PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS ADVISING

1. Preparing for the 2015 Application Cycle PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMS ADVISING University Advising and Career Center Hood House Room 102 (603) 862-7740 www.unh.edu/premed-advising Katie Whittemore Pre-Professional Health Programs Advising Office

2. Do you need to request a Committee Letter of Evaluation? • Yes: Applicants to medical (MD/DO), dental, and podiatric programs. • Committee Evaluation is expected and preferred • No: Applicants to all other graduate level programs (PA, OD, PharmD,PT, ND, and DC) • Generally, no Committee Letter is required/requested • Start reviewing the letter requirements for schools of interest now.

3. Centralized Application Services • AMCAS - https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/: Most US allopathic (MD) medical schools • AACOMAS- http://www.aacom.org/infofor/applicants/Pages/default.aspx: Osteopathic (DO) medical schools • TMDSAS: https://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/: Texas public medical and dental schools • AADSAS: https://portal.aadsasweb.org/: Dental schools • CASPA: https://portal.caspaonline.org/: PA programs • PTCAS: http://www.ptcas.org/: Physical Therapy programs • OptomCAS: http://www.optomcas.org/: Optometry programs • PharmCAS: http://www.pharmcas.org/: Pharmacy programs • AACPMCAS: https://portal.aacpmas.org/: Podriatry

4. How do you know if you are ready to apply? • Complete the Self-assessments on our website under Application Process and read the 10 Good Reasons to Delay • Ask yourself – would I be a substantially stronger applicant in one year, based on courses I will be taking, research I will be doing, or experiences I will be having, improved exam scores? • Do I have 3-5 faculty and others who can write detailed, specific, and personal letters of recommendation on my behalf? • Can I articulate why I have chosen this path, and that I am a good fit for this profession? • Do I have evidence to demonstrate these claims?

5. Can you improve? • Review the Four Year Timeline • How do you rate? • What are your strengths? • Which areas need attention? • Given this, how do you assess your chances for acceptance? • What is your plan to improve/add to your profile?

6. How Schools Evaluate • Schools do not evaluate applicants on their major. • Evaluation is based on: • Grades: All years and schools attended, science GPA, total GPA, non-science courses • Experiences: Sustained commitment, knowledge of field and healthcare in general, personal attributes and desire to serve others • Letters of Recommendation: Faculty, providers, supervisors, mentors, and Committee (medical/dental applicants) • Entrance Exams: Taken only after pre-reqs are completed • Interviews: UNH Committee and Medical Schools

7. National Averages: Accepted Applicants (2012 Cycle) Note: averages do not reflect other factors that come in to play when evaluating an applicant’s file

8. Questions to Consider • Why have you chosen to prepare for a career in health? • How familiar are you with healthcare environments? • Have you volunteered or worked in a medical or health-related environment? If so, in what capacity? • What do you know about what it’s like to be a patient? • What do you know about what it’s like to be a physician/dentist/other? • If you have worked in a health-related environment, what did you find most enjoyable and most challenging about this work? • If you haven’t, what has kept you from doing this?

9. Important Attributes of Healthcare Professionals How have you developed/demonstrated these qualities? • Adaptability • Critical Thinking • Integrity • Logical Reasoning • Intellectual curiosity-resourceful • Personal Maturity • Reliability • Self Discipline • Work Habits • Motivation for Healthcare • Persistence • Teamwork • Professionalism • Ability to use good judgment • Ability to balance multiple priorities • Resilient • Strong interpersonal skills - listening and speaking • Ethical, cultural, and social awareness/understanding • Dedication to service • Empathy • Compassion • Altruism

10. Cautions • Low Grades • It is very difficult to overcome multiple semesters with a low GPA (< 3.3 + C’s in pre-req) • Consult with the HP advisor – what are your options? • Limited experiences • Unprepared to make informed decision about a heathcare career. • Judicial Sanctions and/or Criminal Record • You will be asked on applications – whether the record has been expunged or not.

11. UNH Committee Process for Medical and Dental Applicants

12. Why a UNH application file?

13. What UNH sends to schools from your completed file: • Your letter packet, which includes: • Committee Letter of Evaluation • Supporting letters of recommendation received • We do not send any other materials, such as transcripts or personal essay

14. Two Year Process

15. This timetable is designed to help you complete your application and be considered for admission at the earliest possible date(June submission) • Assuming you have a strong application, it is in your best interest to submit your application as early as you can Important: • Most schools use a rolling admissions process • Schools evaluate applications as they are completed • Schools offer interviews as applications are received • There are very limited interview slots given the number of applications received • No interview = no acceptance.

16. Pre-Requisite Courses Complete by end of May 2013 • 1 year General Biology w/lab (BIOL 411/412) • 1 year General Chemistry w/lab(CHEM 403/404) • 1 year Organic Chem. w/lab (CHEM 651-654) • 1 year General Physics w/lab (PHYS 401/402) • 1 year English • 1 year Math (Statistics and 1 semester Calculus) • 1 semester Biochemistry w/lab (can be completed over summer or next year) • Psychology/ Sociology *AP Credit is not universally accepted by medical or dental schools. It is strongly recommended that you take the course at UNH. If you do not take the course, you will need to take additional upper level courses in that subject area.

17. You have: • Explored the health professions • Gained exposure to the profession over the past 3-4 years • Volunteer/paid experiences • Shadowing • Informational interviews • Researched the options – been informed • Look at health professions websites • Subscribed to an online health profession newsletter • Reading daily paper

18. You have: • Maintained a balance between academics and social activities • Earned good grades (ideal: 3.5> GPA) • Gotten to know your professors and advisors • Been involved in your major–research opportunities/independent study

19. You have: • Been involved – It’s not a checklist! • Demonstrate committed participation in areas that are truly important to you, such as: • Campus and community organizations • Healthcare environments • Service and volunteering • Leadership • Research • Mentoring/tutoring • Employment • Hobbies • Athletics • Travel

20. Start the Process • Doubts? Questions? Meet with Katie or other trusted advisors. Schedule appointment by calling 603-862-7740. • Ready to start? Review UNH file requirements, materials, deadlines, and timeline at http://unh.edu/premed-advising/2015-application-cycle-new-applicant • Deadlines are not negotiable – stay up to date • New Applicant Files can be opened between now and Nov. 15th