SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE SCIENCES

1. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN THE SCIENCES Susana C. Sandoval, M.A.T. Jose J. Rea, M.A. UC Irvine

2. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • FIRST THINGS FIRST! • DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT • DEVELOPING A PLAN OF ACTION • BE PRO-ACTIVE

3. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • WORK HARD • WORK SMART • WORK EFFECTIVELY • RISE ABOVE THE STUMBLING BLOCKS • BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE • ENJOY THE JOURNEY: CHALLENGES &SUCCESSES

4. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL PLAN WITH COUNSELOR TOOLS

5. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES LEARN REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH PROFESSION; EXAMPLE-PRE MED -- 2 YRS BIOLOGY WITH LAB, *include biochemistry • 1 YR GENERAL CHEMISTRY WITH LAB, • 1 YR ORGANIC CHEMISTRY WITH LAB, • 1 YR PHYSICS WITH LAB, • MATH WILL VARY—RECOMMEND 1 YR COMBINATION OF CALCULUS & STATS • DIVERSITY OF COURSES IN HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES TOOLS

6. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • LEARN POLICY IN YOUR MAJOR AND UNIVERSITY • BUILD A REALISTIC SCHEDULE Know pre requirements for the sciences TOOLS AS YOU PROGRESS WORKLOAD WILL INCREASE & YOU WILL ADD TOOLS TO BOX

7. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • Attend study skills workshops at your university, most provide this academic support service STUDY SKILLS

8. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION • GOAL SETTING – PRIORITIES Have a daily, weekly, monthly planner of all activities, academic and non academic • TIME MANAGEMENT Planner mandatory, build in tutoring, professor office hours, clinical experience, and time to do a non academic activity such as swimming, salsa dancing, other-work, house keeping, family visits

9. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • NOTE-TAKING - take lecture notes and make summary sheets of lecture • TEXTBOOK READING - take notes as you read material, rewrite notes as you review textbook and select most important topics and the application of the knowledge presented • MEMORY & CONCENTRATION • PROBLEM SOLVING - writing summary of notes from lecture will be helpful in solving problems on exams

10. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • EXAM PREPARATION Lecture notes, summary sheets, rewriting of notes from readings, and study groups will be helpful; also meet with course discussion group and professor office hours to clarify points, attend review sessions, appropriate sleep & proper nutrition are key factors • VOCABULARY BUILDING - this is constant

11. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • STUDY GROUPS —after you have read material/taking notes, studied lecture notes – re wrote lecture notes with summary of important points---study group discussion will help you internalize and reinforce information and problem solving skills, • TUTORING—most successful students use dept. tutoring in the sciences; and also becoming a tutor is great preparation for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, & OTHER EXAMS

12. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • LA TIMES - DAILY • NEW YORK TIMES • NEWSWEEK • ATLANTIC MONTHLY • NEW YORKER READ OUTSIDE OF YOUR COURSES

13. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • DEVELOP NETWORKS BY CONNECTING TO: • COUNSELORS • PROFESSORS • RESEARCH - key in building your analytical and problem solving skills in the sciences, plus communication skills in working with the research team “FIND A MENTOR”

14. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES MEDICAL SCHOOL CONTACTS • NEXT CONFERENCE AT: • STANFORD SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, • FEB 9TH 2008 • http://summa.stanford.edu/

15. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • SPECIALISTS/ATTEND SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS — AT YOUR SCHOOL THAT WILL ADD TO YOUR SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE – AND AWARENESS OF ISSUES; EXAMPLE – A SEMINAR ON STEM CELL RESEARCH. IF YOU ARE NOT AT A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL ---YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE WEB OF THE CLOSEST UC CAMPUS AND LOOK UP DATES FOR SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS AND EVENTS. SCIENCE & PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS

16. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • CLUBBING – STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS---CCM/ Chicanos for Community Medicine is a great resource, honor societies as well • KEY - FIND A MENTOR/S

17. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES ADD TO YOUR ACADEMIC TOOL BOX *SUMMER PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS *NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: http://www.training.nih.gov UROP/Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program AT UCI www.urop.uci.edu *APPLY FOR EDUCATION ABROAD PROGRAMS

18. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • ORGANIZATIONS: • ANNUAL BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CONFERENCE FOR MINORITY STUDENTS www.abrcms.org • SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF CHICANOS & NATIVE AMERICANS IN SCIENCE www.sacnas.org *AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE www.aaas.org

19. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • COMMUNITY SERVICE • MUST ESTABLISH SOLID CLINICAL EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP CAPABILITIES • STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS – ORAL & WRITING

20. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES • FAMILY • FRIENDS – POSITIVE PEOPLE IS KEY • MONEY – KEEP A GOOD BUDGET • TRANSPORTATION • OTHER, ON GOING SUPPORT SYSTEM ISSUES TO RESOLVE: PART OF THE JOURNEY AND ALWAYS EVOLVING

21. SETTING A FOUNDATION FOR THE SCIENCES “SIEMPRE ADELANTE” Yes – I can do it! Building the solid science foundation is key in moving your academics & career dream forward