A L T H P R O F E S S I O N S H A N D B O O K P A R T I I

COMMITTEE INTERVIEWS: Schedule and complete interviews during January or February. Arrive at inter-views on time, and dress professionally. If a conflict arises, contact the interviewer as early as possible with an explanation, apology, and request to reschedule at the interviewer’s convenience. All applicants also interview with the Health Professions advisor during this period: make appointments with the coordinator.

LIST OF SCHOOLS: Begin to develop preliminary list. A very useful website is: http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/admissions.htm

REGISTER for Spring MCAT/DAT/ GRE: Applications are due about one month prior to examination. SUBMIT APPLICATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: apply on line.

MCAT/DAT/GRE/OAT: SPRING DATES PREFERRED; others provided for informationTEST TEST DATES APPLICATION DEADLINESMCAT

Schedule available from HP Advisor

Given multiple times. Register online until 2 weeks (reg)/1 week (late) before test.

DAT Any time Can take onlineGRE Year-round testing on

computer for the general test; paper-based general test offered in areas where computer-based testing is not available.

Register at least 5 weeks before you want to take the exam; test centers fill quickly, so it is wise to allow even more time.

OAT Can take online any time

MEETING WITH THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS ADVISOR: schedule an hour-long interview during January or February. Those considering Early Decision should meet with the advisor in January or earlier.

March

MEETING FOR ALL APPLICANTS: An essential meeting concerning application procedures in late March (TBA).

REFERENCES: In consultation with the Health Professions advisor, choose further letters of reference to fill out the file with at least three letters. Request the letters from the recommenders, using all the tools and forms as in the first two letters gathered.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS: After all candidates have completed their committee interviews, the Health Professions Committee will meet during March and April to make recommendations. Provide us with any new information.

LIST OF SCHOOLS: Students continue to refine list.

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M I D D L E B U R Y H E A L T H P R O F E S S I O N S H A N D B O O K P A R T I I

FINANCIAL AID & GENERAL INFORMATION: Write to specific schools of interest requesting information.

April/May COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Committee makes final recommendations.

Candidates are not informed of committee ratings. This confidential information is provided to schools in the Committee Letter.

COMMITTEE INTERVIEW DEBRIEF: Candidates meet briefly with Health Professions Advisor to receive feedback and/or committee recommendations.

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May STUDENTS SHOULD MAKE SURE ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION IS

SUBMITTED TO THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS OFFICE BEFORE LEAVING CAMPUS FOR THE SUMMER. This includes a signed Health Professions Committee Letter form, additional recommendations beyond those provided for committee interviews, and contact information for the application period.

June

BIO REPORTS: Update the résumé sections, especially if the one we have on file is six months or more old. The Health Professions advisor and the med schools want to know your current status. Note: Please send the updates electronically to the Administrative Coordinator, and please mark any changes from the original in color, so time will not be wasted looking for them!

DOSSIERS: Health Professions Office begins to prepare dossiers. REFERENCES: It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that all

letters of reference are received prior to the first dossier request! The Health Professions advisor needs all letters to provide a complete appraisal in the committee letter. Check often (by e-mail is best) with the office assistant.

Students are responsible for obtaining ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS and DEADLINES for the various schools to which they plan to apply.

Students should also inform the Health Professions Office in advance of these deadlines, as well as any special application requirements, in the e-mails in which they request dossiers.

AMCAS/AACOMAS/AADSAS/VMCAS Schools: COMPLETE AND SUBMIT TO THE PROPER ORGANIZATION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. Note: many schools accept candidates on the basis of “rolling admissions.” This means that as applications are completed, they enter a process of review by the admissions committee. Therefore, in many instances it is to an applicant’s advantage to apply during the summer.

NON-AMCAS/AACOMAS/VMCAS/AADSAS Schools: COMPLETE THE INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION FOR THESE SCHOOLS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DOSSIER REQUEST FORM: Available electronically from the Health Professions Office. The applicant should list all the schools indicated on the central application, and any others to which the candidate is applying, as soon as the primary application is submitted. This completed and signed form gives authorization for the office to send dossiers to VirtualEvals, and any schools not participating in VirtualEvals, to whom

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we send paper dossiers. This must be in the file before any files can be released. Note: applicants do not have to wait for any other event, such as the MCAT exam, to submit this form.

