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Medical School Medical School Admissions: Taking Admissions: Taking
Charge of the ProcessCharge of the Process
Chris Jones, M.d.Chris Jones, M.d.Jefferson Medical College Jefferson Medical College
Class of 2006Class of 20062/28/20062/28/2006
The TrainingThe Training
KindergartenKindergarten 11stst through 12 through 12thth grade grade College (13College (13thth through 16 through 16thth grade) grade) Medical SchoolMedical School
2 Pre-Clinical Years (172 Pre-Clinical Years (17thth and 18 and 18thth grade) grade) 2 Clinical Years (192 Clinical Years (19thth and 20 and 20thth grade) grade)
Now you are a Doctor but…Now you are a Doctor but…
More TrainingMore Training
Internship (21Internship (21stst grade) grade) Residency (22Residency (22ndnd through ??? grade) through ??? grade)
Internal Medicine- 3 yearsInternal Medicine- 3 years Family Practice- 3 yearsFamily Practice- 3 years Pediatrics- 3 yearsPediatrics- 3 years OB/GYN- 4 yearsOB/GYN- 4 years Psychiatry- 4 yearsPsychiatry- 4 years General Surgery- 5 yearsGeneral Surgery- 5 years Orthopaedics- 6 yearsOrthopaedics- 6 years Neurosurgery- 8 yearsNeurosurgery- 8 years Radiology- 5 yearsRadiology- 5 years
We must be done, right?We must be done, right?
Optional FellowshipsOptional Fellowships From Internal Medicine (26 opportunities) or PediatricsFrom Internal Medicine (26 opportunities) or Pediatrics
Cardiology- 3 years – 26Cardiology- 3 years – 26thth grade grade GI- 3 years GI- 3 years Endocrine- 2 yearsEndocrine- 2 years Geriatrics- 1 year – OK, not from PediatricsGeriatrics- 1 year – OK, not from Pediatrics Many moreMany more
From SurgeryFrom Surgery Plastics- 2 yearsPlastics- 2 years CT- 3 years – 28CT- 3 years – 28thth grade grade Colo-rectal- 2 yearsColo-rectal- 2 years Many moreMany more
Now what?Now what?
After all that training, you are an Attending After all that training, you are an Attending PhysicianPhysician
Where to work?Where to work? AcademicsAcademics Private PracticePrivate Practice Government (FDA, VA, CDC)Government (FDA, VA, CDC) Research-only careerResearch-only career Law school???Law school???
In College…In College…
The key!!!The key!!!
Are you ready?Are you ready?
In College…In College…
Do NOT Do NOT
look like look like everybody else!everybody else!
Everybody else…Everybody else…
WhiteWhite MaleMale Balding (or is that just me)Balding (or is that just me) Straight out of college applying to medical schoolStraight out of college applying to medical school Biology MajorBiology Major Wacky Minor (business, skiing)Wacky Minor (business, skiing) Had a part time job and no time to volunteerHad a part time job and no time to volunteer Or shadowed a family friend surgeon and now Or shadowed a family friend surgeon and now
KNOWS he wants to be a pediatric neurosurgeonKNOWS he wants to be a pediatric neurosurgeon Has no idea what a doctor doesHas no idea what a doctor does
Everybody else…Everybody else…
Never read anything or read Maxim and can’t sayNever read anything or read Maxim and can’t say That pesky job kept him from being involved in That pesky job kept him from being involved in
extracurricular activitiesextracurricular activities His beer gut proves he did have some free timeHis beer gut proves he did have some free time Never ran ANYTHING (treadmill or a club)Never ran ANYTHING (treadmill or a club) Did research on the Lackawanna River sludgeDid research on the Lackawanna River sludge Knows his professors from sitting in classKnows his professors from sitting in class His passion in life is studying biology His passion in life is studying biology He has never traveled anywhere (except Cancun)He has never traveled anywhere (except Cancun) Wants to help the overserved (with BC/BS)Wants to help the overserved (with BC/BS)
Let’s knock these off…Let’s knock these off…
White and male and baldingWhite and male and balding
We’ll let these up to the Big JCWe’ll let these up to the Big JC If you are not one or multiple of these, give If you are not one or multiple of these, give
yourself 1 pointyourself 1 point
STOP!!!STOP!!!
