The First Lecture Really Achieving Your Career Dreams Emil Chuck, Ph.D. Health Professions Advisor Term Assistant Professor of Biology

All the thank yous University Life Sodexho catering College of Science Science Showcase (Hank, Dwayne, Scott) Student organizations Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions Student Academic Affairs & Advising Introducing and thanking those who helped

University Life

Sodexho catering

College of Science

Science Showcase (Hank, Dwayne, Scott)

Student organizations

Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions

Student Academic Affairs & Advising

With great homage and apology Randy Pausch (died July 25, 2008)

George Mason University Think Learn Succeed A Habit of Excellence

Think

Learn

Succeed

What is a premed? “The term premed designates a provisional career aspiration far more often than it does a firm commitment.” – Austin (July 31, 2008) “Nationally only 1 student in 12 who enter undergraduate life as a premed will go to medical school.” – Blystone comment Austin (Inside Higher Education)

“The term premed designates a provisional career aspiration far more often than it does a firm commitment.” – Austin (July 31, 2008)

“Nationally only 1 student in 12 who enter undergraduate life as a premed will go to medical school.” – Blystone comment

Fear of failure “ The elephant in the room”

Attaining the right goal Perfect is the enemy of good (but not better).

Attaining the right goal Really Achieving Your Career Dreams

Think beyond the white coat Really Achieving Your Career Dreams

Think beyond the white coat Anesthesiologist Assistant Five Master’s programs in US (100 total students) Premed requirements + calculus + MCAT CWRU average MCAT 25, science GPA 3.4 The average starting salary for a newly graduated anesthesiologist assistant is approximately $115,000 for a 40-hour work week plus benefits and consideration of on-call activity. (CWRU) Did you know...?

Anesthesiologist Assistant

Five Master’s programs in US (100 total students)

Premed requirements + calculus + MCAT

CWRU average MCAT 25, science GPA 3.4

The average starting salary for a newly graduated anesthesiologist assistant is approximately $115,000 for a 40-hour work week plus benefits and consideration of on-call activity. (CWRU)

Think beyond the white coat We need lab scientists and engineers! Lab safety, librarians, technicians We need innovative scientific businesses! Technology transfer, pharma, biotech We need health communicators! We need politicians who are innovation- friendly and scientifically conscientious. We absolutely need math/science teachers! Really Achieving Your Career Dreams

We need lab scientists and engineers!

Lab safety, librarians, technicians

We need innovative scientific businesses!

Technology transfer, pharma, biotech

We need health communicators!

We need politicians who are innovation- friendly and scientifically conscientious.

We absolutely need math/science teachers!

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 don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop other pe ople. ... Sometimes the brick walls are made of flesh. (Pausch)

Think beyond the lecture “ Large lecture courses... often fail to keep the attention of so me students.”

Caveat emptor 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. 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.

Let the buyer beware! No wonder there is a sh ortage of Docto rs 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! GMU students at www.ratemyprofessor.com

No wonder there is a sh ortage of Docto rs 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!

Am I a “recovering jerk”? # No. of Ratings: 24 # Average Easiness: 1.4 # Average Helpfulness: 1.8 # Average Clarity: 2.0 # Hotness Total: 0 # Overall Quality: 1.9 “ ... Higher education too often feels like it is all about customer service.” GMU students at www.ratemyprofessor.com Is this a “pragmatic, statistically valid way” to evaluate my teaching or my advising?

# No. of Ratings: 24

# Average Easiness: 1.4

# Average Helpfulness: 1.8

# Average Clarity: 2.0

# Hotness Total: 0

# Overall Quality: 1.9

The premed pipeline Welcome Week surveys (excluding postbacs)

It is our job to be demanding. HHMI Bulletin www.hhmi.org American Scientist Sigma Xi, www.sigmaxi.org Science Nature Cell Students should be aware of cutting-edge discovery. “ A professor’s job is to teach students ho w to see their minds growing...”