Summer APPLICATIONS: For the AMCAS schools, candidates will apply directly

through this application service to schools of choice. If the schools are interested in considering a candidate further, they will contact him or her for further information. When students receive their first secondary invitation, they let the office know: this will put their file, if it is complete, in the rear section of the letter-writing queue. We only need to know about the first invitation. After a candidate has submitted the first secondary, he or she should request the dossier by e-mail [applicants should not ask the office to send out dossiers until their secondaries are in the mail or the “Submit” button has been pressed, for on-line applications]. This request will put the file into the front [more active] section of the committee-letter-writing queue.

All official TRANSCRIPTS must be requested through the Registrar’s Office: the Health Professions Office cannot arrange this.

Schools will contact applicants directly for interviews, etc. Best of luck!!

Campus InterviewsThe candidate interview is one of the most important considerations by admissions committees. If application materials are attractive to a particular school, they may invite the candidate for an interview. One should prepare well in advance of the interviews and should try to accommodate the school’s proposed schedule of interviews.

The two interviews with members of the Health Professions Committee are important to the evaluation process. Interviewers will ask questions about the candidate’s background, academic preparation and performance, motivation, and knowledge of the profession under consideration: they will also consider personal, social, and ethical issues related to one’s chosen profession. In some respects, these interviews will parallel those given by medical schools, and they are good practice for applicants.

Career Services Office (part of the Center for Careers & Internships, Adirondack House) has agreed to set up “mock interviews” with any health-professions candidate. This entails an hour-long appointment with one member of the CSO staff: the first half-hour will be devoted to an actual interview, during which the interviewer will ask questions that medical school admissions committees might ask, and the candidate will be videotaped; the second

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half-hour will be spent reviewing the tape, noting potential problems and giving advice on how to correct them.

IT IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED that all premedical students go through this process. Students who have done so in the past have found it to be extremely useful.

Contact the CCI front desk (extension 5100) to make an appointment.

Tips on the Professions Interview1. During the interview, be yourself. 2. Try to communicate clearly and succinctly; do not over-talk. 3. Be prepared to respond to all kinds of questions, many unrelated to the

study of medicine. 4. Be ready to discuss your motivation for the study of medicine and any

activity or experience that has tested this motivation. 5. Be appropriately dressed and groomed, as if applying for a job. 6. Don't attempt to outsmart the interviewer. 7. Don't butter up the interviewer. 8. If you don't know the answer to a question, say so. 9. Explain your deficiencies honestly, and don't offer excuses and

rationalizations for lack of academic achievement. 10. Don't be hesitant about asking questions. 11. Be honest about your financial needs and discuss them freely. 12. Don't be on the defensive or on the offensive. (This was suggested

by Dr. James Knight, Dean of Medicine, Texas A. & M. University College of Medicine)

13. Familiarize yourself with the medical school, its curriculum, and any special opportunities it offers. This means that you should carefully study the catalogue of each school to which you apply before the interview.

14. After the interview, write a thank-you note: it should be addressed to the director of admissions—the person who extended the interview invitation—not the Dean of Admissions or the people who interviewed you

NOTE: Visit the library at CSO and ask the Health Professions office for more information on interviews [we have some articles we can send you electronically]. The Health Professions office also holds guides and catalogs of various professional schools, but in most cases it would be better for each candidate also to write to the professional schools for his/her own copies of catalogs.

Also see the student doctor network—a forum for those who need to know, by those who’ve been there!http://www.studentdoctor.net

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Instructions for Completing the Biographical ReportFollowing is information that is found on the Biographical Report form. The Health Professions coordinator will e-mail this to you in the fall of the year you are beginning to apply for medical school: it is to be completed and returned to the Health Professions office by the deadline given each year. If it gets to be November and you haven’t gotten it yet, remind the Health Professions office that you need it: you may not yet be on their list of applicants.

