PREMEDLIFE
THE MAGAZINE FOR PRE-MEDICAL STUDENTS
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL SCHOOL
ADMISSIONS WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE LATEST TRENDS
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2015 Summer Premed Programs Programs and opportunities specifically geared towards pre-medical students seeking relevant experience during the summer break.
What Today’s Most Competitive Medical Schools Demand A look at what some of the most selective schools look for in prospective students
How I Prepared For The MCAT in One Month A student’s account of preparing for the biggest test ever in only thirty days
Experts Say Medical Schools Should Recruit Early On p. 10 | New DO School Planned For New Mexico p.12
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contents| | | | |
premedlife | january/february 2015 “Medical schools should begin recruiting students at an early age, according guidelines recently published by the Medical Schools Council in the UK.” p.10
p.16
p.20 COVER STORY THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS With more competition to standout among the growing applicant pool and successfully gain admission into medical school, institutions have been and will continue to make changes to how they select the best and brightest students for their next class. Here are six medical school admission trends you should know.
THINGS (OTHER THAN GOOD 16 5GRADES AND TEST SCORES) TO-
DAY’S MOST COMPETITIVE MEDICAL SCHOOLS DEMAND
Here are a few factors that some of the most selective medical schools look for in prospective students.
I PREPARED FOR THE MCAT 18 HOW IN ONLY A MONTH
“The MCAT is a rite of passage to medical school. Everyone takes it. It si a formidable barrier that many spend months or even years preparing to overcome. I prepare for a month.”
SECRETS FOR EVERY 24 SHADOWING PREMED AND BEYOND
Created by the hosts of the Medical School HQ Podcast, here are some ideas on how to find a physician to shadow valuable tips on how to act and how to make the most of your experience.
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |3
contents/departments 18
IN THIS ISSUE 2015 SUMMER PROGRAMS | 30
A listing of summer opportunities specifically geared toward pre-medical students
HOW HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PRE-MEDS GET OUT OF RUTS AND MOVE FORWARD | 26
While every student is obviously his/her own individual “case,” it is inarguable that highly successful premeds find some way to get out of ruts and move forward.
DON’T LET YOUR DIGITAL FOOTPRINT UNDERMINE YOUR MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATION | 28
Premed students going through the medical school application process may find themselves wondering whether or not there is any information floating around online
DEPARTMENTS NEWSBITES | 10
Relevant news and information for students applying to medical school and pursuing medicine.
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THE GOODS | 46
Gadgets, gizmos, and other unique things to keep you entertained. Check out our picks for this issue including the Anatomy of Charm Notebook Set
THE GOODS
p.46
4 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
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SMH! IT’S 2015 ALREADY i recently came across a quote from john wooden, a ucla coach with a record number of wins: “Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out.” These words are powerful and they pretty much sum up the pre-med journey and the road to getting into medical school. To set out with a goal to become a doctor is one thing and to achieve that goal is a whole other ballgame. For some, the process may be rather straightforward, free and clear of many obstacles or adversities. But for others, many others, the twists and turns of the road to success are plenty and probably come with a few bumps too! As you find your way through this medical school admissions process, it is important to work on how you view things and your perspective on anything that may happen in your life - good or bad. It si important to have “go-to” thoughts during trying times and recognize, appreciate, and acknowledge the positive things that happen whenever they do happen. So, what’s your internal monologue? Do you celebrate yourself when things are great and stay positive when things are not so great? I wake up everyday knowing that it’s a day for me, for us to be better than we were yesterday, another day for us to move one step closer to our goals, another day for us to fuel our dreams and give it a shot for what it’s worth. As you think about what tomorrow has in store for you, I hope that you think of PreMedLife magazine as your #1 cheerleader - one you come to for advice or a push in the right direction when you need it. So put down your books and take a break with us, and let’s set out on this journey together.
Sheema
Sheema Prince Publisher tprince@premedlife.com
PREMEDLIFE the lifestyle magazine for premedical students www.premedlife.com
Founder & Publisher | Sheema Prince Executive Director| Jonathan Pearson Executive Vice President | Monique Terc Contributing Editor | Njeri McKenzie Online Marketing Consultant | Portia Chu Contributing Writers Marilyn Chau, Hannah Erickson, Ryan Gray, MD Find us on Twitter @premedlife Find us on Facebook.com/premedlife Here’s How to Reach Us: Kisho Media, LLC P.O. Box 7049 New York, NY 10116 Main Office (646) 571-8035 Have a Story Idea? Email us at editor@premedlife.com Want to Subscribe? WE’RE NOW OFFERING 1-YEAR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR PRINT VERSION! Visit www.premedlife.com/subscribe to subscribe today. Want to Join Forces? (a.k.a. Partner With Us) Email us at info@premedlife.com Advertising Inquiries? Email advertise@premedlife.com PreMedLife magazine is published six times per year by Kisho Media, LLC. and copies are provided to select colleges and universities free of charge. The information in PreMedLife magazine is believed to be accurate, but in some instances, may represent opinion or judgement. Consult your premedical/pre-health advisor with any questions you may have about the medical school admissions process and related topics. Unless otherwise noted, all articles, photographs, artwork, and images may not be duplicated or reprinted without express written permission from Kisho Media, LLC. PreMedLife magazine and Kisho Media, LLC. are not liable for typographical or production errors or the accuracy of information provided by advertisers. PreMedLife magazine reserves the right to refuse any advertising. All inquires may be sent to: Kisho Media, LLC. P.O. Box 7049 New York, NY 10116 To reach us by phone call (646) 571-8035 or email us at info@premedlife.com.
6 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
ONLINE Medical Schools Weigh In On Whether Pre-Meds Take New Or Old MCAT
A new Kaplan study found no preference among medical school admissions officers about whether or not pre-meds should take the current or the new one.
What’s on Premedlife.com? 3 Reasons You May Score Poorly On The MCAT Even If You’re Intelligent
Getting a great score on the MCAT is a lot easier said than done, and there are many academically strong premed students who simply struggle.
5 Reasons Why Social Media is Good For Pre-Meds
The digital age of medicine is upon us and shaping a beneficial online presence is going to be one of the most critical activities a physician can undertake.
4 Things Successful Doctors and Their Partners Do Differently
Physicians have identified ways to make it through the tough parts of their personal lives, according to a study published in the journal Academic Medicine.
4 Free Courses Every PreMed Student Should Plan To Take
From clinical problem solving to career 911, here are a few awesome free online courses pre-med students should consider taking this Spring.
