Applying to Medical School and other Health Care Professional Schools

1. Applying to Medical School and other Health Care Professional Schools

2. Introductions

3. Objectives • At the end of this session, participants will: • Gain an understanding of the process of applying to a professional school. • Gain an understanding of required elements for a professional school application, as well as elements that will make their application more competitive.

4. What is a Professional School? • Professions requiring extra training: • Medicine • Dentistry • Nursing • Pharmacy • Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy • Radiation Sciences • Many more!

5. Great… I think I know what I want to do.How do I get there?

6. Required courses + GPA • Many professional schools have requirements • Research requirements early on • Many schools have cutoffs for GPAs (3.8/4.0 is competitive) • GPA converter: http://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/omsas/c_omsas_b.pdf • Is there a required lab course? • Are there social sciences/ humanities requirements?

7. 3 - Brock, Guelph, Ottawa, Queen’s, Toronto, Waterloo, Western 7 - Carleton, McMaster, Ryerson, Wilfrid Laurier, Windsor • GPA converter: http://www.ouac.on.ca/docs/omsas/c_omsas_b.pdf

8. Application • Contents: Vary by school • Most often consist of Personal Statement, CV, Transcript, Letters of Recommendation, Professional School Standardized Test • Different deadlines depending on the school • Medicine: October 10, 2010 • Physical Therapy/ Occupational Therapy/Speech Language Pathology: January 7, 2011 • Dentistry: December 1 • Pharmacy:December 20, 2010 • Nursing: Varies by school and type of program

9. Letters of Recommendation • Required for most applications including: medicine, dentistry, PT, OT • Someone who knows you and can speak highly of you • Consider different types of people • Professors • Summer Research Supervisors • Volunteer Coordinators • Community leaders • Youth group leaders

10. Letters or Recommendation continued… • When should you ask for them? • The earlier the better! • Multiple copies all at once for your different applications • Accompany all “asks” with a Resume/CV, statement of interest, photocopy of your transcript and a brief description of your program • What should they contain? • How long someone has known you • In what capacity • Things that make you unique • Your motivation • Qualities about you (versatility, detail-oriented, team player etc)

11. Don’t forget to say Thank You! • Your referees are busy people • Send them a Thank You note to show you appreciate their effort in helping with your application

12. Admissions Tests • Some Professional Schools require specific admissions test • Offered at different points in the year • Different tests: • Medicine: MCAT • Dentistry: DAT • Pharmacy: PCAT

13. Admissions Tests continued… • Register online and early to ensure you have a spot • Preparation • Self-preparation • Kaplan, Princeton Review other courses • Study groups • Online resources

14. Useful Websites: Programs • Medicine: • http://www.ouac.on.ca/omsas/ • Dentistry: • http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2010/pg553.html • http://www.utoronto.ca/dentistry/admissions/undergraduateacademic.html • Pharmacy: • http://pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca/ • http://www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca/Page4.aspx • Nursing: • http://www.cna-aiic.ca/nursingpgms/public_browse.asp

15. Useful Websites: Admissions Tests • MCAT: • https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/46412/mca20 • DAT: • http://www.cda-adc.ca/en/dental_profession/dat/index.asp • PCAT: • http://www.pearsonassessments.com/haiweb/Cultures/en-US/site/Community/PostSecondary/Products/pcat/pcathome.htm

16. Case Study: Medicine • Jason wants to go to medical school • What specific things should he consider in first year to present himself as the best possible candidate when he applies to medical school?

17. Application Process

18. Marks: What Can I do Today? • Get high marks! (even in first year) • Try to balance education • Grades, not courses are important • Majors are not important

19. Volunteer/Work: What Can I do Today? • Cascading Mentorship is just the first step • Do something you enjoy • Don’t start two weeks before applying • The application is extensive (48 item sketch!) • Keep in touch with guidance counsellors/supervisors since they will be great verifiers • Research important to some schools • Reflect early and often

20. MCAT: What Can I do Today? • At least “10” required in all sections • Verbal Reasoning - tough for science students • Do a lot of reading (New Yorker, literature, philosophy books) • Practice exams – learn to write the test • Prep courses

21. Written Application: What Can I do Today? • Read Canadian medical journals like the CMAJ • KNOW CANMEDS! • Access the online application this summer! • References - keep in touch

22. Interview: What Can I do Today? • KNOW CANMEDS! • Become a great public speaker • Talk to family and friends • Watch movies or TEDTalks • Learn about the health care system • Learn about medical ethics, and ethics in general

23. Conclusions • Professional schools application requirements: • GPA • Standardized test (MCAT, PCAT, DAT, OAT) • Extra-curricular activities • Often an interview is required • GOOD LUCK! 

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