HHMI Bulletin

www.hhmi.org

American Scientist

Sigma Xi, www.sigmaxi.org

Science

Nature

Cell

Erich Jarvis Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center

How many students attended? George Mason University lecture, September 19, 2007

The whiners build your walls. Test scores from GMU students. Number of graduates who get offers. Lack of interest in recruiting GMU students to graduate or professional programs. “You should take upper-level coursework at a DC institution with a George in the name but not Mason.” Brick walls built by GMU premed students.

Test scores from GMU students.

Number of graduates who get offers.

Lack of interest in recruiting GMU students to graduate or professional programs.

“You should take upper-level coursework at a DC institution with a George in the name but not Mason.”

I want climate change. Get involved... On-campus club activities, recruiting sessions, lectures. Off-campus lectures, conferences, programs Calendar on prehealth.gmu.edu website. Newsfeed announcements on website. Listserv announcements in email. Or else, surrender your dreams to the whiners.

Get involved...

On-campus club activities, recruiting sessions, lectures.

Off-campus lectures, conferences, programs

Calendar on prehealth.gmu.edu website.

Newsfeed announcements on website.

Listserv announcements in email.

Honor code Cheating lets the whiners win. Honest students see cheating students do better. Honest students see cheating students get minimal punishment. Some professors won’t write letters if you didn’t get an A. National test scores do not match expectations for the GPA’s. Test scores become more significant to evaluate Mason applicants. Course evaluations do not reward adherence to honor code. “The way you proctor the exams distracted me.” Little interest in filling vacancies on Honor Committee. Cheating hurts Mason prehealth applicants.

Cheating lets the whiners win.

Honest students see cheating students do better.

Honest students see cheating students get minimal punishment.

Some professors won’t write letters if you didn’t get an A.

National test scores do not match expectations for the GPA’s.

Test scores become more significant to evaluate Mason applicants.

Course evaluations do not reward adherence to honor code.

“The way you proctor the exams distracted me.”

Little interest in filling vacancies on Honor Committee.

Learn to study smarter Studying more is not studying better. 30% of 236 intro cell biology students (e.g., BIOL 213) do not use efficient learning strategies Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education 2008; 7(2): 243. Roughly 30-40% of BIOL 213 students have to repeat the class. Becoming a “real man/woman of genius”

Studying more is not studying better.

30% of 236 intro cell biology students (e.g., BIOL 213) do not use efficient learning strategies

Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education 2008; 7(2): 243.

Roughly 30-40% of BIOL 213 students have to repeat the class.

Study smarter not harder Non-strategic studying Read and reread Regular revision Do exercises Cram Memorize Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education (2008)

Non-strategic studying

Read and reread

Regular revision

Do exercises

Cram

Memorize

Study smarter not harder Strategic studying Make summaries Take notes in class Make schemas Listen attentively in class Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education (2008) Barbeau, Montini, Roy (1997). Tracer les chemins de la connaissance – la motivation scolaire. Association Quebecoise de pedagogie collegiale.

Strategic studying

Make summaries

Take notes in class

Make schemas

Listen attentively in class

Why students fail Struggle with wording of written exams First exposure to test questions that address higher levels of thinking (application, analysis) instead of recall Underestimating the time commitment required to succeed in the course Students learn better if they are active, but most prefer being passive. Freeman et al., CBE Life Science Education (2007): UWash

Struggle with wording of written exams

First exposure to test questions that address higher levels of thinking (application, analysis) instead of recall

Underestimating the time commitment required to succeed in the course

Students learn better if they are active, but most prefer being passive.

Study smarter not harder Academic skills workshops & certificate Form functional study groups Build confidence in learning material. Anticipate how concepts will be tested. Explore beyond the lecture. http://ccc.byu.edu//learning/groupstr.php Go online! Second Life!!! Research for the answer! THEN ask a TA or a professor. Morse and Jutra CBE Life Sciences Education (2008)

Academic skills workshops & certificate

Form functional study groups

Build confidence in learning material.

Anticipate how concepts will be tested.

Explore beyond the lecture.

http://ccc.byu.edu//learning/groupstr.php

Go online! Second Life!!!