The biographical report will be held in your Interfolio account to be read by the Health Professions Committee and can be edited at any time. Please change the date at the end of your document every time you make updates. You are encouraged to keep a copy in your own computer as well.

Applicants will be asked to create a NEW Bio Report (an updated and shortened version of this document) by June 1st that will be included in their dossier along with the committee letter and other letters of recommendation that have been solicited. The dossier, upon an applicant’s request, will be sent to Interfolio, where it will be available for you to send to the appropriate application service. The remaining information from the biographical report, such as the school list and essay, are for internal use at Middlebury only.

Please note that the section “Prepared for College at” is for entering the high school you went to: give the name of the school and the town and state [spelled out] in which it is located.

There is no need to complete the GPA section of the form before fall semester grades are reported in January. At the end of the fall semester, once the Health Professions office receives a report on each undergraduate student’s grades from the Registrar’s Office, the GPA report will be uploaded to Interfolio so that candidates may enter the grades in the appropriate slots. Alums will receive a copy of the final GPA report via email by mid-November and can use that document to finalize this report. GPA entries must be made before a file is ready for committee interviews.

Do enter “Distinction” (Dean's List/College Scholar) information, giving the term and year for each occurrence (e.g., Fall 2014), and including academic awards received at Middlebury.

The general order appearing in the form below has proven to be very useful: Any further information deemed relevant, such as proficiency in the arts or languages, non-academic recognitions, publications, etc., should be added in the last section, under the Additional Information heading. Delete this page and everything in red: it is meant for your aid only.

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The information in this entire document will be available to each Health Professions Committee member with whom you will be interviewing.

PLEASE SUBMIT TO INTERFOLIO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, BUT NO LATER THAN DECEMBER 1, 2014.

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BIOGRAPHICAL REPORT

Report on

Name AAMC/VMCAS/AADSAS No.:

(delete those that don’t apply) (—you may learn this number later!)

Prepared for College at:

secondary school

municipality, state

Home address: Street address of legal residencecity, state abbreviation zip

Entered Middlebury College in: month, year

Major at Middlebury: dept(s)

Graduated: (month, year if applicable; if not yet graduated, delete this category)

Minor: (if applicable; otherwise, delete)

Undergraduate Record: The following averages are provided based on grades received at Middlebury

(and approved off-campus study sites).

GRADE POINT AVERAGES CONVERSION SCALE[Fill in your own yrs below]2001-2012

Average:

Undergraduates, A 4.00

2012-2013

Average:

wait for A- 3.67

2013-2014

Average:

the B+

3.33

2014-2015

Average:

report B 3.00

we’ll B- 2.67

Overall Average:

send C+

2.33

Science Average:

you! C 2.00

C- 1.67

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D 1.00

F 0.00

DISTINCTIONSAny scholastic distinctions at

Middlebury go here (e.g., Dana Scholar or

Graduated Summa cum laude)

Any semesters in which you are listed on the Dean’s List or as a College Scholar go here, in this format:

*College Scholar—Fall 2013, Spring 2014, etc.

*Dean’s List—Fall 2012, Spring 2013, etc.

Leave this information here! Medical schools need this as a reference.*Dean’s List—3.3 or higher, with no grade below B-, for students taking four or more

courses*College Scholar—3.6 or higher, with no grade below B-, for students taking four or

more courses

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BIOGRAPHICAL REPORT, Continued

[your name here]

Headings and examples of possible entries:Please list in reverse chronological order with dates of beginning and ending, and

include institution/location, amount of time per week, and a brief description.NOTE: Make sure you do not list one experience under multiple headings.

Using this format, please delete all the given descriptors and examples in each category below,

leaving only the ALL-CAPS TITLES!

