7th Annual FIU Pre-Medical

Informational Forum

Welcome to the

Hans Polonio, B.S. Biomedical Engineering FIU 2017,

Co- President Alpha Epsilon Delta

7th Annual FIU Pre-Medical Informational Forum

2015 Program FIU’s Pre-Medical Student Organizations

FIU Admissions Information

The Path to Medical School: High School & Undergraduate Education

The Medical School Application Process

Perspectives on the Medical School Application Process

The FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Financing a Medical Education

The Medical School Experience

Medical School from a Physician’s Perspective

Health Pre-Professional Honor Society

The largest pre-health honor society in the world. Shadowing & Clinical Experience

Affiliations with Baptist Hospital

Professional School Presentations

Meet representatives from different programs

Volunteer Opportunities

Project Downtown, Relay for Life, etc.

Pre-Medical Mentoring

Networking

Alpha Epsilon Delta Alpha Epsilon Delta

Pre-Health Honor Society AEDFIU AEDatFIU

Phi Delta Epsilon

“Facta non Verba” • Opportunities available for members:

– Shadowing – Research positions – Volunteering – Study abroad in England – Tutoring in UCC and sciences – Admittance to lectures at FIU HWCOM – Attendance to many different medically

related workshops (suturing, trauma, etc.). – Service Trips

• Philanthropy – Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals – Last semester we raised over $18,000 for

our local CMNH Hospital, Miami Children’s • Contact us:

– President: Nicolas Reyes • nreye014@fiu.edu

– Secretary: Alexa Collazo • acoll076@fiu.edu

Phi Delta Epsilon PhiDEFLAlphaChapter PhiDE_FLAlpha PhiDE_FLAlpha

Lectures

Seminars

Shadowing

Research

CPR Certification

Hands-On Learning

Community Service

Leadership Positions

The purpose of this organization shall

be to offer advancement in clinically

relevant education, research and

skills for pre-health students, to better

prepare us in the understanding of

the technical points of health care,

and to offer practical experience in

safe manner alongside their

constantly evolving practices.

CUREFIU CURE_FIU Clinical Understudy and Research Education

Minority Association of Premedical Students MAPS is a highly respected national organization

Be part of a large growing and supportive network of dynamic medical

leaders and aspiring medical professionals.

• Health Fairs • CPR/AED, First Aid and

Blood borne Pathogens Certifications

• Medical School Mentorship • Ivy League Medical Schools • Relay For Life • Homeless Shelter

Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students FIU.MAPS FIUMAPS FIUMAPS

Undergraduate Admissions

Christine Mendez, MPH Admissions Coordinator, FIU

• Submit online application starting July 1st

•Official high school transcripts

•Official college transcripts (Dual

Enrollment)

• SAT and/or ACT scores

• Submit $30 application fee or a College

Board/ ACT fee waiver

•Residency documentation

*Complete admissions files submitted by

November 1st will receive priority

consideration for merit based scholarships.

Applying to as a Freshman

Undergraduate Merit Scholarships

Scholarship Eligibility Award

National Merit Domestic Students. Must qualify for one of the scholarships listed above and be selected as a finalist for the scholarship program.

Full tuition, fees, room and board, up to the cost of attendance as published by the Office of Student Financials.

National Achievement Domestic Students. Must qualify for one of the scholarships listed above and be selected as a finalist for the scholarship program.

Full tuition, fees, room and board, up to the cost of attendance as published by the Office of Student Financials.

National Hispanic Domestic Students. Must qualify for one of the scholarships listed above and be selected as a finalist for the scholarship program.

Full tuition, fees, room and board, up to the cost of attendance as published by the Office of Student Financials.

Presidential 4.0 GPA 2000 SAT or 30 ACT

100% tuition and fees plus books

Ambassador 4.0 GPA 1850 SAT or 28 ACT

75% tuition and fees plus books

Transfer Academic 4.0 GPA Minimum of 60 transferrable credit hours or an AA degree

50% tuition and fees plus books

Path to Medical School

Dr. John Landrum Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Director, FIU Pre-Health Professions Advising Center

The Path to Medicine

High School

(4 Years)

SAT - ACT

University

Bachelor’s Degree

(4 Years)

(2 Years with A.A.)

Medical School

Medical Degree

M.D. or D.O.

(4 Years, USMLE)

(8 Years M.D. Ph.D.)

Specialization

(3-8 Years)

Community College

Associate’s Degree

(2 Years)

Graduate School

Master’s Degree

M.S. or Ph.D.