Research for the answer!

THEN ask a TA or a professor.

How to ask for help GO: Office hours are for the “whiners.” Email first and arrange an appointment... Show up promptly if you can. Challenge: Define the problem. Approach: Describe your actions. Request: Make the ask (is there another approach). Think about the answer. Then thank: Give a sincere thank you. Making the best of mentors

GO: Office hours are for the “whiners.”

Email first and arrange an appointment...

Show up promptly if you can.

Challenge: Define the problem.

Approach: Describe your actions.

Request: Make the ask (is there another approach).

Think about the answer.

Then thank: Give a sincere thank you.

Exchanging emails with me PhDcomics.com

The number one goal of professors Questions Did they recognize true abilities? Did they have a sense of their own flaws? Were they realistic about how others viewed them? The only way any of us can improve is if we develop a real ability to assess ourselves. Help students judge themselves.

Questions

Did they recognize true abilities?

Did they have a sense of their own flaws?

Were they realistic about how others viewed them?

The only way any of us can improve is if we develop a real ability to assess ourselves.

How to succeed A diverse academic and rigorous scientific foundation Enjoyment of lifelong learning Interpersonal and multicultural understanding Practical, time, and financial management Personal ethics and emotional stability Perception and observational skills Manual, tactile skills Written communications skills Oral communications skills Understanding of the profession and health care Core competencies for health professionals

A diverse academic and rigorous scientific foundation

Enjoyment of lifelong learning

Interpersonal and multicultural understanding

Practical, time, and financial management

Personal ethics and emotional stability

Perception and observational skills

Manual, tactile skills

Written communications skills

Oral communications skills

Understanding of the profession and health care

Would you make a great doctor? Educators best serve students by helping them be more self-reflective.

Communications Skills You can be smart, but if you can’t communicate...

Communications Skills Extracting most pertinent information in multi-message situations; Recognizing others' emotions/feelings; Inferring information that has not been directly expressed (i.e., drawing inferences based on unstated information); Interpreting non-verbal cues (i.e. those cues possible in an auditory setting including intonation, tone, volume, etc); Responding non-defensively to verbal attack; Modifying behavior according to evaluative feedback; and Clarifying unclear communication. 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: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/research /comskillfaq.htm

Extracting most pertinent information in multi-message situations;

Recognizing others' emotions/feelings;

Inferring information that has not been directly expressed (i.e., drawing inferences based on unstated information);

Interpreting non-verbal cues (i.e. those cues possible in an auditory setting including intonation, tone, volume, etc);

Responding non-defensively to verbal attack;

Modifying behavior according to evaluative feedback; and

Clarifying unclear communication.

“ The Dreams Will Come to You” 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 can’t thank you enough. “ The Lost Art of Thank-You Notes”

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 can’t thank you enough.

“ The Dreams Will Come to You” Cornell/Travelers Summer Fellowship Ephrem Teklemariam AMGEN Scholars Program (UWashington) Erica Porter Undergraduate-Faculty Apprenticeship Pgm. For those with at least junior standing (60 ch). Enabling the dreams of others

Cornell/Travelers Summer Fellowship

Ephrem Teklemariam

AMGEN Scholars Program (UWashington)

Erica Porter

Undergraduate-Faculty Apprenticeship Pgm.

For those with at least junior standing (60 ch).

Prehealth orientation It h elps to know where you’re going.

Your roadmap and guide The Red Sheet Science-Minded Advice for the Undergraduate Health Professional (AWIS Fall 2008) The Green Sheet The 12 step program for fall semester The Blue Sheet Top 10 things that guarantee an acceptance; the competencies The Beige Sheet Data and more data The Orange and Gold Sheets GWU and VCU Early Admissions Information If you don’t have copies, we’re making more.

