1. General Body Meeting 9.16.15

2. Announcements  Committee Applications; Mentor & Mentee Applications  Due this Saturday, 9/19 by midnight.  Applications can be found on PittAMSA.org  Email applications to eBoard@pittamsa.orgeBoard@pittamsa.org  Next Week: Thursday, 9/24 Cathedral 324  CBS: Code Black Pre-Screening

3. What Does it Mean to Be Pre-Med?

5. Research  Never too early to start!  Think about when you want to start your freshman year, but not a necessity  First experiences in Research Program  Talk to advisors (office of undergraduate research)  Pick something you enjoy!  Email professors the semester before you want to start  Look at different opportunities  Hillman Cancer Institute  UPMC  Ask Upperclassmen about their labs and openings!  AMSA research fair DON’T GIVE UP!

6. Volunteering/Clinical  Requirements:  At least 100 clinical volunteering hours to be competitive 200 for exceptional  50 additional hours in non-clinical volunteering (to be competitive)  20 Shadowing hours minimum 50 to be competitive  Multiple fields  Clinical Volunteering  Anything with patient interaction  Again do something you ENJOY!  Ex. Hospitals, hospice, EMT volunteering  Non-clinical  Almost anything counts in this  Ex. Soup kitchen, food pantry, tutoring etc  Shadowing  Don’t be afraid to reach out to doctors  Be professional  AMSA opportunities

7. Leadership  What medical schools want to see  Active on campus  Passionate about activities  Can work well with others  There are over 400 recognized clubs/organizations on campus  Definitely something for everyone!  Organization directory https://pitt-community.symplicity.com/index.php?s=student_group&au=&ck=https://pitt-community.symplicity.com/index.php?s=student_group&au=&ck  Become active in a club, and maybe join E board  Many clubs also have committees  Examples  AMSA Committees/Mentoring  Student Government board Committees

8. Study Tips Dos: –Read chapters before and after class (skim). –Take notes in every class, actually pay attention. –Practice problems = secret to success. –Review daily, or the parts you don’t understand well. Don’ts: –Music or no music? “Studies have shown that listening to music before studying or performing a task can be beneficial as it improves attention, memory, and even your ability to do mental math as well as helping lessen depression and anxiety.” “However, there have also been several studies that have shown that music can actually have negative impacts on your studying effectiveness — particularly when it comes to memorizing something in order.” –Cram the night before a exam. –Study with people you know distract you. –Pull an all nighter before an exam. “A recent study published in the Journal of Sleep Research entitled, “The Effect of Sleep Loss on Next Day Effort”,found that after a full night of sleep deprivation, students had slower reaction times, trouble concentrating and decision making, and reduced effort (meaning they were more likely to choose to perform simpler tasks and give up on difficult tasks compared with students who had had a good night’s sleep).” http://www.uloop.com/news/view.php/149570/Do-Or-Dont-Studying-While-Listening-To http://www.mindthesciencegap.org/2012/09/24/the-problem-with-all-nighters/

9. MCAT What is it?  AAMC : “standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine”  Basically, the test you need to take to apply to medical school  Used to evaluate how your academic success, how you apply knowledge, and solve problems

10. MCAT What’s on it? 4 sections; Total time without breaks: 6 hours 15 minutes  Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)  General Chemistry (Gen Chem 1 and 2)  Organic Chemistry (Ochem 1 and 2)  Physics (Physics 1 and 2)  Biochemistry  Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions, 90 minutes)  Read passages (Humanities, History, etc.) and answer questions  Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)  Biology (Foundations of Biology 1 and 2; Human Physiology)  Biochemistry  Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions, 95 minutes)  Psychology (Introduction to Psychology)  Sociology (Introduction to Sociology or Social Theory)

11. MCAT How is it scored?  Each section is scored 118 - 132  Add up scores from each section to get a final score What’s a good score?  It’s a bit too early to tell because it’s a new version of the MCAT (first started in April 2015)  500 is average  30 on the old MCAT was the target score for med school - converts to around 510 on the new MCAT Why is it important?  It’s used by medical schools to evaluate students  Changes were made so that it can be better used to predict how prospective students will perform in medical school  Addition of psych/soc sections indicate how med schools want personable and perceptive people

12. MCAT When do I take it?  Depends. Typically, if you want to go to medical school directly after undergrad (without taking a gap year), the latest you should take it is the June after your junior year. You can take it before this if you want.  If you plan on taking a gap year, you can take it later (ie. I’m taking ONE gap year and I took the MCAT the August after junior year; the latest I could take it is June after my senior year) How many times can I take it?  Three times in a single year  Try to take it as few times as you can  Medical schools see all scores Recommended classes :  All pre-med classes  Strong focus : Biochemistry  Recommend : Human Physiology (not a pre-med requirement but super useful)  If you want : Intro to Psych, Intro to Sociology; these aren’t essential to take. You can easily teach these subjects to yourself when studying. Classes usually go too in depth.

13. MCAT What should I do now? Freshman : Chill.  Set your foundation  Focus on your classes  Start thinking about volunteering, research, leadership, other activities you want to do/join Sophomore : Chill less.  Start thinking about when you want to take it  Are you taking a gap year? Think about it.  Continue taking pre-med classes  Meet with Andrea or Angela (pre-med advisors) to make sure you’re on track with everything Junior : Don’t chill.  By now, you’ve likely taken most of your pre-med classes  If you DON’T plan on taking a gap year, you should set an MCAT date, register, and study away!

14. Pitt Pre-Professional Health Committee (PPH) What is it?  A committee made up of Pitt faculty and advisors  You apply to committee before you actually start applying to medical schools  They review your application materials and give you a committee rating (outstanding, outstanding to strong, strong, strong to competitive, competitive) and letter of recommendation based on your resume, personal statement, etc.  Committee rating important to get med school interview (but not necessarily admission) When do I apply?  If you’re not taking a gap year, you apply during the Spring of your Junior year  If you’re taking ONE gap year, you apply during the Spring of your Senior year  Committee application is typically due in May - need to have personal statement, letters of recommendation, etc done by then!  Don’t procrastinate! What do I turn into the committee?  O nline application: premed.honorscollege.pitt.edu  Personal statement  Resume  5 Letters of recommendation (2 from science faculty, research, volunteer/clinical experience, internship, etc.) - basically anyone who can talk about you in a meaningful way  By the time you apply, you should have volunteer (200 hrs), service, research hours done

15. Pitt Pre-Professional Health Committee (PPH) How does the committee evaluate students?  GPA and MCAT score  How to stand out:  Clinical experiences (ie. volunteering in hospital, EMT, shadowing, any patient/doctor interaction)  Research  Personal Statement - tell them why you want to be doctor using info about yourself that’s not on your resume. Reveal your personality. Do I have to apply to committee?  No, but it’s preferable.  Medical schools may ask why you didn’t apply to committee I want more information!  Read this! http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/neuro/files/Stricker_PPH.pdf http://www.pitt.edu/~sorc/neuro/files/Stricker_PPH.pdf  About the PPH, written by committee member Dr. Stricker

16. CBS: Code Black Trailer