Your Path to Med School

1. Your Path to Med School Andrew McLemore, OMS-I Pre-SOMA Michigan State University November 2, 2009

2. Taking the Osteo-Path • As you prepare your application, ask yourself these four questions: • What draws me to my chosen career in health care? • Am I making an informed career choice? • Do I have a good head? • Do I have a good heart? • Am I prepared to spend the time?

3. You are your resume! • Purpose of application process is to tell admissions committee who you are • More than grades, admission test scores, extracurricular activities • How do you differentiate yourself from others applying for the same spot?

4. You are your resume! • Be ready for the transition: Student -> Applicant

5. How to be a Successful Applicant

6. What draws me to my chosen career in health care? • Desire to help and to serve is true of all applicants • Each person has a unique personal journey • Osteopathic Practices and Principles • Would make a good introduction to any personal statements you must make on your application

7. Am I making an informed career choice? • Do I know what it’s like to be a patient? • Personal or family experience • Do I know what it’s really like to be a physician? • Paid or volunteer activity in serving others • Keep a journal or blog • Be a part of relevant communities

8. Do I have a good head? • Do I have the intellectual capacity? • High GPA • High scores on admission tests • Do I have an open, creative mind? • Can you examine all the information, draw a conclusion, and ask if there is another way to look at the problem • More than being a “walking biochem book”

9. Do I have a good heart? • Do I understand the meaning of empathy? • Must have good interpersonal skills • Do I appreciate the importance of the doctor-patient relationship? • Career is built on relationships • Not the “Dilbert” lifestyle

10. Am I prepared to spend the time? • Am I prepared to spend the time required for the practice of my profession? • Am I prepared to spend sufficient time with each one of my patients to meet his or her needs?

11. Standardized Test:The MCAT

12. Standardized Tests • Veterinary, PT, OT, masters – GRE • Dental –DAT • Optometry - OAT • Pharmacy -PCAT • Medical (allopathic and osteopathic) – MCAT

13. Standardized Tests • Usually taken a minimum of 1year before you plan to matriculate • This cycle’s test-takers are applying to begin in fall 2011 • Application to medical school is done during summer between junior and senior year.

14. Preparing for the Exam • Critical to doing well on the test • Learn as much about the format and content before you take the first test • Think of this test as the single most important one in your life • Do it once, do it right • Material vs. Methods

15. Preparing for the Exam • Make sure you have taken the required courses before attempting the test • Need an organized, systematic review of the topics • Form study groups • Commercial review courses • Practice exams • Self-preparation

16. Preparing for the Exam • Start studying well before the test date, sometimes as early as 6 months before • Make getting in “game shape” a routine • Study 1 to 2 hours/night for the duration • Do not cram

17. Applying

18. Choosing which schools to apply to: • What type of city do I wish to live in for the next four years? • Is it important for me to be near friends and family? • What is the “culture” of the professional school? • What about financial considerations?

19. Application Forms and Services • AACOMAS • Online, central clearinghouse for DO admissions • May apply to all 29 osteopathic campuses • AMCAS • Parallel system for MD schools • You may apply to both DO and MD programs

20. Application Forms and Services • 11742 applicants in 2008 cycle

21. Personal Statement or Essay • Your first chance to go beyond the numbers • No universal formula • Personal journey • Important experiences • Strengths you possess • Goals for education and career • How you will contribute to class diversity

22. Personal Statement • Can also be used to explain anything in your background • Difficult semester • Bad year due to illness or family problems • Have your advisor give you critical feedback on essay • Begin thinking about it now!

23. Supplemental Application • Once your target school receives your application and evaluates it, you may be sent a “secondary” application • Answer more questions • Another essay (different) • More $ • DO IT QUICKLY!

24. Letters of Recommendation • Will this person write a strong letter? • Make sure your professors know more about you than your grades • Have a good mix of science/non-science professors, volunteer mentors, physicians • Furnish your evaluator with a resume or list of college activities

25. Application Timetable

26. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior • Visit your advisor each semester • Take relevant core science courses at a reasonable pace • Get some experience in your anticipated career and its community • Perform community service • Plan to take MCAT

27. Junior Year (spring) • Take standardized test • Keep grades up • Last chance to make an academic statement • Upward trend is great • Register with centralized application services (AACOMAS, AMCAS)

28. Summer after Junior Year • Complete application • Request transcripts from ALL schools be sent to appropriate schools or application service • Arrange letters of recommendation

29. Senior Year (Fall Semester) • Complete supplemental applications QUICKLY • Send updated transcript at the end of the semester if requested • Begin preparation for financial aid • Go to scheduled interviews

30. Financing your Education • In-state/out of state issues • 98% of professional school students receive some form of assistance • 86% of graduates have debtthis is manageable!

31. Financing your Education • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) • Grants and Scholarships • Service Commitment (military, etc) • Underserved areas • Loans -Subsidized vs. unsubsidized

32. Be Aware of… • Federal loan limits • D.O./Ph. D circumstances • Dependency from parents • Health Insurance • Rate of loan repayment

33. Life in Medical School

34. First Two Years • Classroom-Based • Final dose of Basic Science • Anatomy, Physiology, Biochem, Genetics • Doctor-Patient Relationship, Clinical Skills, OMM • COMLEX Level I

35. Years Three and Four • Hospital-Based • Rotations through various disciplines • Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Orthopedic Surgery • COMLEX Level 2-CE and -PE

36. Internship and Residency • AOA or ACGME? • Your first work as a paid physician • Approximately $45,000 in PGY-1 • PGY-1 through PGY-7 • COMLEX Level 3 • Board Certification

37. Life as a Med Student • Work Hard, Play Hard • Caregivers Must Be Careful • Lean on Each Other • Remain Objective • Be Good to Yourself • Remember the Number One Symptom

38. The Two Kinds of Students in Medical School The “next thing to do = 17th grade The “good kind”

39. What do you mean- Go another way?? Public Preprofessional Persona The Power of Inertia The School of Hard Knocks It Happened to McLemore

40. Contacting Me andrewmclemore@gmail.com 517-803-7324 Facebook: Andrew McLemore AIM: andrewmclemore THANK YOU!