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THELATEST
Hundreds of University of Connecticut medical and dental school students will soon face an increase in tuition and fees for the next two years. {PAGE 12}
Recent news & information relevant to students applying to medical school
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Foreign Experts Says Youngsters Should Go To Medical School
Medical schools should begin recruiting students at an early age, according guidelines recently published by the Medical Schools Council, an organization which represents the interest and ambitions of medical schools n the UK. The advice, which was part of a set of guidelines designed to support medical schools build and grow their outreach activity, states that introductory activities (i.e. meeting people who work in medicine, visiting medical schools, participating in practical medial and science workshops) is the beginning of the journey to medicine and “introductory activities take place in primary school between the ages of seven and 11.” Successful admission to medical school first comes from having aspiration to become a doctor or study medicine. And the Council says that medical schools should play role and contribute to raising aspirations to study medicine. “Medical schools engage with primary schools but sometimes it is overlooked and not part of a wider outreach program with limited considered targeting of schools,”
the Council wrote. “We would encourage all medical schools to ensure they have a coordinated primary school program as part of their outreach activity.” The guidelines state that children should be introduced to medicine. “It is about helping young people explore their interest, challenging stereotypes an jargon busting.” Specifically, this would involve several elements: 1.) providing an introduction to higher education and medicine, 2.) introducing medical staff and students to the young people to challenge stereotypes, 3.) supporting young people to develop and explore their interest, introducing them to the range of possibilities, 4.) encouraging young people to understand the link between hard work and opportunities, 5.) developing an awareness in the young people of qualifications and route(s) to becoming a doctor, 6.) engaging with parents and carers to dispel myths, allay fears, and to motivate them to support their child’s progression to higher education effectively, and 7.) collaborating with others to utilize resources more effectively and thus engage with a greater range
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of schools as part of broader programs. And nothing too serious of course. The Council suggests that many of the activities within this age group be lively and fun and, where possible, tied into there initiatives within their primary school. One school, St. George’s, University of London, is already putting this advice to work through its Primary Practice After School Club which offers students aged 9-11 the opportunity to learn more about medicine and healthcare by taking part in practical activities and developing new skills such as basic first aid and sign language. “Engaging children’s interest in human structures and functions in a lively, practical way and linking to first aid was very useful,” stated one of the school’s coordinators. “The homework book consolidated learning. You could see the pride on their faces as they were presented with their certificate and stethoscopes.” The guidelines were published in “A Journey to Medicine Outreach Guidance” in December 2014.¡
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UB Reports Increase In Applications
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THELATEST
UConn Approves Tuition Hike For Medical School
Hundreds of University of Connecticut medical and dental students will soon face a 4 percent tuition and fee increase for the next two years. The increase was approved by the school’s Board of Trustees meeting who voted in favor of the increase despite the increase that went into effect before the start of the 2014 school year. With the new increase, tuition and fees will increase to over $40,000 over the next two years for in-state students and increase to over $70,000 for students coming from out of state. The school’s administration says the second increase will support the school’s need for state-of-the-art technology used by the students for their clinical training. “It requires truly a village to train
these students,” said Bruce Liang, interim dean at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. “We have to integrate the explosion of the basic science knowledge with clinical medicine.” The University of Connecticut School of Medicine is one of the most expensive public medical schools for both in-state and out-of-state students. However, Liang does point out that the school is still one of the most affordable options in the region. “The school is still a bargain, especially compared to private medical schools,” said University President Susan Herbst. “Upon won’t cut corners at tis medical center to keep the tuition lower.” ¡
12 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
The University of Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is seeking a jump in the number of medical school applications for admission. In December, the university reported that they received a total of 4,356 applications, 3.5 percent higher than last year’s application total of 4,201 and higher still than the 4,090 received in 2013. Furthermore, among those who were offered admission, more students accepted the offer and ultimately enrolled. UB officials believe that significant credit for the increase goes to the newly-constructed medical school located in downtown Buffalo. “Building a brand-new, state-of-the-art medical school is certainly a positive,” says Charles Severin, MD, PhD, associate dean for medical education and admissions at UB. “The excitement created by the project is helping to raise awareness about the quality of our medical school and all the positive things happening right now in Buffalo.” The applicant pool included 2,364 males and 1,985 and more than 80 percent of the applicants were New York State residents. “We’re looking for people with the brains of a doctor and the heart of a doctor,” says Severin. “The brain part is easy. But you can have the highest MCAT score ever and a 4.0 grade point average, or even better, but if you don’t prove you have the heart of doctor, you won’t get in.” . ¡
THELATEST
Harvard To Offer Brand New Curriculum For MD Students
flickr/ SBAmin
A new curriculum for medical students attending Harvard University will soon make its debut. Under the new curriculum students will have the opportunity to customize their path through their third and fourth years.
Harvard Medical School recently announced the launch of a new innovative curriculum designed to incorporate pedagogical approaches that foster active learning and critical thinking. The new curriculum will also include earlier clinical experience and advanced clinical and student-tailored basic/population science experiences designed to provide customized pathways for each student. It will begin with what they call “foundational building blocks to study medicine” which includes the fundamentals of anatomy, histology, biochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology; genetics; immunology; and introductory pharmacologic principles. The intro period would also include two new courses: Foundations and Immunity in Defense and Disease. According to Harvard Medical, in order
to succeed in clinical clerkships concepts in core basic/population science should be taught before a student’s core clinical year. “after the intellectual transformation that occurs during the core clinical year, students will be more receptive to courses in advanced scientific and clinical topics; required and/or selective courses in pathophysiology and pharmacology; selective courses in basic/translational science, social/population science, and medical humanities; individual, faculty-mentored scholarly projects; clinical electives and sub internships; and Steps 1 and 2 of the national boards.” In addition, to create an opportunity for earlier clinical exposure, the new curriculum introduces Principal Clinical Experience (PCE) into the second year. “The new preclerkship clinical skills course Practice
of Medicine will be integrated with the longitudinal Primary Care Clerkship during the PCE, yielding the potential for two years of continuity in a single ambulatorymedicine practice.” The schools says that one of the best features of the new curriculum is the chance for students to customize their medical education path through their third and fourth years to get ready for whichever aspect of medicine has attracted their curiosity and passion. “While rigorous demands and high expectations will be set for students in Years III and IV, the expanded time following the PCE allows for considerable flexibility as students pursue advanced integrated science courses, clinical electives, and scholarly research projects, and take advantage of myriad opportunities across Harvard University and around the world.”. ¡
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |13
THELATEST
One Medical School Named LGBT Training Pilot Site For Med Students The University of Louisville School of Medicine announced that it will serve as the pilot site to improve care to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) patients. The curriculum will be designed to focus on the health concerns and issues encountered by not only LGBT patients, but also patients who are gender nonconforming or both with differences of sex development (DSD). According to the press release announcing new curriculum, people who are LGBT, People who are LGBT, gender nonconforming or born with DSD often experience challenges when seeking care in doctors’ offices, community clinics, hospitals and emergency rooms. Research shows that these health disparities result in decreased access to care or
14 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
willingness to seek care, resulting in increased medical morbidity and mortality for LGBT and DSD-affected patients. “We are very excited to serve as our nation’s learning ground in training the next generation of physicians in meeting the unique health care needs of our LGBT and DSD-affected population,” said Toni Ganzel, M.D., dean of the UofL School of Medicine. “Every segment of our population brings its own set of health care issues and concerns. As we strive to provide the highest quality training possible, it is a privilege to model that educational experience for our colleagues throughout the nation.”.¡
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five things today’s most competitive medical schools want
(other than good grades & test scores)
S
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o you want to go to medical school? Great! The only thing is, so do a lot of other students. The number of students interested in going medical school in the U.S. is at its highest level ever. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, a record number of students applied to and enrolled in the nation’s medical schools last year. And to further complicate things, the medical education space is evolving and reshaping the needs and areas of importance for admission committees. This means that while medical school admissions was never completely about test scores and grades, it has definitely moved well beyond being book smart and having an impressive resume. As a prospective medical school applicant, it’s critical to look at what the admission committees at the schools you’re hoping to apply to are looking for in potential students and start thinking seriously about whether or not you’ll make the cut. Here are things that some of the most selective medical schools look for in their students: MOTIVATION. Why medicine? It’s a questions you’re going to find yourself answering time and time again if you are seriously consider-
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ing a career in medicine. You’ll be answering it at family gathers, on internship applications, during mock interviews, on your personal statement, while talking with your professors,…you name the scenario. It will come in different forms - “why do you want to be a doctor?” and “why do you think medicine is a good fit?” - but it’s pretty much the same question. So if you are thinking about a career in medicine, you need to think about your drive and be brutally honest about your true motivation. Successful applicants have many personal reasons to go to medical school or become a doctor, and they may also have practical reasons that speak to their motivation as well. Maybe you knew you wanted to be a doctor from a very early age. Perhaps it is based on your desire to follow in the footsteps of a family member. Maybe, you are inspired by the work of a physician who has done something remarkable in the field? Perhaps you feel a medical career will provide you with the stability you’ve always wanted for your future? Or you might be particularly skilled in the sciences and believe a medicine career provides you with the chance to utilize and apply those skills. There is no right or wrong answer to the question. Whatever your reason
THAT PREMED LIFE
may be, however, it is very important to engage in some hardcore self-reflection to determine your true reason for pursing a career in medicine. Once you have figured out your true motivation, you’ll be able to effectively meet the expectations of what medical school admissions committees are seeking. COMMITMENT. It’s no secret. Becoming a doctor takes a one-of-a-kind commitment. Medical school is expensive in both time and money and the commitment that the journey requires is huge. Given the length of time to complete medical school, residency, and if necessary speciality training, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars, medical school admission committees want to know that you’re committed to what’s about to go down! Medical school will be such a huge commitment in your life. It will be a long, serious chuck of your life. Going to medical school and successfully obtaining your medical degree requires the type of commitment that will have an impact on many aspects of your life. It’s more than just a commitment of time; it’s an entire lifestyle change. If you are certain that practicing medicine is what you want to do, then commit early to gathering as much information and experience as you can to set yourself apart for the competition and thousands of other students who will ultimately be vying for the same spot as you are. Medical schools want to know not only do you know how much of a commitment medical school is but that you’re truly okay with it and feel that it is going to be completely worth it in the end. If you are not too sure about whether or not medicine is for you, medical school admission committees will hone in on this and think twice about selecting you for admission. MATURITY & EXPERIENCE. If there’s one that medical school admission committees look for in addition to academic achievements and impressive test scores, it’s maturity. A students’ maturity is a huge factor that can ultimately affect their success in medical school and beyond. It’s not enough for medical students to be smart, driven team players. One of the qualities medical school admissions officers look for in potential students is maturity, focus, and a clear understand of what medical school requires and the road ahead. In all, maturity and experience can be very helpful to your medical school application. Mature pre-meds know that medical school will be a whole lot more challenging and rigorous than undergrad, and they will not be able to get away with the same things. A certain level of maturity is expected of those students who are ready to commit to a career in medicine. What it comes down to is that medical school admissions committees are looking for applicants who are mature, who are highly aware of their strengths and weaknesses, and can handle a wide array of situations new, stressful, challenging, trying. And of course, having maturity isn’t something you can take a class or read a book and you’ll get it.