The Red Sheet

Science-Minded Advice for the Undergraduate Health Professional (AWIS Fall 2008)

The Green Sheet

The 12 step program for fall semester

The Blue Sheet

Top 10 things that guarantee an acceptance; the competencies

The Beige Sheet

Data and more data

The Orange and Gold Sheets

GWU and VCU Early Admissions Information

Your roadmap and guide Read through the prehealth.gmu.edu website. Bookmark. Refer often. About 90% of my advice is here. Join the PREHEALTH-L listserv. Access the archives. Confirm that you are registered at... Until December: webct.gmu.edu Now: courses.gmu.edu These slides are posted at courses.gmu.edu! Health Professions Advising Office

Read through the prehealth.gmu.edu website.

Bookmark. Refer often.

About 90% of my advice is here.

Join the PREHEALTH-L listserv.

Access the archives.

Confirm that you are registered at...

Until December: webct.gmu.edu

Now: courses.gmu.edu

These slides are posted at courses.gmu.edu!

Applicant Timeline By January 1 (Start) solicited letters of recommendation MSAC Interviews begin around January 20. By February 1 Composite Request, Checklist, Pre-application due By April 1 MSAC Committee Interviews to be completed By May 1 Personal statement draft By June 1 Submit primary applications for MD, DO, DMD Take entrance exams (early) All letters are due except spring coursework professors (August 1). 24 months to go...

By January 1

(Start) solicited letters of recommendation

MSAC Interviews begin around January 20.

By February 1

Composite Request, Checklist, Pre-application due

By April 1

MSAC Committee Interviews to be completed

By May 1

Personal statement draft

By June 1

Submit primary applications for MD, DO, DMD

Take entrance exams (early)

All letters are due except spring coursework professors (August 1).

Get engaged to Mason! Foster student success. Live and act with integrity. Embrace our differences. Catch the Mason spirit. Show you care. Dream big. Celebrate achievements. Pursue lifelong learning. Lead by example. “ It’s how you live your [University] life.”

Foster student success.

Live and act with integrity.

Embrace our differences.

Catch the Mason spirit.

Show you care.

Dream big.

Celebrate achievements.

Pursue lifelong learning.

Lead by example.

George Mason University Think Learn Succeed A Habit of Excellence

Think

Learn

Succeed

Raffle Rules Numeric code on your wristbands. Must be a GMU student (ug, pb, gr). You can only win one prize. If you want to chance winning the “big prize,” we’ll draw until someone accepts the prize. You must be here to win. Kaplan course MCAT, DAT, GRE, LSAT, OAT, PCAT, GMAT How this works, how you win...

Numeric code on your wristbands.

Must be a GMU student (ug, pb, gr).

You can only win one prize.

If you want to chance winning the “big prize,” we’ll draw until someone accepts the prize.

You must be here to win.

Kaplan course

MCAT, DAT, GRE, LSAT, OAT, PCAT, GMAT

Bio 2010 excerpts Extra text slides

National Academies Bio 2010 The ways in which students are taught and learn biology are as important as the content of the material covered. The large lecture courses that are still the usual format for lower-division science classes often fail to keep the attention of some students. Students come to the classroom with preconceptions about how the world works. If their initial understanding is not engaged, they may fail to grasp the new concepts and information that are taught, or they may learn them for the purposes of a test but revert to their preconceptions outside the classroom. Transforming Undergraduate Education for Future Biologists

The ways in which students are taught and learn biology are as important as the content of the material covered. The large lecture courses that are still the usual format for lower-division science classes often fail to keep the attention of some students.

Students come to the classroom with preconceptions about how the world works. If their initial understanding is not engaged, they may fail to grasp the new concepts and information that are taught, or they may learn them for the purposes of a test but revert to their preconceptions outside the classroom.

Bio 2010 Life sciences majors must acquire a much stronger foundation in the physical sciences (chemistry and physics) and mathematics than they now get. Connections between biology and the other scientific disciplines need to be developed and reinforced so that interdisciplinary thinking and work become second nature. ... Equally important, teaching and learning must be made more active to engage undergraduates, fully prepare them for graduate study, and give them an enduring sense of the power and beauty of creative inquiry. The Future of Biology Requires Interdisciplinary Science

Life sciences majors must acquire a much stronger foundation in the physical sciences (chemistry and physics) and mathematics than they now get. Connections between biology and the other scientific disciplines need to be developed and reinforced so that interdisciplinary thinking and work become second nature. ... Equally important, teaching and learning must be made more active to engage undergraduates, fully prepare them for graduate study, and give them an enduring sense of the power and beauty of creative inquiry.

