PREMEDLIFE THE MAGAZINE FOR PRE-MEDICAL STUDENTS
MAY/JUNE 2014
WHAT EVERY SUCCESSFUL PREMED KNOWS Key Lessons For Any Student Looking To Gain Admission to Medical School
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How to Make Your Summer Internship AMCAS-Worthy As the Summer Break Draws Closer, Here Are A Few Things to Keep in Mind as You Start Your Summer Internship
When I Was Premed An Interview with Dr. Harlan Selesnick, Team Physician for NBA’s Miami Heat
Cleaning Up Your Social Media Profile Ways To “Clean Up” Your Online Presence Before You Apply To Medical School
Check out these summer opportunities specifically New med school adds engineering to curriculum p.12 | Professor suggests med education is next market bubble p.15 May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |1
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premedlife | may/june 2014 “Good pre-medical students get into medical school. Great pre-medical students get into multiple medical schools. But outstanding pre-medical student do more than just get into medical school.” p.18
Cleaning Up Your Social Media Profiles
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COVER STORY
WHAT EVERY SUCCESSFUL PREMED STUDENT KNOWS While every applicant to medical school may be unique in their own right, there are several things, let’s call beliefs, that the successful ones have in common. We asked two dozen highly successful pre-medical students about the thoughts that ran through their minds as they moved through the medical school application process: their outlook about getting in, performing well on the MCAT, preparing for the process, and generally making it through. The result is a “know-how” guide to what worked for them and what could potentially work for you too.
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HOW TO MAKE YOUR SUMMER INTERNSHIP AMCAS-WORTHY
The experiences that you gain over the summer are great for adding to the AMCAS work/activities section, but even more importantly; this will help you gain valuable insight into a specific field or medicine.
WHEN I WAS PREMED: DR. HARLAN SELESNICK, MIAMI HEAT TEAM PHYSICIAN
An interview with Dr. Harlan Selesnick, team physician for the NBA’s Miami Heat.
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CLEANING UP YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA: A MUST-DO TASK FOR PREMEDS
Clean up your social media sites because your test scores, grade point average, and everything else you can enter into AMCAS aren’t the only factors medical school admission committees may take into consideration.
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |3
contents/departments
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premedlife | may/june 2014
“Most MCAT top scorers gain an advantage even before stepping foot into the testing center on test day.” p. 39
IN THIS ISSUE MEET THE DEAN & DIRECTOR |26
O&M Medical School - it’s the newest medical school in the Dominican Republic and PreMedLife had a chance to speak with the Dean and Director.
THE MOST FRUSTRATING PART OF THE MCAT |36
Advice on how to approach the verbal reasoning section of the MCAT.
5 SIMPLE PRE-MCAT FOOD IDEAS |38
Simple, brain-boosting, energizing...these simple pre-MCAT meals will give you the fuel you need to perform at the top of your game.
DEPARTMENTS THE LATEST | 10
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Relevant news and information for students applying to medical school and pursuing medicine. In this issue: AMSNY’s Postbac Program Meets Goal to Diversify Med School; New Medical School May Mix Engineering Into Traditional Curriculum; New Prereqs for Yale Med School; and more.
THE GOODS | 46
Gadgets, gizmos, and other unique things to keep you entertained. Check out our picks for this issue including A ‘What Did I Buy Today’ journal, Inspirational Paperweight, Boxing Laundry Bag, and more.
IN THE STACKS | 49
Books to inspire you or provide you with advice to make it through your med school admissions journey.
Keep up with your spending habits with the ‘What Did I Buy Today’ journal
p.46
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DOING YOUR JOB, GETTING INTO MED SCHOOL as i write, thousands of prospective medical school applicants have already registered to take the most important exam of their pre-med life. For many of these students, as far as they are concerned, the MCAT
is the only thing standing in between them and their dream of gaining admission to medical school. And while survey data has shown that an applicants academic performance and MCAT scores are ranked high in the eyes of admission committees, getting into medical school goes beyond ones intellect. As the semester draws to an end, it is the ideal time to highlight the things that make an applicant successful beyond their academic achievements. This issue does just that. Though much of the widespread belief is that you just have to be smart, the proof is in the pudding: Most successful pre-medical students - that is, those who gain admission to medical school of course - are individuals who are more than just their grades and their scores. These individuals are those who are able to make such an impression on admission committees beyond who they are on paper and essentially make schools believe they are the one to pick. Successful pre-medical students are those who along the process say certain things to themselves, think certain ways about different situations, and see opportunities and experiences in a totally different way than others. That brings up to this issue’s cover story, which starts on page 18. Our team found some of the smartest pre-medical students who successfully gained admission to medical school and asked, “What do you think got you into medical school?” as well as “What do you know now that you wish you knew then?” and “What have you learned that other premeds should know?” The result is what we like to do at PreMedLife - pass useful, relevant information from former premeds to other premeds like you.
Executive Vice President | Monique Terc Contributing Editor | Njeri McKenzie Online Marketing Consultant | Portia Chu 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 (347) 857-7491 Have a Story Idea? Email us at editor@premedlife.com Want to Subscribe? Visit www.premedlife.com and sign-up to our mailing list to receive an email when the latest issue is available online 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 (347) 857-7491 or email us at info@premedlife.com.
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DIGITAL 5 Simple Things That Can Affect Your MCAT Performance
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Helpful advice on what to do before the biggest test of your pre-med life. Tis the season to take the MCAT. You registered months ago. You probably can’t help thinking about it. If you’re on Twitter, you’re probably tweeting about it. And you looked at the calendar and realized that the MCAT is right around the corner.
What’s on Premedlife.com? Prerequisites Via AP Credits
There are many medical schools that accept Advanced Placement (AP) credits to fulfill admission prerequisites. However, prospective medical school applicants should not rely solely on AP credits to fulfill admission requirements.
Top Social Media Savvy Schools
Now more than ever, social media is becoming a powerful tool for how schools are communicating with students. So PreMedLife.com took to the Web to take a look at on how socially active medical schools across the U.S. are.
Dual Degree MD Programs
The decision to pursue a combined degree is typically based on a student’s long-term goals. For a student who has always seen themselves as a physician who practices medicine in a hospital, clinic, or at a private practice, a combined degree may not be needed.
Writing a Personal Statement
It had been quite a long day for the members of the admission committee for our esteemed medical school. We were part of the gatekeeper regiment and our function was to review the essays proclaimed “Why I Want to be a Doctor”
Call for Pitches
Jobs & Internships
We are officially opening up the submission process for upcoming issues of the magazine and online. If you have an idea (or an essay) that you think might work for the magazine or website, contact us via email (info@premedlife.com), pitch something on our Guest Post page, or shoot us a direct message through Twitter or Facebook. If it’s something we can use, we’ll be in touch in the very near future — and you could see your piece published!
Check out www.premedlife.com/opportunities.html to view the lastest jobs and internship opportunities in your area. Here are a few of our current listings:
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Full-time, Paid, Research Assistant, Cardiology – New York, NY Pre-Med Summer Intern – Blue Bell, PA Seeking PreMed Student – Los Angeles, CA
THELATEST
“Yale School of Medicine revisited its pre-medical requirements as the entire nation looks to reevaluate what medical schools should be looking for in prospective applicants.” {PAGE 12}
Recent news & information relevant to students applying to medical school
flickr/ University of Exeter
New “Kinder” Curriculum Lowers Depression Among Medical Students
Students who feel less pressure during medical school and are taught to manage stress and adversity are better off mentally and perform better academically, according to a recent study published in Academic Medicine. According to background information provided in the paper, the problem of depression among medical school students is significant, affecting between 20 and 30 percent of medical students in the U.S. “For many years, nobody did anything about it,” Dr. Stuart Slavin, MD, MEd, associate dean for curriculum at Saint Louis University School of Medicine wrote. “Then, the first approach to addressing the problem was to get students better access to psychiatric and mental health services. That was followed by schools adding activities that encourage wellness and teamwork, such as Olympics-style athletic competitions and optional wellness seminars. While those things are great, they’re not enough.”