COMPASSION. According to Wikipedia ‘compassion’ is the emotion that one feels in response to the suffering of others that motivates a desire to help. Compassion it vital for practicing medicine and will ultimately impact how you interact and care for your patients. No doubt, an applicant’s academic achievements, performance on test, number of volunteer hours, or research experience is of great importance when considering admission to medical school. But what is also key is a student’s ability to be compassionate, which again, is the ability of a person to sympathize and show concern for the misfortune or suffering of another individual. Over the years, studies have examined the importance of compassion training for future doctors. “It is time to incorporate compassion into the conversation about improving medical training, along with empathy and professionalism, since those three qualities of a physician may be more intertwined than previously thought,” wrote the authors of paper published in Academic Medicine. “There has also been evidence suggesting that compassion helps counter a variety of negative emotions, bring calmness to a physician’s practice.” Often considered one of the core skills for practicing the “human side” of medicine, having compassion or showing the potential to “develop” compassion is a trait more and more medical schools seek out in their applicants. These are the folks they want to be a part of their incoming student population. The point is, if given two applicants who are identical in many ways, and their levels of compassion is measured and one comes out less than the other, who do you think will ultimately make the cut. As you move along your journey and path to applying to medical school, think about how you may have demonstrated your level of compassion. LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL. Something will happens from the moment you go from being a medical student to the moment you finish your residency training - you will instantly take on the role as a leader. You will take on the role of leader, managing and working with a multi-disciplinary team responsible for ensuring that patients receive the highest quality of care possible. It is a must that medical school applicants are aware how leadership skills effect how one works well with a multi-disciplinary team. As a physician, you will exercise our leadership skills daily in many different environment, in many different scenarios, in many different venues. “Leadership styles range from the heavy-handed, autocratic leader to the democratic leader (i.e., “one person, one vote”,” the authors of a paper published in the journal Family Practice Management. If you are not aware, the focus on patient satisfaction in the United States has become critical and in an effort to improve patient satisfaction, training programs are including, yes - leadership, as one of the key competencies for making positive changes. And regardless of setting or specialty, leadership is a key part of a physician’s ability to perform successfully. With a rapidly changing health care landscape, the new generation of medical students and practicing physicians will need to have leadership in their skill set in order to adapt to the transformation in health care and the industry overall. “New healthcare models require not only changes to the autonomous physician driven care model but also for a transformed physician leader/role, one who can lead the physicians and clinicians toward new clinical and financial benchmarks while driving and engaging all members of the healthcare team toward future success,” wrote Teresa Koning, M.D., MBA in the article “10 Skills and Characteristics of New Physician Leaders.”
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |17
tion was later in May but I had finals and a trip planned before then. Therefore, I opted for the late June test date. I survived finals and then I took off for a week in San Diego to visit my aunt. I came back on May 20th and the next day I started studying for my June 21st MCAT. THE GOODS With only a month to prepare and being a poor college student, any prep course was out of the running. As more of an independent studier anyway, I preferred to do it on my own. I searched on Amazon for MCAT prep books hoping to find one that was comprehensive and cheap, and I ultimately decided on Barron’s MCAT prep book. Not only did it include study materials for each subject and practice tests but it also came with a CD-ROM of practice tests that mimicked the screen display of the actual exam.
How I Prepared For The MCAT In Only A Month By Hanna Erickson The MCAT is a rite of passage to medical school. Everyone takes it. It is a formidable barrier that many spend months or even years preparing to overcome. I prepare for a month. To give a little background, I didn’t know MD/PhD programs existed until the March before I applied to medical school. As I was preparing to take the GRE so that I could apply to graduate schools that fall, I came across the program as I looked into where I would like to do my PhD. It seemed
like a program that would allow me to do all that I hoped to do with my life and over the next month, I solidified my decision to apply. In the mean time, I took my GRE and my chemistry GRE the month after just in case I ultimately decided to not try for the combined degree. I signed up for the soonest MCAT I could once deciding since wanted to apply that year but not too soon that I would not have adequate time to study. As I came to my decision in April, my next op-
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THE PLAN I knew that making a study schedule would help me keep on track and use my month to its greatest potential. Therefore, I split up the time before my test to make sure that I covered everything in my prep book with plenty of time to spare to run through practice exams. To get through all of the information quickly, I decided to do one subject a day. One day was physics, the next general chemistry, the next verbal, the next organic chemistry, then biology, and finally the essays. While going through each subject, I would do the practice questions pertaining to that subject as a way to gauge my understanding. I took a week off of working in my lab and focused all of my energy toward getting through as much material as possible. While I didn’t quite keep to my goal of a subject per day, I had given myself plenty of leeway to fit everything in. THE GRIT After reading and taking notes on all of the information, I then put my focus on doing practice exams. I never did an entire practice exam in one sitting, instead doing a section at a time then grading it and going through the questions that I got wrong. This last part was the most important step. I used the exams to diagnose what areas I needed to work on and then I would do my best to look up as much information about them as necessary until I were comfortable with it. By really trying to figure out why I got a question wrong and how I should
Flickr/ rhodesj
THE BIG TEST >>>
look at a similar question the next time, I was able to learn from my mistake before I made the same one on the real exam. I did each exam multiple times to make sure what I was learning was really sticking. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN Over these few weeks, my scores on the physical sciences and biological sciences sections rose quite a bit and I was happy with how well I was doing as I became more familiar with the exam. Nonetheless entering the last week before my exam, I was still not doing as well as I hoped on the verbal. I decided that I needed more practice questions to go through so I caved and purchased The Official MCAT SelfAssessment: Verbal Reasoning. While this is normally an assessment to use prior to studying for the MCAT, I used it as my final practice because it offered me many passages to read and 120 questions to run through and become more familiar with the kinds of questions that will be on the real test. THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM I spent the night before my exam not even thinking about science. I left lab early and went to an aunt’s house who lived close to my testing center so that I didn’t have to drive in rush hour traffic for at least an hour in the morning. I hung out with my aunt and uncle as well as my aunt who was visiting from San Diego. We watched a baseball game and relaxed, and I tried to not think about the morning’s exam. I went to bed early so that I was well rested in the morning though nerves made it hard to fall asleep. THE DAY HAS COME The morning of my exam, I woke up early and ate the largest breakfast I have probably ever eaten. My uncle made me eggs, toast, and bacon. He even put rosemary on the eggs because one of my aunts said that rosemary would help with memory (if it does, this was a little late for it). I also ate the power bar and bananas that I brought for breakfast not realizing that I would have breakfast made for me as well. I enjoyed a short drive to the testing center, took a sniff of fresh rosemary that my aunt made me bring, not because of its supposed memory boosting ability but because I simply like the smell. After waiting some time until it was my turn to enter the computer lab, I was scanned with a metal detector and had my
fingerprints taken before taking a seat at a computer. Then, for the next five hours or so, my complete focus was on the exam. While we were given 10-minute breaks between sections, I did not stop – I had information in my head and I wanted to get it out. Plus I didn’t feel like just sitting there for 10 minutes at a time with nothing to do. Everything was going smoothly until the writing section when, despite eating such a large breakfast, all I could think about was how hungry I was and what I wanted to eat when I was done. As someone who normally can get by with little food until dinner, this was rather strange. I tried to ignore those thoughts and finish my writing alas forgetting to save one of my two writing samples before time was up (seriously, no auto save?) I sped through the last section partly because I was confident in my answers, partly because I wanted food, and left with half my time still remaining. The proctor seemed quite surprised that I was leaving the room because I was done and not just going to the restroom. After stocking up on food and eating my fill, I entered a sort of loopy tired state. It seems the test had mentally worn me out without my even noticing. What followed was probably the best nap I have ever taken. Ahh, the test was behind me. THE AFTERMATH After the test, life went on. I continued to work full time in my lab and the time I once spent for studying was redirected toward my personal statements (an ordeal of its own). Finally after a month of anticipation, scores were released. I had my goals set to a perhaps unrealistically high score and yet I was decently satisfied with my score despite a low writing score from forgetting to save. Nonetheless I had my personal statements and my GRE writing score to back up my writing abilities and offset that lower writing score. Ultimately, it worked out. I got accepted. And that’s what matters. Hannah Erickson chronicles her journey to dual degrees on mdphdtobe.com. Hanna is a MD/PhD student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She aspires to become an academic physicianscientist specializing in neuro-oncology and dedicated to improving cancer immunotherapy.