Stop being a crazy Pre-Med keeping scoreStop being a crazy Pre-Med keeping score
Straight out of collegeStraight out of college
I was…I was… Most are (1/3 aren’t)Most are (1/3 aren’t) Not a problem if you use your college days to Not a problem if you use your college days to
create life experiencescreate life experiences You are not expected to cure cancer!You are not expected to cure cancer! Applicants by ageApplicants by age
AAMC Age TableAAMC Age Table
Biology MajorBiology Major
Not a problem ifNot a problem if You love itYou love it You do well in itYou do well in it You do something elseYou do something else
Admissions officers know that it is not THAT Admissions officers know that it is not THAT hard to just do a Bio major in collegehard to just do a Bio major in college
Undergraduate GPA and MCAT by majorUndergraduate GPA and MCAT by major The NumbersThe Numbers
Wacky MinorWacky Minor
Minors are like Interpretive DanceMinors are like Interpretive Dance Do what you loveDo what you love If you love it a lot, do it as a second majorIf you love it a lot, do it as a second major Use the minor to fulfill pre-med requirements if Use the minor to fulfill pre-med requirements if
you’re a PT, Exercise Science, Neuroscience, you’re a PT, Exercise Science, Neuroscience, Spanish, English, History, or Snorkeling major Spanish, English, History, or Snorkeling major
Part-time jobPart-time job
YesYes If you want toIf you want to If the job is neatIf the job is neat If it will give you something to talk aboutIf it will give you something to talk about If you need the moneyIf you need the money BONUS – if it’s medically relatedBONUS – if it’s medically related If it leaves you time to volunteerIf it leaves you time to volunteer
No time to volunteerNo time to volunteer
NO EXCUSENO EXCUSE NOT ACCEPTABLENOT ACCEPTABLE CAN TORPEDO MED SCHOOL CAN TORPEDO MED SCHOOL
APPLICATIONAPPLICATION MAKES YOU DULLMAKES YOU DULL At Scranton, makes you a pariah At Scranton, makes you a pariah But what should I do????But what should I do????
VolunteeringVolunteering
SOMETHING YOU LOVESOMETHING YOU LOVE Something interesting to talk about (Interview Something interesting to talk about (Interview
Fodder)Fodder) Something that helps peopleSomething that helps people Something that helps you to see people Something that helps you to see people
differentlydifferently Something out of your comfort zoneSomething out of your comfort zone Do more than coach the Glenmaura Youth Do more than coach the Glenmaura Youth
Soccer TeamSoccer Team
Volunteering Volunteering
Shadowing is not Volunteering Shadowing is not Volunteering Just because you are not being paid, you are not a Just because you are not being paid, you are not a
volunteervolunteer VOLUNTEERS DO THINGSVOLUNTEERS DO THINGS
That said, shadowing is very valuableThat said, shadowing is very valuable Idea what a doctor does every dayIdea what a doctor does every day Meet someone to write a letterMeet someone to write a letter See if you like the jobSee if you like the job See sick peopleSee sick people
The #1 question to answerThe #1 question to answer
The most important question to answer at a med The most important question to answer at a med school interview: school interview:
What have you done to prove to What have you done to prove to me that you know what the hell me that you know what the hell you’re getting yourself into?you’re getting yourself into?
Never read anythingNever read anything
Damnit, read!Damnit, read! I hate sounding like Dr. EngelI hate sounding like Dr. Engel News – be able to hold an adult conversationNews – be able to hold an adult conversation
Cnn.comCnn.com New York Times onlineNew York Times online Scranton Times DOES NOT countScranton Times DOES NOT count
Books – be able to talk about 1-2 booksBooks – be able to talk about 1-2 books Stuff for classStuff for class Non-fictionNon-fiction Classics (Animal Farm)Classics (Animal Farm) David SedarisDavid Sedaris
No ExtracurricularsNo Extracurriculars
Particularly hard for commutersParticularly hard for commuters The drive back to campus IS more valuable than The drive back to campus IS more valuable than
sitting on the couch at home… er… studying.sitting on the couch at home… er… studying.
