11. Think beyond the white coat
Really Achieving Your Career Dreams
P We need lab scientists and engineers!
< Lab safety, librarians, technicians
P We need innovative scientific businesses!
< Technology transfer, pharma, biotech
P We need health communicators!
P We need politicians who are innovationâ
friendly and scientifically conscientious.
P We absolutely need math/science teachers!
12. The brick walls
The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are
there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something.
The brick walls are there to stop the people who donât want it badly
enough. Theyâre there to stop other people. ... Sometimes the brick
walls are made of flesh. (Pausch)
14. Caveat emptor
GMU students at www.ratemyprofessor.com
He is a horrible professor, If you are interested in bio do
not take his class. He will make you hate pre-med and
bio and everything. AVOID CHUCK.
... As a professor, he lacks in being able to explain things to students. It
seems as if he does not have a passion for teaching. I enjoyed Biology before
I took this class, but was extremely discouraged after taking it. Dropped
class and will take it with another professor next semester.
He's one of those Professors who are extremely brilliant but cannot for
the life of them teach a class. Unless you are brilliant as well or are
only taking his class. I studied like crazy but his exams contain
information that isn't even in the textbooks and when you ask for help,
all he says is that you should get a study group.
15. Let the buyer beware!
GMU students at www.ratemyprofessor.com
No wonder there is a shortage of Doctors in America.
Dr. Chuck is unnecessarily discouraging as a Pre
Medical advisor. He will be the first to tell you that
you should not even try even when he doesn't know
you that well at all. He's the exact opposite of what
he should be as an advisor. Just ignore his
discouraging comments and press on!
16. Am I a ârecovering jerkâ?
â... Higher education too often feels like it is all about
customer service.âÂ
# No. of Ratings: 24
Is this a âpragmatic,
# Average Easiness: 1.4
statistically valid wayâ
# Average Helpfulness: 1.8 to evaluate my
teaching or my
# Average Clarity: 2.0
advising?
# Hotness Total: 0
# Overall Quality: 1.9
GMU students at www.ratemyprofessor.comÂ
25. Study smarter not harder
Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education (2008)
P Nonâstrategic studying
< Read and reread
< Regular revision
< Do exercises
< Cram
< Memorize
26. Study smarter not harder
Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education (2008)
P Strategic studying
< Make summaries
< Take notes in class
< Make schemas
< Listen attentively in class
Barbeau, Montini, Roy (1997). Tracer les chemins de la connaissance â la motivation
scolaire. Association Quebecoise de pedagogie collegiale.
27. Why students fail
Freeman et al., CBE Life Science Education (2007): UWash
P Struggle with wording of written exams
P First exposure to test questions that
address higher levels of thinking
(application, analysis) instead of recall
P Underestimating the time commitment
required to succeed in the course
P Students learn better if they are active, but
most prefer being passive.
28. Study smarter not harder
Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education (2008)
P Academic skills workshops &
certificate
P Form functional study groups
< Build confidence in learning material.
< Anticipate how concepts will be
tested.
< Explore beyond the lecture.
â http://ccc.byu.edu//learning/groupstr.php
< Go online!  Second Life!!!
P Research for the answer!
P THEN ask a TA or a professor.
29. How to ask for help
Making the best of mentors
P GO: Office hours are for the âwhiners.â
< Email first and arrange an appointment...
< Show up promptly if you can.
P Challenge: Define the problem.
P Approach: Describe your actions.
P Request: Make the ask (is there another
approach).
P Think about the answer.
< Then thank: Give a sincere thank you.
31. The number one goal of professors
Help students judge themselves.
P Questions
< Did they recognize true abilities?
< Did they have a sense of their own flaws?
< Were they realistic about how others viewed
them?
P The only way any of us can improve is if we
develop a real ability to assess ourselves.
32. How to succeed
Core competencies for health professionals
P A diverse academic and rigorous scientific foundation
P Enjoyment of lifelong learning
P Interpersonal and multicultural understanding
P Practical, time, and financial management
P Personal ethics and emotional stability
P Perception and observational skills
P Manual, tactile skills
P Written communications skills
P Oral communications skills
P Understanding of the profession and health care
33. Would you make a great doctor?
Educators best serve students by helping them be more selfâreflective.
35. Communications Skills
The future of the MCAT... be afraid, be very afraid.
The preliminary test material is centered on three broad objectives:
extracting, processing, and responding to information. Some specific
assessment objectives include:
P Extracting most pertinent information in multiâmessage situations;
P Recognizing others' emotions/feelings;
P Inferring information that has not been directly expressed (i.e., drawing inferences based
on unstated information);
P Interpreting nonâverbal cues (i.e. those cues possible in an auditory setting including
intonation, tone, volume, etc);
P Responding nonâdefensively to verbal attack;
P Modifying behavior according to evaluative feedback; and
P Clarifying unclear communication.
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/research/comskillfaq.htm
36. âThe Dreams Will Come to Youâ
âThe Lost Art of ThankâYou Notesâ
I would like to formally thank you for serving as my premedical advisor at George Mason
University. When I began my post-baccalaureate coursework at George Mason, I had many
uncertainties about the application process for medical school. Through meeting individually
with you, attending many of your information sessions, and going through your pre-application
process, I learned a great deal about my strengths and weaknesses as an applicant and
developed a clear plan and timeline for applying to medical school.
I have greatly appreciated your accessibility to your advisees, particularly your quick response
time on email, open door policy, and presence at all of the information sessions. You were
always available to give me feedback at every step of the process. From my initial meeting with
you to mock interviewing before my first interview, you continually provided me with feedback
that strengthened my application and demystified the process.
Thank you again for everything that you have done for me and the George Mason community.
I feel so fortunate that I was able to receive premedical advising at George Mason and that I
had the support of such a knowledgeable and dedicated advisor. I attribute a large part of my
successful admission to medical school to your guidance and insights over the past two years,
and I canât thank you enough.
37. âThe Dreams Will Come to Youâ
Enabling the dreams of others
P Cornell/Travelers Summer Fellowship
< Ephrem Teklemariam
P AMGEN Scholars Program (UWashington)
< Erica Porter
P UndergraduateâFaculty Apprenticeship
Pgm.
< For those with at least junior standing (60 ch).
42. Get engaged to Mason!
âItâs how you live your [University] life.â
P Foster student success.
P Live and act with integrity.
P Embrace our differences.
P Catch the Mason spirit.
P Show you care.
P Dream big.
P Celebrate achievements.
P Pursue lifelong learning.
P Lead by example.