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES (Middlebury or other campuses)Athletics (teams [including intramurals], coaching, swim teacher)Judicial Boards, CouncilsDebateClubs (athletic, language, IS, etc.)Residential life/CommonsSinging Groups, Instrumental EnsemblesRelay for Life

EXTRA-ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES(academic-related activities outside normal academic courses)

Teaching AssistantshipsTutoringTeaching English AbroadEMT coursesTheatre and Music (lessons, performances)

COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE—Non-Paid(Middlebury, home community, abroad)

Special OlympicsProject IndependenceHomeless Shelter

CLINICAL, HEALTH CARE, PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERIENCE—Volunteer or PaidInternshipsVolunteering (nursing home, ER, Open Door Clinic)ShadowingAmbulanceSki PatrolSummer Job

RESEARCH AND INDEPENDENT PROJECTS—Volunteer or Paid(laboratory, non-lab, thesis)

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Summer jobsSummer volunteerWinter TermAcademic Terms

PUBLICATIONS(title and co-authors/PIs, brief description: if publication, bibliographic entry)

ResearchLiteratureScreenplayMusical Score

EMPLOYMENT (summer, breaks, academic year, post-grad)Camp CounselorMary Johnson ChildcareSwim CoachBoating DirectorCampus officesWaitressingfull-time employment after graduation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONLanguage proficienciesMusical proficienciesTriathlons

Date: [of form completion]

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

College Board Scores (SATS) on entering Middlebury (if known):

VERBAL: QUANT: SAT ACHIEVEMENTS:

RECOMMENDATIONS: The Committee recommendation will be based in part on your individual references (in addition to your academic record, biographical report, interview, etc.) As a start, list below THREE (3) references who can vouch for your academic ability and promise, whom you are asking for recommendations. For the committee review process, a minimum of two recommendations are required, at least one of which is from a Middlebury science professor. Final dossiers typically include three to four letters (exceptions should be cleared through the Health Professions advisor); choose your writers in consultation with the Health Professions advisor.

Your instructors provide the references that are considered very important by professional schools. Therefore, at least two recommendations in your dossier should come from professors in the sciences. Experts who have observed you in a professional capacity can also serve as valuable references. Choose your references carefully. In addition to science teachers, choose individuals who know you in different ways so the professional school gets a broad picture of your background and qualifications. Please give professional titles and addresses of recommenders not at Middlebury. 1

2.

3.

NOTE: Soliciting references should be done as soon as possible, as Committee interviews will not be scheduled until at least two are returned. Check frequently with the Health Professions Office to make sure they are submitted.

STUDY IN ADDITION TO BA REQUIREMENTS

Please list any courses, undergraduate or post-baccalaureate, that do not appear on your Middlebury transcript. Please also send us a copy of a grade report or unofficial transcript.

WHEN WHERE TITLE/BRIEF DESCRIPTION

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Which admissions test [proper to your professional field] will you be taking?

When do you plan to take the exam?

If you have already taken the exam, please list your scores:

Overall: Score breakdown: .

MCAT/GRE/DAT/OAT EXAMS

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FOR JUNIORS: TENTATIVE SENIOR-YEAR PROGRAMList titles of the courses you expect to take next year during Fall, Winter and Spring

Terms.

FALL TERM

COURSE NO. TITLE

1.

2.

3.

4.

COURSE NO. TITLE

Winter Term:

SPRING TERM

COURSE NO. TITLE

1.

2.

3.

4.

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ESSAY

PLEASE WRITE AN ESSAY following the guidelines below.This essay will be submitted to the Health Professions Committee members with whom you will interview. It will not be part of the dossier that subsequently goes to medical schools, but is good practice for your primary application.

Please format page in this manner:

Name at top left; one space before essay begins

Text single-spaced; 11-pt. font; one space between paragraphs—thanks!

The following are essays requested by various application services; lengths apply to the actual application essays. You may write differently for the in-house process, but this should be useful to you as practice as well as being informative to the Health Professions Committee members who will interview you. Please delete all categories below that do not pertain to you.

AMCAS American Medical College Application Service (MD)Prompt: Use the Personal Comments essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Some questions you may want to consider while writing this essay are:

Why have you selected the field of medicine? What motivates you to learn more about medicine? What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn't been disclosed in

another section of the application? In addition, you may wish to include information such as:

Special hardships, challenges or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits.

Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application.

Length: 5300 Characters (includes spaces)

AACOMAS American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application ServicePrompt: No prompt. Just "Personal Statement goes here."Length: 4500 Characters (includes spaces)

AADSAS Associated American Dental Schools Application ServicePrompt: The personal essay provides an opportunity for you to explain why you desire to pursue dental education. The Admissions Committee members who read your essay are looking for individuals who are motivated, academically prepared, articulate, socially conscious, and knowledgeable about the profession. Write about your experiences and any qualities that will make you stand out.Length: 4500 characters (including spaces)

VMCAS Veterinary Medical College Application ServicePrompt: Our personal statement should help the admission committee(s) learn something about you as a person, about the development of your interest in veterinary medicine, and about your career goals.

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Length: 5000 characters (including spaces)

CASPA Central Application Service for Physician AssistantsPrompt: USING YOUR OWN WORDS, write a brief statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant. You are encouraged to save your work often in the event that you are timed out of the system. Length: 5000 characters (NOT word) limit of 5,000.

PTCAS Physical Therapy Centralized Application ServicePrompt: What personal characteristics and motivating factors have led you to pursue the profession of physical therapy?Length: 4500 characters (including spaces)

PharmCAS Pharmacy College Application ServicePrompt: Your Personal Essay should address why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals. The personal essay is an important part of your application for admission and provides you with an opportunity for you to clearly and effectively express your ideas. Length: 4500 characters (including spaces)

AACPMAS The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Applications ServicePrompt: State below why you are interested in becoming a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. Provide information about your development for a career in Podiatric MedicineLength: 4500 characters (including spaces)

OptomCAS: Optometry Centralized Application ServicePrompt: Please describe what inspires your decision for becoming an optometrist, including your preparation for training in this profession, your aptitude and motivation, the basis for your interest in optometry, and your future career goals.Length: 4500 characters (may also create different essays for different programs)

OTCAS: Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service Prompt: Your personal essay should address why you selected OT as a career and how an Occupational Therapy degree relates to your immediate and long term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you to achieve your goals.Length: 4500 characters (including spaces)

Nursing: No common application, here is a sample of prompts:Duke Accelerated BSN ProgramPlease submit a statement indicating your objectives, your special interest, plans and your strengths and weaknesses. Include significant life experiences, accomplishments, or special courses which may strengthen your application. Your statement should also specifically address the following personal factors or characteristics: leadership, caring or compassion, intellectual curiosity, and understanding of/reasons for entering the nursing profession. You may include information about relevant life experiences, accomplishments, or academic courses, where appropriate, to enhance

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your statement.UNC-Chapel Hill Accelerated BSN program:1. Why have you chosen to pursue a career in nursing and what are your professional goals? If you are a second degree student, discuss why nursing is a better career choice at this time in your life. 2. Describe a very difficult and/or rewarding experience you have had, and discuss how you dealt with it. Discuss in detail the way in which this particular experience impacted your life. 3. OPTIONAL: Provide any additional information that you wish the Admissions Committee to consider regarding your application. The committee is particularly interested in: • More detailed information regarding community service • Identification/elaboration of any special skills/attributes you would bring to the program (e.g. foreign language fluency, international experience; health care experience, etc.) • Explain why you withdrew from enrolled courses, if any • Explain academic performance if less than satisfactory             Start essay on next page!

Dossier Request FormIn order for us to write your committee letter and submit your dossier to

Interfolio, your file should contain: Unofficial transcripts of coursework taken elsewhere: please send

them to me electronically; All letters of recommendation (submitted through Interfolio); 2nd Phase Biographical Report (Academic Report); Dossier Request form; Signed Committee-Letter Release form (will be page 1 of your

committee letter); The AMCAS, AACMOAS and/or TMDSAS Letter ID form (with bar

code)Everything but the dossier request form can be submitted to us before you submit your AMCAS application; the dossier request form should include the complete list of schools on your AMCAS application as well as any non-AMCAS schools.