Work

Steps to a Four Year University

Leadership Roles

Community Service

Physician Shadowing

Steps to a Four Year University

High School Academics • Maintain a challenging curriculum

• Mathematics – preferably through Calculus

• Science – Chemistry, Physics, and Biology

• Behavioral Sciences – Psychology and Sociology

• AP and IB Courses – English, Humanities, Social Sciences, U.S. History, Language, Psychology

• Develop strong verbal skills

• Acquire knowledge in the Social Sciences and Humanities

• Perform well on the ACT or SAT

Steps to a Four Year University

Transfer Students

Complete A.A. or A.S. Degree

Shadow and volunteer

Know medical school requirements

Seek advising

Anticipate additional semesters to fulfill

degree and medical school requirements

Selecting a Major

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

% o

f S

tud

en

ts

Common Pre-Medical Majors

Choose a major that interests you and that you will enjoy!

Required Courses

General Biology I & II (1 year)

General Chemistry I & II (1 year)

Physics I & II (1 year)

Organic Chemistry I & II (1 year)

College Algebra & Trigonometry (1 year)

Calculus & Statistics (varies)

Biochemistry (1 semester)

Sociology & Social Psychology (1 year)

Recommended Courses

Physiology (1 semester)

Cellular/ Molecular Biology (1 semester)

Genetics (1 semester)

General Microbiology (1 semester)

Pre-Medical Curriculum

Qualities of a Successful Applicant

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Math

All

Other

Medical

College

Admission

Test

Academics

• BCPM & AO GPA’s > 3.5 • Strong Performance on the MCAT Exam

The 2015 MCAT Exam

MCAT 7 ½ Hours Long 230 Questions

Biological and Biochemical

Foundations of Living Systems

Chemical and Physical

Foundations of Biological Systems

Psychological, Social, and Biological

Foundations of Behavior

Critical Analysis and Reasoning

Skills

Successful Medical School Application Evidence of Qualities Essential for a

• Critical Thinking • Quantitative Reasoning • Scientific Inquiry • Communication Skills

• Capacity for Improvement • Intellectual Curiosity • Cultural Competence • Medical Experience and

Knowledge

Intellectual Characteristics (Central Application & Letters of Recommendation)

Successful Medical School Application Evidence of Qualities Essential for a

• Leadership Qualities • Team Player, Collaborative • Strong Motivation • Desire to Help Others • Resilience

• Well-Rounded • Trustworthy • Reliable • Strong Communicator • Ethical Responsibility

Personal Characteristics (Central Application & Letters of Recommendation)

Additional Components of a

• Writing Skills (Personal Statement, Activities Descriptions)

• Strong Command of Vocabulary, Grammar, and Spelling

• Well-Organized, Clear, and Concise

• Communication Skills (Interview)

• Great Interpersonal Skills

• Ability to Clearly Articulate Thoughts

• Good Enunciation

• Faculty and Professional Letters of Recommendation

• Strong and Personal

Successful Medical School Application

Strengthening Your Application

Community Service

Clinical Experience

Research

Shadowing

Leadership

Collaboration

GPA > 3.5

MCAT Score

Physician Shadowing

Research

Essay Writing

Faculty Letters

Qualities of a Medical School Applicant

Communication Skills

Extracurricular Activities

•Application •Personal Statement

• Interview

•BCPM & AO > 3.5 •Large Course Load

•Sports/ Music •Student

Organizations •Community

Service •Hobbies

The Medical School Application AMCAS or AACOMAS Primary Application

Extracurricular Activities

Personal Statement

Letters of Recommendation University Faculty Members

Physicians (from your shadowing experiences)

Research Mentors

Secondary Applications

Transcripts of ALL credits taken after high school And Remember…

Grade Point Averages:

BCPM GPA > 3.5

AO GPA > 3.5

Strong Performance on the MCAT Exam

Student Support

Mr. Gregory Thomas Coordinator of Pre-Medical Programs,

Advisor, FIU Pre-Health Professions Advising Center

Mrs. Christina Callahan Advisor, FIU Pre-Health Professions

Advising Center

Student Support

• Pre-Medical Curriculum Guidance

• Alternative Career Options Student Advising

• Weekly Bulletin with upcoming opportunities for pre-medical students inside and outside of FIU

Support of Student

Organizations

• Review of Personal Statement

• Committee Interview

• Faculty and Committee Letter Submission

• Mock Multiple Mini Interviews

Medical School Application

Support

Opportunities at Well-Rounded

Curriculum • FIU offers intellectually challenging courses and

majors taught by experts in the discipline

Research Experiences

• Participate in original research

• Attend national and international scientific conferences

• Co-Author presentations/publications

Science Programs

• ChemPal Tutoring

• Peer Led Team Learning (PLTL)

