Holy Cross Health Professions Advising - PowerPoint Presentation

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Holy CrossHealth Professions AdvisingProf. Miles Cahill, AdvisorProf. Jumi Hayaki, Associate Advisor

Information for health professional school applicants

September 27, 2018

What we will do todayTalk about committee review processTalk about credentialsTalk about graduate school application processTalk about MCAT and review classTalk about changes to post-

bacc

and allied health review process

Who is eligible for a review?Considering applying to med/dental/vet school in this cycle (June 2019 for August 2020 start)You do not have to decide until close to application time!

Will finish requirements by end of spring semester

Or will finish post-baccalaureate plan in spring

You do not have to take the MCAT before the review

In a post-baccalaureate program now

Alumni, juniors, seniors

Applicants may be reviewed multiple times

Application timelineSeptember 2018September 28, O’Neill 112, 5:15pm: meeting to talk about applicationTalk about HC committee review process, med, dental and vet school application process

Introduce the personal statement and other materials

Talk about resources

October 2018

October 5

: Advisor request (online) and waiver (hard copy to Stein 129A) forms due by noon.

After fall break: advisors assigned

Meet with your advisor ASAPOctober 16, 7pm: Dr. Ryan talk (clinical director, MGC onc)November-December 2017November 3: Saturday personal statement workshop, 9am-11am, SML 154Start working on personal statement, materials, meet with advisorRequest recommendation letters (Nov?)MCAT information meetingJanuary 2019Finish up personal statementAttend session at Writer’s Workshop, work with advisorCompleted first draft should be done by start of spring semesterMCAT preparation course startsFebruary 2019February 15: Committee application materials due Meeting to discuss MCAT goals, etc.

February – May

2019

Committee reviews files on a rolling basis

Applicants receive committee ratings, feedback; meet with committee advisor to discuss your review

May

2019

May 1

: deadline to submit materials for

reapplication

for

2017-18

applicants

(those not yet accepted)

May (first week): Application services

open/

start entering application

Final meeting to discuss application process

Final ratings determined after spring grades;

ratings letters

sent

June

2019

June (first week)

: Application services (medical/dental) start accepting applications

Submit applications as soon as possible in cycle

Submit

your letter request materials to Health Professions Advising Office (see instructions sent in May

) after your application is finalized and submitted

July

2019

July 31

: last day to have your application

processed

by application service to guarantee committee letter

Special permission from Prof. Cahill needed to submit application

after

Complete

secondary applications

August

2019

– March

2020

August 15

: Last day to request

any letter or packet

to be sent

Interviews

typically start late in August/early Sept., continue

-spring

Medical school

decisions

start early fall, continue through

year

February 19

th

:

AAMC

traffic rule “plan to enroll” avail

April – August 2020

April

30

:

AAMC

traffic rule “commit to enroll” available

May

1

: deadline to submit

for

reapplication for

2018-19

re-applicants

Offers may continue until

matriculation – wait lists will likely be late, heavy

August 2020

:

start school!

First steps to takeOpen or reactivate your file – deadline Oct. 5If you are opening a file, submit signed PDF copy waiver form to office (heathprofessions@holycross.edu

)

if have file open with letters, no need to do this again

You must fill out the online form to request a committee advisor to open

or reactivate your file

– see “key documents” on the health professions advising web page

Meet your advisor

Start committee personal statementAttend personal statement workshop – Nov. 3, 9-11amWork with the Writer’s WorkshopWork with your advisor – brainstorm, send draftsStart researching school requirements (MSAR)Start asking for reference letters before winter break3 to review file, 5+ to write a good letterMajor professor, a non-major science lab professor, a third professor/supervisor, +Avoid letters from those close to your family. Clinical letters very helpful, even essentialTalk to your advisor before winter breakThink about how you will prepare for the entrance examKaplan info meeting in Nov.Get complete draft of statement done before you returnDue date for file materials: February 15

Choosing an advisorProf. King (Mathematics & Computer Science)Prof. Stock (M&CS)

Prof. Avila-

Bront

(Chemistry)

Prof. Joseph (Classics)

Prof. Roche (Religious Studies)

Prof. Ramos (Spanish)

Prof. Hayaki (Psych)Prof. Cahill (Econ&Acct)You will get the chance to make your advisor preferences known on your form.We will try to assign you to one of your top choices but we need to make sure advisees are evenly distributed.

