Applying to Medical School in 2011

and Beyond

• Lee Witters• Sarah Berger• Annette Hamilton

First Things First

• Make your intention to possibly apply known to our advising system..i.e. SIGN IN

• Have an individual conversation with an advisor as to whether 2011 is the optimum time for you to be applying to medical school or whether you should consider delaying till 2012 or later

• Familiarize yourself with all the sources of information

• KEEP TO ANNOUNCED DEADLINES!

Some Medical School Admission

Statistics: 2010 Matriculants

•# applicants: 41, 309•# accepted: 19, 086 (46%)•GPA all applicants: 3.53 (3.43 BCPM)

•GPA accepted: 3.67 (3.62 BCPM)

•MCAT all takers 8.4VR/8.7PS/9.2BS/26.4/O•MCAT accepted applicants 9.3VR/9.8PS/10.2BS/29.3/P

NationalNational

• # applicants: 170• 77% alumni • # accepted: 114 (67%)• # schools/applicant: 19• # acceptances/applicant: 2 (1-11)• GPAs accepted:

– Overall: 3.58 (2.6-3.99)– BCPM: 3.49 (2.6-4.00)

• GPA not accepted:– Overall: 3.37 (2.8-3.94)– BCPM: 3.24 (1.9-3.90)

• MCAT– Accepted :

•10.9VR/11.4PS/11.4 BS/33.7/Q– Not Accepted:

•10.2VR/10.5PS/10.6BS/31.3/Q

Dartmouth

Includes only released data

Factors Influencing Admission Statistics

OVERALL GPA• >3.3 overall GPA 89% of ‘accepted’; 55 % of ‘not accepted’BCPM GPA• >3.3 BCPM 74% of ‘accepted’; 44% of ‘not accepted’MCAT• >30 MCAT 87% of ‘accepted’; 80% of ‘not accepted’Timeliness• Application verified before Sept 1

80% of ‘accepted’; 56% of ‘not accepted’OTHER DATA

Science GPA < 3.2; MCAT <30: Only 4% acceptedIf Science GPA < 3.3 and ‘accepted’, average MCAT 31If Science GPA > 3.3 and ‘ not accepted’, average MCAT 30

Other factors: • Clinical Experience/Exposure• Community Service• Research Experience• List of Schools (# and appropriateness relative to credentials)• Personal statement & Interview• Letters of evaluation• Utilization of advising services

Courses (GPA,

Science GPA)

MCAT

Extracurricular Experiences

Letters of Evaluation

Personal & Professional Characteristi

cs

Skills & Abilities

Clinical ExposureAltruistic ServiceScholarly Activity(outside classroom)

Elements of a Successful Application to Medical School

Evaluating Beyond Grades,MCAT Scores and Prior Experiences in Health

• Active listener• Problem solver• Communicator

(oral, written)• Critical thinker• Multilingual

• Resiliency• Integrity/Judgment• Adaptability• Reliability/Dependability• Persistence• Motivation• Intellectual curiosity• Empathy• Altruistic service

Skills & Abilities Personal & Professional Characteristics

Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond

•Overview: Where is help? •Important web sites:Important web sites:

– NSS (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss) • Several links in “Must Reads & Links” section including Alumni Advice network• ‘Medical School Application 2011-2012’ section (podcasts, documents)

– NSS Blackboard site (need to self-enroll; see instructions on NSS home page)

• All important documents and podcasts to be posted here in ‘Pre-Health Information’ >>>>’Medical School’ folder

– Career Services (www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/students/gradschool/med/index.html)

– American Association of Medical Colleges (www.aamc.org/students/applying/start.htm)

• Links on right: AMCAS, MCAT, Aspiring Docs.org, Medical Schools/More Resources

Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond

• The MCAT exam, registration and preparation– When/where?– How to prepare? MCAT Survey: ‘How NSS Prepares’– Other issues: testing accommodations; fee assistance

Postedon NSS home

page

Composite Letter of Evaluation

• REQUIRED unless you are class of 2009 or previous

• No more than six (6) writers including your composite writer.

• 3-5 writers will write supporting letters

• Who will be your letter writers? – TWO science faculty who’ve taught you– Major professor– Extracurricular letter

Credentials Consult Documents in “Medical

School Application” on NSS Home Page

• Open your Interfolio account– Waiving your rights of access

• Ask letter writers – give them timelines• Create & upload supporting documents

– Autobiographical Sketch– Resume– Transcript (official from Registrar; scan both sides)

• Release to Composite Writer • Additional letters (after composite) – talk to

Annette• Timelines/Deadlines (Agreement form)

Questions About Interfolio?

Send e-mail to credentials@dartmouth.edu

See also: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/pdfs/interfolio_announcement.p

dfand the Interfolio FAQs at

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/pdfs/interfolio_faq.pdf

TimelineFall Winter Spring Summer

10-11

- Is this the best year for you to apply? -Ask for LETTERS-Sign up for early MCAT

-Workshops-Ask for LETTERS-Early MCAT (or sign up for spring/summer)-Open Interfolio account

-Workshops-LETTERS -MCAT-Begin AMCAS application, incl. personal statement & school list-Transcript (after spring term)

-Submit AMCAS application target date 6/30-Begin secondary applications-Send LETTERS

11-12

-Complete 2° by early Sept-Schools to have everything by now-Interviews & Offers

- Update Letters

-Interviews & Offers

-Decision Day: May 15

-Get ready for med school classes!

Summary of Deadlines (Ideal (i.e. target) & Final)

Task Ideal (target) date

Final deadline

Taking MCAT By mid-June August dates

Submitting AMCAS June 30 Sept 1

Submitting 2o Apps Sept 1 Oct 1

Documents to Career ServicesTimeline Agreement ASAP April 1

Composite Letter Worksheet

End of winter term classes

May 1

Supporting Documents May 1 July 1

Supporting Letters May 1 July 1

Release to Composite Writer

May 15 July 1

Composite Letter July 1 September 1

Timeline Agreement Sheet

Please review, sign and return by the end of this meeting

Composite Letter Work Sheet

Submit by end of winter term to Annette Hamilton

Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond

A Few “Heads Up” For Later Meetings

• Winter Term Workshops : – How to Ask for Letters (Friday, Jan 28, 4:30, Carson L01),

Getting Started on a Personal Statement (TBA)

• The AMCAS application – Issue of institutional action/misdemeanor/felony– Release date early May; suggested submission

date end of June– Spring workshops (e.g. how to fill out; personal

statements; also post-bacc programs, ‘gap years’)• Choosing schools: How to decide? • Secondary applications• The interview and the decision making• What if I am planning to apply in later years?