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COVER STORY
WHAT’S NEXT:
THE FUT OF MED URE I C A S L C H O ADMISS OL IONS
The most influential minds in medical education predict where medical school admissions is headed
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LAST YEAR, MEDICAL SCHOOL IN THE U.S. received 731,595 applications, making it the most competitive application cycle on record. No matter how intelligent or accomplished a prospective student is, it’s all up to medical school admission committees. With more competition to standout among the growing applicant pool and successfully gain admission into medical school, institutions have been and will continue to make changes to how they are selecting the best students for their next class. Here are 6 medical school admission trends you should know:
Increased Number of Applications
A growing number of students want to become doctors and while the effort to expand class size for first-year students has gained some traction, the formula is unforgiving - more students applying plus limited number of admission spots equals more competition. If the trend towards more and more students wanting to pursue careers in medicine continues, medical school admission committees will face tougher decision and force to look well beyond grades and test scores. In today’s world, one of the most popular career path is health care and students who are pursuing
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iStockphoto/ Garsya
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |21
For years, medical school admission committees have revealed that an applicant’s MCAT score is one of the most important factors considered when making admission decision and the percentage of those who think so is only increasing. And on the same note, performing poorly on the MCAT is, and has been, one of the biggest turnoffs. As more discussion turn toward evaluating students through a more holistic lens, MCAT scores give medical schools a “standard” by which they can measure and compare each applicant. For medical school admission committee, an applicant’s MCAT score has is still the most important factor in admission decisions. Undergraduate grade point average, clinical experience, and the admission interview are other key factors. The point is - the MCAT, although somewhat limited in what a particular score means, can be a predictor of success in medical school and therefore admission committees will use what’s available to make final decisions.
Flickr/ IYFphoto
The MCAT Still Counts Most
AS MORE DECIDE TO APPLY TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW HOW THE FUTURE OF MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS.
Having Relevant Experience Is Becoming A Bigger Factor
A growing number schools consider having experience relevant to their interest in becoming a doctor. Being able to show that you took the initiative to engage in an activity aligned with your ultimate goal of practicing medicine is key when applying to medical school. For the committees making the decision about which students to select, it is important that you demonstrate to them that you have informed yourself what you’re signing up for. There’s one thing to learn concepts and topics in a classroom and another thing to gain hands-on experience and a first hand account of what practicing medicine really entails. Most pre-med students know how important it is to gain experience in a clinical or research setting before applying to medical school and a growing number of medical schools think so too. Would a medical school select a student with relevant experience over a candidate with high academic performance and test scores - probably not. But what they would certainly do is if similar in always ways but that, admissions committees would certainly prefer a student who has relevant experience over one who does not. Experience relevant to pursing medicine will put you in a great position when applying for medical school. Admission committees are starting to place a greater value on relevant experience as it demonstrates an applicant’s commitment and interest to a career in medicine and it means a student would have also developed an understand of the field and
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With the growing number of students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, medical schools want to know that prospective applicants have had first-hand experience and a first-hand look at what the job entails. A student who gains experience - whether health related or not - will show admission committees where their head is at.
Flickr/ GippslandCampus
career as health care professionals are interested in medical school. This growing trend of more students being interested in medical school means that the admission committees will evaluate your application a little differently than they would have five years ago. The hard part is to have a very strong application and to present yourself in the most unique way possible - there is more competition to become a doctor than ever before. And knowing that there are a lot of other students interested in applying to medical school should not scare you in any way, however. It can actually help you potentially tweak your admission strategy make yourself the best medical school candidate possible. At the end of the day, being aware of this trend and the increasing applicant pool can help you fine-tune your application.
the role of a physician. Relevant experience will also give an applicant a peek into the lives of doctors or researchers and should help solidify their decision for wanting pursue medicine.
Social Media Playing Role In Admission Process
It’s no secret that we live in a digital age and many pre-med students are no exception when it comes to documenting their lives and struggles in the virtual world. When applying to medical school admissions, more schools than ever before are revealing that they are in fact visiting applicants’ social media pages during the admission decision process. The once taboo practice of checking social media for prospective students is slowly going away. While medical schools might not yet routinely employ social media background checks to find out about who you really are before offering a spot in their school, know that there is a chance that they could do so if they wanted to. And, in such a competitive space, prospective students do not want to give decision-makers a reason to give them the side eye. The truth is, you can have an exceptional MCAT score, impressive grades, volunteer tons of hours, and may write the “perfect” personal statement, but if find yourself answering questions at your medical school interview about your social media buffoonery all bets may be off.
Schools Like Those Who Want To Serve the Underserved
Millions of people in the United States live in areas that do not have enough doctors to meet their needs and a growing number of medical schools are admitting students who express and demonstrate a strong interest toward training for and pursuing careers as physicians in underserved areas. Some schools are recruiting students as early as high school and others are implementing fast-track programs that allow students to obtain their medical degree in three years - a move designed to boost the number of primary-care physicians available for these underserved areas. The goal of these programs supports students who wish to go into primary care medicine and ultimately practice in underserved areas, including rural communities, to practice medicine and meet the health care needs of millions.
Flickr/ I Luke Dorny
Medical Schools Like ‘Em Older
A greater number of applicants between 23 and 25 years old are being accepted into medical school. And while medical schools look closely at MCAT scores and undergraduate academic performance when evaluating a student, “gap year” experience gained by older applicants can play a big role in the eyes of admissions committees. Not only do medical schools feel that “older” students - also considered nontraditional - bring a lot of transferable skills to the table, they have more life experience. What’s more, medical schools like that older students tend to know for sure that medicine is something they want to do. They know this because they’ve already worked in the “real world,” have had two or three different jobs, and have expectations that are reasonable when it comes to pursuing a career in medicine and what will ultimately be required of them.
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052 GETTING A MENTOR TO GUIDE YOUR PREMED PATH
The Partner Podcast
The Medical School HQ Podcast is an extension of MedicalSchoolHQ.net. Interviews with deans of medical schools, chats with trusted, valuable advisors and up-to-date news.
For this session, the host of talked to Alexa Mieses, a 2nd year medical student at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She talked to them about how she used mentors throughout her journey as a premedical student and now continues to be a mentor as a medical student..
