Class Meetings 2. December 4, 2015 -Spring registration -Winter break -MCAT prep -Organizing Spring semester -Application time line

Future Class Meetings

Jan-April, 2016 3. Medical School Applications- how to write personal statement, experiences, transcripts, letters, timing 4. MCAT Prep specifics 5. Dr. Witzburg- the medical school application process

Spring Registration

1. Register before winter break

2. Remember to include MS640 Section A1 (Biomed Information) and MS972 (2 cr) Rel Med Sci

Biostats Waivers

If you have submitted a waiver and have not received a reply, you have successfully waived the requirement. The Registrar will update your file in the next month or so.

Winter Break-1 -Relax, spend time with family and friends -Reflect on Fall semester -Biosketch Form (due to advisor and GMS Feb 1)- this will help you think of theme for Personal Statement. Also gather details for experience paragraphs (hours, contact info…)

BIOSKETCH FORM 2016

In order for the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences to prepare your MAMS Program Letter of Recommendation, please complete this form and send as an email attachment to mams@bu.edu as well as to your advisor.

NAME:

BU ID#:

BU Email:

Other Email:

Telephone #:

Current Address:

Permanent Address:

To assure that your Program Letter is completed in a timely manner, please follow the following deadlines:

February 1: Submit this form electronically to the GMS Office (mams@bu.edu) and to your advisor.

April 1: Meet with advisor to discuss Biosketch Form and AMCAS/AACOMAS applications.

June/July: After submission of AMCAS application, Submit Program Letter Update Form to the GMS Office.

I. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION

Please complete the table below to include all undergraduate colleges/universities you attended.

College/University Dates Attended Major Minor Degree/Latin Honors

II. GRADUATE EDUCATION

Please complete the table below to include all graduate colleges/universities you attended. Be sure to include any post-baccalaureate education, certificate programs, or graduate courses taken as a non-degree student.

College/University Dates Attended Major Minor Degree

III. ACTIVITIES

In chronological order, please list all activities you participated in since the beginning of your undergraduate career using the following format.

Categorize “Type” as following: Research, Leadership, Teaching/Tutoring, Awards/Recognition, Presentations, Community Service, Paid Employment, Hobbies/Athletics, Other.

For “Description,” be concise and structure the 2-5 sentence response by including: 1) a statement describing what the activity is, 2) a description of your role, 3) a statement of what you learned from the experience. You may use a maximum of 700 characters.

(EX. 1. Rosie’s Place is a shelter serving homeless women in the city of Boston. 2. I prepared meals, cleaned up the kitchen, and visited with the residents. 3. I learned about the unmet social and medical needs of homeless individuals.)

Note: You may designate up to 3 activities as “Most Meaningful”. For these, your descriptions may include up to 2,025 characters.

Most Meaningful (Y/N): _______________________________________________________ Type: ______________________________________________________________________ Experience Name: ____________________________________________________________ Dates: ______________________________________________________________________ Total Hours: _________________________________________________________________ Organization Name: ___________________________________________________________ Contact Name, Title, phone and email: ___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ City, State, Country: ___________________________________________________________ Description:

Winter Break-2: Personal Statement

Winter Break-3: Thesis -Literature thesis -get started if expect to start med school in August (deadline to hand in thesis August 1). Choose a topic, gather background information. If applying this summer, will be almost impossible to write thesis for Sept graduation (Aug 1 deadline)-consider Jan or May, 2016 graduation- do not need to be here, can work, no extra cost

Where will you be next year? What kind of thesis project would you like to complete? Let’s talk about the rumors….

1. If planning to return home for 2016-2017 year, can use winter break to make contact with previous employers, positions to see if paid position possible for next year - scribe -research -EMT You can work while you complete a literature thesis 2. Can also make contact with local PIs in area of interest and set up informational meetings for lab thesis 3. If staying in Boston, you can begin looking for opportunities in Feb-March

Undergrad Letters -Committee Letter Procedures -Contact individual writers for updated letters (if faculty are near your home, you could stop by to catch up and request updated letter) -If no committee, letters will be submitted by UG letter service or directly by writers or Interfolio MAMS Letters (2-3 letters) - My letter -Advisor letter -Any ONE faculty letter (ask in April, May)-optional

Recommendation Letters -Most students will submit 2 sets of letters: undergrad (committee letter or letter packet) and MAMS (letter packet). This applies if within 3 yrs of graduation

Winter Break 4

Winter Break-5: MCAT 2015

1. Gather information from AAMC website

2. Review Competencies

3. Use AAMC and Khan Academy resources (see later)-focus on Sociology and Psychology, CARS

4. ExamKrackers/Kaplan/PR CARS question books 5. READ- The Economist, NY Times, history, philosophy, politics 6. Order “Sample test” and other online question resources. Save available practice test for later.

I. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems Foundational Concept 1 Biomolecules have unique properties that determine how they contribute to the structure and function of cells, and how they participate in the processes necessary to maintain life Foundational Concept 2 Highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells, and organs interact to carry out the functions of living organisms Foundational Concept 3 Complex systems of tissues and organs sense the internal and external environments of multicellular organisms, and through integrated functioning, maintain a stable internal environment within an ever-changing external environment.

COT and Biochem!

Foundational Concept 4 Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their environment, process signals, and respond to changes using processes that can be understood in terms of physical principles.

Foundational Concept 5 The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of living systems

II. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

Physiology!

III. Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior

Foundational Concept 6 Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence the ways that individuals perceive, think about, and react to the world. Foundational Concept 7 Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence behavior and behavior change Foundational Concept 8 Psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors influence the way we think about ourselves and others, as well as how we interact with others Foundational Concept 9 Cultural and social differences influence well-being Foundational Concept 10 Social stratification and access to resources influence well-being

IV. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/individuals-and-society

Good place to start: Khan Academy -free -excellent content, AAMC endorsed -short, focused videos matched to competencies -assessment questions

Spring Semester -Coursework- most important!! -May have time to volunteer (1 morning/wk) See volunteer opportunities on MAMS website If BMC (including bWell) or Boston Healthcare for the Homeless or Pine Street Inn, apply over break for Spring positions -Some students spend 5h/wk on CARS MCAT prep (also Soc and Psych)

Application Time Line Much more to follow- 3 class meetings in the Spring Feb-May (if not before) FINISH Personal Statement- advisor will help FINISH “Experience Paragraphs” Feb (approx)- register for MCAT – June 18 date (also July 8, 9) Ask recommenders for letters May-June AMCAS opens Submit official BU transcript when grades posted Order transcripts from all undergrad institutions May-June MCAT Prep Physics, O-Chem and Behavior course (optional) June -SUBMIT AMCAS June 18 (or July 8-9)Take MCAT

Late June-July -Secondaries August -Begin lab thesis

If currently applying to medical school:

-make sure you have listed me as Individual Letter Writer on AMCAS (and have sent me the form) -upload Unofficial Transcript (Student Link) to school portals as soon as Fall grades available