Medical and Dental School Application Preparation Part II: Letters of Evaluation, Personal Statements and Choosing Your Schools

Your Preprofessional Advisors Heidi B. Lang M.A., L.P.C Preprofessional Advisor Lyman Briggs College 517-353-6480 [email_address] Janae Currington, M. Ed. Preprofessional Advisor College of Natural Science 517-353-8951 [email_address] Heidi Purdy, M.A. Human Biology & Preprofessional Advisor College of Natural Science 517-432-2381 [email_address] Juan Flores, MSW Preprofessional Advisor College of Natural Science 517-353-7153 [email_address]

Heidi B. Lang M.A., L.P.C

Preprofessional Advisor Lyman Briggs College

517-353-6480

[email_address]

Janae Currington, M. Ed.

Preprofessional Advisor

College of Natural Science

517-353-8951

[email_address]

Heidi Purdy, M.A.

Human Biology & Preprofessional Advisor

College of Natural Science

517-432-2381

[email_address]

Juan Flores, MSW

Preprofessional Advisor

College of Natural Science

517-353-7153

[email_address]

Session Highlights Last Session MCAT & DAT Centralized Applications Budgets This Session Letters of Evaluation Personal Statements Where to Apply/Matriculate

Last Session

MCAT & DAT

Centralized Applications

Budgets

This Session

Letters of Evaluation

Personal Statements

Where to Apply/Matriculate

Letters of Evaluation

Who Writes Them? Each school will ask for a different set of letters from YOU as the applicant YOU MUST PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE GUIDELINES OF EACH SCHOOL THAT REQUESTS YOUR LETTERS! Not all schools will require letters, some require forms to be filled out by evaluators instead We recommend the following letters: 2 Science faculty who know you from class or research experience 1 non-science faculty 1 individual working in the profession you wish to pursue (D.O. physician, or a dentist) 1-2 letters from individuals who know you well from work or volunteering Make your letter packet comprehensive to who you are.

Each school will ask for a different set of letters from YOU as the applicant

YOU MUST PAY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE GUIDELINES OF EACH SCHOOL THAT REQUESTS YOUR LETTERS!

Not all schools will require letters, some require forms to be filled out by evaluators instead

We recommend the following letters:

2 Science faculty who know you from class or research experience

1 non-science faculty

1 individual working in the profession you wish to pursue (D.O. physician, or a dentist)

1-2 letters from individuals who know you well from work or volunteering

Make your letter packet comprehensive to who you are.

What Are They Writing? Letters of Evaluation are CONFIDENTIAL Ask your evaluator if he/she will be able to provide a good, supportive letter of evaluation for you. Provide your evaluator with some basic information about the who, what, when, where, how and why associated with your request Making it easier for them makes it easier for you!

Letters of Evaluation are CONFIDENTIAL

Ask your evaluator if he/she will be able to provide a good, supportive letter of evaluation for you.

Provide your evaluator with some basic information about the who, what, when, where, how and why associated with your request

Making it easier for them makes it easier for you!

What Do They Need? Include the following information in a nice, NEAT packet for your evaluator: Information about the purpose of the letter The full name (including title) and mailing address of recipient on a PRE-ADDRESSED, STAMPED envelope ~ OR ~ a completed “Confidential Rights Waiver Form” from Interfolio (must include your 6 digit document identification code Your requested timeline (You should provide a MINIMUM OF 3 WEEKS for processing!) A copy of your STUINFO “courses by term” (or a transcript) A copy of your personal statement A CURRENT resume A summary of ways that you and your evaluator have interacted Entrance exam scores if available DON’T FORGET TO SEND A NOTE OF APPRECIATION AFTERWARDS!!!

Include the following information in a nice, NEAT packet for your evaluator:

Information about the purpose of the letter

The full name (including title) and mailing address of recipient on a PRE-ADDRESSED, STAMPED envelope ~ OR ~ a completed “Confidential Rights Waiver Form” from Interfolio (must include your 6 digit document identification code

Your requested timeline (You should provide a MINIMUM OF 3 WEEKS for processing!)

A copy of your STUINFO “courses by term” (or a transcript)

A copy of your personal statement

A CURRENT resume

A summary of ways that you and your evaluator have interacted

Entrance exam scores if available

DON’T FORGET TO SEND A NOTE OF APPRECIATION AFTERWARDS!!!

When Do You Need Them? Good Rules of Thumb: Have your letters ready BEFORE primaries Make sure you understand the process by which letters need to be received and have noted that in your timeline!!!! Centralized Application Service Direct Mailing Credential File

Good Rules of Thumb:

Have your letters ready BEFORE primaries

Make sure you understand the process by which letters need to be received and have noted that in your timeline!!!!

Centralized Application Service

Direct Mailing

Credential File

Credential File Interfolio www.Interfolio.com Used to hold letters and unofficial transcripts for candidates Documents sent out upon your request For assistance contact the Career Development Center (517) 355-9510 ext 140 Establish well in advance of submitting your primary application

Interfolio

www.Interfolio.com

Used to hold letters and unofficial transcripts for candidates

Documents sent out upon your request

For assistance contact the Career Development Center

(517) 355-9510 ext 140

Establish well in advance of submitting your primary application

Questions ????????

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement Your statement must: Be Personal Explain why you are pursuing medicine/dentistry Be well written

Your statement must:

Be Personal

Explain why you are pursuing medicine/dentistry

Be well written

The Personal Statement Cont. 2. Your statement could: Discuss, individuals or incidents that have shaped your life Elaborate things listed on your application Explain academic irregularities State your personal philosophy Discuss a non-traditional background

2. Your statement could:

Discuss, individuals or incidents that have shaped your life

Elaborate things listed on your application

Explain academic irregularities

State your personal philosophy

Discuss a non-traditional background

The Personal Statement Cont. Maximum number of characters Take advantage! When submitting through application service (i.e. AMCAS) Avoid expressing interest in a specific school Dental – DDS & DMD Allopathic – MD Osteopathic - DO AADSAS AMCAS AACOMAS 4,500 Characters Max 5,300 Characters Max 4,500 Characters Max

Maximum number of characters

Take advantage!

When submitting through application service (i.e. AMCAS)

Avoid expressing interest in a specific school

Questions ????????

Choosing Your Schools

Choosing Where to Apply Which school is right for me? What should I look for in a professional school? Where can I find the information?

Which school is right for me?

What should I look for in a professional school?

Where can I find the information?

What to consider: State Residency Location Mission/Focus Financial Support Grading System

State Residency

Location

Mission/Focus

Financial Support

Grading System

Where to find the information: Reference Books MSAR DO Dental Websites www.AAMC.org www.AACOM.org www.ADEA.org Presentations (Fairs, Campus Visits, Visiting lecturers) Michigan Medical Schools Night , Feb 24 th from 6-9 pm

Reference Books

MSAR

DO

Dental

Websites

www.AAMC.org

www.AACOM.org

www.ADEA.org

Presentations (Fairs, Campus Visits, Visiting lecturers)

Michigan Medical Schools Night , Feb 24 th from 6-9 pm

Tips: Reasons for narrowing down your choices: Cost Time Willingness to attend Look at the schools’ websites Try and talk to both admissions officers and currently attending students Visit when possible Look at schools both in and out of state

Reasons for narrowing down your choices:

Cost

Time

Willingness to attend

Look at the schools’ websites

Try and talk to both admissions officers and currently attending students

Visit when possible

Look at schools both in and out of state

Questions ????????