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Applicant Session 1: The Ins and Outs of Applying

Applicant Session 1: The Ins and Outs of Applying. David Verrier, PhD, Director Ana Droscoski, JD, Associate Director Ellen Snydman, MS, Assistant Director Katie Cruit, MS, Assistant Director. Office of Pre-Professional Programs & Advising Garland Hall, 3 rd Floor Phone: 410-516-4140

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Applicant Session 1: The Ins and Outs of Applying

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  1. Applicant Session 1: The Ins and Outs of Applying David Verrier, PhD, Director Ana Droscoski, JD, Associate Director Ellen Snydman, MS, Assistant Director Katie Cruit, MS, Assistant Director Office of Pre-Professional Programs & Advising Garland Hall, 3rd Floor Phone: 410-516-4140 Website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro

  2. First… Are you a competitive applicant? • Do you have a competitive Cumulative GPA, BCPM GPA and MCAT? (what are competitive numbers?) • Do you have research or evidence of scholarly/academic investment? • Do you have strong medically-related exposure? • Do you have meaningful community service? • Consider: length of time, depth of experience, insight gained • Have you reflected on what you’ve learned through your experiences? • Do you have evidence of leadership? • Will you have strong letters of recommendation?

  3. Second…Are you ready? Can you clearly, meaningfully, and authentically communicate why you want to be a medical professional? Do you have time to focus on the HPCA, AMCAS application, letters of rec., graduation, MCAT, finding a gap year experience, personal statement, secondary applications? Do you need to consider your junior year vs. senior year transcript; do you need post-bac and/or masters coursework? Does the timing of the process work to your advantage? Are you applying from a position of strength?

  4. COA-Endorsed Core Entry-level Personal Competencies • Integrity and Ethics • Reliability and Dependability • Service Orientation • Social and Interpersonal Skills • Teamwork • Capacity for Improvement • Resilience and Adaptability • Cultural Competence • Oral Communication How will these be reflected in your application?

  5. 2013 APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINEInternal Process – November 2011 to June 2012 May Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April June Committee Application Available Online Committee Interviews Students Request Letters of Recommendation via veCollect 3/30/2012HPCA Deadline 4/2012 CommitteeInterviews Begin 5 /2102Begin Work on AMCAS/ AACOMAS/ AADSAS application 6/2012Early submission of AMCAS/ AACOMAS/ AADSAS application ; follow-up with Pre-Prof. Office Mid-June20124-6 letters of rec. submitted 11/2011Applicant Meetings; Initial Request of Rec. Letters 12/2011HPCA Application AvailableOnline Work on HPCA from December to March 5/2012Committee InterviewsEnd

  6. 2013 APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINEExternal Process – May 2012 to August 2013 Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April May June July August May June July Aug. AMCAS/AADSAS/AACOMAS Medical School Interviews Acceptances Acceptances off of Waitlists Early May, 2012AMCAS, AADSAS,AACOMASgo online Early June, 2012First date to submit AMCAS AADSAS,AACOMAS October 15,2012 First acceptances sent out by medical schools with rolling admissions; AMCAS deadline for many schools March, 2013 Interviews end at most medical schools May 15, 2013 Last date to hold multiple acceptances Aug. 2013 Med/Dental School begins Sept., 2012Med/Dental School interviews begin

  7. The Committee Letter • 3 – 4 page narrative • Sections of the letter include: • Candidate Overview • Research • Medically Related Experience • Community Service • Other Activities • Closing Comments • All of your recommendation letters are attached

  8. Letters of Recommendation • Follow through with veCollect • Register and receive manual • Ask recommenders for LOR before putting their names into veCollect • Give writers: resume, transcript (optional), paragraph on why you want to be a physician, copies of appropriate papers. • Request letters now • Recommenders who know you well; can speak of your knowledge, skills and abilities as a future physician; can speak in terms of personal competencies. • Recommended distribution: science faculty, non-science faculty, those outside of the classroom (research PI, athletic coach, volunteer supervisor, employer, etc.) • Letters should be submitted to veCollect by mid-June • Submission of letters of recommendation (with Committee Letter) totally separate from submission of AMCAS

  9. How does the MCAT factor into your application? If taken by May, can choose to see scores before submitting AMCAS application in June. If taken June or later, usually advised to submit your AMCAS application before knowing your score. Scores automatically released to AMCAS and immediately available to your schools. Non-AMCAS schools can receive scores via the MCAT Testing History (THx) System. Plan to only take test once. When does it make sense to retake?

