Applying to Medical School

American Medical Student Association

Elliot Toy, Kat Braun, Ben Lin

What You Need

• Letters of recommendation• Personal Statement• Official Transcripts• Pre-medical course requirements• MCAT• Financial support• Patience

Pre Medical Course Requirements

ALWAYS: Biology: 1 year. At least one semester advanced bio. General Chemistry: 1 year, with labs. Organic Chemistry: 1 year, with labs. Physics: 1 year, calc or non-calc based. English: 1-2 semesters (some classes may count if writing intensive)SOMETIMES: Statistics: 1 semester. Math: 1 semester Calc I or above.

If you have specific schools in mind check the requirements early.

MCAT• Keep the timing in mind

– Consider leaving enough time to re-take the exam – Time of day is important – when do you think best?– Exam will change in 2015 (add social science)

• Things to consider– Courses are available: Kaplan, UW Sponsored

• OR come up with a personal study plan – usually 4-6 months of studying

– Books are available: Kaplan, Exam Crackers, Princeton Review, The Berkeley Review

– BEST ADVICE: Practice exams!! And don’t dismiss the verbal section…– Costs $275

• Sections – Physical, Biological, Verbal• Have a goal set based on desired medical school admitted

ranges – not averages– Know at which score you will keep/retake the exam

Letters of Recommendation

• Ask early– At end of the semester (even if you are not applying yet)

• Who to ask? – People who know you. Avoid the generic letter – Take advantage of your smaller lectures/seminars– Go to office hours!

• How many?– Most medical schools require 3

• Two academic faculty (professors), one science, and one non-science, and one non-academic letter

– Shoot for two science (bio/physics/chem), one non-science (arts/music/humanities), one research (if you research), and one volunteer-based

Letters of Recommendation

• When asking for letters of recommendation:– Have PS and CV to give to them– Email them AMCAS letter writer form – Provide clear, simple instructions for completing and

uploading letters – Give them a due date – don’t be afraid to be the squeaky

wheel • *Identifying info on your letters!

• * AMCAS primary application can get verified without all your letters

Personal Statement• Why do you want to go into medicine?

– You don’t need to have a sad, tragic, or profound story– You do need to be honest, compelling, and unique

• It will be a process – many drafts are normal • Keep it concise – under 5300 characters (including spaces)• How to start?

– Chose a theme/think about the big picture – Avoid writing down a list of things you have done– Stick with a few of the most important experiences, realizations, and people– Tell the admissions committee why you want to be a doctor through specific stories

• Give people names, make it personal – Not only “…this is why I want to be a doctor”, but more importantly “this is what will

make me a great physician”– Stick with a professional tone (i.e. no contractions), avoid “cutesy” things - be honest

and sincere. • Who should read it?

– 3-5 TRUSTED people – Not too many people…you can quickly lose your own voice

• Stick to what you feel is right….don’t make every change that is suggested

• http://www.writing.wisc.edu/Workshops/Application_ProfessionalSchool.html

Which Schools to Apply to? • Chose wisely! Spend time learning about the schools

– MSAR (book and online)– Individual school websites

• What is important to you? – Location, cost, class size, prestige/rank? – Also consider: curriculum outline, match list, in-state/out-state acceptance

rate, GPA/MCAT range, DO/MD, scholarships available?, affiliations, requirements, lifestyle of the city, housing options

• Read through mission statements!!!• How many?

