Clark University’s Medical Careers Advising Program

1. Clark University’s Medical Careers Advising Program Presented by Dr. David Thurlow, Premedical Advisor and Chair, Premedical and Predental Advising Committee: C. Landee, T. Lyerla, D. Larochelle

2. Nursing Physician Assistant Chiropractic Pharmacy Nutrition Sports Medicine Occupational Therapy Genetic Counseling Public Health Physical Therapy Choices of Professions in Medicine: Human medicine: Allopathy (MD) Osteopathy (DO) Dentistry (DDS or DD) Optometry (OD) Podiatry (DPM) Animal medicine: Veterinary (DVM) Other related professions:

3. Planning for a career in medicine: e.g., allopathic (MD) What does it take to get into medical school? Medical schools will ask two questions: 1. Can you do the work in medical school? Numbers and NCVs 2. Will you make a good doctor? Letters, applications, interviews, and NCVs

4. 1. Can you do the work in medical school? Data medical schools will use to try to answer this question: 1. Undergraduate GPA (overall and science): ~ 3.5 2. MCAT scores: ~10 (out of 15) on each of the 3 sections VR, PS, and BS 3. Non-cognitive variables (NCVs) as predictors of success: Sense of self Realistic self appraisal Leadership Role models Balance in recognizing and dealing with “discrimination” Ability to identify and thrive in a community Nontraditional (experience based) learning Setting goals and receiving rewards

5. Will you make a good doctor? • i.e.,are you the type of person someone on the medical school’s admissions committee would identify as the type of person they would want as their own doctor? Data medical schools will use to try to answer this question: 1. Positive letter of evaluation from Committee: Based primarily on letters of reference from Clark faculty 2. AMCAS application: personal essay and list of experiences 3. Answers to questions on secondary applications 4. Interview 5. NCVs in all of the above

6. Curriculum Campus, Community, and Clinical Extracurricular Activities GPA Research MCAT Faculty Letters Humanism Academics Committee Letter AMCAS Application Essay Experience descriptions Application Process Secondary Applications Interview Medical Schools Choosing Schools

7. Medical School Requirements (bold) It is possible to complete them in 3 years Year 1 FallSpring Intro Chem IIntro Chem II Intro Biol IIntroBiol II xxx xxx xxx Math* Year 2 FallSpring Organic IOrganic II Math*Psychology* *not all schools xxx XXX (Genetics or Microbiology) xxx xxx Year 3 FallSpring Intro Physics IIntro Physics II xxx (Cell orBiochem) xxx (Physiology) English (any)English (any) xxx xxx Other desirable courses: computer science, Spanish

8. What we can provide for you: • 1. Curriculum • 2. MCAT • 3. Invited Speakers(First Wednesday Series) • Letters of Recommendation and Committee Letter of Evaluation • 5. Extracurricular and volunteering activities • (ER volunteering program at St. Vincent Hospital) • AMCAS Application: Timing, Basic information, List of experiences, and Personal statement • Secondary applications 8. Mock Interviews • 9. Where to apply: appropriate tier, compatible programs, suitable geography • 10. Networking: contacts with Clark alumni, conferences, open houses

9. Invited Speakers Program Workshops and lectures by invited speakers: provide insight into how to prepare for the challenges of the medical profession and how to take advantage of the rewards. Clark now hosts a two-year repeating cycle of workshops and lectures: Year 1 Year 2 1) September – MCAT 1) September – MCAT 2) October – Ob/Gyn 2) October – Family 3) November – Pediatrics 3) November – End of Life 4) February – Emergency 4) February – Surgery 5) March – Medical School Admissions 5) March – Medical School Admissions 6) April – AMCAS 6) April – AMCAS

10. Emergency Room Volunteer and Shadowing Program Clark University and St. Vincent Hospital are partners in a newly established program that provides the following opportunity for Clark premeds: Applicants are recommended by Clark's Premedical Advisor. Accepted participants make a commitment of at least 50 hours over the year. Participants work the first 35-40 hours in ER volunteer activities. Shadowing opportunities may then be provided. At the completion of the program, the participant submits a written summary of their experiences in the program to Clark's Premedical Advisor. At the completion of the program, the St. Vincent volunteer coordinator submits a letter of recommendation to Clark's Premedical Advisor.