The study, led by Dr. Slavin, examined the wellbeing of first and second year students at SLU SOM before and after changes were made to the school’s curriculum. The new curriculum was designed to prevent depression, stress, and anxiety. Dr. Slavin and his colleagues compared the performance of five classes – two before the changes and three aftermeasured at medical school orientation, the end of the first year and the end of the second year. “We’ve seen dramatic improvement in the mental health of our students. Depression rates in first year medical students went from 27 percent to 11 percent and anxiety dropped from 55 percent to 31 percent. At the same time, our Step 1 board scores went up, meaning student performance improved,” Dr. Salvin explained. “Our students know more, and will be in a better situation, emotionally, to care for our patients.” Changes to the medical school curriculum meant that rather than letter grades or honors/near honors
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grading, students would receive pass or fail grades for their pre-clinical courses in the first two years of medical school. With the modified curriculum, students would spend less hours in the classroom and more time to explore other electives and participate in newly established learning communities. Furthermore, the school content of some classes and the order in which they were taught was also modified. “Physician depression and burnout are significant problems in the United States and may rightly be viewed as a substantial public health problem, particularly given the evidence of the negative impact that mental health can have on clinical care by reducing physician empathy and increasing rates of medical error,” he said. “Unfortunately strong evidence supports that the seeds of these mental health problems are planted in medical school.” ¡
CONTINUING AND DISTANCE EDUCATION
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Contest Aims to Bring Creativity To MedEd
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THELATEST
New Medical School May Mix Engineering Into Traditional Curriculum An engineering-based medical school may soon be coming to Illinois, according to a press release announcing recommendations from a consulting firm. The school, which will be located on the Urbana-Campaign campus, would be the first of its kind and would be designed to "combined education in health sciences, computer science and engineering with health care practice," explained Chancellor Phyllis Wise. The recommendations are from a commissioned study which also suggested that the University prepare for changes in the
health care system by developing its biomedical engineering sphere. The hope is that the engineering-based medicine will help conduct more research to give a greater number of people access to health care services they seriously need. "The U.S. health care system is undergoing historic transformation driven by an aging population with more chronic conditions, an influx of millions of new people into the health care system due to the Affordable Care Act, and a severe physician shortage," the consultants wrote in their report. ¡
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A contest launched at the University of Minnesota is giving students, staff, and faculty members the chance to bring their creative ideas to the medical education table. First launched last summer, Mark Rosenberg, MD, vice dean for medical education came up with the idea for the “Innovations” contest after taking part in a similar contest himself. “We wanted to send a clear message to everyone involved in medical education – whether a student, resident, fellow, or faculty or staff member – that their ideas are valued,” Dr. Rosenberg explained. “The contest added a level of fun and gamesmanship to the process. Most important, it reinforced the need for a culture of innovation in medical education.” The contest brought in over 75 ideas in its first year, and included ideas that would impact medical school curriculums to training med students how to better manage difficult scenarios. In the end, the following four “out-ofthe-box” ideas that were picked for implementation: 1.) Public Health Integration Into The Medical School Curriculum; Specialty-Specific Residency Match Support Program; Medjules: Low-Cost, Mechanical Devices for Training Procedural Surgical Skills; and Health Policy in an Era of Health Reform. The third-place winner, Alexander Doud, third-year medical student, came up with the idea of developing low-cost surgical trainers (Medjules) during a course on new product design and business development. The idea would essentially help provide feedback to medical students on essential surgical skills, for little to no money. When the 2014 “Innovations” contest launches Spring 2014, Dr. Rosenberg and his team hope to receive at least 100 entries focused on quality improvement. ¡
THELATEST
New Prerequisites for Admission to Yale Medical School Begin Fall 2014
Wikipedia
Yale School of Medicine revisited its pre-medical requirements as the entire nation looks to reevaluate what medical schools should be looking for in prospective applicants - the result - new requirements for Fall 2014.
Beginning this Fall 2014, pre-medical students applying to Yale School of Medicine will have to meet newly revised admissions requirements. The changes, which are intended to better prepare prospective students for the medical school curriculum, include an additional semester of biochemistry and one less semester of organic chemistry. “The additional of the biochemistry requirement stemmed from a desire to even the playing field for all students entering medical school,” said Michael Schwartz, the associate dean for
curriculum at the medical school. “Without a biochemistry requirement, first-year medical students currently enter the medical school with differing levels of expertise in the subject. While some students know biochemistry very well, others have virtually no exposure to the field.” According to the press release announcing the new changes, Yale School of Medicine revisited its pre-medical requirements as the entire nation looks to reevaluate what medical schools should be looking for in prospective applicants. The new prerequisites come on the heels of
many discussions regarding how best to prepare students for medical school and evaluating prospective students from a holistic approach. And for one prerequisite in particular - organic chemistry - for years questions have been raised about how necessary the infamous “weed out” course was for incoming medical students. As a greater number of medical school begin to adopt the holistic approach when evaluating premedical students, there may be more that soon follow in the footsteps of Yale SOM and make changes to what they require from applicants. ¡
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |13
THELATEST
flickr/ Vince
Brown Medicine Eliminates Preclinical Honors Grading
Beginning with the class of 2017, the Alpert Medical School will grade the first two years of study solely on a satisfactory/no credit basis (S/NC). While the S/NC grading option has been in place at the school, the previous policy also allowed students to earn honors distinction for certain courses after the first semester. There was a widespread interest in ditching the honors grading for preclinical classes among both administrators and students, according to the press release announcing the new policy. Specifically, a survey of first-year medical students revealed that 65 percent of students favored the change. In 2011, a study conducted by researchers at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine found that “has a greater impact than other aspects of curriculum structure on their well-being. Curricular
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reform intended to enhance student well-being should incorporate pass/fail grading.” To put the change in motion, members of the class of 2017 brought the issue to the other classes in the student senate, which then all agreed that the change would be a good one and voted to change the policy adopted by the school’s MD Curriculum Committee (MDCC). Prompted by the strong support among students, Luba Dumenco, chair of the subcommittee on the first two years of the MDCC, conducted additional research on the topic and found that grading options during preclinical years was quite common, with the country’s top 20 medical school using a pass/fail grading system without honors. “I don’t think the absence of honors would have affected my stress levels tremendously during years
one and two,” Greg Elia told The Herald, though he added that he supported the change on the whole. “Med students are highly self-motivated regardless of the honors distinction.” Following evidence presented to the MDCC, the school’s Office of Medical Education conducted their own study “indicating that 87 percent of students supported the motion to restrict preclinical grades to S/NC.” And while the proposed policy change was not supported across the board, the MDCC made the decision to move forward based on the approval among the majority of the students and the support of evidence reflecting positive outcomes and beliefs. “Increasingly, as people saw the data, they became more interested in it, and that’s because the data were strong,” added Dumenco.. ¡
flickr/ Truthout.org
Professor Suggests Next Market Bubble Is Medical Education
The high costs of health care may be linked to the high price tag attached to earning a medical degree, says a professor at the Perelman School of Medicine. In a perspective piece published in the New England Journal of Medicine titled, “Are We in a Medical Education Bubble Market,” Professor David Asch, who is also the executive director of the Center for Health Care Innovation, says that if we aim to reduce the costs of health care, we need to reduce the costs of medical education. “We don’t have to believe that the high cost of medical education is what causes increases in health care costs in order to develop this sense of urgency,” Asch explained. “We just have to recognize that the high costs of medical education are sustainable only if we keep paying doctors a lot of money, and there are strong signs that we can’t or won’t.” Asch’s article first presents evidence of his beliefs namely, data that may suggest that we are approaching such a collapse in primary care fields. But then he states that this scenario is probably not going to happen. He points out that for undergraduate medical education, students are charge a single price regardless of whether they will ultimately pursue family medicine or orthopedics. However, he explains that “although it isn’t necessarily clear to students or schools which students will choose what fields, the income of the average doctor can sustain the debt of the average doctor even as the differences among specialties create pressures for primary care and psychiatry.” He concludes by stating: “The general lesson is that if we want to keep health care costs down and still have access to well-qualified physicians, we also need to keep the cost of creating those physicians down by changing the way that physicians are trained. ¡
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THELATEST
The Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY) post-baccalaureate pre-medical programs are proving to be successful in meeting goals to increase diversity in medical schools in New York, according to a press release issued by the association. The University at Buffalo (UB) Postbaccalaureate Consortium, a partnership between New York State’s 16 private and public medical schools, supports the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program which is designed to help identify talented students from underrepresented communities and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and bring them into the medical field. Since the program welcomed its first class in 1990, close to 400 students participated in the program, with 93 percent of them moving on to medical school, and 87 percent ultimately graduating and pursuing their medical residencies. “AMSNY’s diversity programs help to ensure access to essential quality primary care in all communities,” said Jo Wiederhorn, AMSNY’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “While underrepresented minorities make up 34% percent of the New York State population, they