MSHQ 012 :
Shadowing Secrets For Every Premed and Beyond Ryan Gray: Shadowing. So shadowing comes up a lot as I am surfing the internet, the worldwide web, if you will, and looking for struggles that pre-med students have, looking for new ideas to talk about, to write about. And shadowing seems to come up a lot with students asking where to shadow, what shadowing is, what kind of expectations are out there when you are shadowing. And so I wanted to do a podcast about it. We do have a post already online at medicalschoolhq.net about shadowing a physician, but I think it’s a good topic for the podcast here. So let’s start, Allison, with a quick little, I guess definition of what shadowing is. Allison Gray: Shadowing is observing a physician in the clinic or the hospital, the OR, wherever the physician works, and going through a typical day and seeing what life is really like as a physician. Ryan Gray: Okay. One of the ways I like to explain it is shadowing is being a fly on the wall. Allison Gray: I think that that definition can work. Ryan Gray: So, shadowing really gives you, or is supposed to give you kind of a firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to work as a physician in whatever field you are shadowing in. So whether you’re shadowing an orthopedic surgeon like I did, I got to go
into the operating room, I got to go into clinic and see patients in clinic, maybe you want to shadow psychiatrist and sit through some therapy sessions or what have you. So shadowing really gives you the opportunity to kind of spread out and get a lot of great experience going all around. But why would somebody shadow? Allison Gray: I think there are a few reasons. The first one is what you just alluded to, which is that it gives you really firsthand knowledge, tangible knowledge, of what it’s like to practice as a physician. You work alongside a physician, you get that unique insight into what happens in a day in their life and that involves working with patients, working with other healthcare providers, nurses, physician assistants, etc., and it gives you a sense of what the great perks are of being a physician, the rewards, and it also gives you a sense of what the challenges are. Ryan Gray: Okay. And maybe it lets you see that being a physician isn’t 100% patient care. Allison Gray: Absolutely, with all the documentation we do these days and billing – all these things factor in definitely.
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Ryan Gray: I think that’s an important part. We’ll get into it later, but with applications and applying to medical school and going through that interview process and application process, schools that you are applying to want to see that you’ve shadowed so that you actually know what life is like as a physician, not what you see on TV but the actual true day-to-day paperwork. Ryan Gray: Another reason to shadow that I always kind of preach here is building relationships and having that strong network of people that you can rely on and call on when you need them. And when you shadow somebody, you want to build a relationship with them. You don’t want to shadow somebody once, and we’ll get into a little bit more about what type of shadowing you’re doing but, you want to try to go for a prolonged period of time, and get to know that person, so that in the end if what you’re looking
092 WHAT AN ATTENDING WOULD TELL HER PREMED & MED SCHOOL SELF
107 HOW PREMEDS AREN’T PREPARED FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL AND MORE!
For this episode, Dr. Allison Gray share with her valuable experiences and lessons learned after one year in private practice. She walks us through the highlights of her year, the things she struggled with the most and the knowledge she wished she had before she started attending.
Listen to Allison and Ryan take a walk down the path from premed to resident and hear how each next stage of the game is filled with unexpected twists and turns!
is to experience it firsthand in kind of an internship kind of experience. And you might look at shadowing as almost a mini-internship of sorts. So experiencing something firsthand, getting your feet wet, seeing if this really is the kind of work that you might want to do, it’s so valuable. So really think about it as something that you should do.
Flickr/ Airman Magazine
Ryan Gray: Most people would consider shadowing as really a pre-med thing to do, but even yourself, you’re in your 4th year of residency in Neurology – you’re kind of still shadowing to this day.
for is a letter of recommendation, they can right you a killer letter of recommendation. But not just for that, but let’s say you’re premed and you built that relationship – during medical school you may want to go back and work with that person for another reason. You have that relationship there, they may be able to help set up something else for you. So building relationships is another great reason to shadow. Allison Gray: Absolutely. And they say you carry your shadow with you wherever you go, and you can imagine that when you’re working someone all day long, maybe you might run into someone who really considers you a fly on the wall, who you don’t really talk to, but for the most part, shadowing involves back and forth. You might see a patient together and talk about what that interview, that encounter was like, and they would teach you. So with each patient that you see
together you have a unique opportunity, oneon-one often, to learn actively from that person and that’s so valuable. That’s something that you can really, you can create as you go and it’s really unique. Ryan Gray: One other thing I want to add for why you would want to shadow is to see if you like medicine. You may have always had the thought of I’m going to be a doctor or maybe your parents told you, “You’re going to be a doctor,” and you actually get out there and shadow and you realize that it is not for you. I think knowing that prior to committing yourself to 4 years of medical school and several hundred thousand dollars worth of debt – knowing that beforehand is pretty important.
Allison Gray: That is true. Just as you said, shadowing can come up at every point in your training – when you’re a pre-medical student, in high school, in college, it’s a great time to get out there and shadow to see if medicine is for you and to build and foster relationships like we just talked about in a way that can strengthen your application for medical school. Then in medical school, shadowing can be very valuable. Again because it lets you get exposure to something that you don’t have any experience with. So let’s say you enter medical school and you think okay, I want to do surgery. Well surgery comes in all shapes and varieties. So, do you want to do surgery on the abdomen? Do you want to do brain surgery? You might want to think about that even at the beginning of medical school so that you can go and try to shadow and just get a little bit of exposure even early on to the different fields in medicine.
To read the complete interview, visit medicalschoolhq.net and check out MSHQ 012 : Shadowing Secrets for Every Premed and Beyond for the audio and transcript.
Allison Gray: My mother always used to tell me, the best way to figure out if you really are good at something or if something is for you
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |25
How Highly Successful Pre-Meds Get Out Of Ruts & Move Forward Even successful pre-meds have insecurities. They just don’t get stuck in them. EVERYONE KNOWS THEM: They’re the students who don’t necessarily seem to be the best or the brightest of the bunch, and yet somehow they are also often the ones who end up making it to medical school in the long run. They might not look the greatest “on paper,” yet they seem to have something that propels them above and beyond their classmates, gaining them eventual acceptances into medical schools, despite sometimes having to wait a few years past graduation to make it there. While every student is obviously his/her own individual “case,” it is inarguable that each of these highly successful premeds has found within himself/herself some way to get out of ruts and move forward. The following ideas are just a few of the things that such students often do.
THEY MAKE INTENTIONAL USE OF DOWNTIME
Being a “highly successful” premed doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get accepted into medical school on your first try. It does, however, mean that you know how to make the most of your “downtime.” Whether it’s
working in a science lab or as a substitute teacher, the most highly successful premeds are those who know that even when things don’t go according to plan, all is not over. They realize that their downtime could actually be seen as a “gift” that, if nothing else, should make them all the more determined to make the most out of their eventual acceptances. Instead of complaining about how life is unfair at times, they take advantage of their “in-betweens” in life and turn them into meaningful times for personal growth.
THEY FIND POSITIVE SOURCES OF INSPIRATION
Staying down and in a rut is easy if you surround yourself with things and people who will help you stay there. However, the opposite is just as true; choosing to find positive sources of inspiration who can lift you up out of a rut can be just as effective at determining your overall mindset as well. Successful students realize this and make use of this principle. They, like everyone else, can feel stuck and burnt out during their premed journeys, but they also know how to re-motivate themselves to think past their current situations.
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Whether it’s reading a good book, shadowing an inspiring doctor, or even volunteering for various organizations a few hours a week, these students find ways to lift their eyes out of the little ditches in their lives to the full, exciting roads that lie ahead of them.
THEY DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES REPEATEDLY
Unlike premeds who stay down in ruts, highly successful premeds know that perhaps the most important thing for them to do in order to avoid staying down forever is to avoid making the same mistakes twice. If they think they got rejected from medical schools on their first tries because of low MCAT scores, them they will retake the MCAT (and achieve higher scores) before applying again. If they find themselves feeling burnt out after a stressful school year followed by a busy summer of research, they’ll intentionally make time the next summer to relax and refresh. Overall, highly successful premeds don’t necessarily make different initial mistakes than other students; they do, however, intentionally choose not to make those same mistakes repeatedly.
flick/nicolopaternoster
THE PREMED JOURNEY >>>
The smallest change can make the biggest difference.
