The Nathan Smith Society

The Nathan Smith Society

Veterinary Medicine

Dental MedicinePublic & Global Health

The Health Career

Experience and

Advising at Dartmouth

Speakers• Lee Witters, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions

Program & Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry

• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor

• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry;Dean, Graduate Studies

• Carl Thum, Academic Skills CenterSome Other Key People• Dr. Robert Keene, DMD, Pre-Dental Advisor• Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program

Administrative Coordinator• Andrew Welch & Dr. Joseph Schwartzman,

Admissions Office, Geisel School of MedicineSome Very Special People

• A Flock, Gaggle, Bevy, Herd, Crowd, Etc. of Very Knowledgeable and Welcoming Pre-Health Students from the Classes of 2013, 2014 and 2015

A “To-Do” List• Join the Nathan Smith Society one of

three ways:1. Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around2. Enroll on NSS web site3. Blitz ‘[email protected]’

Nathan Smith Society Events Winter/Spring/Summer Terms 2012

• DHMC Shadowing Program• Community Veterinary

Shadowing Program• Community Dental Shadowing

Program• Dartmouth Ears (a patient

visiting program at DHMC)• Dartmouth TALES (visitation

with Alzheimer patient/family)• ‘Dinner with a Doc/Vet/Dentist’

Program• Geisel “Interest Groups” &

Alumni Workshops• Dartmouth Cancer Scholars

• ‘Take a Med Student to Lunch’ Program

• “Mock Admissions”• Paying for Medical School

(Geisel Financial Aid office)• Senior Night• DC/Geisel Night• NSS Research Opportunities

Database• MD/PhD, MD/MBA programs• Special Speakers & Events


three ways:1. Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around2. Enroll on NSS web site3. Blitz ‘[email protected]’

• Visit NSS web site (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss) and review the document entitled “Advice for Entering Students’– While there,“self-enroll” on NSS Blackboard

site (instructions on NSS home page)

http://www.dartmouth.edu/~nss


three ways:1. Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around2. Enroll on NSS web site3. Blitz ‘[email protected]’’

• Visit NSS web site (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss) and review the document entitled “Advice for Entering Students’– While there,“self-enroll” on NSS Blackboard

site (instructions on NSS home page)• Hang onto the info sheets passed out– Points of contact; advice for curricular &

extracurricular decisions AND D-planning document


Eight “Helpful Hints”

“Hints” #1 & #21. This is a challenging and time-consuming curriculum. You will need to develop new strategies and continually reassess (and maybe regroup). Everyone’s pace and track is different!2. Be pre-emptive; don’t sit back and wait to “see how you are doing”. Utilize course resources, the Academic Skills Center and knowledgeable advisors. Plan your path carefully!

What & Where is Pre-Health Advising at Dartmouth?Enter Here & Check

The ElectronicMap!

Dr. Lee Witters

Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS and NSS

Blackboard sites)

TwoConvenie

ntLocations

What & Where is Pre-Health Advising at Dartmouth?

I must be at the rear entranceto Parkhurst!

Sarah BergerWeekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS and NSS

Blackboard sites)

TwoConvenie

ntLocations



• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry;Dean, Graduate

Studies• Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center

Hint #3

3. Dartmouth does not have a specific pre-med or pre-health curriculum. Major in what you enjoy and are interested in, but bear in mind that you must be able to demonstrate scientific aptitude and excellence. A wide experience in the humanities and social sciences is a real asset to a health career, as well.

Not “premed”

Hint #44. Most Dartmouth students initiate application to med/vet/dental school at end of senior year or as alums, rather than spring of junior year, creating one or more “gap years”. EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS OPTION TO SEE

WHAT IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON YOUR DARTMOUTH EXPERIENCE

(examples: course flexibility, FSP/LSA, curricular/major options, avoiding “doubling

up”, building your credentials, athletics)!Later isgreater?

Hint #55. Choose your first year courses (and especially

your fall term courses) carefully with the advice of someone familiar with you, the courses and with the pre-health requirements.

“Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not?

Math Course?

Chemistry Course?

Biology Course?

?More than one of above

?None of theabove

Physics Course?

Writing/English (2 courses required)• First Year Seminar• Writing 5; Writing 2/3• Consider other courses that

emphasize writing and critical analysis of writing





Math OptionsGeneral requirement: Two math courses (calculus, statistics)

Math 3IntroductionTo Calculus

ORMath 8

Variable Calculus

Math 1/2Calculus

With Algebra(by invitation)

Statistics (Math 10; others)

Take a Math course if needed for beginning chemistry sequence!

Have Math 3 Credit?

If you have Math 3 or 8 credit and are invited to enroll in a higher level Math class, you don’t “have” to do that

Chemistry OptionsGeneral requirement: Two terms general chemistry with lab;

Two terms organic chemistry with lab; one term biochemistry

Chemistry 2QuantitativeReasoning

in Chemistry(by invitation)

Chemistry 5General Chemistry(Second term is Chem 6)

Chem 5 also available in winter term (Chem 6 in spring & fall)

Pre-ReqMath 3

(or Math 3 credit or Math 1/2)

Pre-Req

Chem 10 (by exam) “counts” for 2-term general chem requirement

ANOTHER OPTIONBiology-Chemistry 8/9

Stay tuned!