account for only 11% percent of New York physicians. Our diversity programs bring students from underrepresented communities into the medical profession. When they become doctors, they are likely to return to those communities to practice medicine, helping to alleviate health care disparities. The AMSNY/UB PostBaccalaureate Program has been extremely successful in addressing these concerns and preparing students for the academic rigors of medical school.” To participate in the UB Post-Baccalaureate Program, students must 1.) be from a group underrepresented in medicine, 2.) educationally or economically disadvantaged, and 3.) received a referral to the program via the admissions process at one of AMSNY’s 10 participating medical schools. “The AMSNY post-baccalaureate program is a phenomenal investment by the state of New York,” said Nilda Soto, Assistant Dean for Office of Diversity Enhancement at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Within 12 months, the program provides us with students that are committed, prepared, and will make a major difference in the medical profession.” ¡
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Wikipedia
AMSNY’s Postbac Program Meets Goal to Diversify Med School
flickr/COD Newsroom
New BS/MD Program Waives Students’ Med School Tuition
Marshall University and the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine is now accepting applications for a new accelerated BS/MD program, according to an announcement made by Dr. Joseph Shapiro, dean of the School of Medicine. The most excited part of the announcement is that students who successfully complete the undergraduate part of the program will have their medical school tuition waived for four years. “Marshall is dedicated to developing a physician workforce for this region,” Dr. Shapiro said. “One of the ways we can facilitate that goal is to create programs that attract our state’s best and brightest. This accelerated program allows us to place those highly performing students on a fast track to medical education.” The program, which is designed to allow students to earn a BS and MD degree in seven years, is open to students from West Virginia who are considered academically qualified. Additionally, students will not required to take the MCAT if they successfully complete the undergrad requirements of the program. Admission requirements include a minimum ACT of 30/1330-1350 SAT and an ACT math score of 27 or SAT equivalent of 610, a cumulative high school GPA of 3.75 on a 4.0 scale, three letters of recommendation and an on-campus interview. “Both Marshall University and the School of Medicine realize the importance of providing unique academic programs that tap into what students need and want,” said Jennifer T. Plymale, associate dean for admissions at the School of Medicine. “By working with our recruiting and admissions colleagues on the main campus, as well as the College of Science and Honors College, we were able to identify an educational niche and create a joint program that is tailor-made for West Virginia students who want to pursue a medical degree.” ¡
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Cover Story
WHAT EVERY SUCCESSFUL PREMED KNOWS Good pre-medical students get into medical school. Great pre-medical students get into multiple medical schools. But outstanding pre-medical students do more than get into medical school. These individuals are the handful of pre-meds who embody characteristics and qualities that can’t be taught in class and picked up from a medical school admissions guide, but do catch the attention of those handing out letters of acceptance. Here are 9 things that every successful pre-med knows for sure >>>
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Beyond having the ability to get an impressive score on the MCAT or clocking hours at a hospital shadowing a physician, interpersonal skills are the glue that will ultimately help you connect with your patients. To work with patients, you will have to constantly rely on superior interpersonal skills – your job, first and foremost will be to connect with patients. Medicine is an art whose magic and creative ability have long been recognized as residing in the interpersonal aspects of patient-physician relationship (Hall et al., 1981). In medicine, a doctor’s interpersonal skills play a critical role when it comes to practicing medicine. And from the moment you enter the room to begin your medical school interview, members from the admissions committees are taking note and trying to get a clear picture of how effective your interpersonal skills are. Research tells us that effective interpersonal skills will allow you to not only engage with patients and their families, but also with academic and clinical team members, and other colleagues. Because the doctor-patient relationship is considered a fundamental aspect of the health care system, medical schools want to be impressed by the skills you have – regardless of whether they are innate or you have learned to develop them. A study from the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine has found that the more uninhibited and sociable you are, the better you’ll perform during one type of medical school interview in particular – the Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) process. While past studies have shown that conscientious individuals possess many of the attributes widely regarded as core attributes of effective physicians, the end result, as the study authors noted, is that being extroverted helps applicants perform better during interviews. And along with interview performance, those with higher levels of agreeableness are more likely to be offered admission to medical school. Of the five personality factors, only “high-level” extroversion was associated with significantly better performance during the MMI process. According to the study, personality traits like uninhibited, enthusiastic, sociable, and adventurous as well as displaying a level of confidence may be an important part of gaining admission to medical school.
flickr/ Fu Man Jew
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
one thing. They don’t call themselves unique, but who they are, and what they do speaks for itself. They know and are confident that they have something unique to contribute to whatever school they apply to. More and more, medical schools across the country are seeking a more diverse student body of students who have unique backgrounds, interests,
BEING ONE-OF-A-KIND WILL GO A VERY, VERY LONG WAY. With more than 45,000 individuals applying to medical school, the successful applicant appreciates and embraces their uniqueness. The advantage of a unique factor is that you avoid being lost among the sea of other applicants. Yes, successful medical school applicants get good grades and perform well on the MCAT but they are also unique. But there’s
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t t t Success pre-meds know for sure why they want to be MDs and are prepared to tell whomever, whenever, anytime, any place.
and skills – and can do the job! While these successful students aren’t necessarily absolutely unique, they know what makes them unique and convince those who need to know that they’re the one. So, it’s what’s impressive. It’s what’s special. It’s what’s different about them that helps them tell their story and complete the picture of their ideal candidacy.
HOW TO ANSWER THE HECK OUT OF THE “WHY MEDICINE” QUESTION. When others are working hard to construct the best-sounding answer to the infamous question – why do you want to become a doctor – successful pre-meds know for sure why and are prepared to tell whomever, whenever, any time, any place. Almost every medical school admission committee will be looking for prospective applicants to answer this question. For successfully pre-meds, the “why” question doesn’t make them nervous; they don’t have to rehearse their answer. When asked why they want to be a doctor, they know the answer and their heart races – not because they are nervous about what they’re about to say, but they are passionate and connected to the answer they are about to deliver. The answer that they give is not something that they read in a book or researched on the internet; the answer they give to why they want to be a doctor is real and comes from a place within themselves that only they can access. They know that the answer to this question can mean the difference between getting into medical school and being rejected. And so with every ounce of who they are, pre-meds who get through their answer without breaking a sweat are those who know there is no wrong answer and the answer they give is theirs. Successful pre-meds are successful because they’ve seen what medicine has to offer, they’ve had a glimpse of what being a doctor is about, they know what their future will hold, and
THEY ARE THEIR BIGGEST COMPETITION. If you’ve been reading the news, the number of individuals applying to medical school is definitely not going down. So, yeah, the medical school admissions game is fierce, and that’s to say the least. The process is trying, the courses are tough, and emotions are high, but for pre-meds who see their way through, one thing they know for sure is that everyone else is everyone else, nothing more. They realize early on that they are their biggest competition and get out of their own way. In their minds, they will run their own race and know that comparing their situation to someone else’s will just be a distraction. Many of them move through life just trying to be better than they were the day prior. Being their own competition forces them to push themselves to new places. They are more concerned about beating their own previous performance on an exam than keeping up with somebody else’s. There’s already so much that pre-meds have to do, study for exams, volunteer at hospitals, prepare for the MCAT, and the last thing they are thinking about is what the “next” pre-med is up to and how they can perform better than them. But don’t be mistaken, they know what’s going on with their peers and classmates – these individuals are sometimes in the same headspace and make good study buddies. In the world of pre-meds and medical school admissions, everyone seems to be competing. The best thing you can do for yourself is to take a page out of their book – be your own competition, set your own goals, discover your strengths, embrace your weaknesses, and you will stop worrying about your competition.
SELF-DISCIPLINE SEPARATES THE GOOD FROM THE GREAT. A lot of pre-meds set out to do what is necessary to get admitted to medical school; they just fail to
flickr/401 (K) 2013
taking a seat, and being given the cue to do so, they tell their story and tell it well. Successful pre-meds make interviewers fall in love with them by the story they tell about their greatest accomplishments, hardest times, deepest passions, and of course their love and desire for wanting to practice medicine – all without sounding rehearsed. Their ability to tell a good story gives them the opportunity to answer questions in a way that no one else would because their story is unique to them and erases all chances of giving a generic-sounding answer to any question asked. They make themselves memorable. Interviewers remember them long after they leave the room as motivated, committed, well-rounded – and for just all of the right reasons.
terday. They know what it takes to get into medical school, they’ve heard how hard the process can be, and their ready to play ball. That’s their attitude, and what every successful pre-med must have. No one else is going to spend an extra hour in the library to finish a problem set if they don’t no one else will participate in extracurricular activities, volunteer at the hospital, prep day after day for the MCAT if they don’t. Pre-meds who are successful at gaining admission to medical school have the self-discipline needed to preserve amidst the hustle and bustle of pre-med life. They understand and truly believe that there will be an ends to their means and move along their journey by beginning with the end in mind. In the long run, those who are successful at gaining admission into medical school know that while at first and in the beginning the work they need to put in is hard and trying but they’d rather have it this way that be left wondering what could have happened if they tried and pushed a little harder and a little longer.
flickr/ Ibai
they want it – they want it bad. You will spend at minimum the next 10 years to become a doctor, and maybe another 10 to pay off your medical school loans; so for the interviewer sitting across from you, your answer to this question is quite important, and yes, highly successful medical school applicants know this.
