1. Pre-Health Professions at Penn State Behrend
Admissions Open House – April 18th, 2015

2. What Are Health Professions Schools Looking For?
Ultimately, admissions committees want to know 3 things:
Can the student handle the academic rigors of medical school?
Why does the student want to be a doctor or health practitioner… …do they want to be in the profession for the “right” reasons?
Do they have a diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor or health practitioner?
How can Penn State Behrend help the student succeed?

3. Preparing the Student Academically
Although each health professions program is slightly different, in general they require:
Biology: a general biology core along with upper level courses in anatomy, genetics, cell biology, physiology and associated laboratories
Chemistry: 4 semesters including general and organic chemistry and the laboratories
Physics: 2 semesters of physics
Biochemistry: 1-2 semesters
Psychology/sociology: 1-2 semesters
Math: 2 semesters, usually calculus and statistics

4. Preparing the Student Academically
At Penn State Behrend we offer rigorous degrees in biology and the sciences that fulfill these requirements The Pre-Health Professions Option in Biology is the most specialized towards these goals. Students interested in majoring in chemistry, physics or engineering work closely with their health professions advisor to add the necessary biology courses to their degree requirements

5. Preparing the Student Academically
…but other colleges/universities offer a specific “Pre-Med Degree”.
Why not Penn State Behrend?
No health professions school requires or favors this ‘degree’
‘Pre-medical’ degrees are a marketing tool and are a repackaged biology degree in most cases
We urge you to compare the course lists between these pre-medical degrees and our biology degree versus the requirements of any health professions program!

6. Preparing the Student Academically
Most importantly: We advise all of our pre-health students, whether they have a 2.8 or 4.0 GPA to have a “Plan B” in case they change their minds about a career in the health professions or they do not make it into their program.
A rigorous Penn State degree in biology or chemistry leads to many highly engaging, intellectual careers related to the health sciences:
Synthetic chemist, molecular biologist, virologist, biochemist, geneticist, genetic engineer, microbiologist, health physicist, environmental chemist, epidemiologist….to name just a few!
Students entering these careers may not make as much as a physician, but have accrued >$250k less debt!

7. Preparing the Student Academically
Penn State Behrend is one of the few schools that combines the best qualities of a large research university and a small liberal arts college:
Our professors are active researchers in their respective fields who publish cutting edge research in the current scientific literature
Our students receive hands-on training to cutting edge research equipment not found at smaller schools.
Many of our students become involved in undergraduate research projects and present their work to the scientific community both through presentation and publication.

8. Preparing the Student Academically
However, unlike a larger research school our professors spend considerable time in the classroom including laboratories.
Small class sizes result in us getting to know our students and to provide quick and early intervention if we feel they are not learning the material.
Many of our instructors are dedicated lecturers whose ‘research’ is actually in developing new teaching methods.
These individuals commit time and effort in engaging students in the study of the sciences both on campus and in outreach activities.

9. Students to Pre-Health Professions
Preparing the Student Academically
Students to Pre-Health Professions
Averages
5.7%
Pharmacy
4.3%
Veterinary
3.8%
Physician Assistant
Medical, D.O.
2.4%
Medical M.D.
2.9%
Chiropractic
Physical Therapy
1.4%
Occupational Therapy 1%
Optometry
Podiatry
0.5%
Dental
~30%
Biology Graduates
Behrend students who were accepted to medical school in the last seven years:
3.63 science & math GPA
3.64 overall GPA
30 MCAT

10. Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student
Pre-Health Professions Committee
Coordinator
Dr. Michael W. Justik – Associate Professor of Chemistry
Member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP)
Dr. Beth Potter – Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Matthew Gruwell – Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Tia (Deas) Young – Lecturer of Biology
Dr. Victoria A. Kazmerski - Associate Professor of Psychology, Physiological Psychology
Our advisers teach and mentor our pre-health students—
— not just advise!

11. Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student
The Pre-Health Professions Committee:
Works with the student on an individual basis and tailors their advising to the students career goals
Can provide early intervention in case of academic or other difficulty
Suggests health professions schools that ‘match’ the student
Assists the student with the application process
Provides assistance with the writing of the personal statement
Collecting letters of recommendation
Writing of a summary letter
Scheduling of courses to be prepared for standardized tests
For all students a “Plan B” is prepared just in case plans change!

12. Student Timeline Freshmen A census of Pre-Health students is made
“Planning Guides” are distributed to all pre-health students with contact information for a specific pre-health advisor
“Checking in s” are sent from committee by discipline
Instructions as to scheduling of SC 201

13. Student Timeline Sophomore SC201 – Fall
Health career opportunities and admissions committee expectations are discussed
Personal statements, interviews and standardized tests
Seminars from local health care practioners and health professions recruiters
Back-up plan – what if you don’t get in?

14. Student Timeline Sophomore
Spring—Apply for pre-health advisor (with declaring major)
GPA requirement
Personal statement draft
Evidence of shadowing and volunteer experiences
Written statement of back-up plan

15. Student Timeline Junior/Senior Scheduled meetings with advisees
Plan for application process
Plan for standardized tests discussed
Back-up plan discussed
Advisor constructs committee letter from LORs and reviews student’s Personal Statement
Post-Baccalaureate
Continued assistance for 2nd and 3rd round applications
Census of matriculated students to gauge success of our programs!

16. Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student
We recommend:
Get to know faculty by active participation in lab and lecture, lab assisting, doing research, some sort of thesis, etc.
Clinical experience
Become a fan of your health profession! Show your dedication! Shadow, shadow, shadow, volunteer, volunteer and volunteer!!!
“Set yourself apart”:
Specialty area of study: computational science, medical humanities, neuroscience program
Study abroad
Fluency in a language like Spanish or Mandarin
Research experience
“Leadership” and service to the community
Depth of experience is better than creating a long laundry list!!!

17. Student Organizations – Get Involved!
The Behrend Scrubs’ Club
Open to all students
Volunteer work through Habitat for Humanity and TOPSoccer
Speaker series
The American Medical Students Association
Chapter started in 2012
Tour of Hershey Medical School
Same organization as students in medical school

18. Accelerated Programs
Three years undergraduate study
1st year of health professions school counts as credit to finish BS degree
Four years of health professions training
Penn State Behrend has agreements with several health professions schools to provide accelerated programs for gifted students

19. Accelerated Programs LECOM – D.O. Temple D.D.S. U. Buffalo, Pharm.D.
OSU, O.D.
HS GPA
>3.5
SAT
1200
Behrend GPA
3.3
3.5
Standardized test score
MCAT >24
DAT >18
PCAT >400
OAT >320
LECOM admits all students into Behrend phase and monitors progress.
Applies through AADAS in 3rd year; priority application, guaranteed interview
Guaranteed formal interview with positive letter from health professions advisor
Guaranteed formal interview with positive letter from health professions advisor + observed two optometry practices

20. Accelerated Programs
While not an accelerated program, Our Early Assurance Program with the Penn State College of Medicine gives outstanding 2nd year Behrend students the opportunity to apply for provisional early acceptance to Penn State's College of Medicine in Hershey.
Program Requirements
SAT > 1300, GPA > 3.6 at the end of the sophomore year, and completion of required courses.
Must demonstrate high academic achievement and Extra-curricular activities and student involvement in human service experiences
A typed statement of 300 to 500 words describing significant past experiences, personal interests, motivation for pursuing a career in medicine, and plans for the future followed by review of Penn State Hershey Medical School

21. CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE TIMELINE
AN ALTERNATIVE TIMELINE is now encouraged by many health professions programs
A year off between undergraduate and medical school
Post- baccalaureate programs – increase the breadth and depth of admissions requirements
Strengthen the application through:
Working in a medical field, Teach For America, MPH, Research, Volunteer work, and travel abroad
Have a full undergraduate degree in preparation for MCAT, DAT, PCAT, VCAT, etc.

22. Feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions later!
Thanks for Listening!
Questions?
Feel free to contact us at any time if you have questions later!