  10. Personal Statement Schools view your personal statement as… • A chance to move beyond your numbers and really show the admissions committee who you are and why you are applying. • A significant factor in whether or not you will be invited to interview. • A writing sample. Some Keys: Authenticity, engagement, clarity of theme, intro-body-closing… Questions to consider: • What experiences have shaped me the most and how? • Why is it important for me to tell admissions committees about this topic as it relates to me? • What does this topic choice tell admissions committees about me? How does my topic reflect on me? • How is this topic relevant to my pursuit of the health professions and to my application to health professions school? Personal Statement Workshops (only need to attend one) Thursday, April 5, 5 – 6 pm, Mergenthaler 111 Thursday, April 12, 5 – 6 pm, Maryland 110 Wednesday, April 18, 5 – 6 pm, Ames 234

  11. Selecting Medical Schools • Last year: $160 for application and one (1) school + $33 for each additional school + $50 - $125 for each secondary application • Key consideration – 10th to 90th percentiles in MSAR • Other key selection factors: residency, location, cost, class size, male/female ratio, diversity, mission, curriculum, student life, special programs, personal considerations • How many schools to choose? • Average number nationally is 14 schools/applicant • Average number for JHU students is between 15-20/applicant • Limited # reach schools, majority where your numbers are equal to or above competitive indices, and, if available, “safety schools” • Strongly consider applying to osteopathic schools • Sources of information: MSAR, Website, Interview Reports

  12. AMCAS/AACOMAS • Application available approximately May 1. • Can start submitting application approximately June1. • AMCAS/AACOMAS “verifies” academic and other demographic information; downloads to schools selected by applicants. • Additional schools can be added through the AMCAS website—Must notify Mrs. Krause or Mrs. Sanders to insure schools are forwarded Committee Packet. AMCAS/AACOMAS Workshops (only need to attend one) Thursday, April 26, 5 – 6 pm, Maryland 110 Monday, May 7, 5 – 6 pm, Maryland 110

  13. What Does It Cost to Apply to Med School? Estimated costs to apply and interview: • MCAT x 1 @ $240 $240 • AMCAS Application (1 school) $160 • Additional 19 schools @$33 each $627 • 15 Supplemental App Costs @ $100 each $1500 • Total Pre-interview Estimated Costs $2527 And that’s before interviewing! Add hundreds (or thousands) of dollars in interview travel expenses… trains, planes, cabs, food, etc.

  14. Ongoing Contact with Pre-Professional Office • HPCA due no later than March 30, 4 pm! • When you officially apply to medical schools, submit electronic copy of AMCAS application, the AMCAS Letter form, and Master List of Schools to Pre-Prof. Office. We do not submit Committee Packet without these materials. Note: Medical schools do not begin receiving AMCAS applications until July. • Pre-Prof. Office starts uploading your Committee Letter with veCollect letters of rec in mid-July. • Notification of additional schools. • Notification if recommenders change. Strong suggestion: Get to know Mrs. Krause and Mrs. Sanders for questions regarding administrative aspects of the process.

  15. Other Considerations: • MD/PhD Applicant Information Session on Monday, March 12, 5 – 6 pm, Shaffer 101 • Health Professions Fair on Tuesday, April 10, 11 am – 2 pm, Glass Pavilion • Osteopathic Medical Colleges (open up your sights and possibilities) • Dental Schools (meet with Ms. Droscoski) • Institutional Action • Professionalism!!!

  16. Key Resources Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR). Profiles and statistics on every US and Canadian medical school. Purchased through Association of American Medical Colleges: http://www.aamc.org or at http://www.amazon.com Osteopathic Medical College Information Book. Contact the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, http://www.aacom.org/Pages/default.aspx. A few copies are available in the Pre-Prof Office. MCAT application information, preparation and FAQs: https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/ Official MCAT practice tests: http://www.e-mcat.com/ The Pre-Professional Office website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/applicants.html Questions?

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