• Quantifying Biology in the Classroom (QBIC)

Variety of Extracurricular

Activities

• Clubs and Honor Societies

• Fraternities and Sororities

• Student Government

Genetics

Forensic Chemistry

Biophysics

Molecular & Cellular

Biology

Microbiology Chemistry

Research Opportunities

The Application Process: Current Applicants

Tiffany Beguiristain, B.S. Biological Sciences FIU 2014

Gustavo Ortega, B.S. Biological Sciences FIU 2014

Leila Nojaba, B.A. Chemistry FIU 2014

Adrian L. Jones, JD Associate Dean for Student Affairs

FIU HWCOM at a glance We are South Florida’s first public medical school.

The curriculum integrates basic sciences with clinical experiences.

Students begin seeing patients within the first month of medical school. The training students receive occurs at a variety of public and private inpatient and outpatient clinical settings

Instruction includes varied educational formats, including lecture, case-based, team based, and problem based.

Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELPTM Program addresses social determinants of health in underserved areas of Miami Dade county.

Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP™

Affiliated Neighborhoods

• The City of Hialeah

• The City of Opa-Locka

• The Community of Little Haiti (Lemon City)

• Northwest Miami

• Northeast Miami

• Miami Gardens

• North Miami Beach (Northeast Miami)

• Town of Medley

Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP™

From September 2010 – July 2014:

FIU Medical, Social Work, Nursing, and Law Students

Visits to Households

Households participating in NeighborhoodHELP™

Members in the Households Decrease in the use of Emergency Room

visits as a regular place of care

File Review: AMCAS Application

Secondary Application Recommendation letters

Application File to include: AMCAS Application

Secondary Application Recommendation Letters Interviewer Evaluations

Interview scheduled

Not Accepted Accepted

Alternate List

The Admissions Process

Applications are presented to Admissions Committee

Financing a Medical Education

Marissa Miles, MA Financial Aid Director

Medical School Application Fees

• Allopathic (MD) AMCAS application fee:

• $160 + $36 each additional application

• Osteopathic (DO) AACOMAS application fee:

• $195 + $35 each additional application

Estimated Cost of Applying to 10 (Allopathic-MD) Schools

• AMCAS Fee $160

• Additional school application fees $324 (9 additional)

• MCAT $300

• MCAT Prep course $2499

• Secondary application fees $500 (10 schools, $50 average)

• Total Expenses ~$3783

Not included: travel expenses for interviews, cost of professional attire, seat deposit once admitted, etc.

Suggested budget: $5,000

“…acceptance into medical school…priceless!”

• Scholarships

• Institutional and/or Private/External

• Service commitment (National Health Service Corps, Uniform Services Health Professions Scholarship Program: Army, Navy, Air Force)

• GI Bill

• Grants

• No federal grants available; only institutional grants

• Loans

• Federal Direct Student Loans – Unsubsidized, Graduate PLUS

• Health & Human Services Loans

• Private Student Loans

Financial Aid Available to Medical Students

Resources for Medical Students

Sponsored by AAMC – Financing Your Medical Education

FIRST: Financial Information, Resources, Services and Tools

• https://www.aamc.org/services/first/

• Medloans Organizer and Calculator

• Financial Aid Fact Sheets for Applicants and Students

• Loan Repayment Options: Loan Repayment Choices, Income Based Repayment, Pay as You Earn Repayment, Postponing Loan Repayment During Residency, Loan Repayment/Forgiveness programs

The Medical School Experience

Janelis Gonzalez FIU HWCOM 1st Year Medical Student,

B.S. Biological Sciences FIU 2013

Andrew Quinn FIU HWCOM 2nd Year Medical Student,

B.S. Biological Sciences FIU 2013, B.A. Psychology FIU 2013

Annie Ho FIU HWCOM 1st Year Medical Student,

B.S. Biological Sciences FIU 2013

Christina Gauthreaux FIU HWCOM 3rdYear Medical Student,

B.S. Molecular Biology UCF 2011 B.S. Microbiology UCF 2011

Jade Michelle Hernandez FIU HWCOM 4th Year Medical Student,

B.S. Biological Sciences FIU 2009

Medical School from a Physician’s Perspective

Dr. Hanadys Ale, M.D.

Pediatric Resident, Miami Children’s Hospital

Thank you!

FIU Pre-Health Advising Group

The Office of Pre-Health Professions Advising

FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

@PreHealthFIU

@PreHealthFIU

http://prehealthadvise.fiu.edu

FIU Wertheim College of Medicine

@FIUMedicine

@FIUMedicine

http://medicine.fiu.edu