Health Career Evaluation Committee Process

1. Health Career Evaluation Committee Process Overview for alumni seeking to matriculate in 2011

2. Health Careers Evaluation Process Why does Cornell provide a Letter of Evaluation? Schools of human medicine request this service. These include allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, optometry and podiatry. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

3. Health Careers Evaluation Process Why do applicants get Letters of Evaluation from Cornell? In a certain sense, the HCEC “advises” health professional schools, in a succinct, structured manner, on the attributes of Cornell and Cornell alumni applicants. It provides a narrative introduction to the applicant, highlighting your strengths, qualities and distinctive experiences. Information contained in the HCEC Letter of Evaluation (LoE) packet is an important document in candidate selection for schools of human medicine. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

4. Health Careers Evaluation Process What does the LoE cover? The Health Careers Evaluation Committee (HCEC) program provides an objective assessment of the attributes of applicants for admission to, and their potential for success in, health career professions. The letter of evaluation (LoE) is a comprehensive, narrative view of an applicant’s undergraduate experience at Cornell, and his or her experiences and accomplishments since graduating. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

5. Health Careers Evaluation Process What does the LoE cover? The evaluation is done in the context of the applicant’s overall Cornell experience, including college of study; for alumni, post-graduate experiences and academic performance is included in the evaluation process. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

6. Health Careers Evaluation Process Trade-Offs and leveraging factors in the admissions process While applicants are not expected to excel in all aspects of college or post-graduate life, success in academic performance is expected. A strong academic record is the base on which a successful application is developed. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

7. Health Careers Evaluation Process Trade-Offs and leveraging factors in the admissions process Academic achievement is affected by life circumstances. Sometimes low grades occur during difficult semesters, which the HCEC will explain on behalf of the candidate. However, following the standards dictated by admissions offices, the HCEC does not use any level of academic record as a compensating factor for significant weakness or strength in the applicant’s other activities/experiences. Please refer to the Accepted/Applied Chart slide that follows for statistics on Cornell alumni. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

8. HCEC Accepted/Applied Chart 2009 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

9. Health Careers Evaluation Process How does the HCEC process work? The file has two parts, one applicant-generated and one generated by others. Your part: Forms and documents that you can download from our website (on the page where you found this presentation) and submit electronically as email attachments to hcec@cornell.edu: • Registration form which includes a fee of $190. You may mail us a check made out to “Cornell University – HCEC.” This is the only payment method we accept from alumni. The actual registration form should be submitted electronically, although you may include a paper copy with your check. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

10. Available for download at HCEC website Asks questions about your current/former HCEC status Requires four signed statements Integrity in the Application Process Understanding File Retention Policy Acknowledgment Purpose of HCEC Packet Understanding FERPA Right to Access Decision Indicated Above Signature Fee is $190 payable by check only. Send the Registration electronically. Send the fee in check form by mail to: HCEC/ 203 Barnes Hall/ Cornell University/ Ithaca, NY 14853. 2010 HCEC Registration Form 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

11. Health Careers Evaluation Process How does the HCEC process work? Your part: Forms and documents that you can download from our website and submit electronically as email attachments to hcec@cornell.edu: • Background Information Form (BIF) which classifies your activities in a manner relevant to the interests of schools of human medicine. This covers your undergraduate and postgraduate years. It is important that you document and distinguish achievement in those non-academic activities in which you are most involved. This document is formatted in Word so that k you will minimize white space on the page by resizing columns and rows to fit your information. At the end of the document you will find a page of instructions to advise your thinking on what to include in/ exclude from the form. It should not be included in your submission. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

12. Health Careers Evaluation Process How does the HCEC process work? Your part: Forms and documents that you can download from our website and submit electronically as email attachments to hcec@cornell.edu: • Internal and external transcripts: HCEC will obtain only your CU transcript for you. You must order external transcripts to be sent to us by the issuing school. See next slide on non-applicant generated file content for more information on this. • Personal Statement addressing your motivation for a career in human medicine and relevant autobiographical information. Usually 2-3 pages suffice and we appreciate brevity. Please see the Cornell 2010 Applicant Guide (available online after you register, or mailed to you at your request) for guidelines on how to compose a comprehensive personal statement. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

13. Health Careers Evaluation Process How does the HCEC process work? These file elements are generated by others at your request: Letters of recommendation (2-3), including at least one from a Cornell faculty member or senior staff member. Cornell writers should be personally and professionally familiar with your academic work at Cornell. External transcripts for all work done in any post-secondary school, including college courses taken in high school and college, as well as any post-bac program work, or other coursework taken after graduation from Cornell. These must be sent to HCEC as official documents from the issuing school. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

14. Health Careers Evaluation Process How does the HCEC process work? The HCEC reviews the file and composes the letter of evaluation (LoE). The LoE is supportive, emphasizing appropriate activities and accomplishments, but does not advocate for candidates by “overstating the case.” We reserve the right by policy to include in the LoE salient information about a candidate that may come from information not contained in the file, although such inclusions are rare. The “HCEC Letter Packet,” consisting of the letters of recommendation and the LoE, is sent to admissions committees of applicant-designated schools for inclusion in the application of the registrant. The applicant directs the delivery of the HCEC letter packet. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

