The Nathan Smith Society

1. The Health Career Experience and Advising at Dartmouth The Nathan Smith Society Veterinary Medicine Dental Medicine Public & Global Health

2. Speakers • Lee Witters MD, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Program & Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry • Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor • Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center Another Key Person Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program Administrative Coordinator And Some Other Very Special People Teaching Science Fellows Faculty/students representing dental & veterinary medicine Pre-health mentors from the Class of 2015

3. Where is Pre-Health Advising at Dartmouth? Two Convenient Locations Sarah Berger Student Academic Support Center, Carson/Berry Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS web site)

4. Where is Pre-Health Advising at Dartmouth? Enter Here& Check The Electronic Map! Two Convenient Locations Dr. Lee Witters 122 LSC Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS web site)

5. A “To-Do” List • Join the listserv of the Nathan Smith Society one of two ways: • Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around • Blitz ‘Nathan.Smith.Society@dartmouth.edu’

6. A “To-Do” List • Join the listserv of the Nathan Smith Society one of two ways: • Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around • Blitz ‘Nathan.Smith.Society@dartmouth.edu’ • Visit NSS web site (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss) and check out the ‘Getting Started’ menu

7. Ten “Helpful Hints”

8. “Hints” #1 & #2 1. This is a challenging and time-consuming curriculum. You will need to develop new strategies and continually reassess (and maybe regroup). Everyone’s pace and track is different! 2. Be pre-emptive; don’t sit back and wait to “see how you are doing”. Utilize course resources, the Academic Skills Center and knowledgeable advisors. Plan your path carefully!

9. “Hints” #3 & #4 3. Learn to reflect periodically on the experiences you are having in and out of the classroom, the growth you are experiencing and your sense of purpose and motivation 4. You are not alone in this! There is a large pre-health community of other students and alumni, who are traveling (or have traveled) this same road, to help you.

10. Hint #5 5. Most Dartmouth students initiate application to med/vet/dental school at end of senior year or as alums, rather than spring of junior year, creating one or more “gap years”. EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS OPTION TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON YOUR DARTMOUTH EXPERIENCE (examples: course flexibility, FSP/LSA, curricular/major options, avoiding “doubling up”, building your credentials, athletics)! Later is greater?

11. Not “premed” Hint #6 6. Dartmouth does not have a specific pre-med or pre-health curriculum. Major in what you enjoy and are interested in, but bear in mind that you must be able to demonstrate scientific aptitude and excellence. A wide experience in the humanities and social sciences is a real asset to a health career, as well.

12. Hint #7 7. Choose your first year courses (and especially your fall term courses) carefully with the advice of someone familiar with you, the courses and with the pre-health requirements. “Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not? • Writing/English (2 courses required) • First Year Seminar • Writing 5; Writing 2/3 • Consider other courses that emphasize writing and critical analysis of writing Chemistry Course? Biology Course? Math Course? Physics Course? ?More than one of above ?None of the above

13. Math Options Have Math 3 Credit? Math 3 Introduction To Calculus OR Math 8 Variable Calculus General requirement: Two math courses (calculus, statistics) Math 1/2 Calculus With Algebra (by invitation) Statistics (Math 10; others) Take a Math course if needed for beginning chemistry sequence! If you have Math 3 or 8 credit and are invited to enroll in a higher level Math class, you don’t “have” to do that!

14. Chemistry Options Chemistry 2 Quantitative Reasoning in Chemistry (by invitation or request) General requirement: Two terms general chemistry with lab; Two terms organic chemistry with lab; one term biochemistry Chemistry 5 General Chemistry (Second term is Chem 6) Math 3 (or Math 3 credit) Enter Pre-Req Chem 5 also available in winter term (Chem 6 in fall & spring) Professor Siobhan Milde Chem 10 (by exam) “counts” for 2-term general chem requirement Completion of Chemistry 6 or 10 in fall term Chemistry 57/58 (Honors) in winter/spring terms Pre-Req

15. Physics Options Many pre-health students defer physics till later, since it is not a pre-requisite for other required pre-health courses Math 3 and 8 Pre-requisite (or concurrent Math 8) Math 3 Pre-Requisite General requirement: Two physics courses (with labs)  Physics 3 General Physics I Physics 13 Introductory Physics I Physics 4 General Physics II Offered winter & spring terms Physics 14 Introductory Physics II Offered winter & spring terms Usually taken by intended physics/math/chem/engineering majors or with strong background in physics & math

