Special Applicant Session: Applying to MD/PhD Programs Entry Year 2014

1. Special Applicant Session: Applyingto MD/PhD ProgramsEntry Year 2014 David Verrier, Ph.D., Director Neil Neumann, MD/PhD Candidate, MS3 Office of Pre-Professional Programs & Advising Garland Hall, 3rd Floor Phone: 410-516-4140 Website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro

2. How do I know if an MD/PhD program is the right choice for me?

3. First… Are you a competitive MD/PhD applicant? Do you have a competitive BCPM GPA and MCAT? What are competitive numbers? Do you have the expected research background and evidence of scholarly/academic investment? Do you have the necessary medically-related exposure? Do you have meaningful service? Will you have strong letters of recommendation, particularly from your research PI’s/supervisors? What does the competitive MD/PhD applicant look like?

4. Second…Are you ready? Can you clearly and authentically communicate why you want to be a physician-scientist? Do you have time to focus on the HPCA, AMCAS application, letters of rec., MCAT, graduation, multiple essays and secondary applications? Are you putting your best foot forward at this time? When to apply? What are some good reasons for delaying applying?

5. Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising 2014 Application Cycle TimelineInternal Process– Nov. 2012 to Summer 2013 May Dec. Jan. Feb. March April June Nov. Committee Application Available Online Committee Interviews Students Request Letters of Recommendation via veCollect • November: Applicant Kick Off; veCollect and begin letters of rec • December: HPCA available • January – March: Work on HPCA • April 1: HPCA deadline at 4 pm • April – June: Committee interviews • May: Applications open • June: Begin submitting applications (apply early!!) • Mid-June: 4 to 6 letters of rec submitted to veCollect

6. Office of Pre-Professional Programs and Advising 2014 Application Cycle TimelineExternal Process – May 2013 to August 2014 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 • First week of May: Applications open • First week of June: Begin submitting applications (apply early!) • July: Begin secondaries; complete them thoroughly, accurately, but quickly (within a few weeks of receiving) • September: Interviews begin • October 15: First acceptances sent by medical schools with rolling admissions; AMCAS deadline for many medical schools • March: Most interviews end • May 15: Last date to hold multiple acceptances • March – August: Offers from medical/dental school waitlists • August: Medical/dental school begins

7. MD/PhD Letters of Recommendation

8. MD/PhD 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 • 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

9. How does the MCAT factor into your application? If taken by June, can choose to see scores before submitting AMCAS application in July. If taken July or later, advised not to delay submitting your AMCAS application. Scores automatically released to AMCAS. Plan to only take test once. What is a competitive score for MD/PhD programs? When does it make sense to retake? When should I take the MCAT?

10. Essays for the MD/PhD Applicant 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. Questions to consider for your personal statement: • 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? However, you are required to submit three essays with your AMCAS application…

11. Essays for the MD/PhD Applicant (page 2) You are required to provide two (2) additional essays. Use the M.D./Ph.D. essay to state your reasons for pursuing the combined M.D./Ph.D. degree. Your responses will only be forwarded to your designated M.D./Ph.D. program(s). This essay is limited to 3,000 characters. Use the Significant Research Experience Essay to describe your significant research experiences. In your statement, please specify your research supervisor's name and affiliation, the duration of the experience, the nature of the problem studied, and your contributions to the project. This essay is limited to 10,000 characters. If your research resulted in a publication on which you were an author, please provide the full citation in the Work/Activities section of your application.

12. Selecting MD/PhD Programs • Sort out MSTP programs and non-MSTP programs. • Last year: $160 for initial school; $32 for additional schools + fees for secondary applications (additional $50 - $100/school) • National average: 14 schools/applicant; not necessarily an advantage to apply to 20+ schools • Some selection factors: residency, location, cost, class size, male/female ratio, diversity, mission, etc. PLUS: MSTP affiliation; location of potential research mentors; schools with strong graduate programs in your area(s) of interest • Sources of information: MSAR, Website, Interview Reports Is it OK to apply MD-only at some schools and MD/PhD at others? Will schools consider me for admission as MD-only if I am not considered a strong MD/PhD candidate?

13. AMCAS Application available approx. May 5. Can start submitting application approx. June 1. AMCAS “verifies” academic and other demographic information; downloads to schools selected by applicants. Additional schools can be added through the AMCAS website

14. Some additional questions… What can I expect with secondary applications? How big are the programs and how many new students do they accept each year? When should I expect to hear from schools? What if I am not a US citizen and applying to MD/PhD programs? If time allows… What can I expect regarding MD/PhD interviews

15. Remaining Workshops

16. Ongoing Contact with Pre-Professional Office • When you officially apply to medical schools, hardcopy of AMCAS application and veCollect List of Schools to Pre-Prof. Office. • Pre-Prof. Office starts uploading your Committee Letter with veCollect letters of rec in mid-July, after receiving your AMCAS application and Master List of Schools. • Notification of additional schools. • Notification if recommenders change. • Get to know Mrs. Krause and Mrs. Sanders (advising questions to Verrier/Snydman; administrative questions to Krause/Sanders).

17. 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 MD/PhD resources on the Pre-Prof Website http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/md_phd.html 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?