HOW TO MAKE INTERVIEWERS FALL IN LOVE WITH THEM. Did you know that over one-third of medical school admissions officers said they consider an “unimpressive interview” the biggest application killer for a prospective student? Successful pre-meds are those who make great first impressions with committee members and almost instantly or shortly after introducing themselves, make a real connection with the interviewer. Beyond having the good grades and impressive MCAT scores, these individuals make their interviewer think that they will be a great addition to their school and will be a pleasure to have around. So after greeting them with a confident handshake,
reach their goal. For whatever reason, they don’t make it to the end and what they lack is discipline. “Discipline is the foundation upon which all success is built,” said the late entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn. “Lack of discipline inevitably leads to failure.” For successful pre-meds, the plan is quite simple. They have a no-excuses attitude, a commitment to working hard, and do whatever it takes to be better than they were yes-
HOW TO DO MORE OF WHAT THEY’RE GOOD AT A well-honed interest or passion helps successful pre-meds get the attention of medical schools and, with an overall good application, gets them an acceptance letter. Beyond course work, work and activities, letters of evaluation, essays, and MCAT
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |21
“Their passions are their hobbies and their hobbies are their passions. These individuals explore, try different things, and are curious and when they find something they enjoy and are interested in, there’s no turning back. While finding what they’re good at and what they like to do may not come quick, but they pay attention to what drives them.”
scores, every successful pre-med has a very valuable asset: their story. And believe that their story will touch on, or tie into what they’re good at and what they enjoy doing. They find out what their strengths are and build from there. And make no mistake; it doesn’t happen overnight. With time and effort, these individuals choose interests that make them want to continue doing whatever it is that they choose, day after day, week after week, month after month, and even year after year. Their passions are their hobbies and their hobbies are their passions. These individuals explore, try different things, and are curious and when they find something they enjoy and are interested in, there’s no turning back. While finding what they’re good at and what they like to do may not come quick, but they pay attention to what drives them. What they end up finding comes from a combination of personality traits and natural strengths which they can ultimately use to find their “happy place.” When these individuals are able to claim, discover, and embrace something that they’re good at the effect and influence that it has on their lives is awesome.
IF BECOMING A DOCTOR IT THEIR WILL, THERE IS A WAY Much like the way pioneering researcher and psychologist Roy F. Baumeister explains it, successful pre-meds not only have willpower to resist constant temptation, overtime many of them learn how to “conserve it for crucial moments by setting the right goals.” When these individuals decide on pursu-
ing medicine, at first they may or may not realize the practical implications of their willpower, but somewhere along the way they get it. And as you may know, as a pre-med there are several medical school prerequisites which may or may not be of interest to these pre-meds, but through the strength of their willpower, they push forward to get through uninteresting or difficult tasks. According to Kelly McGonigal, a Stanford psychologist, “willpower gives you the energy and endurance to deal with
challenges, the ability to persevere in the face of setbacks, and the strength to tolerate conflict or stress that might otherwise make us run away from goals or projects we care about.” For these pre-meds, their will to become a doctor helps them find their way. Their way through challenging times; their way through moments of anxiety; their way through stressful moments; and their way through whatever comes along. And don’t think they’re not human too. There may be times when they get distracted or feel unmotivated (just for a second, of course), but that’s where their willpower comes into play again, and they snap out of it and get themselves back on track. And remember that because it works like a muscle, the willpower of these successful pre-meds grows with practice, ultimately giving them the ability to easily resist compromising impulses and goal breakers. They know their strengths and with the great willpower they have, know their weaknesses even more. For this group of pre-meds, their willpower gives them “super-premed strength” and in their minds will allow them to make ANYTHING happen.
HOW TO PUSH THROUGH AND PERFORM UNDER PRESSURE Throughout the journey to becoming a doctor there are more high-pressure moments than a few. It might be an orgo exam, that final lab report, or the test of all test – the MCAT – that will or will not get them one step closer to getting into medical school. It all comes down to these moments and they know that they’ll either be the one who makes it through or the one who doesn’t. Can they handle it? Heck yes! And in fact, they actually live for these moments. Or maybe not so much live for them but don’t buckle under the pressure but embrace the adrenaline rush that usually comes with the territory. They use the pressure and stress to their advantage and make it work for them. And regardless of what goes wrong with their plan, successful pre-meds always think ahead a few steps. And if something comes up, they take a step back, try to regroup, and find a solution to whatever problem their facing. They know that freaking out and going into worry mode is not going to help their situation – so, they deal with it. That’s life. Things aren’t going to always go their way and when they don’t, it’s not the end of the world. And this pushing through pressure thing comes in handy later on down the line. It’s no secret that medical school is a high pressure environment. When asked during medical school interviews how they work under pressure, they know how they’ll answer.
flickr/ Sarah G
In all, successful pre-meds are those who write their own stories and tell it in such as way that makes medical school admission committees believe their passion, commitment, and desire to practice medicine is undeniable. ¡
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Premed / Pre-Health / Post Bacc Electives & Study Abroad in Africa
A F R I C A
Our program offers the following: Ø Opportunity for early exposure to medicine Ø A unique way to demonstrate intent and interest in medical school application Ø See healthcare delivery in a different setting Ø Cultural exchange and an appreciation of other cultures, including a Safari to famous Maasai Mara if
placed in Kenya
info@electiveafrica.com
www.electiveafrica.com
Elective Africa's Premed / Pre-Health / Post Bacc program offers well structured and well supervised placements for Premed / Pre-Health / Post Bacc students seeking to study abroad, get independent study and be involved in experiential learning or volunteer programs in Africa.
Medical Programs
Safari to Masai Mara
Ø Student electives ð Surgery, Pediatrics, General Medicine, Obstetrics
& Gynecology, Emergency & Critical Care, Dentistry Ø Premed programs Ø Public health research Ø Medical camps Ø Nursing Ø Midwifery Ø Physician Assistant
“Doing a medical elective in Kenya was an eye opening experience. I got to see the developing world health system and range of tropical diseases not normally prevalent in Australia. It was a really hands on experience. I got to learn and perform skills like administering injections, catheters and suturing patients. I was also able to take part in the examining, differentials, diagnosing and formulating treatment plans. The highlight for me would have to be the amazing new friends I have made and the motivation I have taken back home. I would recommend this program to anyone considering it.” Cassanne Eccleston Charles Sturt University Australia, August 2010
http://www.electiveafrica.com
GETTINGIN Advice and tips for becoming the most successful candidate for medical schools admissions
How to Turn Your Summer Internship Into An AMCASWorthy Experience In the next few weeks, hundreds, maybe even thousands of premed students will start a summer internship or research program. You scored an opportunity that may provide you with real-world experience or exposure in your field of interest and maybe your future career. The possible significance of this summer opportunity cannot be overstated. According to Kaplan's 2012 survey of medical school admissions officers, the most important admissions factor after MCAT and GPA is relevant experience. This experience may very well be "The One" that will help medical schools notice you. The time to stand out among other prospective applicants has arrived. Now it's time to show medical schools who you are and what you have to offer outside of what you can do academically. The experiences that you gain over the summer are great for adding to the AMCAS work/activities section, but even more importantly; this will help you gain valuable insight into a specific field or medicine or research and help you discover more about your interest in pursuing a career in medicine. While you will not be able to tell whether or not an experience will be meaningful to you or not beforehand, at some point you will identify the meaning (or lack thereof) gained from the experience. So is this the summer experience that will be "meaningful" to you? While many internships or research opportunities may look the same when entered into AMCAS at first, it's the additional 1325 characters that will catch the attention of the medical schools you apply to. This summer is your chance to turn your summer opportunity into a meaningful experience and here are five tips to help you make that happen:
24 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
X Find a mentor
There are a number of different factors that when combined together create a meaningful experience - one being a mentor. If the program you participate in does not assign a mentor to you, it is your job to find one. A mentor can be your guide as you navigate through the internship or program you are involved in. They can unload tons of information, their own experience and knowledge, and may give you a new outlook and new ways of thinking as you develop your career goals. Who knows one of your most meaningful experiences may come after an encounter with a mentor who provides a supportive platform to reflect on things in a whole new way. Mentors can be very beneficial to an internship as well as heighten your knowledge about your area of interest or even an area you never were exposed to.
Y Strive for personal growth
What good would it be if you start an internship program and at the end of the duration come out the same person you went it? One of the purposes of participating in an internship program or summer premed activity is to grow, learn, and gain experiences. While medical schools like qualified applicants who stand out though their work experience, extracurricular activities, awards, honors, or publications, personal growth is perhaps one of the most important aspects of an experience that can help bring attention to an application. Your internship can be a powerful trigger for personal growth, a hallmark overcoming new challenges.
[ Initiate a project
Depending on the type of program you participate in, you may have the opportunity to take on a self-initiated or independent project. Individuals who are allowed to either work independently on a project or bring their ideas to the table have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to take the word "meaningful" to a whole new level. This is your chance to create an experience that has an absolute personal element to it. The AAMC suggest that when writing about your most meaningful experiences that you "consider the transformative nature of the experience, the impact you made while engaging in the activity, and the personal growth you experience as a result of your participation." As you start your internship or summer activity, it is important that you begin with the end in mind, being mindful of the AAMC's suggestions as you move forward in your experience.
\ Keep a journal.
Z
Ask questions
If you are participating in an internship or some other activity this summer, you're going to want to keep a journal. When it comes time to complete the work/activities section of the AMCAS and you need to reflect on the most meaningful experiences you have had up until that point, how great would it be if you could pull out your internship journal and read entries you made months or even years earlier? Keeping a journal and not keeping one could mean the difference between an AMCAS response with little to no detail about your experience and an AMCAS response with vivid details and feelings about your work. Keeping a journal does not have to be tedious by should be an account of your general thoughts and feelings during your time. It can also be used to record any outstanding experiences that you may have as well. If maintained, your journals will be helpful as you move closer to applying to medical school and are able to identify connections between your experiences. Moreover, the practice of keeping a journal will come in handy during interviews when you may be asked to talk about the meaningful experiences that you recorded in AMCAS.
