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Agenda :. MCAT Application Process HPAC application Interviews. Preparation for the MCAT. Kaplan vs DIY. Preparation for the MCAT. Kaplan Built-in accountability Popular All materials are included Class DOES NOT replace studying!. Preparation for the MCAT. DIY
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Agenda: • MCAT • Application Process • HPAC application • Interviews
Preparation for the MCAT Kaplan vs DIY
Preparation for the MCAT • Kaplan • Built-in accountability • Popular • All materials are included • Class DOES NOT replace • studying!
Preparation for the MCAT • DIY • BYOD (Bring Your Own Discipline) • AAMC tests are the best • AAMC guide (cheap and • effective • Examcrackers—Amazon • or B&N • AED course in Spring 2012
Choose your medical schools • Allopathic • MD degree • UAB, USA, etc. • State of Residency matters • 137 US schools • AMCAS • National avg: • MCAT—31 • 3.7 GPA
Choose your medical schools • Osteopathic • DO degree • Schools in AL, MS, TN, • GA and FL (26 total) • Essentially the same • residency options • Less research oriented • More emphasis on primary care
Choose your medical schools • Osteopathic • (continued) • A few schools will consider January MCAT • AACOMAS is the primary • application service • National avg: • MCAT—26 • 3.5 GPA
Messin’ with Texas • TMDSAS—Most Texas • schools use this instead of • AMCAS or AACOMAS • Application very similar to AMCAS/AACOMAS • Application is available May 2012
Offshore Medicalschools • No centralized service; apply directly to the schools • Investigate graduation rates and board pass rates • May (and often will) take longer than four years • Limited residency options • Extremely limited transfer options
The application: AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS • Three parts: • Transcripts • Activities • Personal Statement
Transcript • Obtain copies of your transcript from each school you attended • Enter each course you have taken exactly as it appears on your transcript(s) • Send official transcripts from each undergraduate school attended to AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMSDAS
Sample activities • Honors/awards/recognition • Conferences attended • Presentations/posters • Publication • Extracurricular/hobbies/avocations • Leadership—not listed elsewhere • Other • Intercollegiate athletics • Artistic endeavors • Paid employment—non military • Paid employment—military • Community service/volunteer—not medical/clinical • Community service/volunteer—medical/clinical • Research lab • Teaching/tutoring
15 slots, choose 3 as “most valuable experience” • What do you do with your time that you are proud of? • Nothing is off-limits—almost nothing • Don’t feel like you need to use every available character! Some may not warrant long descriptions • Estimates are fine when listing the number of hours invested in each activity • Don’t get bogged down with details Documenting activities
Personal statement • 5300 characters (AMCAS/AACOMAS:4500) • Good articles and examples online at premed.ua.edu • Tell your story • Address, but don’t dwell on, deficits
Letters of recommendation • We recommend 5 letters, at least two from science faculty • Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you? • Content of the letter is more important than the author • DO schools want a letter from a DO. • Letters should not be school specific
When to ask for a letter • Ask later • Someone you don’t know well (yet) • Someone who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few months • Ask now • Someone you already work with/know well • Someone you’ve worked with in the past • Someone who isn’t likely to have new information to you in the next few months
VirtualEvals and AAMC Letter ID • How to generate your AAMC letter ID (see attached guide) • VirtualEvals- online submission of LOR for schools that don’t participate in AAMCAS (DO schools, Texas schools, LSU)
Primary vs. Secondary • Secondary application • Request from the individual school for more information • Time-sensitive • Most schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondary • Costly • Be concise • Primary application • AAMCAS • AACOMAS • TMDSAS • Individual application for non-service schools
HPAC Pre-application • For UA use only: application at hpa.ua.edu • Complete HPAC pre-application IN ADDITION to primary application • We require both the pre-application and a copy of your primary application (AAMCAS/AACOMAS) if you wish to interview with our committee (recommended by medical schools).
Two interviews • School interview • At the medical school • Some are blind, some are not • September through March • HPAC interview • In Clark Hall • Basis for your committee letter • Must be completed before other letters are sent to schools • March through September • Not blind
Questions? premed@ua.edu