Freshman: finding your path to medical school
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This introductory talk was developed by the UMass Amherst Pre-med/Pre-health Advisors for freshmen considering medical school
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Freshman: finding your path to medical school
- 1. College of Natural Sciences Finding Your Path to Medical School
- 2. 2College of Natural Sciences Good News, Bad News There are an infinite number of roads that you can take to get to medical school There is no checklist or road map that you can follow that will guarantee that you will get there You must create your own map
- 3. 3College of Natural Sciences 2014 Data (https://www.aamc.org/download/321494/data/factstable17.pdf) Applied Accepted # Students 49,480 20,343 Median GPA 3.55 (3.45 sci) 3.77 (3.63 sci) MCAT score 28.6 71% (506) 31.4 85% (511) Applicants and Matriculants to US Medical Schools, 2013
- 4. 4College of Natural Sciences UMass Amherst Acceptances (most recent data) Biology BMB Chemistry Economics English Environmental Science Finance Microbiology Pre-Veterinary Science Psychology Public Health Women Gender and Sexuality Studies Majors of recently accepted UMass Amherst students MCAT Score average for UMass Amherst accepted students (87th percentile – equivalent to 512 on new test or 32 on old test)
- 5. 5College of Natural Sciences Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students Interpersonal Competencies • Service Orientation • Social Skills • Cultural Competence • Teamwork • Oral Communication Intrapersonal Competencies • Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others • Reliability and Dependability • Resilience and Adaptability • Capacity for Improvement Thinking and Reasoning Competencies • Critical Thinking • Qualitative Reasoning • Scientific Inquiry • Written Communication Science Competencies • Living Systems • Human Behavior From the AAMC* Admissions Initiatives * Association of American Medical Colleges
- 6. 6College of Natural Sciences Name 5 job titles in healthcare, other than nurse or doctor, which require a BS/BA degree or higher. There are over 200 different careers in healthcare… (NOT including Public Health careers!!) Field of Healthcare is Vast (& Growing)
- 7. 7College of Natural Sciences List of Healthcare Careers Athletic Trainer Audiologist Acupuncturist Anesthesiology Assistant Biomedical Engineer Bioinformatics Biostatistician Certified Nursing Assistant CT Technologist Cardiopulmonary Technician Clinical Lab Scientist Cardiovascular Technologist Cardiovascular Technician Chiropractor Cytotechnologist Community Health Worker Clinical Trials Researcher Dentist Dental Hygienist Dental Assistant Dietician Dental Lab Technician Dosimetrist Emergency Medical Technician ECG Technician EEG Technician Exercise Physiologist Environmental Health & Safety Ethicist Epidemiologist Genetic Counselor Health Specialty Teacher Hospital Administrator Health and Medical Services Manager Histologist Kinesiotherapist Licensed Practical Nurse MRI Technologist Medical Interpreter Medical Coder Medical Records Technician Medical Transcriptionist Medical Technologist Mammographer Medical Illustrator Medical Photographer Medical Assistant Medical Librarian/Cybrarian Medical Records Administrator Nuclear Medicine Technologist Nursing Instructor Nurse Anesthetist Nurse Practitioner Nurse/Midwife Nutritionist Ophthalmologist Occupational Therapist Occupational Therapy Asst Orthotist Optometrist Optician Paramedic Patient Advocate Patient Financial Services Pathology Assistant Pathologist PET Technologist Podiatrist Perfusionist Physician (MD/DO) Physicians Assistant Pharmacist Pharmaceutical Scientist Pharmacy Technician Phlebotomist Prosthetist Physical Therapist Physical Therapy Asst Psychologist Public Health Educator Prosthodontist Radiologist Radiation Therapist Regulatory Affairs Specialist Recreational Therapist Registered Nurse Radiologic Technologist Radiological Technician Respiratory Therapist Risk management Speech and Language Pathologist X-Ray Technician School Nurse Social Worker Surgeon Surgical Technician Transcriptionist Toxicologist Utilization Manager Ultrasound Technician
- 8. 8College of Natural Sciences www.ExploreHealthCareers.org
- 9. 9College of Natural Sciences Exploring The Field of Healthcare
- 10. 10College of Natural Sciences
- 11. 11College of Natural Sciences
- 12. 12College of Natural Sciences
- 13. 13College of Natural Sciences Two Kinds of Medical Degrees MD, Doctor of Medicine, Allopathic ~70% of doctors in the US (2010, AAMC) DO, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine ~7% of doctors in the US (2010, AAMC) - only one DO school in New England (ME) - not chiropractic Both recognized as physicians by the American Medical Association (AMA). Both can choose any medical specialty.
- 14. 14College of Natural Sciences Miscellaneous Facts about Medical School Average age of most recently accepted class – 25 UMass Medical – 90% MA resident; 10% non-resident In-state preference for some medical schools Acceptance more challenging for international students About 1% of International Students are accepted each year
- 15. 15College of Natural Sciences Rough Outline for Your Map Create a Niche for Yourself Do Well in Your Classes Choose a Major That You Love Be Informed about Admissions Requirements and the Admissions Process Get Hands-On Healthcare Experience Find Meaningful Community Service
- 16. 16College of Natural Sciences Creating a Niche for Yourself Start with your interest and build from there. It doesn’t have to be fancy… Nutrition? Sports & fitness? Public Health? Research?