Committee process: MD/DO, DMD/DDS, DVMMaterials due Feb. 15Follow instructions carefullyCover sheet, list of courses, notation, annotated activities list, personal statement, transcripts

Committee meets to discuss files and rate applicants on rolling basis

You will get a letter with a preliminary rating shortly after

Meet with your advisor to get more detailed feedback

Committee reviews all files again after spring grades

Study for and take the MCAT/DAT/GRE

Goal: have application complete as close to June 1 as possible

Ideally apply early June with exam scores in handYou must have your application processed by July 31 to get a committee letter but this may be too late

Letter collection processSend a PDF of your signed waiver to the office when you request an advisor to open your fileYou do not need to submit another waiver if you already have one on fileFill out Google form to open/reopen file, request advisor

You will get an e-mail with a spreadsheet template to list recommenders

Ms.

Kirkorian

will create a Google Sheet and share it with you. She will record when letters are received by the office on the shared Google Sheet so you can check it at any time.

You can add additional recommenders to Sheet at any time

Please be patient and wait for Sheet and letters to be processed

Send an e-mail to your recommenders using the template we give you asking for a letterLetters are submitted to hpletters@holycross.edu as an attachmentOn letterheadSigned (electronic is ok)PDFMedical/dental/vet schools will not accept letters that aren’t on signed letterhead

When is a review not necessary?You are applying to allied health: PA/NP/PT/etc.You are definitely not planning on applying this yearPlanning on a gap year (or more), post-

bacc

program, research, more classes, etc.

We are happy to give you feedback and advice in person

You may request a committee advisor to get feedback, start a relationship, start collecting letters

You will be a different person in a year (or more

)!

You will not complete your requirements (or post-bacc) by the end of spring semesterWe can’t rate you without gradesMedical schools do not allow an application with courses in progressDental school may allow a recommended class in progress (e.g. biochem)

CredentialsGPA: overall and in science coursesWe look at trajectory, individual course grades, additional courses, etc.Personal statementApprox. 7 page reflective essay

Introduce yourself to the committee: who are you? How did you get here?

Reflect on experiences that lead you to pursue a career of caring for others

This is a key part of our rating!

Reference letters

Academic ability and work ethic, engagement

Character, working with others, compassion, maturity

Clinical, research, volunteer, professional experiencesIf you are applying to DO school, you need a letter from a DO. If you are applying to dental school you need a letter from a dentistLetter may come after your committee reviewVolunteer experienceLonger/deeper engagement valued – show leadershipShow compassion for othersMay substitute for (some) clinical experience

CredentialsClinical experienceWork/volunteer/internship in hospital/nursing home/office/etc. settingShadowing less desirable as it is “passive” Volunteer or work caring for others in a non-medical setting

This may substitute for (most) clinical experience

Key is experience caring for others in a stressful situation, learning to communicate with people with different backgrounds

Research experience

Not essential, but helpful

Professional experience

Not essential, but

helpfulOther experiencesAthletics, clubs, etc.We don’t use MCAT/DAT/GRE for rating, but will for advisory purposesTest scores very important for med/dental/vet schools

What are we (and medical/dental/vet schools) looking for?Can the applicant handle the rigorous academics of curriculum and license exams?Has the applicant demonstrated maturity? Working well with others? Leadership? Engagement?

Has the applicant demonstrated a commitment to helping others in need?

Does the applicant have experience working with people from different socio/economic backgrounds, in stressful situations?

Is the applicant familiar with the job health care providers do? The training involved?

Committee ratingsVery highly recommendOutstanding in every category. No flaws.Highly recommendStrong in every category, but not top in all categories

May have a flaw that is offset by other excellent credentials

Recommend

You are a solid applicant in every category but have some weaknesses that can be addressed to make you a stronger applicant. We think you are capable of succeeding in medical/dental/etc. school, but you should be careful which schools you apply to.