One of the best ways to show your interest is to ask questions. Be open and willing to learn something new by picking the brains of those around you. This will not only demonstrate your determination and motivation to perform at or above what is expected of you, it may also help you gain a clearer picture and greater insight into what you're actually getting yourself into. The point of this summer experience and others you will participate in over the duration of your premed years is not to just stand back and watch. The purpose of these kinds of opportunities is to make every single experience and learning experience. It is quite okay to ask questions when you are presented with something that is unfamiliar to you.
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine | 25
O&M Medical School
Meet the Dean & Director
O&M Medical School - it’s the newest medical school in the Dominican Republic and PreMedLife magazine had a chance to speak with the Dean and Director. And with an alliance with Partner’s Harvard Medical International, O&M is hoping to enable a new era of medical education and health science research. Alan B. Retik, M.D., O&M’s Dean and Urologist in Chief Emeritus at the Boston Children’s Hospital, has a long career in academic medicine and Medical School Director Eddy Pérez-Then, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.P.H..., P.hD, brings an extensive background as well - for starters he graduated from the University of Miami’s Fogarty Research Training Program, received several awards for his notable contributions in preventing HIV vertical transmission, science and technology; and for a scientific paper respectively, for his work in HIV research in the Dominican Republic. We asked Drs. Retik and Pérez-Then the questions we know our readers what to know the answer to most. Here’s what they had to say:
26 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
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What is the idea behind O&M Medical School?
Dr. Retik: The decision to create a new medical school was made during the first year of the first decade of the 21st century. In 2002, the University forged in earnest an alliance with one of the most distinguished medical schools in the world, the Harvard Medical School, through its international arm, Harvard Medical International. After years of unrelenting hard work and preparation, physicians trained both at Harvard University and in workshops in the Dominican Republic, and a process of design of an advanced curriculum and the special facilities needed for its implementation executed by specialized professionals, the new school has welcomed its first class of medical students in 2013.
What does the admission process consist of?
Dr. Pérez-Then: The Admissions office evaluates all applicants, taking into consideration their academic and personal qualifications. The analysis includes their academic achievements, basic studies required to enter the program and the SAT scores or other standardized tests results when it applies. The motivation to study medicine, leadership qualities, ability to relate to others, ability to resolve problems, and participation in community and scientific activities are considered important. After the application file is completed and reviewed by the Admissions Committee, the applicants, after the interview process, will receive a written notification informing them of the final decision. It must be understood that all original documents submitted become property of the University and will not be returned. These documents will be handled as confidential and used exclusively by the Admissions Department.
After the evaluation, a decision letter will be sent to each candidate.
Do students have an assigned advisor to help them?
Dr. Retik: Upon enrollment at O&Med each student is assigned a mentor, who accompanies him or her in the academic and professional development, providing continuous and long-term guidance, feedback and personalized coaching in this process. O&Med mentors, involving experienced faculty members, advise and guide students in matters related to their professional development and achievement of academic success. The mentors assist students in creating an agenda for working toward their professional development goals and provide them with orientation needed in order to successfully complete the medical school curriculum and prepare for their future career in the desired professional field.
Can you briefly describe a typical week for students at O&Med?
Dr. Retik: The contents of each academic term of the O&Med curriculum are strategically distributed over a working week, in a sequence designed to facilitate active learning and acquisition of relevant and meaningful knowledge organized around the main module course topics.
Are students involved in providing for the health needs of the surrounding community?
Dr. Pérez –Then: Saturdays are dedicated to community project activities and doctor-patient practices in different level health establishments in the Dominican Republic, providing our students with an important opportunity for applying the newly
28 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
acquired knowledge and skills in real-life situations within structured and supervised clinical and community settings.
Your school’s website describes the medical school curriculum as “innovative” - can you explain what makes O&Med ‘s curriculum so innovative?
Dr.Retik: O&M Medical School (O&Med), based on the highest standards of modern medical education, aims to develop a new generation of physicians who will excel not only in clinical knowledge and skills, but also in professionalism, ethics, research and social commitment, while respecting the culture and the needs of their communities. To achieve this mission, our fully integrated curriculum includes early exposure and longitudinal emphasis on Epidemiology and Public Health, Medical and Social Research, Information Technology, Community Engagement, Bioethics and Doctor-Patient Relationship. O&Med aims to become a center of excellence in medical education for the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, promoting the formation of culturally sensitive and socially engaged medical doctors, with strong foundations in public health, research methodology and bioethics. Aiming to train physicians able to address both the disease and the illness experience, as well as to adequately communicate and understand the patient within his or her personal, social and cultural circumstances, the O&Med curriculum promotes students’ early involvement at different levels of health prevention and treatment settings, while providing them with opportunities for positive interaction with patients from different social and cultural backgrounds.
we know you love us ...so why don’t you ‘LIKE US’? facebook.com/premedlife
Photos courtesy of Harlan Selesnick
How much of an influence did you parents have on your decision to become a doctor? My father was an obstetrician/gynecologist and my mother was a sex therapist so they were certainly both in the medical field. They were both very supportive of anything I wanted to do and obviously with medicine they were very supportive because that was something they were interested in as well.
You attended Northwestern University’s 6-year BS/MD program. Can you talk a little about that?
WHEN I WAS
PREMED Dr. Harlan Selesnick Miami Heat Team Physician
As the 2014 NBA playoffs get underway, Premedlife.com had the pleasure of speaking with Harlan Selesnick, MD, the team physician for the Miami Heat, winners of the NBA championship title two years in a row. The interview gives us a candid look at what Dr. Selesnick’s experiences were as a pre-med, as well as a peek into a career path that on the surface may seem glamorous, but in reality is a lot of work.
30 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
I’m a big fan of accelerated medical programs for many reasons. If you think you have an interest in medicine, one of the big stresses that premed students have is getting into medical school and having to worry about that during their four years of college. So one of the big advantages of a BS/MD program is that you know what the next six or seven years are going to be. That provides a student the chance to perform decently with regard to their GPA which is probably a level slightly lower (than what’s needed to gain admission to medical school through the traditional route) and be able to continue on to medical school. Another big advantage is that because you don’t have to have as high a GPA because they expect you’re going to do well, it give you an opportunity to take some courses in other areas that you may not normally have the opportunity to take. If you have an interest in Political Science, American Lit, or Astronomy, you’ll be able to take those courses knowing that if you receive one or two grades that weren’t that great you can still get into medical school. Northwestern was really a great program! They treated you really well and even during the “college part” they would bring in medical faculty who would lecture about different areas of medicine which would keep our interest going. They were very supportive once you got into medical school.
Do you think there any disadvantages to being in a BS/MD accelerated program? Looking back now, the disadvantage is that college is supposed to be a fun time. So in my circumstance, I missed two years of college and those are two years of college experiences that I won’t necessarily get back. One of the advantages of Northwestern was that even though medical school was very demanding, I still had a lot of friends in college and was still able to enjoy the college life while in medical school.
Do you think you had to sacrifice a lot to get where you are today? Technically, I sacrificed two years of college. But I don’t really feel like I missed anything. Regardless of whether a student is in a six-year program or any other pre-med who has to take demanding courses, whether it’s Organic Chemistry or P-Chem, you’re studying harder, and have to sacrifice having a certain amount of fun at times, so I think everybody has to do that. (continued on page 28)
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were harder than medical school. Medical school is time consuming because you have to learn so much.
What was the most challenging time for you during undergrad? P-Chem! (laughs) That was probably the most challenging time, trying to get through that. But other than that there was nothing too bad.
What advice to give to those who are applying to medical school? There are two things: Get a good GPA and do well on the MCAT.
What attracted you to Orthopedics? I liked that it was a very innovative field. And I was very interested in sports and I realized I was never a good enough athlete to play in the NBA, but I figured I could be a doctor to take care of those who played in the NBA.
What is the best part of practicing sports medicine? The nice thing about sports medicine is that you’re dealing mostly with a younger patient population who are motivated to get better. You’re making people happy and helping them get better so they can go back to doing what they love to do.
Are there any parts of practicing sports medicine that you dislike? Paperwork. Electronic medical records. And there are some nights you feel very tired after seeing patients all day, I’d have to be at a game for five or six hours. For the most part it’s a lot of fun.
Is there anything you learned during your two years of undergrad that you feel prepared you for medical school? One of the best elements of an accelerated program is that because students are taking a more concentrated amount of science courses is that you are forced to be a little more organized and have better study habits.