- 17. 17College of Natural Sciences Creating a Niche for Yourself Find a volunteer opportunity that you love UMass.edu –> student life –> get involved –> community service Teach a nutrition, cooking, or fitness workshop at a local after school program (or at the senior center or other community center)
- 18. 18College of Natural Sciences Creating a Niche for Yourself Invent a solution to solve a problem (Alzheimer alert syst) Design or get involved with a research project that interests you (protein folding, health surveys) Find people with similar interests and brainstorm something you could do as a group
- 19. 19College of Natural Sciences Choose a Major that You Love Pre-Med is not a major (~15 classes) Choose a major that you are passionate about GPA in required pre-med courses still needs to be high This year (2014), 29% of the incoming class at Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NYC) are non-science majors
- 20. 20College of Natural Sciences Choose a Major that You Love Choose your GenEds WISELY and STRATEGICALLY to: * explore and develop your interests * distinguish yourself from other candidates * help prepare for the new MCAT – more SBS * become a better healthcare provider Choose a minor that adds breadth to your academic preparation
- 21. 21College of Natural Sciences Required and Recommended Courses Two semesters (one year) (with labs) of: General Chemistry (Chemistry 111, 112 or Chemistry 121H, 122H) No AP Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 261, 262, lab 269 [Chemistry majors: 265, 266, 267, 268]) Physics (Physics 131, 132) 8 credits or (Physics 151, 152) 8 credits AP Physics scores must be discussed with Pre-Med advisor Introductory Biology (Biology 151, 152) 7 credits and lab (Biology 153) 2 credits No AP ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mathematics (Math 127, 131) calculus 3-4 credits and statistics (any statistics course above Stats 111) AP scores are acceptable Biochemistry course above Biochemistry 100 is required for dental school, strongly recommended for medical school Highly recommended General Education courses include: Psychology 100: Introductory Psychology (Gen Ed: SB) Sociology 110: Introductory Sociology (Gen Ed: SB/U) Philosophy 164: Medical Ethics (Gen Ed: AT) To help you be a better healthcare provider AND do well on the MCAT
- 22. 22College of Natural Sciences Do Well in Your Classes Your #1 priority Be proactive Use all available support services (LRC, ExSEL, Office Hours) Work with a study group Meet with multiple advisors regularly (pre-med, departmental, honors) Take care of yourself (exercise, eat well, get support)
- 23. 23College of Natural Sciences What if You Aren’t Doing Well… Talk with an advisor Re-consider your major Explore other career options Post Bacc programs
- 24. 24College of Natural Sciences Get Hands-On Healthcare Experience More important than research or shadowing… hands-on, direct patient care experience is essential for acceptance to medical school.
- 25. 25College of Natural Sciences Get Hands-On Healthcare Experience Volunteer: Identify a facility(hospital, rehab center, long-term care) that is convenient for you to get to and contact the volunteer coordinator (3-6 months in advance may be necessary) Paid Work: Research different certifications offered through the Red Cross, local Community Colleges, local ambulance services (CNA, EMT, phlebotomy). Shadowing: Although shadowing isn’t considered hands-on experience, a small amount of shadowing can be helpful.
- 26. 26College of Natural Sciences
- 27. 27College of Natural Sciences Get Hands-On Healthcare Experience Get a copy of your immunizations or have a serum titer test (not having proof of immunity can delay your availability to start a job or volunteer commitment) Make sure you have a recent TB test (some facilities want a 2-step - within 1 yr & 3 mos of starting)
- 28. 28College of Natural Sciences Get Hands-On Healthcare Experience Keep a journal of what you did, hours you worked, interesting things that happened, people who trained and supervised your work (include their contact info) This will help you when you are ready to ask for LORs It will also help you when you write your personal statement and interview
- 29. 29College of Natural Sciences Get to Know Faculty, Staff, (and Future Colleagues) Find out what your professors’ research is about and be prepared to ask them about it Attend college and departmental social events Attend outside lectures (read college and department webpages to learn about important news and events) Go to your professor’s office hours Think of your classmates as colleagues and important contacts for the future
- 30. 30College of Natural Sciences Find Meaningful Community Service Not all of your volunteer experiences need to be healthcare-related Maintain long-term volunteer commitments Seek opportunities that allow you to gain experience with people throughout the life span
- 31. 31College of Natural Sciences Find Meaningful Community Service Check the UMass website for links to volunteer opportunities UMass.edu –> student life –> get involved –> community service Consult with the United Way or Red Cross in your hometown to find volunteer opportunities close to home Explore the Citizen Scholars program at UMass
- 32. 32College of Natural Sciences Find Meaningful Community Service Keep a journal of what you did, hours you worked, interesting things that happened, people who trained and supervised your work (include their contact info) This will help you when you are ready to ask for LORs It will also help you when you write your personal statement and interview
- 33. 33College of Natural Sciences Be Informed About Medical School Admissions Use only reputable, not-for-profit information sources (.edu and .org sites are the best) There are many for-profit offerings (blogs, podcasts, etc) that offer dubious advice You may hear conflicting information (sometimes even from reputable sources)