– Up to you – typical is 12-18– 1/3 safe, 1/3 in-range, 1/3 stretch

• #1 Rule: DO NOT APPLY TO ANY SCHOOL THAT YOU WOULD NOT BE HAPPY GOING TO…

• $$$$• For every school you put on your primary application – you will most

likely have to complete secondary essays for

Primary Application

• AMCAS– Application opens in May– First Day to submit: First week in June typically

• Submit early!!• First impression– Quality over timing

Parts of AMCAS

• Identifying information– Name(s), ID numbers

• Schools attended– High school, college, institutional action

• Biographic information– Address, childhood info, how you pay for college,

crimes

Parts of AMCAS

• Courses– Find exact course names, credits, grades and

classification• * when in doubt err towards what requirements you

need

– Reference https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

Parts of AMCAS• Work/Activities

Parts of AMCAS• Do not undervalue the importance of activity

descriptions – real estate is at a premium

Parts of AMCAS

• Work/Activities– Character limit, max. 15 entries, contacts– *3 most influential– Edit, edit, edit

• Letters of evaluation– Letter ID’s, AMCAS service, Interfolio

• Medical schools– Fun but $$$– Assign letters of recommendation individually to

medical schools

Parts of AMCAS

• Personal comments– Personal statement

• Standardized tests– MCAT score(s), test date(s)– You can indicate you plan to take a future MCAT

score after submitting your application…both scores are still available, however

Crafting your AMCAS Persona• Know yourself before you can sell yourself

– What can you bring to the school?– What makes you unique?

• How does every aspect of your AMCAS reflect this?• How can you exude your persona during your interview?

• Example career goals:– Private Practice– Health Policy– Academic Medicine– Public Health– Health Care Administration

Secondaries• When do they arrive?

– As early as August – late fall – Depends when you submitted primary app

• Who gets secondaries? – Most everyone…– very rough or no screening at this stage

• What are they? – Usually essays – wide ranging though. – i.e. Mayo – pay fee. Duke – 4 essays with no character limit.

• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine?

• Be timely and efficient – Return quickly – within two weeks is ideal! – Plan ahead– Peer reviews are good

• Keep school mission in mind

Interview – What to Wear - Men

• No fashion statements• Suit and tie– Tailored grey or black suit– White shirt– Tie color– Tie bar

Interview – What to Wear - Women

• No fashion statements• Pant or skirt suit– Panty hose/tights – Neutral colored blouse – Neutral colored pumps

• Hair up, minimal make-up

Major Interview Questions

• 5 things to prep for every interview– 1) Tell me about yourself– 2) Why medicine– 3) Why ________ (your persona)– 4) Why that particular school– 5) Questions about the school

• Also, know your 3 most significant activities• Have a list of questions specific to that school

prepared

Interview Themes

• Key foundations for interviews– patient / doctor communication– right to privacy– patient autonomy– teamwork – socioeconomic boundaries and implications– healthcare system

Interview Styles

• Traditional– 30 minutes to 1 hour with 2-3 people

• Multiple Mini Interview (MMIs)– 10 minutes at 8 – 10 stations– Wide variety of stations• Traditional questions• Ethical / scenario questions• Teamwork stations• Acting stations

MMI Philosophy

• There is no wrong answer!• Things they are looking for:– 1) Communication skills– 2) Critical thinking ability– 3) Balance– 4) Empathy

• The Magic Bullet: Consider and discuss every party that would be affected

Sample MMI Questions

• Example:– Placebo (Ethical Decision Making)

• Dr. Smith recommends homeopathic medicines to his patients. There is no scientific evidence or widely accepted theory to suggest that homeopathic medicines work, and Dr. Smith doesn't believe them to. He recommends homeopathic medicine to people with mild and non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, headaches and muscle aches, because he believes that it will do no harm, but will give them reassurance.

– Consider the ethical problems that Dr. Smith’s behavior might pose. Discuss these issues with the interviewer.

Other Common Interview Questions

• 3 things you’d improve about healthcare?• 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses?• What have you read lately? Nonfiction?• Who would you have dinner with?• Someone you’ve learned something from?• Fun fact about yourself?• What's your spirit animal?

We’re Happy to Help!

• Ben Lin (UCLA) – brlin@wisc.edu • Elliot Toy (MCW) – etoy@wisc.edu • Kat Braun (UW) – kmbraun2@wisc.edu