Wait to apply

You are not yet a competitive applicant

We will give you advice on how you can become more competitive

Historically, students at all levels of recommendation (R through VH) have gotten in at similar rates (80%+). The recommendation level corresponds to what sorts of schools an applicant should apply to, and not if they will be accepted.Your rating reflects your record, is not a substituteWe are trying to show you how medical/dental/vet schools will view your application, not act as gatekeepers!It is expensive to apply to schools and much harder to get into medical school as a re-applicant

Cost of medical schoolCost of applying to medical school: $3,000-4,000Application fees, exams, travel to interviews, etc.Typical private medical schoolTufts: $90,000+/year (tuition, meals, living, etc.)

Avg. med school student graduates with

>

$200,000 in debt

Typical public medical school

UMass: $55,000/year (tuition, feels, living, etc.)

Avg. student graduates with

>$100,000 in debtDental school even more expensive! $120,000/yrVet school also very expensive

National applicationsMedical school is becoming more highly competitive50,905 applications to MD for fall 2017 start20,864 started medical school in fall 2016; 41% of applicants

Typical MD medical school

Tufts: 10,951 complete applicants, 926 interviews for class of 211

UMass: 1,012 in-state+2,576 out, 493+281 interviews for class of 134+28

Nationally, students apply to 18-22 schools, ~40% get in to MD, similar matriculation rate for DO

Holy Cross: admission rate

approx

double, after advising, incl. DO20,836 applications to DO (2017)7,197 first year students (35% matriculation rate)Typical DO schoolCCOM-MWU: 5,712 applications for a class of 208UNE-COM: 4,300 applications for 600 interviews and a class of 178Dental school is also becoming increasingly competitiveTufts: 3,700 apps for 195 seats

Consider DO90% of training the samePass equivalent license examTrain in similar/same residencies – same accreditation!MUCH better chance at residency than overseas

A little easier to get into quantitatively

Less concerned with quantitative scores

MCAT:

avg

: 503 for DO vs. 511 for MD

GPA (overall/science) slightly lower (3.5/3.4 for DO vs 3.7/3.6 for MD)

Need a letter from a DO: your responsibilityResourcesSee www.AACOM.orgThe DOs by Norman GervitzJune 2009 issue of Academic Medicine

Come to fall eventsDr. David Ryan, MD, Clinical Director, MGH Cancer Center

October

16, 7pm,

Rehm

Library

Georgetown School of Medicine Virtual Information Session

October 30, 5pm Zoom

Consider NP/PA, allied healthThink about your goalsWhat do you want to do every dayNot what initials do you want on your name tag

Do you want to work with patients?

Diagnose, treat, prescribe?

Think about NP/PA, other allied health

Other careers may allow more independence

Podiatry (very similar to med school)

Optometry

Physical therapy, etc.

Other professional programsDental schoolSame committee process, timeline as MDGPA a little lower than MDUsually competitive above

3

.0 GPA (overall & science)

Need a letter from a dentist

DAT important: want > 17 on each section

Veterinary school

Same committee process

Deadline Sept. 15 – but check!Usually take GREExperience with large and small animals essentialRequirements vary between schoolsUsually need individual letters

PA, NP, PT, OD, etc. and post-baccsImportant differencesHave June, Aug., Jan., etc. start dates

Deadlines vary – year round, including before committee meets!

Requirements vary widely between schools

Schools do not accept committee letters, committee ratings

We will help you gather your credentials, choose reference letters, choose schools, write personal statement, etc. Come see us!

Special factorsSee me if you are in one of these categoriesNot a permanent US resident

Are currently in ROTC

Serious disciplinary action like suspension or probation

General adviceWork with your advisor earlyWaiting until last minute is asking for troubleBe professionalBe formal in all correspondence – e-mails, phone calls, etc.

Use correct grammar, spelling in all communication

Always use titles, never first names

Be polite and friendly to everyone

Use a professional-sounding e-mail address

Be engaged in what you do

Classes, activities, etc.

ReadDr. J. O’Connell, Dr. A. Gawande, Dr. P. Kalanithi, Dr. R. CampoWatch your public profile and behave wellMed schools may Google you, look at your Facebook page, etc. Don’t let a foolish mistake jeopardize your chancesSerious disciplinary action may be the end of your application