Sweet Briar College Pre-Medical and Pre-Health Careers Program Dr. Robin Lee Davies

We help students prepare for careers in: Medicine (MD & DO) Nursing Pharmacy Optometry Podiatry Nutrition Dentistry Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Genetic Counseling Physician Assistant And many more….

Requirements for Medical School and Other Health Professions Schools Required coursework Good grades Relevant experience Good score on the standardized examination

Required Major for a Medical Career? Anything you want! Recent applicants have majored in: –Biology –Chemistry –Physics –Psychology –Mathematical Sciences –French –German –International Affairs –Spanish

Required Coursework for Medical School Two semesters of Biology with labs Four semesters of Chemistry with labs Two semesters of Biochemistry Two semesters of Physics with labs Two semesters of English Statistics, and some require Mathematics Psychology Sociology Suggested: additional Biology (Genetics and Comparative Vertebrate Morphology)

MCAT2015 Exam Four test sections: –Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems –Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems –Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior –Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills Section scores range from 118 to 132 (125) Total scores range from 472 to 528 (500)

Required Coursework: Other Health Careers All of the courses required for medical school, plus: Microbiology Two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology Other Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Psychology courses

Typical First Semester Biology semester hours Chemistry semester hours Chemistry semester hours English semester hours Foreign language 3 semester hours Total: 14 semester hours You may want to add another course, such as: –Mathematics –Psychology or Sociology –Something for fun or fitness

Grades Strive for a high GPA Use active study techniques Study some every night Get help as soon as you need it –Consult your professor –Use the student tutors Get a good night’s sleep before exams

Get Relevant Experience Begin by shadowing a practitioner Schedule hours whenever possible –Evenings and weekends (but not too many) –Reading Days –Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break –Summer vacation Volunteer at a clinic Participate in service activities Be consistent - Earn some hours every year

What do you gain from these experiences? Confirmation that this is the career for you Proof that you know what the day-to-day practice of medicine is like Opportunity for a good letter of recommendation Experiences to discuss during your medical school interviews

A Great Opportunity for Sweet Briar Pre-Meds: The LGH ER Scribe Program Lynchburg General Hospital Emergency room Electronic medical records Pilot program: Sweet Briar pre-meds Priceless experiences Spectacular letters of recommendation

Standardized Examinations Medical School: MCAT Dentistry: DAT Pharmacy: PCAT Optometry: OAT Physical Therapy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, others: GRE

Exam Preparation You must study for the MCAT, DAT, PCAT, and OAT The best method depends on you: –Take a prep course (such as Kaplan) –Form a study group –Study on your own Be sure to take practice tests

Exam Preparation You can prepare for the GRE Read widely and as much as you can Get a GRE prep book and use it! Be sure to take practice tests You may also form a study group or take a prep course

Typical Timeline 1 st Year: Coursework, shadowing 2 nd Year: More coursework, shadowing 3 rd Year: Finish coursework, get letters of evaluation, build application file, study for MCAT, mock interviews, more shadowing. Do an internship or some research Summer: Take MCAT, complete AMCAS application and secondaries, internship or research 4 th Year: Interviews and acceptances!

The Sweet Briar Pre-Med Program

What are the elements of the program? Pre-Health Careers Advisors Advice on coursework Advice on shadowing and clinical experiences Committee Interview Mock Multiple Mini-Interview Committee Letter of Evaluation

Your Pre-Health Careers Advisors Dr. Robin Lee Davies Dr. John Morrissey Pre-Med and other Pre-Health Pre-Vet

Our Moodle Site: at moodle24.sbc.edu Information for pre-health students Medical school recruiter visits Volunteer activities Health professions school open houses

Enrollment key: premed

What else can you do? Join the Pre-Health Club!

Twenty-one years ago, these women were first-year students Just like you!

Twenty-one years ago, these women were first-year students Now they are health-care professionals Genetic Counselor Physician

Kendra Hawkins ’07 (at left) and a classmate work on a Biology 111 exercise as first-year students. Kendra graduated from medical school in 2011.

The Take-Home Messages: 1.You can do it too! 2.We are here to help you.

My Contact Information: Dr. Robin Lee Davies Office: Guion 111 Phone: 6196