Applying to Professional School

1. Applying to Professional School

2. 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 about who you are Beyond grades, admission test scores, extracurricular activities

4. How to be the Successful Applicant

5. 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 Would make a good introduction to any personal statements you must make on your application

6. 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, dentist, veterinarian, physical therapists, etc. Paid or volunteer activity in serving others Keep a journal!

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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?

10. Standardized Tests for Admission to Professional School

11. Standardized Tests Medical (allopathic and osteopathic) � MCAT Dental �DAT Optometry - OAT Pharmacy -PCAT Veterinary, PT, OT � GRE

12. Many of these tests must be taken a minimum of 1 year before you plan to matriculate e.g. April 2005 MCAT for Fall 2006 entering class Application to medical, dental, optometry school is done during summer prior to senior year.

13. Preparing for the Exam Critical to doing well on the test Learn as much about the format, content, etc. before you take the first test Think of this test as the single most important one in your life

14. 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 In-house reviews Self-preparation

15. Start studying well before the test date, sometimes as early as 6 months before Study 1 to 2 hours/night for the duration Do not cram!!!

16. Once you have taken the test� Make sure that you release your scores to HP advisor Helps in the preparation of summary reports

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 There are two ways to apply to HP schools: Centralized application service (AMCAS, ACOMAS, AADSAS, VMCAS, PharmCAS, CASPA) Direct application to the individual school (PT, Chiropractic, OT)

20. Personal Statement or Essay Required of most application forms No universal formula Personal journey Important experiences Strengths you possess Goals for education and career How you will contribute to class diversity

21. Can also be used to explain anything in your background Difficult semester Bad year due to illness or family problems Have HP advisor give you critical feedback on essay

22. Supplemental Application Once HP school receives your application and evaluates it, you may be sent a �secondary� application Answer more questions Another essay (different) DO IT QUICKLY!!!

23. Letters of Evaluation UNA has a HP advisory committee; I am the chair Must go through me for these letters; I do a committee letter Do not circumvent the system � bad news!!

24. Things to think about when you ask someone to write a letter for you: Will this person write you a strong letter? Make sure your professors know more about you than your grades Furnish your evaluator with a resume or list of college activities

25. Letters from physicians, family friends, peers, etc. are character references and are NOT the same as faculty evaluations If you wish to send one or two of these, they are to be sent directly to the HP school from the evaluator

26. Timetable for Doctoral Programs

27. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior Be advised each semester by your advisor Take courses at a reasonable pace (14-16 hours) Get some experience in your anticipated career Perform community service Plan to take standardized test

28. Junior Year (spring) Take standardized test Attend meeting on application process Obtain transcript at the end of the year for you from ALL schools attended

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

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

31. Senior Year (Spring Semester) Interviewing will continue Submit financial aid applications Choose a school Make alternative plans

32. If you do not suceed, try again!!!!!