Find something you love and put your heart into Find something you love and put your heart into it – run somethingit – run something Do not have as your leadership experience Do not have as your leadership experience
“member” of 6 clubs“member” of 6 clubs
Beer GutBeer Gut
Have fun hereHave fun here Best 3.5 years of my lifeBest 3.5 years of my life PlayPlay Don’t get arrested/citedDon’t get arrested/cited Hike at Nay AugHike at Nay Aug Walk Lake ScrantonWalk Lake Scranton Go to Cockeye’s and Oscar’sGo to Cockeye’s and Oscar’s Go to the gym for God’s sakeGo to the gym for God’s sake
Sludge ResearchSludge Research
The Research QuestionThe Research Question The Answer: Definitely a possibility.The Answer: Definitely a possibility.
If you like it, do it.If you like it, do it. If it’s torture, don’t.If it’s torture, don’t. If you don’t, you better do something else.If you don’t, you better do something else. Great way to know a faculty member well.Great way to know a faculty member well. Great way to understand science.Great way to understand science.
Dr… Oh, some old guyDr… Oh, some old guy
Know your professors’ namesKnow your professors’ names Know your professors’ family sizesKnow your professors’ family sizes
Voltzow – 2 kidsVoltzow – 2 kids Sweeney – 2 girlsSweeney – 2 girls Hardisky – at least 2 sonsHardisky – at least 2 sons MacEntee/Cadigan – Ehem…MacEntee/Cadigan – Ehem…
Go to office hoursGo to office hours Go to mixersGo to mixers Go to HPO activities with profs at themGo to HPO activities with profs at them
Passions in lifePassions in life
Have some…Have some… ArtArt MusicMusic VolunteeringVolunteering AnimalsAnimals TravelTravel Not your girlfriend/boyfriendNot your girlfriend/boyfriend LOVE SOMETHING!LOVE SOMETHING!
TravelTravel
Wilkes-Barre is not an exotic destinationWilkes-Barre is not an exotic destination Travel during collegeTravel during college
PlanesPlanes TrainsTrains AutomobilesAutomobiles Cruise shipsCruise ships
1-2 day trips: 1-2 day trips: Philly/NYC/FingerLakes/Steamtown/DC/Baltimore/Philly/NYC/FingerLakes/Steamtown/DC/Baltimore/Boston/Providence/The ShoreBoston/Providence/The Shore
Do, see, touch, experience…Do, see, touch, experience…
Career AspirationsCareer Aspirations
Care for the InsuredCare for the Insured Care for Uninsured? Prove it!Care for Uninsured? Prove it! You do NOT know that you want to be a You do NOT know that you want to be a
Pediatric Endcrino-Neuro-Orthopaedist!!!Pediatric Endcrino-Neuro-Orthopaedist!!! Surgery vs PsychSurgery vs Psych Family Med vs SurgeryFamily Med vs Surgery ENT vs RadiologyENT vs Radiology BE ACTIVELY UNSURE!BE ACTIVELY UNSURE!
Do these things and…Do these things and…
Get good grades (3.5-ish)Get good grades (3.5-ish) BCPM grade rules supremeBCPM grade rules supreme
MCATs are the gatekeeperMCATs are the gatekeeper >27>27 <27<27 Biological > Verbal > Physical > WritingBiological > Verbal > Physical > Writing
Apply MD and DOApply MD and DO Talk to past HPO officersTalk to past HPO officers
Admissions StatisticsAdmissions Statistics
Everyone’s numbersEveryone’s numbers MatriculantsMatriculants' MCAT & GPA Statistics' MCAT & GPA Statistics
Scranton’s StatisticsScranton’s Statistics Scranton's MCAT & GPA StatisticsScranton's MCAT & GPA Statistics
Take-Home PearlsTake-Home Pearls
Be somebody differentBe somebody different Do neat thingsDo neat things Don’t blow off the MCAT… kick its gluteus.Don’t blow off the MCAT… kick its gluteus. Titrate GPA to 3.4-3.6 (focusing on BCPM)Titrate GPA to 3.4-3.6 (focusing on BCPM) Apply MD and DO Apply MD and DO Talk to past HPO officers Talk to past HPO officers
The Final Take-Home PointThe Final Take-Home Point
““Dispensing advice it is a way of fishing Dispensing advice it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth.”it for more than it's worth.”
-Mary Schmich of the -Mary Schmich of the Chicago TribuneChicago Tribune