Live, learn, and work with a community overseas. Be a Volunteer.
peacecorps.gov
THE APPLICATION >>>
Don’t Let Your Digital Footprint Undermine Your Med School Application Not all medical schools do it –and many of those that do deny it anyway. What? Look up applicants on social media. In any event, it’s reasonable to take precautions and safeguard your online reputation.
“Pack it in, pack it out” is a solid rule of the outdoor hiking community. However, an experienced hiker will willingly tell you that this mantra does not necessarily mean that you absolutely cannot leave any signs of your presence outdoors; instead, he will let you know that this means that you should not leave anything behind that could potentially damage the natural beauty of your surroundings. In other words, while it’s generally ok to leave behind your footprints on a muddy path or to gently clean off trail markers to make them clearer for future hikers to find, it is not ok to leave behind your empty trail mix wrappers. The same general principle can be readily applied to the idea of cleaning up your digital footprint online. Specifically speaking, premed students going through the medical school application process may find themselves wonder-
ing whether or not there is any information floating around online that could be detrimental to their chances of getting accepted. Whether it’s the picture of you drunk at your best friend’s bachelorette party or some shot of you doing something of questionable wisdom from way back in high school, the thought of a medical school admissions officer stumbling upon (or perhaps even intentionally hunting down) such unflattering images of you could be terrifying. Fortunately (at least in this respect), most medical schools admissions committees are too busy weeding through the thousands of primary and secondary applications they receive each cycle to spend the time to research you as an individual candidate too closely. However, at the same time, it is never an unwise decision to choose to clean up or at least limit others’ access to the informa-
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tion about you that can be garnered online. While cleaning up this information might not seem like an important priority during your undergrad years, having a clean digital footprint certainly won’t hurt you in the long run either. Residency programs and other future employers further down the line are very likely to be interested in what kind of doctor they are hiring in to join their hospital or clinic. As a whole, the simplest (and often easiest) way to start to tidy up your digital footprint is to clean up your social media image. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, WordPress, Instagram…anywhere that you have allowed information published about yourself to be made relatively public is basically a portal through which anyone can peek into your private life. Take the time to remove any questionable material that you yourself have posted, and be active in “un-tagging” yourself from any such images or statements that someone else may have made regarding you. If possible, ask such parties to please refrain from posting any similar material involving you in the future. Additionally, make it a habit to do thorough and regular checks on the security settings on all of your accounts. Limiting outside access to information about you is a key way to help your digital footprint at least appear clean. Finally, the advice outlined in this article is definitely valuable for removing your digital footprint outside of the social media world. Although these precautions are arguably more relevant for personal safety measures more so than specifically for medical school applicants, they are still excellent tips for ensuring your safety both as you apply to and attend (and graduate from) medical school. As a whole, just as it is better for hikers to only leave behind positive things (if they must leave behind anything at all), medical school applicants would be wise to only leave a positive portrayal of themselves available for inquiring eyes online. Or, in other words, “Better safe than sorry” is definitely a good rule of thumb to be applied here.
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2015 PREMED
SUMMER PROGRAMS Program Name
Location
Date
Summer Premed Program
Irvine, CA
June 15 - June 26 June 29 - July 10 July 13 - July 24
Cardiothoracic Surgical Skills and Education Center Summer Internship
Stanford, CA
June 22 - July 17 July 20 - August 14
Summer Intensive Program for Pre-Meds
Keck Graduate Institute
July 6 -17
UC Davis Pre-Medical Surgical Internship, Mentorship, and Research Program
University of California - Davis
June 15 - September 20
Summer Pre-Med Camp
Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University
July 12 - 19
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Summer programs geared toward pre-medical students are a great way to strengthen your medical school application. Most students who get accepted into medical school have participated in one or more summer pre-medical programs during the course of their undergraduate studies. The following is a list of summer programs available to students aspiring to become doctors. There are various opportunities available at a number of institutions across the country. If you’re a pre-medical
student and want to participate in academic enrichment programs, test preparation courses, research projects, or hospital internships, check out the following list of opportunities for Summer 2015. Be sure to check individual websites for application deadlines! The list includes opportunities nationwide in several different areas. Among the locations are: California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and many more.
Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
A two-week program dedicated to fostering the interest of high school students toward careers in medicine. This program combines didactic lectures given by distinguished UC Irvine faculty members and hands-on work shops to provide a first-rate exposure to the medical field. All activities are geared toward an “insider’s look” at being a medical student. Forty students will be accepted for each twoweek session.
$2,690. Scholarships awarded to 10 students.
Open until filled.
The internship is designed to educate high $6,450. Scholarships for students who show February 13 school and pre-medical students considering academic excellence but also demonstrate ficareers in science, medicine, and public health nancial need. in basic and advanced cardiovascular anatomy and physiology as well as medical and surgical techniques that will be utilized in pre-medical and medical school. This program is open to all students worldwide.
The SPP program is a two- week residential $1750 tuition fee. There are a limited number of April 15 premed program specially designed to intro- scholarships available. duce students to what it means to be “premed.” The program is geared toward undergraduate sophomores and juniors that are either contemplating a career in medicine or already committed to applying in the next medical school admission cycle and seeking supple mental preparation. A unique and rigorous experience that ex N/A poses participants to the field of surgery by immersing them in a professional medical environment. Program components are de signed to introduce the academic and clinical activities typically experienced by physicians and medical students. The summer Pre Med camp cosponsored by SFA and Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) 2015, is meant to be a week of total immersion in and an introduction to what we refer to as the Pre Med “Lifestyle”. This “headstart” will give camp attendees the opportunity to preview the course requirements, the time constraints and the journey toward excellence that Pre Med students encounter on the very first day of their freshman year
March 31
No cost. Housing, meals, books and supplies April 1 are provided to the student. Also, travel awards are available for students to offset the cost incurred by travel to Nacogdoches, TX.
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |31
Program Name
Location
Date
Summer Student Pre-Med & Research Program
Hartford, CT
June 1 - August 7
Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Enrichment Program (PREP)
David Geffen School of Medicine (Los Angeles, CA)
June 17 - July 31
Re-Applicatoin Program (RAP)
David Geffen School of Medicine (Los Angeles, CA)
June 17 - July 31
APEX Pre-Med Prep Program
University of South Carolina (Columbia, SC)
May 17-21
Summer Health Enrichment Program
UAB School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)
June 8 - July 17
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Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
The program is designed exclusively for pre- N/A medical students (who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents) completing their junior year in college. It offers the student an introduction to research methodology, patient treatment, and ethical issues in medicine as well as exposure to a broad spectrum of health care providers within a large community teaching hospital.
February 4
CLA PREP is a seven-week program designed N/A to provide premedical and predental students from disadvantaged backgrounds with a means of strengthening their ability and readiness to study medicine or dentistry. As a result of full participation in UCLA PREP, participants should have enhanced their chances of being accepted to medical or dental school and succeeding once there.
March 1
The program begins with an intensive eight- N/A week summer session, focused upon prerequisite science review and on MCAT preparation. Distinguished guest lecturers will also provide seminars and workshops discussing: academic skills; extensive and lively reviews of biology, chemistry, and physics; self development, time management; financial planning; medical school re-application, and interviewing skills.
March 1
APEX is an intense application preparation N/A program for med school applicants. It is also an opportunity for a human cadaver dissectionand shadowing in the hospitals. The application prep portion includes a comprehensive AMCAS overview, personal statement workshops, interview skills workshops, simulated med school interviews, and in-depth discussions about current health care issues and the Affordable Care Act. This opportunity will help highly-motivated students learn how to showcase their abilities, skills, and motivation throughout the application process to med school.
Until filled
The Summer Health Enrichment Program The cost of the program is free and on campus March 2 (SHEP) at the UAB School of Medicine is de- housing is available signed to offer talented undergraduate students from the state of Alabama an experience that will enhance their opportunity for a career in medicine. Instruction in professionalism, basic science, interviewing skills, clinical and research experiences, professional exam preparation and exposure to ethnically and culturally diverse workplaces are program components that will enable participants to increase their ability to become competitive in the medical school process.