Is there anything you wish you would have know before you started medical school? I think one of the misconceptions a lot of people have is that they know exactly what kind of doctor or what field of medicine they are going to pursue when they’re premed. The reality of it is is that most people change their minds two or three times when they’re there. Some people get stressed about what type of doctor they are going to be and that’s really not a very important thing. Medical school isn’t really that hard in the sense that it’s more memorizing and applying what you learned to different diagnoses. I think in some ways Physics courses
32 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
You’ve been a team physician for the Miami Heat since 1988. What would you say you enjoy most about your role with the team? I’m very fortunate to be with the team for so many years. I certainly enjoy my interactions with the players. I love sports and watching the games and that’s a nice thing to be able to do while I’m working. The most exciting moment was winning the first championship in Dallas when we weren’t expected to win. The moment was almost surreal – being on the court with my wife and my daughters, celebrating with the team. It was a lot of fun.
What is a typical day like for you? I start work in the morning seeing patients in the hospital and then either start surgery or see patients in the office and work throughout the day until 5 or 6 at night. If there’s a home game, I’ll go from work to the arena an hour before game time to be available to not only the Miami Heat but also the away team and the referees. Then I’ll stay throughout the game hope that everyone stays healthy and then after the game to be available to anyone on our team and the opposing team.
What advice would you give to pre-meds who wish to pursue sports medicine? Do well in medical school. Getting into an orthopedic surgery residency is one of the more competitive residencies, although you can get into sports medicine as a family practice doctor.
Courtesy of Dr. Selesnick
“The nice thing about sports medicine is that you’re dealing mostly with a younger patient population who are motivated to get better. You’re making people happy and helping them get better so they can go back to doing what they love to do.”
>> GETTING IN
Cleaning Up Your Social Media Profiles
A Must-Do Task For Every Medical School Applicant
>>>
Your test scores, grade point average, and everything else you enter into AMCAS aren’t the only factor medical school admission committees are taking into consideration when it comes to the admission process.
A 2013 SURVEY CONDUCTED BY KAPLAN Test Prep found that not only have some medical school admissions officers admitted to “Googling” an applicant to learn more about them, 42% of them said they even discovered something online about an applicant that negatively impacted their application. Nowadays, what you do online may be just as important as what you do offline. If you get a little nervous just thinking about what members of a medical school admission committee would say if they saw photos you’ve posted to Facebook or what you’re calling yourself on Twitter, it may be time for you to do some cleaning. A medical school is trying to make a decision about who it’s going to choose to be a part of its next class of future physicians. It is important that these schools try to find out as much as they can about prospective students. Think of it as a “social media” background check. And while there are some ethical concerns surrounding the practice (i.e. discriminatory factors that may result in certain biases), the majority of medical schools do not have official guidelines or policies when it comes to visiting applicants’ social networking pages and factoring what they find into the admissions process. So, basically, if you’re applying to medical school, there’s a great chance that admissions officers are going to check out your social media persona. And while you may not be worried about the AAMC-facilitated criminal background check, you may have to worry about what a search of your social media accounts may reveal. And while you may not think too much of what a search of your social media persona may unearth, the truth is that it may very well lead to a bad ending: losing the chance to pursue your dream of becoming a doctor. The good news is that cleaning up your social media profiles is easier than you think. In fact, you can even use this opportunity to make your Facebook page, Twitter feed, and Instagram photos
34 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
work in your advantage but thinking of them as extensions of your medical school application. How awesome would it be if a medical school admissions officer did in fact decide to do a little research on you and through your social media accounts learned that you are indeed as perfect as your AMCAS application made you look? Here are a few tips to help you avoid social media scrutiny from admissions officers at your dream medical school:
Flickr/Jason Howie
You’ve probably done it just for fun, and aside from the obvious kick you may get out of just doing it, Googling yourself is the first thing you’ll want to do when it comes to cleaning up your online presence. If you think about it, how easy would it be for an admissions officer to simply type your name into the strangely inviting search box and hit the ‘Enter’ button? This would be the quickest way for an admissions committee member to determine whether or not it would be “worth it” to dig further.
Since it is probably the social media site you will post the most personal information about yourself, it should be your next stop when cleaning up your online presence before applying to medical school. First things first – view your public self. You can do this by logging out of Facebook completely and then searching for yourself by name. It may be very easy to find you by name even if you do not use your name as your account ID. Try going to www. facebook.com/srch.php, type in your name, and see what comes up. See what is visible; if you’re name is popular, you’ll most likely get many results and if not, your profile may be easier to find than you realize. Next, log back into Facebook and use the “View As” tool to see what your timeline looks like to other people. Facebook gives the following instructions for doing this: 1.) Go to your Timeline and click 2.) Click View As… in the dropdown menu. 3.) You’ll see what your Timeline looks to the public. Next, check your privacy settings. Facebook changes the rules on their privacy settings quite often, you’ll want to do this again even if you think your account
is airtight. Since all posts are set to Public by default, make sure your “Who can see your future posts?” setting is set to either Friends, Only Me, or Custom. The smartest choice here is Friends, but you should create a Custom list if you have already accepted friend request from both personal and professional acquaintances. Make this change not only for future posts but for your past posts. To do this, go to privacy settings and choose “Limit the Audience for Old Posts on Your Timeline.” Now that you have straightened out your privacy settings and see what others see on your profile, it is time to do away with any results you don’t like. You may not have the opportunity to provide an explanation for the unflattering posts, photos, comments in your medical school interview. Aside from deleting posts that could possibly compromise your application in any way, you also have the option of changing the visibility of individual posts. Before applying to medical school, it is important to be sure that your private posts are actually private, the only public posts, photos, and comments are the ones that will not taint your prospective medical student persona, and moving forward, filter yourself for crying out loud, think before your hit the post button so you won’t have to double back come interview season.
It is very important to have a professional-sounding username on Twitter. Your username is basically your name on Twitter. It is your handle. Try to avoid inappropriate handles like @krazypremed876 or embarrassing names like @premedhottie22. If you are the slightest worried about what admissions officers may see, change your account to permission-only by checking the “Protect my tweets” option in your account settings. This will only allow those you pick to follow you and see your tweets. And if you don’t go the private route, you’re going to want keep everything 100% professional. Revisit what you’ve written in your bio to make sure that it thoughtfully presents who you are. If you’ve already started “going off ” on Twitter, you need to double back to do some damage control. To clean your Twitter profile, click to see your tweets and delete any tweets that are inappropriate or embarrassing.
While it is probably very annoying to have to think about your medical school application when posting a photo to Instgram, but you must ask yourself “would I want a medical school admissions committee member seeing this picture?” An Instagram photo can create a long-lasting first impression on an individual potentially looking to accept your into their medical school. No medical school wants to see a photo of you sucking face with your significant other or the time you decided to try planking at the Museum of Natural History. So here’s what you do when it comes to Instagram, if you would not show it to your grandmother, delete it from your timeline and for the future, don’t post it!
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |35
123rf.com/viperagp
The most frustrating part of the MCAT Advice on how to approach verbal reasoning section of the MCAT By Bryan Schnedeker
After spending years in science classes and in the lab, it can be downright satisfying when the MCAT comes along and asks you questions that you learned in those settings. “What does aldosterone do? Why I’m glad you asked!” But then the MCAT writers had to ruin everything by including the verbal reasoning (VR) section. All that hard work means little when facing a passage about Impressionist Painters or the Deontological Theories of Immanuel Kant. The huge variety of potential topics that can show up in VR can create the impression that it’s “impossible” to study for this section of the MCAT. And you know what? That’s right! You don’t study for the verbal section. You practice for it. Making that mental shift from study to practice brings with it a whole host of new ideas about how to prepare for success. So let’s start with a quick rundown of the basics.
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“I recommend that students push themselves to read one of the most difficult things they’ll see on the MCAT: philosophy.”