Physics OptionsGeneral requirement: Two physics courses (with labs)

Physics 3General Physics I

Physics 4General Physics II

Offered winter &spring terms

Math 3 Pre-Requisite

Physics 13Introductory Physics I

Physics 14Introductory Physics II

Offered winter &spring terms

Usually taken by intended physics/math majors or with strong background in physics & math

Many pre-health students defer

physics till later, since it, unlike Bio 11

& Chem 5, is not a pre-req for other

required pre-health courses

Math 3 and 8Pre-requisite

(or concurrent Math 8)

Biology OptionsMinimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs

Biology 11The Science of Life

(no lab)

Lab CoursesBiology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 14 (Physiology) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology)

Biology 2Human Biology

(no lab)

Want backgroundin human biology to orient

your other studies?Uncertain about rigor of college

science courses?Testing your interest in health

or biology?

1 offering in fall: (DNA to Disease)

1 offering in winter: (Cooperation & Conflict)

& 1 in spring:(Emerging Infectious Diseases)

** More strongly recommended

Pre-Req

Biology-Chemistry 8/9Chemical Principles/Biologic

Processes• Two-term class combining principles of both disciplines • Taken together over two consecutive terms, this option

gives credit for Chem 5 and takes place of Bio 11, thus serves as pre-requisite for Biology lab classes and for Chemistry 6.

• If a student takes only the one term (8) it will count as a distributive, but NOT towards any pre-requisites.

• Along with its interdisciplinary goal, it is also aimed at giving students more time to learn the Chem 5 material.

• The enrollment in this class is capped at 80 students.• Pre-requisites:

• Math 3 (can be concurrent)• NO pre-matriculation credit for Chemistry 5

Psychology & Sociology

• Psychology• Psychology 1 (fall, winter, spring)

• Sociology• Sociology 1 (fall, spring) OR• Sociology 2 (winter, spring)

Taking More Than One…. or None …Among Math, Chem & Bio Courses?


CHEM 2 BIO 2

MATH

BIO 11CHEM 5

CHEM 5

BIO 2

CHEM 5

BIO 11

OTHER

MATH

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar




MATH OTHER



MATH?


CHEM 5

PHYSICS 3


Many combinations possible (only some shown)!

Taking More Than One…. or None …Among Math, Chem & Bio Courses?


CHEM 2 BIO 2

MATH

BIO 11CHEM 5

CHEM 5

BIO 2

CHEM 5

BIO 11

OTHER

MATH





MATH OTHER



MATH?


CHEM 5

PHYSICS 3


Many combinations possible (only some shown)!

Take-Away Message Have a conversation about YOU and your specific

goals, aspirations and scholastic background with a knowledgeable advisor before committing to a specific class schedule and keep on talking to knowledgeable advisors as you proceed through Dartmouth!

Your first year faculty advisor A pre-health advisor

(Walk-in D-plan help Friday, Sept 7, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM; 125 Haldeman; new group every 30

minutes) and in HPP offices (11 Parkhurst; 123 LSC) weekly (hours to be e-mailed & posted on

home page of Nathan Smith Society)

Hint #6

6. Get to know your professors (as mentors & future letter writers)

USE OFFICE HOURS!

Hint #77. Learn to write well! The process of

med/vet/dental school application will emphasize your verbal reasoning skills and ability to write well-structured and reasoned essays (MCAT; applications to schools). In addition to working with professors, use the Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology (RWiT) whenever you have the opportunity.

Hint #8

8. Participate in extracurricular activities that abut on the health care profession and service to society; sustain your involvement, so that your humanity, creativity and impact are evident.

Evaluating Beyond Grades,MCAT/DAT/GRE Scores and Prior Experiences in Health

• Active listener• Problem solver• Communicator

(oral, written)• Critical thinker• Multilingual

• Resiliency• Integrity/

Judgment• Adaptability• Persistence• Motivation• Intellectual

curiosity• Empathy• Altruistic service

Skills & Abilities Personal & Professional Characteristics





Some Very Special People• A Flock, Gaggle, Bevy, Herd, Crowd, Etc. of Very

Knowledgeable and Welcoming Pre-Health Students from the Classes of 2013, 2014 and 2015

Erin Klein 13Jane Lu 13Valerie Zhao 15Annie Rao 14Isa Francisco 14

Mike Jacobs 13Megan Bunnell 13Adam Kraus 14Joseph Yi 13John Kim 13Nia Foney 15

Dental & Veterinary Contacts at Dartmouth• Dentistry

– Dr. Robert Keene ([email protected] or [email protected])

– Annie Rao 14 – Meeta Prakash 13

• Veterinary Medicine– Rose Dicovitsky 14– Isa Francisco 14– Sean Kaufman 13

And don’t forget the web site for the Nathan Smith Society www.dartmouth.edu/~nss

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Lee Witters & Sarah Berger will be available to assist you in choosing your

fall courses on Friday, September 7, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 125 Haldeman(new group every 30 minutes on the

hour & half hour)Work with D-planning document (last

two pages of handout distributed today) in advance would be helpful

Be sure to put your name on clipboard sign-in sheets before you leave today

Documents

The Nathan Smith Society