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |33
Program Name
Location
Date
MCAT Review Summer Workshop
University of Louisville School of Medicine (Louisville, KY)
May 31 - June 26
Medical/Dental Preparatory Program
UConn School of Medicine
June 22 - July 31
College Enrichment Program
UConn School of Medicine
June 1- July 31
Summer Program For Future Doctor
The Broady School of Medicine
May 18 - July 16
The Chester Summer Scholars Program
The MetroHealth System (Cleveland, OH)
May 26 - July 31
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Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
Students participate in small group, interactive N/A sessions focusing on MCAT or DAT preparation. Weekly supervised practice test sessions are conducted. In addition, a library of preparation materials is available from the HSC Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Special instructions in essay writing, application preparation, and interview techniques are also provided. Tours, demonstrations, and lectures are arranged at the medical and dental schools. Participants are also assisted with volunteer and research opportunities
March 1
6-week summer program consisting of two Provides housing, meals and a stipend tracks. Track One MCAT/DAT Preparation Program is for students who will be taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Dental Admission Test (DAT). The program focuses on MCAT/DAT test preparation, clinical interaction with preceptors and introduction to problem based learning through case studies. Track Two Basic Medical Science Program is for all other students not on Track One. This track consists of basic medical science courses emphasizing essential principals of cell and molecular biology correlated to problem based learning case studies. Clinical experiences and professional development exercises are also presented.
March 1
The program is designed to provide sound de- N/A velopment of scientific and mathematical skills.
March 1
An intensive, challenging, educational summer N/A program that allows participants to experience the pedagogical style and demands of the medical school curriculum. The program, which accepts approximately 20-25 participants, has two components. The non-matriculating program is aimed at premedical or undergraduate students. The matriculating program is geared toward medical students who have already been accepted to the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University for the following fall semester.
March 1
An opportunity for pre-medicine and sci- N/A entifically-oriented students to explore the potential for a career in medical research or academic medicine. Scholars spend the better part of each weekday participating directly in the research project activity. There are also opportunities for observation of surgery, hospital rounds, and other experiences at MetroHealth that are an integral part of the program.
February 13
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |35
Program Name
Location
Date
Summer Premedical Academic Enrichment Program
The University of Pittsburg School of Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)
June 1 - July 17
Academic Summer Program Integrating Resources for Excellence
Stritch School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)
June 7 - July 10
Chicago Academic Medicine Program (CAMP)
Pritzker School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)
June 15 - July 24
Michigan Health Sciences Careeer Development Academy
University of Michigan Medical School
May 17 - July 11
Undergraduate Clinical Research Internship Program (UCRIP)
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Contact Program
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Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
The program is designed specifically to pre- N/A pare and support students who wish to pursue careers in the field of medicine. Spend seven weeks in Level I, strengthening your academic skills and learning more about careers in medicine. Or, spend seven weeks immersed and engaged in the work of physician-scientists including laboratory research and MCAT preparation through Level II. Both programs will enhance your skills and knowledge in science, writing and public speaking.
February 27
Designed to prepare and support pre-medical N/A students who want to pursue a career in medicine and have a desire to advocate for underserved communities. During the five week program, students are exposed to a comprehensive curriculum that integrates academic/science lectures, shadowing opportunities, professional development skills/tools, and a community service project that advances health equity.
February 13
The program seeks students who come from A $2,400 stipend is provided to program par- February 27 disadvantaged backgrounds and/or who repre- ticipants. sent groups that are known to be underrepresented in health related sciences and medicine. CAMP helps students build the knowledge base and academic skills necessary for success in a premedical program.
The Michigan Health Sciences Career Develop- Stipend: $3,250.00 ment Academy is committed to exposing and preparing students for medical school. In particular, MHSCDA focuses on preparing participants for the extensive process of applying and gaining admission into medical school.
February 16
The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Clinical Re- The program provides each student housing February 1 search Internship Program (UCRIP) gives col- on-campus for the summer, and participants lege students earning a four-year degree the will receive a stipend of $1,500. opportunity to participate in both research and clinical patient care at an academic medical center. This program is designed for students who are interested in a career in medicine. Participants will complete a research project under the directorship of a research mentor and also directly observe clinical patient care while spending time with residents and attending physicians.
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |37
Program Name
Location
Date
MD Camp
The Ohio State University College of Medicine Columbus, OH
June 15 - July 2
Eugene and Ruth Roberts Summer Student Academy
Duarte, CA
May - July
Georgetown Summer Medical Institute
Washington D.C.
June 22 - July 31
Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
University of Massachusetts Medical School
May 24 - June 19
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Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
An intensive, three-week summer day camp The program cost $700. Scholarships are avail- April 1 providing participants an experience in the able based on need and academic merit. rigors of medical school. MD Camp aims at increasing the number of physicians who are underrepresented in medicine and who elect to practice in underserved areas. Toward this end, the camp strives to inspire students to pursue a career in medicine by challenging them intellectually, facilitating their academic and social development, and increasing their awareness of the special needs of underserved populations. The primary goal of the Eugene and Ruth Rob- Summer program participants also receive a March 12 erts Summer Student Academy at City of Hope stipend of $4,000 for their work. is to provide young people (high school and university students) with an opportunity for a “hands-on� research experience. This program seeks to find students possessing exceptional potential to perform biomedical research. Summer students design and work on their own research projects in areas of their specific interests. City of Hope faculty members act as mentors who provide valuable guidance and support while simultaneously encouraging independent thought and exploration. Summer students work closely with post-doctorates, graduate students, and lab personnel of the Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences. Offering outstanding medical course-based N/A experiences for undergraduate and post-bacc students, and make-up courses for medical school students. This program, combined with the excellent, informative and supportive environment at GUSOM, will provide excellent preparation and insight for individuals exploring the calling of medicine as a career, and those making-up medical school courses. The environment at GSMI is integrated seamlessly into the School of Medicine and University, with students having access to the medical classrooms, library, and faculty.
June 1
A tuition-free four-week residential program Tuition Free for undergraduate sophomores and juniors interested in entering the health professions. The program includes enrichment classes to enhance participants’ academic and communication skills. Seminars include the professional school application process with emphasis on medical school admissions and financing professional school. Seminars on biomedical research and cultural and contemporary health issues are also provided. Additionally, the SEP offers participants the opportunity to interact with medical students, scientists, physicians, and other healthcare professionals.
March 15
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |39
Program Name
Location
Date
Biomedical Careers Program
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
June 1 - July 10
Project Healthcare
NYU Langone Medical Center
Early June - Mid-August
Pre-Med Program at St. Mary Healthcare Center
St. Mary Medical Center Langhorne, PA
June - August
Mini-Med Summer Camp
Drexel University College of Medicine
June 29 - July 17 July 20 - August 7
40 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
The Biomedical Careers Program (BCP) began N/A in 1978 as an academic enrichment program for undergraduate students interested in careers in the health professions. The program targets undergraduates who are economically and/ or educationally disadvantaged. BCP offers an intensive six-week summer program to serve students at all stages of undergraduate education. Students take part in a variety of science enrichment and healthcare-oriented activities.
April 15
Project Healthcare (PHC) is an innovative, N/A summer-intensive volunteer program for enthusiastic and inspired college and post-baccalaureate students. Housed by the Bellevue Hospital Center Emergency Department, PHC gives students an opportunity to experience and observe many different aspects of healthcare. The program offers the committed student a unique healthcare experience, intended to furnish a wealth of knowledge about the numerous options for a career in healthcare. Participation in research and serving as health educators during our annual health fair allow students the exposure they need to make educated career choices. Furthermore, mandatory lectures and weekly meetings provide students with a chance to discuss medical issues, including the practical problems that hospitals, patients, and medical staff encounter in the healthcare system.
February 15
This program is open to students who have N/A completed their second or third year of college with a GPA of at least 3.2 in a course of study that qualifies for medical school entrance. Premed students must commit to 10 weeks during the summer to observe in the operating room, Emergency Department and other ancillary departments. They also are able to shadow doctors in their daily activities.