Bio 2010 Scientific discoveries and how they were made can be communicated in mutually reinforcing ways. ... Noteworthy current advances should be presented along with classic discoveries. The covers of major journals often have striking images depicting important research findings. They can be used as evocative starting points in lectures and group discussions to motivate as well as to inform students. ... Future research biologists should also be exposed to scientific controversies and their resolution. Students should be aware of cutting-edge discovery.

Scientific discoveries and how they were made can be communicated in mutually reinforcing ways. ...

Noteworthy current advances should be presented along with classic discoveries. The covers of major journals often have striking images depicting important research findings. They can be used as evocative starting points in lectures and group discussions to motivate as well as to inform students. ... Future research biologists should also be exposed to scientific controversies and their resolution.

Functional study groups Did peers think he/she was working hard? (Exactly how many hours did he/she devote?) How creative was his/her contribution? Was it easy or hard to work with him/her (team player)? Peer feedback (Pausch’s Building Virtual Worlds class)

Did peers think he/she was working hard? (Exactly how many hours did he/she devote?)

How creative was his/her contribution?

Was it easy or hard to work with him/her (team player)?

Lifelong homework Find out who you are and what you excel at. Find out what you can do with the degree you will earn. Develop different ways to learn smarter. It’s okay to explore the world before becoming a physician. It’s okay to not become a physician. Become a self-assessment and self-management master. Visit an ER during the first weekend of class to see GMU students who cannot do this well. Choose friends and mentors wisely. If you’re screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they gave up. Get involved on campus to improve your chances. If you ask for extra tutoring sessions, show up. Walk the walk. Honor Committee and Judicial Review Board vacancies... What I wished others would tell me (as a premed student).

Find out who you are and what you excel at.

Find out what you can do with the degree you will earn.

Develop different ways to learn smarter.

It’s okay to explore the world before becoming a physician.

It’s okay to not become a physician.

Become a self-assessment and self-management master.

Visit an ER during the first weekend of class to see GMU students who cannot do this well.

Choose friends and mentors wisely.

If you’re screwing up and nobody says anything to you anymore, that means they gave up.

Get involved on campus to improve your chances.

If you ask for extra tutoring sessions, show up. Walk the walk.

Honor Committee and Judicial Review Board vacancies...

Independent Study Take academically rigorous science and non-science classes. Integrate and apply science and non-science concepts to health problems. Network! Find professors and professional mentors who will put their academic reputations on the line for you. Get involved in clinical settings as soon as you can. Meet admissions directors early and respectfully. Plan to do research as early as freshman summer. (Plan today!) Stretch beyond your own comfort zones. SAFE Zone, NCBI coalition building training, Office of Disability Services Collaborate among disparate (cultural) groups. (Entrepreneurs) Commit time for service to others. Teach for America, Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity, etc. Free clinics, Walker-Whitman, La Clinica del Pueblo Don’t work full-time and take a ton of science classes. The First Lecture’s Last Slide

Take academically rigorous science and non-science classes.

Integrate and apply science and non-science concepts to health problems.

Network! Find professors and professional mentors who will put their academic reputations on the line for you.

Get involved in clinical settings as soon as you can.

Meet admissions directors early and respectfully.

Plan to do research as early as freshman summer. (Plan today!)

Stretch beyond your own comfort zones.

SAFE Zone, NCBI coalition building training, Office of Disability Services

Collaborate among disparate (cultural) groups. (Entrepreneurs)

Commit time for service to others.

Teach for America, Peace Corps, Habitat for Humanity, etc.

Free clinics, Walker-Whitman, La Clinica del Pueblo

Don’t work full-time and take a ton of science classes.