Please send us an e-mail with the AMCAS overall and science GPA figures once they are calculated. Don’t wait for that, however: this takes a little while and should not affect your sending the Dossier Request form to us.

The Office of Health Professions and AMCAS compute the science GPA based on courses in the following subjects:

Biology, MBB, and Neuroscience

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Chemistry and Biochemistry Math and Statistics (includes Psych and Econ stats) Physics

Courses that are included in our computation of the “Science GPA” are as follows:

all Biology courses all Chemistry courses all Math courses — and

PSYC 0201 Psychological Statistics ECON 0210 Economics Statistics

all Neuroscience courses (Neuroscience may be regarded as Biology when completing medical school applications.)

all Physics courses Psychology courses cross-listed as of July, 2014

PSYC/NSCI 0301 Physiological PsychologyPSYC/NSCI 0302 Conditioning and LearningPSYC 0303 Sensation and Perception PSYC/NSCI 0305 Cognitive PsychologyPSYC/NSCI 0309 PsychopharmacologyPSYC/NSCI 0311 NeuropsychologyPSYC/NSCI 0411 Neuropsychology of AddictionPSYC 0419 Concepts: The Stuff of Thought       PSYC/NSCI 0430 Memory: A User’s GuidePSYC/NSCI 0433 Neurobiology of Memory and CognitionPSYC 0434 Genes, Brain, Behavior PSYC/NSCI 0435 Behavioral Neuroendocrinology ~ no other Psychology courses; no Computer Science, and no Geology; sorry!

Please list all the schools to which you are applying (include city/state if there could possibly be any confusion) as soon as you have finished your AMCAS, TMDSAS, and/or AACOMAS application, and return the form [still in Word] to the Health Professions office as an e-mail attachment. Keep a copy for your reference. You may revise this list at any time in the future by written or e-mail notice (NOT by telephone).

Send the office a .pdf of the AMCAS Letter ID form (the one with the barcode from their site), as well as your TMDSAS and AACOMAS ID numbers, if you are applying to Texas or osteopathic schools.

As soon as you submit your first secondary, inform the Health Professions office so that preparation of your committee letter may begin, assuming your file is complete. The committee letter will be

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written as soon as possible, but could take upwards of several weeks, depending on the number of files in the queue.

We will send your dossier electronically to Interfolio.

Once in Interfolio, you will be responsible for uploading your dossier to AMCAS:

Enter the letter once in the AMCAS application. Create a new delivery in Interfolio. In Interfolio click Select Deliveries and AMCAS as your designation. Select the Committee Letter. Enter the AAMC ID and the AMCAS Letter ID found on the Letter

Request Form for the letter—Form is on the next page—

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CENTER FOR CAREERS & INTERNSHIPS/HEALTH PROFESSIONS MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE

Adirondack House 102 Middlebury, VT 05753Phone: (802) 443-2455 FAX: (802) 443-2061 e-mail: hprofess@middlebury.edu

DOSSIER REQUEST FORM—MEDICAL SCHOOL

Office use only:Date AMCAS/TMDSAS/AACOMAS application submitted: I’folio submitted:

AMCAS Overall GPA: AMCAS Science GPA:

I hereby authorize the Health Professions office of Middlebury College to release my dossier, including all letters of recommendation, to the following institution(s):

Note if combined program bined pgm Note if combined program

Note: copy this page if you are applying to more than 28 schools.

Electronic Signature Date:

AMCAS ID No.: TMDSAS ID No.: AACOMAS ID No. :

Contact Information*: E-mail address

Postal address

Cell Phone Additional Phone

*Where you’ll be during the application process, so we may keep in touch. Please provide your contact information as soon as it is available; let us know of any post-Midd e-mail addresses when they occur.

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.