VERBAL EVERY DAY. First, you can’t cram practice. Getting ready for the verbal section is closer to preparing for a piano recital or a baseball game. That is, it depends on skills rather than knowledge. The only way to build up skills is through repeated daily practice. Set a weekly schedule for yourself. Ideally you should complete at least two full 60 minute timed sections each week, and do one or two passages untimed the other days. It’s important to use a judicious mix of both timed and untimed work so that you can practice particular skills with a focus on accuracy, and then practice those same skills under the pressure of the clock. READ, READ, AND READ SOME MORE. Next, you’ll need to develop a habit of reading nonscience material every day. One of the most popular suggestions is The Economist magazine. As exceptionally well-written as the magazine is, however, it can still fall short of the really challenging level of MCAT verbal content. Instead, I recommend that students push themselves to read one of the most difficult things they’ll see on the MCAT: philosophy. There are lots of options here, but one of the simplest choices is to purchase an old used edition of the philosophy textbook Reason & Responsibility. You can find copies for just a couple of dollars on Amazon. This textbook includes selections of philosophical writing spanning several thousand years, and will really give your brain a strong verbal workout. Set aside 45 minutes every day to read a chunk of text from that philosophy textbook, and as you read focus on one central task: identify the author’s main idea. Try to avoid getting bogged down in minute details and ask yourself, “Okay what is this person trying to convince me of?” FIND YOUR BEST METHOD. One of the hardest parts of good verbal prep is finding your best method. Most MCAT prep materials and prep companies will try to convince you that there’s one “right” way to approach the verbal section. This is, of course, nonsense. There are as many different ways to approach verbal as there are test takers. Since everyone’s brain works in its own unique way, you’ll need to invest time in finding a method that works best for you. We could fill a textbook just analyzing this one part of verbal prep, but for the sake of brevity, let’s outline two factors for you to consider:
FACTOR #1: WHAT TOOLS TO USE? Scratch Paper Some prep companies insist that the only right way to do verbal is to stop at the end of every paragraph and take notes. While this method has a lot of advantages, many students find they don’t necessarily like it. The only way to find out if you should adopt a note-taking approach is to try it out. As you practice, avoid taking a mechanistic approach. Don’t just stop at the end of every paragraph, regardless of the content of the paragraph. That’s wasteful of time and energy. Instead focus on writing down key ideas (logical connections) in a flowchart form. If you read a paragraph that’s just a bunch of supporting details, then don’t write anything down. That’s a waste. Keep reading until the author uses lots of keywords (thus, because, therefore, since) indicating ideas that are logically connected, sketch out some quick notes outlining those relationships. After all, they call it Verbal reasoning precisely because the questions will hinge on those logical connections. The Highlighting Function This can be tough, since the highlighter often has to do double-duty. You need to highlight names and dates so that you can find them quickly, but you also want to highlight a few key words to help summarize important ideas. In general, I advocate starting your VR practice by ignoring the scratch paper and focusing solely on learning how to effectively use the highlighter. In that regard, you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for three broad categories of ideas - the ideas that show up in the questions: Opinion, Contrast, and Cause-and-Effect. The key here is to avoid the typical mistake of “Oh I just highlight anything that seems important”. Instead, be selective and highlight as few words as possible. Be sure you can articulate to yourself why you’re choosing to highlight a word. FACTOR #: WHERE TO SPEND YOUR TIME? Broadly speaking there are three possible approaches. The only way to find “the best” is to do a ton of practice on each and see what works for you: The Skimming Approach Some students find that when they do the questions, they feel absolutely compelled to go back to the passage over and over. They don’t feel comfortable answering a question unless they’ve looked up something in the passage.
Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to break that habit. So instead of fighting a losing battle, we can accommodate that style of question-answering. We do that by learning how to skim the passage effectively. Aim to spend 60-90 seconds skimming the passage, thus leaving yourself 7 minutes or more to answer the questions very slowly and carefully. The Slow, Careful Read Approach If you have an excellent working memory and really like to get a very thorough understanding of the passage, this may be the better approach for you (and I’ll admit it’s the one I use). Under this approach, you read the passage very carefully, often reading sentences two or three times. You develop a very strong understanding of the passage, allocating as much as 6-6.5 minutes of your time really “learning” the passage. Then, you fly through the questions. Never look anything up. Answer everything based on memory and your solid understanding of the passage. The Balanced Approach This is where most students should start. You spend about 3.5-4 minutes on the passage and 4.5-5 minutes on the questions. I’d venture to say something like 75-85% of MCAT students are best served by this sort of approach. Ultimately, to find your best method, take an empirical approach. Don’t dismiss something out of hand just because it sounds silly. Start a spreadsheet where you track your performance and see what percentage of the questions you get right when you take different approaches. Finally, and most importantly: get support! It’s nearly impossible to succeed if you go it alone. In over a decade of working with MCAT students, the single biggest factor I’ve seen that distinguishes successful MCAT students from unsuccessful ones is simple: social support, usually in the form of a study group. Connect with people through your college campus, facebook, Student Doctor Network, or some other means to create the support that you’ll need to succeed.
BRYAN SCHNEDEKER IS THE NATIONAL DIRECTOR, IN CHARGE OF MCAT TUTORS AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AT NEXT STEP TEST PREPARATION. TO LEARN MORE GO TO NEXTSTEPTESTPREP.COM.
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5 simple pre-MCAT food ideas
g...these in iz g r e n e , g n ti s o Simple, brain-bo u the fuel o y e iv g l il w ls a T me simple pre-MCA of your game! p to e th t a m r you need to perfo
Flickr/ cuppycake fiend
M
ost MCAT top scorers gain an advantage even before stepping foot into the testing center on test day. The top-performing ones usually start the moment their alarm clock sounds. Their secret is not reviewing quirky acronyms or listening to 10 minutes of a Mozart sonata - it’s eating a “power” breakfast. When it comes to MCAT day, for successful testtakers, breakfast is kind of a big deal. You have the chance to give your brain and body the fuel it needs to help you perform at the top of your game and you shouldn’t want it any other way. And while pairing a tall, dark roast coffee with a blueberry scone might be your usual go-to grub to kickstart your morning, on the day of your MCAT it may very well be the kink in your chain or the rut in your strut. So you get it, breakfast is important. This we know. A ton of evidence points to the countless benefits of even eating any kind of breakfast. And when you throw essential nutrients into the mix, the effects of a “power” breakfast could mean the difference between a good score and a great one. In one study of 1,259 college students, researchers found that students who ate breakfast had a higher success rate on General Biology exams than those students who did not eat breakfast. And while the benefits of eating breakfast are well-documented - it can improve concentration, reduce fatigue, sharpen memory - what you actually eat will determine whether or not you’ll reap those benefits. Even if it’s for one day only, give yourself the unmentioned edge by eating to win. Research shows that by simply eating breakfast, one can improve concentration, mental performance, memory, problem-solving skills, and even mood.
steel-cut oatmeal + fresh blueberries It’s ridiculously simple to make and also easy to find already prepared, steel-cut oatmeal is a powerful, hearty superfood that’s too brain-boosting to skip. Research suggest that this old-school go-to breakfast can not only improve brain function - memory and cognitive ability - but also stimulate serotonin production in the brain to boost your mood. The myriad of vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and carbs can help boost your energy levels to maintain a steady level of energy to your brain and body. If preparing your oatmeal at home, try making it with skim or soy milk to boost your protein intake (brain performance is affected by the amount of protein in your diet). And if you want more of a boost, add a snatch of sliced almonds. Also, skip the sugar - if the berries didn’t sweeten up your oatmeal enough, try adding some honey.
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |39
Flickr/ Ewan Munro
eggs + whole wheat toast + fresh fruit If there was ever a time you needed to remember stuff, test day would definitely be it. Research has found that consuming a specific nutrient from the vitamin B family called choline helps improve memory and attention-holding capacity. While eating a food rich in choline - like eggs - on the day of the MCAT when you never really eat it often won’t help much, for those who eat eggs more regularly, the benefits may be priceless. You can also rely on this high-protein meal to improve your focus and keep you feeling full long enough to hold you through your first break. And swapping out white bread for whole wheat bread will provide you with the complex carbs you need to help fuel brain function.
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greek yogurt + blueberries + banana smoothie
Flickr/ Miriam
This quick, morning starter is chock full of brain-boosting benefits. First there’s the blueberries, which as you already know are great brain food. And aside from stimulating blood and oxygen flow to the brain, these super fruits will also help kick in when the time comes to remember and recall information you’ve been studying over the last several months. For this fast option, you’ll need blueberries, a banana, greek yogurt, and oatmeal. In once study, researchers found that students who ate bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch were more alert through their exams. And when it comes to greek yogurt, this will be your secret weapon to help relieve any anxiety and stress you may experience building up to test time. But you’ll need to get a headstart with this one if you want to see the benefits. Specifically, researchers from UCLA’s School of Medicine reported that the probiotic-rich yogurt two times a day for a month reduced activity in the region of the brain that regulated these emotions.
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |41
Flickr/ Alpha
brain food minerals & s in m a it v h it ked w ish strong A breakfast pac n fi to d e e n u o y e edge with give you th
whole wheat toast + lox + fresh fruit If you want to fancy things up a bit, try this protein-filled bite of lox toast. This made the list because for starters salmon is a go-to source of omega-3 fatty acids which researchers say may help cells in the brain to communicate better. And again the whole wheat toast is going to be the best bet here since it will be more rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E, zinc, and magnesium, but will also help you feel full longer. The protein and fiber you’ll get from the whole wheat toast will also supply you with a steady stream of energy. When it comes to what fruit to pair your meal with, you options are overflowing here; for the purpose of performing well on the MCAT, try a banana which will improve your mood, help you relax, and help sustain energy levels and concentration for the first few hours of the test. Or strawberries, oranges, apples, grapes, or kiwi which experts say improve memory recall and increase blood flow to the brain.
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almond butter + whole wheat english muffin + fresh fruit
Flickr/ Leonid Domnitser
With a glass of low-fat milk, this simple, super-rich breakfast will deliver a ton of benefits - enhance memory and brain function, alter mood and cognition in a positive way. Packing a little more punch that the traditional peanut, contain essential nutrients proven to boost brain activity. So go ahead and spread this super nut on a whole wheat english muffin, slice of toast, or even a waffle. And, again, don’t forget the fruits. You have a whole lot to choose from when it comes to what’s best. Take your pick, but you can’t go wrong with blueberries of course!