16. Foundation Classes Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology) Lab Courses Biology Options Biology 2 Human Biology (no lab) Biology 11 The Science of Life (no lab) Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs ** More are strongly recommended

17. Biology Options Biology 11 The Science of Life (no lab) Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs Fall offering (Cooperation & Conflict Across Biological Systems) Spring Offering (Emerging Infectious Diseases) Lab Courses Foundation Classes Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology) ** More are strongly recommended

18. Lab Courses Foundation Classes Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology) Biology Options Biology 2 Human Biology (no lab) Fall Offering Want background in human biology to orient your other studies? Uncertain about rigor of college science courses? Testing your interest in health or biology? Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs ** More are strongly recommended

19. Foundation Classes Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology) Lab Courses Biology Options • How to Decide? • Canvas (under ‘My Courses): Advising Test Results + Academic indices (SAT (verbal + math))+ APtest scores • Strength of your background in Chemistry & Biology • Uncertainties about interest in pre-health or hesitancy about college science courses • Talking to an advisor Biology 2 Human Biology (no lab) Biology 11 The Science of Life (no lab) Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs ** More are strongly recommended

20. Psychology & Sociology • Psychology • Psychology 1 (fall, winter, spring) • Sociology • Sociology 1 (fall, spring) • OR • Sociology 2 (winter)

21. Teaching Science Fellows Natalia Vecerek 14 (Biology 12 & 13) RuiShu 14 (Chemistry 5 & 6)

22. How Do I Decide Which Classes to Take? Have a conversation about YOU and your specific goals, aspirations and scholastic background with a knowledgeable advisor before committing to a specific class schedule and keep on talking to knowledgeable advisors as you proceed through Dartmouth! Walk-in D-plan help Friday, Sept 12, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM; 125 Haldeman; new group every 30 minutes HPP offices (Student Academic Support Center; LSC) weekly (hours to be e-mailed & as posted on home page of Nathan Smith Society) CEM 5 Many combinations possible (only some shown)!

23. Hint #8 8. Get to know your professors (as mentors & future letter writers) USE OFFICE HOURS!

24. Hint #9 9. Learn to write well! The process of med/vet/dental school application will emphasize your verbal reasoning skills and ability to write well-structured and reasoned essays (MCAT; applications to schools). In addition to working with professors, use the Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology (RWiT) whenever you have the opportunity.

25. Hint #10 10. Participate in extracurricular activities that abut on the health care profession and service to society; sustain your involvement, so that your humanity, creativity and impact are evident.

26. Elements of a Successful Application to Medical/Vet/Dental School Courses (GPA, Science GPA) MCAT DAT GRE Letters of Evaluation Extracurricular Experiences Personal & Professional Characteristics Skills & Abilities Clinical Exposure Altruistic Service Scholarly Activity (outside classroom)

27. Active listener Problem solver Communicator (oral, written) Critical thinker Multilingual Resiliency Integrity/Judgment Adaptability Persistence Motivation Intellectual curiosity Empathy Altruistic service Evaluating Beyond Grades,MCAT/DAT/GRE Scores and Prior Experiences in Health Skills & Abilities Personal & Professional Characteristics

28. DHMC /VA Shadowing Program Community Veterinary Shadowing Program Community Dental Shadowing Program Dartmouth Ears (a patient visiting program at DHMC/VA) Dartmouth-Geisel Ethics Discussion Group Dartmouth Cancer Scholars Symposium on Gender Inequity in Health with Geisel Physicians for Human Rights ‘Dinner with a Doc/Vet/Dentist’Program ‘Take a Med Student to Lunch’Mentoring Program “Mock Admissions” Paying for Medical School (Geisel Financial Aid office) Senior Night DC/Geisel Nights NSS Research Opportunities Database MD/PhD, MD/MBA, MPH programs Nathan Smith Society EventsFall/Winter/Spring/Summer Terms 2013-14A Sampling

29. Dental & Veterinary Contacts at Dartmouth • Dentistry • Dr. Robert Keene (Robert.C.Keene@dartmouth.edu or dmdsmile@gmail.com) • Ryan Lisann 15 • Elisabeth Schricker 17 • Veterinary Medicine • Suzanne Rosen 15 • Angela Jin 15

30. Pre-Health Mentor Corps Stephanie Chavez 14 Sara Heard 15 Max Jentzsch 15 Rachael Williams 15