Non-AMCAS SchoolsThese schools use AMCAS only for M.D. – Ph.D. applications:

Texas A&M University System Health Science Center College of Medicine Texas Tech University Health Science Center School of Medicine University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas Southwestern

Medical School University of Texas Medical School at Galveston University of Texas School of Medicine at Houston University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio

This school does not use AMCAS: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, Paul L. Foster

School of Medicine

Scholarships, Funding For Health Professions SchoolsIt is never too early to begin thinking about financial aid. Check out the FIRST Financial Aid Toolkit on the AAMC website: http://aamc.financialliteracy101.org/resources/list/

FIRST have all the tools you need to get you the help you need with financing medical school. See the options you have for repaying student loans on the AAMC website:https://www.aamc.org/services/first/first_for_students/250450/repaymentoptions2.html

From the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Online: “The type and amount of [grant and scholarship] support vary by school and may include state and institutional funds. Grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid, but their availability may be very limited. The medical school financial aid officer is the best source of information on what is available and how to qualify.”

Nearly every college or university offers at least one scholarship award, so it is a good idea to research and review scholarship opportunities. As we hear about sources of funding we are adding the information here. They are in semi-alphabetical order. Award details are subject to change.

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** - Funding also open to International Students

Medical School

2014 Sherry R Arnstein Minority Student Scholarship: This award, named after former AACOM Executive Director Sherry R. Arnstein, recognizes two osteopathic underrepresented minority students at AACOM's member colleges of osteopathic medicine (one newly accepted student and one continuing student). Eligibility: To be eligible, an applicant must be an underrepresented minority (African-American; Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian; mainland Puerto Rican, or Hispanic) student in good academic standing and currently enrolled in his or her first, second, or third year at an AACOM member college of osteopathic medicine OR an underrepresented minority student who has been accepted and is planning to matriculate at one of the AACOM member colleges. Previous Arnstein Scholarship awardees are ineligible.http://www.aacom.org/InfoFor/students/finaid/Pages/ArnsteinScholarship.aspx

American Association of University Women (AAUW)-Selected Professions Fellowships: Selected Professions Fellowships are awarded to women who intend to pursue a full-time course of study at accredited institutions during the fellowship year in one of the designated degree programs where women's participation traditionally has been low. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Fellowships in the following degree programs are restricted to women of color, who have been underrepresented in these fields: business administration (MBA, EMBA), law (JD), and medicine (MD, DO). Master’s and first professional awards range from $5,000-$12,000. www.aauw.org

Chinese American Medical Society scholarships: 3-5 scholarships a year to medical and/or dental students and scientists.http://www.camsociety.org/programs.htm

GrantsNet: database of over 700 funding and scholarship possibilities for training in the biomedical sciences and undergraduate science education.http://www.grantsnet.com

**Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Fellowships: 1 year of full-time biomedical research training and continued support for a second year of research training or completion of medical studies. Must be enrolled in a US medical school; fellowship research must be conducted at a US institution (research may be conducted abroad if the fellow’s mentor is

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affiliated with a US institution). Annual stipend of $21K, annual fellow’s allowance of $5,500; annual research allowance of $5,500. Open to international students as well as US citizens.http://www.hhmi.org/grants/office/graduate/

**M.A. Cartland Shackford Medical Fellowship (for women): Minimum $10,000 for “the study of medicine with a view to general practice, not psychiatry.” A Wellesley scholarship, but open to women graduates of any American institution. Basis: merit and need. Usually given to applicants currently enrolled in or applying to grad school for the following year.http://www.wellesley.edu/CWS/fellowships

**St. George’s University School of Medicine Chancellor’s Circle of the Legacy of Excellence Scholarship: 1/3 tuition scholarship automatically awarded to 50 accepted students who have a minimum undergraduate 3.7 cumulative GPA and a 29 MCAT.http://www.sgu.edu

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Scholarships: $5,000 in one lump sum. Latino students with history of performing public-service-oriented activities in their communities and who plan to continue contributing in the future. No GPA or major requirements. Eligibility: history of consistent active participation in public service; acceptance (full-time) into grad/professional program; demonstrated financial need; good writing skills; US citizen/legal permanent resident.http://www.chciyouth.org