11. Clark’s Prehealth Website: www.clarku.edu/departments/prehealth • Why Prepare for a Health Career at Clark? • Letter from Dr. David Thurlow, Prehealth Advisor • Experience • Individual Attention • Research Opportunities • Awards and Prizes • Invited Speakers Program • Emergency Room Shadowing • MCAT and AMCAS Workshops • Traditional Advising Services • Commit to Excellence • Applying for an M.D.: Overview • Applying to Schools • Application Process: AMCAS and Secondary Applications • Timeline and Deadlines • Choosing Schools • Personal Statement • Letters of Recommendation • Interviews • Standardized Exams • Financing Medical School • What If I'm Not Accepted • Exploring Careers in Health • Types of Careers • Career Fairs • Conferences • Open Houses • Additional Links • Resources • Undergraduate Academic and Extracurricular Priorities • FAQs • Dos and Don'ts • U.S. and Canadian Schools • Foreign Schools and Information • Health Professions Links • Other Prehealth Advising Web Sites • Useful Health Profession Publications • Minority Applicants • International Applicants • Choosing Courses • Choosing a Major • Getting the Grades • Standardized Exams • Extracurricular Activities • Research Opportunities

12. What is the best way to approach your college career? • Explore • Courses • Majors • Campus activities • Community • 2. Enjoy • All of the above • Find your passion • Make time for you • 3. Focus • Grades • MCAT • Service • Application process

13. Final Thoughts • The health profession is one of the most rewarding • careers one can choose. • Medicine may be one of the most demanding • professions one can choose. • Start the process of becoming the type of individual to whom you would trust your own health and well being now. • There are many fields. You will have plenty of time to decide which is most attractive to you. • We are here to help. Please come see and talk with us soon and often.

14. New Articulation Agreements with MCPHS: Nursing, PA, & PharmD Qualified Clark graduates will be offered assured admission to MCPHS programs leading to the following degrees: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Physician Assistant Studies (PA), and Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD). Eligibility: • Major in Biology or related field • GPA - Overall & prerequisites: 3.2, BSN; 3.4, PA and PharmD • Prerequisite courses (no grades below a C) • Notify MCPHS by Feb. 1 of senior year • Application must be complete and received by • Oct. 1 (BSN and PA - Jan. matriculation) • or Feb. 1 (PharmD – Sept. matriculation)

15. Prerequisite courses for transfer to MCPHS: BSN BSN prerequisite Clark courses: Chemistry I: CHEM 101 Chemistry II: CHEM 102 *Human Anatomy: BIOL 111 *Human Physiology: BIOL 240 *Microbiology: BIOL 109 *Statistics: MATH 217 (ECON 260) orMATH 218 orECON 160 or BIOL 106 or GEOG 110 *Human Development: PSYC 150 and PSYC 151 and PSYC 152 *requires additional Clark prerequisite (e.g., BIOL 101, PSYC 101)

16. Prerequisite courses for transfer to MCPHS: PA PA prerequisite Clark courses: *Human Anatomy: BIOL 111 *Human Physiology: BIOL 240 Chemistry I: CHEM 101 *Organic Chemistry I: CHEM 131 *Biochemistry I: CHEM 271 *Microbiology: BIOL 109 *Statistics: MATH 217 (ECON 260) orMATH 218 orECON 160 or BIOL 106 or GEOG 110 General Psychology: PSYC 101 *requires additional Clark prerequisite (e.g., BIOL 101)

17. Prerequisite courses for transfer to MCPHS: PharmD Pharm D prerequisite Clark courses: English I: Choice of writing course from ENG English II: Choice of an additional ENG course Biology I: BIOL 101 or BIOL 100 Biology II: BIOL 102 Microbiology: BIOL 109 Chemistry I: CHEM 101 or CHEM 103 Chemistry II: CHEM 102 Organic Chemistry I: CHEM 131 Organic Chemistry II: CHEM 132 or CHEM 134 Calculus I: MATH 120 or MATH 124 Probability & Statistics: MATH 217 (ECON 260) orMATH 218 orECON 160 or BIOL 106 or GEOG 110 Physics: Any PHYS course 110 or higher Economics: Any ECON course of choice Mathematics or Computer Science Elective: Any MATH course 113 or higher; or any CSCI course 115 or higher (in addition to Calculus requirement and Statistics requirement) Introduction to Psychology: PSYC 101 or higher Introduction to Sociology: SOC 010 or higher Introduction to History or Political Science: HIST course of choice or GOVT course of choice Humanities Elective: Any one course in ARTH, ARTS, CHIN, COMM, EPP, FREN, GERM, GRK, HEBR, HGS, JAPN, JS, LAT, MUSC, PHIL, PSTD, RER, SCRN, SPAN, TA, or UDSC (with the exception of UDSC 011) Social Science Elective: Any additional course in HIST or GOVT (in addition to the History or Political Science requirement) or any WS course. Behavioral Science Elective: Any PSYC course 105 or higher, or Any SOC course 090 or higher (this requirement is independent to Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology requirement)