- 34. 34College of Natural Sciences Association of American Medical Colleges www.aamc.org UMass College of Natural Sciences Health Professions Advising www.cns.umass.edu/students/pre-medical-and- pre-dental-advising Websites of medical schools of interest to you MCATquestionoftheday.com Be Informed About Medical School Admissions
- 35. 35College of Natural Sciences Sign up for the CNS Pre-Med, Pre-Dent Email List
- 36. 36College of Natural Sciences Other Websites with Helpful Information Association of American Medical Colleges-AAMC http://www.aamc.org UMass Medical School Selection Criteria: http://www.umassmed.edu/som/admissions/application-process/selection-criteria/ UMass Medical School Academic Requirements: http://www.umassmed.edu/som/admissions/application-process/academic- requirements/ Medical School Favorability to Out-of-State Residents: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/students/gradstudy/health/guide/part2/app endix International Students and Medical School: https://www.aamc.org/students/aspiring/303912/applyasaninternationalapplicant.html
- 37. 37College of Natural Sciences
- 38. 38College of Natural Sciences
- 39. 39College of Natural Sciences
- 40. 40College of Natural Sciences Read Books About the Field of Medicine They will give you a glimpse into the field of medicine and help you on the Verbal section of the MCAT. Recommended authors and books for pre-healthcare professionals: Atul Gawande (Checklist Manifesto, Complications, articles in the New Yorker, Being Mortal) Jerome Groopman (Your Medical Mind, How Doctors Think, articles in the New Yorker) Tracy Kidder (Mountains Beyond Mountains) Siddhartha Mukherjee (The Emperor of All Maladies) Rebecca Skloot (The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks)
- 41. 41College of Natural Sciences Join the UMass Medical Book Group! http://www.umassmed.edu/som/admissions/curriculum/prematriculation/
- 42. 42College of Natural Sciences Questions See a Pre-Med Advisor at least once each year. To schedule an appointment, go to… http://www.cns.umass.edu/students/academic-advising/make-an- appointment From the pull-down menu… Choose Pre-Med/Pre-Dent/Pre-Health Choose an advisor… Doug Smith, Assistant Dean Cathy Eden, Pre-Health Advisor Wilmore Webley, Director of Pre-Health Advising
- 43. 43College of Natural Sciences Questions for Pre-Meds to Think About… What do you know about the medical profession? How committed are you to the goal of medical school? What is your experience in working with people from different backgrounds? How do you feel about communicating difficult or bad news? How do you deal with ambiguity? What is your comfort level with making life or death decisions? What are the most stressful conditions you have worked under?
Editor's Notes
- This presentation will help you begin to design your path to medical school. It is only a rough outline. It is up to you to fill in the details.
- This table shows the number of students that applied (applicants) and the number that were accepted (matriculants) to medical school in 2013. It also shows the average GPA (both in science courses and overall) for applicants and matriculants. UMass Med needs higher gpa – NY schools can be a little lower (multiple med schools)
- Most people outside of the healthcare field don’t realize how many rewarding careers there are in healthcare, other than RN and MD.
- This list only includes half of the possible careers in healthcare – and doesn’t include ANY careers in public health.
- This is an excellent website for finding information about healthcare careers (including MD and RN). Notice that it is a .org (not-for-profit).
- This is the Home Page for the website. Notice the bar along the top with pull-down menus as well as the list on the left. Allied Health Professions are any health professions other than nurse or doctor.
- When you click on Allied Health, there is a long list of careers. To find information on those careers, click on the individual job title.
- This is the information page on Anesthesiologist Assistant. Notice the Overview information. Also notice the Academic Requirements and Resources tabs at the top that will take you to lists of Graduate Programs and Professional Associations for this field. The gold box in the middle shows the typical salary and number of years of education (this position requires at least a masters degree)
- If you click on Career Explorer (along the top bar), you will see a pull-down menu that includes Summer Enrichment programs. You can search the summer enrichment programs by Career, Type, or Geographic Location.
- The other 23% of doctors are educated outside the US.
- These are the most important aspects of your path to medical school.
- Sometimes you can get experience with patients through work in a research setting
- These flyers list the mandatory information sessions on the Red Cross CNA trainings throughout Massachusetts. If you live in NY or CT, use Google to find a Red Cross chapter near your hometown. Attending one of these mandatory sessions would be a good thing to do while you are on break in January.
- LOR – stands for Letter of Recommendation.
- You are transitioning from being a student to being a professional
- This is the UMass Medical School site. You can explore the Admissions Requirements and Selection Criteria pages to get first hand information about what they are looking for in a medical school applicant.
- Many students who have taken the MCAT report that the Verbal section can be difficult.
- Continue to see your academic advisor (major and minor) as well.
- Talk with family members who are in the healthcare field -- even if they are not MDs they can offer a lot of valuable information on the field of healthcare.