**Tylenol scholarship: for students pursuing careers in healthcare. •$1,000 and $5,000 grants are available for undergraduate and post-graduate study. •Applicants will be judged on leadership qualities and academic performance. •Applications must be postmarked by April 30th•Names of recipients will be posted on the TYLENOL® Web site at www.tylenol.com

in August All applications will first be screened on the basis of leadership responsibilities in community activities and school activities and on grade point average. Scholarship recipients will be selected on the basis of the number, length of commitment, and quality of leadership responsibilities in community activities and school activities, awards and honors (40%), a clear statement of education and career goals (10%), and academic record (50%).http://www.tylenol.com/page.jhtml?id=tylenol/news/subptyschol.inc

Dental School

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American Dental Association (ADA) Foundation-Minority Dental Student Scholarship Program: The American Dental Association offers renewable scholarships to underrepresented minority students in dental school. Applicants must be entering second year students at the time of application and currently attending or enrolled at a dental school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation. In addition, applicants must demonstrate a minimum financial need of $2,500 and must have an accumulative GPA of 3.0. The maximum scholarship award is for $2,500. http://www.ada.org/ada/charitable/endow/minority.html

Chinese American Medical Society scholarships: 3-5 scholarships a year to medical and/or dental students and scientists.http://www.camsociety.org/programs.htm

Osteopathic Medical School

**Lancaster Osteopathic Health Foundation in Lancaster (PA): two scholarships to Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) in late spring for students entering medical school in August. Scholarships are each $10,000 per year for four years as long as the student meets PCOM grade standards or a total of $40,000 per scholarship. Applicants must be residents of Lancaster County who have been accepted for admission by PCOM. Information and applications are available from Kristi Baker at the Lancaster Osteopathic Health Foundation Office. lohfoundation.org

Veterinary School

Saul T. Wilson Scholarship Program in Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences:The award: • Up to $5,000 per year for undergraduate studies and up to $10,000 per year for graduate studies, for tuition, books, tutors, and laboratory fees. • Paid employment during summers and school breaks as a Veterinary Student Trainee, participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System and in the Thrift Savings Plan (401K), and paid vacation and sick leave. Based on the length of the work periods, compensation may also include life and health insurance benefits. • The possibility of conversion, without further competition, to a permanent appointment with the agency. The career experience program agreement requires 640 hours of study-related work with APHIS in order to be considered for this conversion and successful completion of the program and graduation with a D.V.M. degree. Application Deadline: March 1U.S. citizen

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Sophomore or junior in good academic standing (students must maintain at least a 2.5 grade-point average), enrolled in programs related to preveterinary or other biomedical sciences,Awardees agree to work for the USDA, APHIS agency during school breaks (both summer and holiday periods) a minimum of 640 hours prior to completion of studies.http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/saultwilson.pdf

Nursing

DiscoverNursing.com is a resource for nursing scholarships all over the country.  Also, there are professional associations for many different types of nursing, and nurses,  that often provide funding (e.g. rehabilitation nursing, emergency nursing, oncology nursing, the National Black Nurses Association) etc.  You may want to ask your nursing school about the various professional associations they work with.

SERVICE COMMITMENT PROGRAMS

Available through the Army, Navy, and Air Force, federal agencies, and some state agencies, these awards provide financial assistance to enrolled medical students in return for physician services after completion of medical training. These programs are not need- or cost-based; nor are they strictly speaking a form of financial aid.

Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program: Full support to students enrolled in civilian medical schools in exchange for service, after residency training, in the branch that provided the support. Applications are handled by military recruiters and are very competitive. Additional information is provided in the MSAR (see p. 4 above).

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program: available to qualifying students upon matriculation. The NHSC’s mission is to increase access to primary care services and reducing health disparities for people in health professional shortage areas by assisting communities through the preparation, recruitment, and retention of community-responsive, culturally competent primary care clinicians. The NHSC offers two major types of financial support in exchange for professional services: competitive scholarships and loan repayments. More information:http://nhsc.bhpr.hrsa.gov/join_us/scholarships.asp

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