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |43
ajcotton / 123RF
the anti-freshman 15 Train. Hard. Achieve
www.THAfitnessgroup.com Twitter: @thafitnessgroup
THEGOODS
Our pick of items that will add some flair to your pre-medical life and perhaps put a smile on your face
What Did I Buy Today? Learning what you can’t live without is actually quite simple, once you stand back and consider the true value of each purchase. For instance, this petite journal helps you tally every trip to the thrift store, tank of gas, and out-to-dinner expense, making it the charming cornerstone of your money-saving strategy!
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This Too Shall Pass Paperweight Set in a progressively fading typeface, this inspirational paperweight reminds us to weather the storm no matter how big it may seem. Made in Providence from lead-free pewter, this desktop décor goes from light to dark etching as it sees you through deadlines, life changes, and stressful days at school.
I’ve Got My Ion Some Chemistry Pillows
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We all hope a little chemistry is happening on the couch or in the bedroom, right? In our own, at least…not our child’s or our father’s (shudders). These Chemistry Pillows ought to spark up a little something for YOU. Even if that little something is a nerdy conversation.
46 | PreMedLife Magazine | May/June 2014
Kick That Laundry’s Ass Don’t call it a chore. For some of us, doing several loads of laundry a day is a workout. Designed to train a domestic champ, this Punch Bag Laundry Bag is big enough to hold a heavyweight load of washing…yet tough enough to take a beating. Hang it in your closet or a corner of the room and use it to take out all of your aggressions until laundry day. You’ll be ready to spar with the best of ‘em in no time.
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u Book Rest Lamp Reading in bed is healthy, or at least according to us it is. The Book Rest Lamp is the perfect little home for your sleepy book. Made of frosted glass, it gives off a soft light that’s ideal for reading, but it also doubles as a book rest to ensure that you never lose your page.
Waterproof Notebook
Get ideas in the shower? Or in the rain? or while doing dishes? Behold the Waterproof Notebook, which is comprised of 80 sheets of waterproof paper and a graphite pencil. (I hadn’t really been aware of such a thing as waterproof paper, but apparently you can tear out the sheets like an ordinary notebook.)
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May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |47
we know you love us ...so why don’t you ‘LIKE US’? facebook.com/premedlife
INTHESTACKS
Books we think those aspiring to become doctors might be interested in reading ONE DOCTOR: CLOSE CALLS, COLD CASES, AND THE MYSTERIES OF MEDICINE
by Brendan Reilly M.D.
This memoir about the career of a general practitioner gives readers a peek into the life of Dr. Brendan Reily in his role as Executive Vice Chair at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York City. A look at making decisions about life and death, teaching future physicians, what it’s like to work over fifteen hours in a single day, and the experience behind dealing with patients and their families. Dr. Reily also reflects on his earlier career as a primary care physician in a small town. This is a must read for anyone interested in modern medicine from the perspective of a physician who has “been there and done that.”
GENETIC ROUNDS: A DOCTOR’S ENCOUNTERS IN THE FIELD THAT REVOLUTIONIZED MEDICINE
by Robert Marion
In this book Dr. Robert Marion, professor of pediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and author of the best-selling book The Intern Blues, draws from his experience as a director of clinical genetics and shares stories from his career as a pediatric geneticists for 30 years. Dr. Marion shares several stories and even a personal one where he reveals that after telling his former college roommate that his toddler has Bardet-Biedl syndrome his old friend stops speaking to Dr. Marion. For students who are interested in pursuing a career in genetics, Genetic Rounds will provide plenty of insight into the role and experiences of geneticists in a clinical setting. This one is an easy-to-read choice that provides enough medical background to pique the interest of anyone interested in the field.
PRE-MED SUCCESS STORIES
by Don Osborne and Lilly Chow
For pre-medical students preparing to apply to medical school or are in the process of doing so, Pre-Med Success Stories is written in such a way that a reader can understand how they can present themselves in the best possible light to medical school admission committees. “Reading this book is like sneaking a peek into the medical school applications of people you can relate to and sympathize with, complete with transcripts of conversations, the counselor’s commentary, the editor’s notes, and the advising team’s recommendations on how to get the all-important advantage.”
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BETTERLIFE
Latest news and information on taking care of yourself as a busy student living the pre-med life.
Green tea extract increases cognitive functioning, according to a paper published in the journal Psychopharmacology. According to background information provided in the paper, recent research has indicated that green tea extract has a positive impact on cognitive functioning in humans. For example, researchers were able to show that the consumption of green tea enhanced memory and attention span in individuals with mild cognitive impairments. Green tea mainly consists of polyphenols, particularly catechins such as The study, led by researchers from the University of Basel in Switzerland, was designed to test whether the
Study Finds Exercises Linked to Mindfulness A person’s awareness of their actions in everyday life can be increased by engaging in regular aerobic exercise, according to a new study. The study, led by a team of German researchers, sought to look at two things: whether ones disposition to being mindful could be trained by regular aerobic exercise and whether changes in ones disposition to being mindful was related with changes in mental and physical health. Researchers explained that while high dispositional mindfulness has been demonstrated to be beneficial for improved mental and physical health,
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intake of green tea extract changes connectivity within the brain during “working memory processing.” It involved volunteers who received a milk whey-based soft drink containing 27.5 grams of green tea extract or a soft drink without the extract. Participants were told not to drink alcohol, caffeine, green tea products, and citrus juices for 24 and 12 hours before each study day, respectively. Furthermore, Researchers found that green tea extract increased the connection within the region of the brain that triggers and modulates ones “working memory.” Specifically, the magnitude of green tea induced an increase in connections within the parieto-frontal area of the brain, which correlated with improvement in task performance. “Our findings provide first insights into the neural effect of green tea on working memory processing at the neural network level, suggesting a mechanism on short-term plasticity of interregional brain connections,” the authors wrote. “Our findings further suggest that the assessment of effective connectivResearchers found green tea ity among frontal and parietal brain regions during extract increased certain working memory processing may provide a promisbrain connections ing tool to assess the efficacy of green tea or other compounds for the treatment of cognitive impairments in psychiatric disorders such as dementia.” ¡ little is know about way to improve dispositional mindfulness for individuals not practicing meditation or mindful exercises. Included in the study were 149 health men who were randomly assigned to either a 12-week interventions or aerobic exercise or 12 weeks of “relaxation training.” Before and after the interventions, dispositional mindfulness and mental and physical health by self-report questionnaires. Researchers reported that over the course of the intervention, participants in the aerobic exercise group experienced increases in dispositional mindfulness but those in the relaxation or control group did not. “For the first time, this study shows that dispositional mindfulness can be increased through regular exercise,” the authors wrote. “Future research is needed to identify how the mindfulness-enhancing potential of aerobic exercise can be used most effectively.” The study was published in the March 2014 issue of Mental Health and Physical Activity. ¡
flickr/Martin Phox
Green Tea Consumption Increases Brains Memory Connections
Health | Wellness | Fitness | Nutrition | Mind &Body
flickr/ Living Fitness
newstouse
flickr/Universitetssykehuset Nord-Norge (UNN)
For fitness tips, motivation, healthy eating, and workouts visit JAPYEEINHD on Facebook!
New Study Finds Laziness May Be Linked to Eating Junk Food
Consuming processed food and being overweight is associated with feelings of fatigue and inactive behavior, according to a study published in the journal Physiology and Behavior. Lead by a team of researchers from the University of California-Los Angeles, the study examined rats that were placed in two groups and then fed one of two diets for a 6-month period. One group of rats were given a “normal” rat’s diet of unprocessed food (eg. ground corn and fish meal) and the second group was put on a “processed-food” diet which contained more sugar than usual. The findings revealed that when the two groups of rats were given the task of pressing a lever in order to receive a food or water reward, the rats on the “lower-quality” diet took significantly longer breaks compared to rats in the other group. Specifically, the overweight rats took breaks nearly twice as long as the lean ones. The authors wrote: “Overweight people often get stigmatized as lazy and lacking discipline. We interpret our results as suggesting that the idea commonly portrayed in the media that people become fat because they are lazy is wrong. Our data suggest that diet-induced obesity is a cause, rather than an effect, of laziness.” ¡
Cardio fitness has long-term benefits on cognitive functions, according to a new study published in Neurology. The study, called the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA), used cognitive test to study over 2500 participants after a 25 year period. The results revealed that better verbal memory and faster psychomotor speed at ages 43 to 55 were clearly associated with better cardiorespiratory fitness 25 years earlier. “Our study is the first prospective cohort study in middle—aged adults investigating the association between CRF and cognitive function,” the researchers wrote. “CRF predicts aspects of cognitive function 25 years later, and this variation in cognitive function is strongly related to a measure of fitness obtained 25 years earlier.”¡
flickr/Eric R. Patalinghug
High Brain Function Related to Levels of Cardio Fitness Several Years Earlier
May/June 2014 | PreMedLife Magazine |51
LASTWORD
Some final thoughts on getting through your days as a college student
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” MARK TWAIN, was an American author and humorist.
“One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you.” JEFF BEZOS an American business magnate and investor.
“Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.”
OPRAH WINFREY, an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer, and philanthropist.
“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” MICHAEL JORDAN an American former professional basketball player, entrepreneur, and principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.
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