15. Health Careers Evaluation Process Some features unique to Cornell’s committee • Based on registrant input, evaluation process is completely separate from advising process; there is a “firewall” between the two. HCEC members do not receive input from the Barnes Hall Senior Health Advisor (Judy Jensvold) regarding individual registrants. After reading a file, the HCEC Chair (Professor F. A. Kallfelz) may suggest that a registrant seek advice before proceeding, but the health advisor does not discuss such meetings with anyone on the HCEC staff. • Participation is voluntary and all are welcome to use the HCEC. • The evaluation process does not include consideration of performance on standardized tests. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

16. How to find us • We use a largely web and email-based process: • http://www.career.cornell.edu/Look for the “Health Careers/HCEC” links • hcec@cornell.edu • Alumni need to use the Cornell net ID to get into their personal “HCEC file status check.” Here is the link to reactivate a Cornell net ID: http://www.cit.cornell.edu/services/netid/about/faq.cfm Mailing address: HCEC, 203 Barnes Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

17. HCECDivision of Responsibility Chair, HCEC: Professor F.A. Kallfelz Program Administrator: Janet Snoyer Records Coordinator: hcec@cornell.edu The Applicant: YOU 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

18. HCEC Chair Responsibilities Professor Kallfelz • Reviews folder of the alumnus/a • Edits / prepares final draft of letter • Approves and signs final draft • Note: Alumni are not interviewed by the Chair or HCEC members. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

19. HCEC Staff ResponsibilitiesJ. Snoyer • Helps resolve atypical procedural issues. • Reviews file and letter of evaluation • Edits / prepares final draft of letter • Contact at hcec@cornell.edu 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

20. HCEC Staff ResponsibilitiesRecords Coordinator • Compiles file • Maintains file status check • Prepares HCEC packet • Troubleshoots technical issues 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

21. HCEC Staff ResponsibilitiesRecords Coordinator • Responds best to email: hcec@cornell.edu and to non-routine questions. We expect you to review our informational materials before you contact us. These are: • The HCEC website where you found this presentation. • the 2010 Applicant Guide available in your HCEC online file. • 2010 summer newsletters posted in your online file. We post information there as you proceed through the application process. • NOTE: During July and August, we may not be able to reply to email queries we have addressed in our informational materials in a timely fashion. Always review our materials before sending an email to us. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

22. HCEC Alumnus/a Responsibilities After submitting your registration form electronically (by email attachment to hcec@cornell.edu), go into your HCEC file status to fill in your personal information. Your registration is complete only after we receive your check and your file status record is filled in completely. The subject heading in your email should be: First Last (your name): HCEC Registration 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

23. HCEC Alumnus/a Responsibilities • Make sure your recommenders submit their letters in a timely fashion. Your file is not complete until we receive a minimum of two letters. By policy, at least one letter must be from a member of the Cornell faculty or senior staff. • Check your file status online periodically to make sure information is accurate: www.career.cornell.edu. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

24. HCEC Alumnus/a Responsibilities Don’t let your contact information get outdated. We may need to reach you. When you send us email on a new topic, always direct it to hcec@cornell.edu. Use a new and definitive subject heading. Make sure your question is not already answered in our informational materials. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

25. HCEC Alumni Timeline Candidates for schools of human medicine are advised to apply early. If you want your HCEC packet to go out in the earliest group, your file must be complete in our office by May 31. Otherwise, we need to have a complete file for you one month before you would like us to send it. Please plan accordingly. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

26. Frequently Asked Questions Why don’t you interview alums? Undergraduates are far more likely than Cornell graduates to need an interview to help them chart their experiences and better understand themselves as candidates. Most alumni, since they are more experienced in the world and know their own strengths well, do not benefit significantly from a campus interview. We offer advising to alumni for the application process. Since all alumni cannot return to campus, it would not be fair to interview only those who can make the trip. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

27. Frequently Asked Questions I just graduated this May. Am I considered an alum? If you graduate in May and plan to apply in this year’s cycle, we consider you an alum if you register and complete your file after you graduate. If you register and complete your file before you graduate, we will treat you as an undergraduate for purposes of the the interview. If you register before you graduate and complete your file after you graduate, your registration status depends on the time it took you to complete your file. The Chair will decide whether to interview you. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

28. Other Questions? Questions about your file and packet: hcec@cornell.edu Advising questions? Advising can help you to tailor information to a particular individual situation. See the advising slides that follow to learn about informational resources and advising that Cornell provides for you. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

29. Advising Gathering information tailored to your specific situation

30. As an applicant you will deal with 3 processes: • MCAT-Medical College Admission Test • AMCAS-American Medical College Application Service application • HCEC- Health Careers Evaluation Committee 30 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

31. The Health Careers/HCEC web page has information on these processes. See these links: MCAT – advice on MCAT timing and related topics Applying/Finances/Post-Bac – see the “Applications and Outcomes Questionnaires” for profiles of previous Cornell applicants, application links, etc. Media Programs – Contains audios and video of information programs done on campus on such topics as: how to pick recommenders how to write the application essays how to choose the schools to apply to how to apply using AMCAS how to interview at medical school, follow up on your application, and deal with wait lists. 31 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation

32. Applying web information to your situation Once you have reviewed the basic information from the Health Careers and HCEC web site, the 2010 Applicant Guide, the HCEC online summer newsletters, Applications and Outcomes survey information and the Media Programs offered, you may need advice on how to apply it to your specific situation. This is when you should seek out health careers advising. 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation 32

33. Contact Information Judy Jensvold, Health Careers Advisor Call-in time: M-F, 4:00 - 4:30 pm 607-255-0542 Email: jmj5@cornell.edu Appointment: long-distance phone or in person, call 607-255-5296 to schedule 2010 Alumni HCEC Web Presentation 33