February 28
For students who are ready to get serious about $2,250 per three-week session your aspirations to become a doctor or simply wondering what it might be like, Drexel University College of Medicine Mini-Med Summer Camp can provide this opportunity. Students: Observe surgical procedures from inside the operating room; shadow physicians during clinical office hours; and participate in medical simulations.
March 6
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |41
Program Name
Location
Date
Pediatric Oncology Education (POE) Program
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Memphis, TN
Mid-May - July or August
Collegiate Medical Summer Internship Program
Dialysis Clinic, Inc. Multiple Locations
June 1 - July 31
Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Program
Baylor College of Medicine
June 8 - July 31
Medical Cooperative Program (MEDCORP)
University of Mississippi Medical Center
TBD
Summer Pathology Internship for Premedical Students
Hawaii Pathologists’ Laboratory
Starting and ending dates of the program are flexible and can accommodate the schedule of each student.
42 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
Description The POE program offers a unique opportunity for students preparing for careers in the biomedical sciences, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, psychology, or public health to gain biomedical and oncology research experience. The POE program provides a short-term training experience (internship) in either laboratory research or clinical research. Students participating in the Pediatric Oncology Education program will receive training in a superb academic environment created by the interaction of committed basic scientists, research-oriented physicians, and postdoctoral fellows.
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
Participants will receive a $4,000 subsistence al- February 1 lowance for their summer appointment. Group housing close to our campus will be available at no cost for POE students coming from outside the Memphis metropolitan area to participate in the program.
The internship entails shadowing physicians on Depending on funding, the stipend is typically March 31 rounds in the hospital, observing and assisting around $1,500. in an outpatient/clinic facility and observing the coordination of a transplant. In addition, students will be able to visit the local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) and HLA lab. Participants may also have the opportunity to do data collection for the transplant service or work on a clinical research project. All interns will also participate as a counselor for Camp Okawehna, a week-long camp for dialyzed and post-kidney transplant children. The Michael E. DeBakey Summer Surgery Pro- N/A gram encourages the development and interest of well-qualified undergraduate students who are considering a medically oriented career. The program provides students with an opportunity to work with faculty, surgical residents, medical students, and nurses in various teaching hospitals.
February 5
The Medical Cooperative Program provides N/A college students with an intense, comprehensive program of study for the MCAT/DAT admission exams. Kaplan-trained instructors lead students though a course of study intended to reinforce students’ knowledge of chemistry, physics, and biological sciences. A verbal reasoning section is also included. Students participate in clinical preceptorships with community and/ or UMMC physicians designed to provide them with a meaningful health care professional shadowing experience.
Contact Program
The main purpose of this program is to increase N/A awareness and knowledge of medicine and pathology, while encouraging involvement in medical research. Qualified students will have the opportunity to participate in clinical activities in the Pathology Department and Medical Center. In addition, students will work on one or more projects related to pathology under the direction of departmental staff. Students are expected to work 20 hours per week.
February 1
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |43
Program Name
Location
Date
OU School of Community Medicine Summer Internship
University of Oklahoma Schusterman Center Tulsa, OK
June 15 - July 31
Summer Scholars
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
June 1 to July 3
Premedical Urban Leaders Summer Enrichment (PULSE)
Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
June 8 - July 17
Cadence Health (Central DuPage Hospital) Summer 2015 Internship Program
Central DuPage Hospital
May 26 - July 17
Summer Academic Enrichment Program
Virginia Commonwealth University
May 19 - July 1
Healthcare Professionals Readiness & Enrichment Program
Campbell University Buies Creek, NC
May 17 - 22
44 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
Description
Perks or Costs
Application Deadline
The Internship will give participants an op- Interns who successfully complete the program March 6 portunity to experience community medicine will receive a $500 cash award to be used for through lectures, experiential learning, clinical future educational expenses shadowing, research projects, site visits, High School student mentoring and interaction with current medical students, faculty and staff. In addition to traditional medical school curri- N/A cula taught by medical college faculty, graduate students and upper-class medical students, the program focuses on case-based problem solving and small-group/team work. Students will also benefit from special lectures, clinical experiences, and study and time management skill sessions in addition to workshops on cultural competency and research methods.
March 1
PULSE is a six week academic enrichment pro- N/A gram for college undergraduates interested in healthcare professions. The program provides academic, clinical, research and service learning opportunities with a focus on urban health needs. Developed by Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (CMSRU), the PULSE program help students become lifelong learners and empower them to use their knowledge to make a difference in their communities.
February 13
The Summer Internship Program offers a N/A unique opportunity to shadow and observe a variety of specialty departments within Central DuPage Hospital and Delnor Hospital. After completing a comprehensive orientation week, the following seven weeks focus on specific specialty roations. Each weekly rotation gives a behind-the-scenes view of the care patients experience in a hospital and office setting
January 9
The Summer Academic Enrichment Program N/A is an intensive, six-week interprofessional academic enrichment program designed to enhance the academic preparation of junior and senior undergraduate students, as well as postbaccalaureate students, who are actively pursuing enrollment in a health professions school. Students may choose a concentration from among four disciplines: dentistry, medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy.
February 1
The program exposes students to a formative N/A experience that combines academic instruction with professional development in an inter-disciplinary environment. This year, the theme focuses on issues unique to community and rural practice across the health professions. Preference for admission to the program will be given to individuals who are interested in practicing in rural and underserved areas.
Rolling admission
January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |45
THEGOODS
Our pick of items that will add some flair to your pre-medical life and perhaps put a smile on your face
Hold Your Applause Alarm Clock
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, may we have your attention please! Before you, you’ll see what appears to be a simple black cube with a smoky noir wood grain - don’t clap yet. We’ll show you several angles. Nothing conspicuous about it, is there? Very good. Now, please clap - just once will do! Aha! The time has appeared in glowing red digital numbers! See it shining magically though the side? Fantastic! See if you can be one of the lucky few to get this awe-inspiring, clap-on alarm clock before it disappears!
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What Would You Attempt Paperweight “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” This 100% lead-free pewter paperweight poses the question boldly and simply, with an emphatic question mark on the back to keep you thinking. An inspiring reminder to follow your dreams.
Anatomy of Charm Notebook Set
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Get down to the basics with this unique, vintage-inspired set - which includes two notebooks boasting anatomical and optical chart covers and lined pages for your stylish note-taking pleasure!
46 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
EP Phone Home Phone Stand You’re no alien to vintage whimsy, so this precious turntable-inspired phone stand will have your stylish head spinning! Crafted from wood and painted in retro cream, blue, orange, and green, this petite dock has a slot for a charging cord and adorable allure that will keep you playing the day away.
u
u The Elements
Everything around us - from fireworks in the sky and the air we breathe to beautiful city buildings and our very own skeletons - is made up of elements. Now you can learn more about them and the entire Periodic Table with this hardcover guide by popular science writer Jack Challoner, which covers each element’s specific history, statistics, and uses with impeccable detail and imagery. Let the learning begin!
True Idea-list USB Light
Sometimes, your pet projects have you energized into the late evening – so this USBpowered lightbulb keeps light on the subject at hand! This bulb, whose 9.5-inch flexible cable keeps it perfectly propped up, also glows in the dark once you decide that your work for the day is done. Whether you’re preparing a proposal or penning some poetry, this darling desk accessory will illuminate your intellect!
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January/February 2015 | PreMedLife Magazine |47
LASTWORD
Some final thoughts on getting through your days as a college student
“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination
and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal -- a commitment to excellence -that will enable you to attain the success you seek MARIO ANDRETTI, one of the most successful Americans in the history of racecar driving.
“Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. CALVIN COOLIDGE was the 30th President of the United States
“Give yourself an even grater challenge than the one you are trying to master and you will develop the powers necessary to overcome the original difficulty.”
WILLIAM J. BENNETT is an American conservative pundit, politician, and political theorist.
“You can only become truly accomplished at something you love.
Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off you.” MAYA ANGELOU was an American author, poet, dancer, actress, and singer.
“Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing; and dream while others are wishing.”
WILLIAM ARTHUR WARD is one of America’s most quoted writers of inspirational maxims.
48 | PreMedLife Magazine | January/February 2015
It Takes Some Courage, But Saving Money Is Worth The Leap.
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