A discussion on broadening the horizons of students focused on pursuing a career in medicine by Marcia O’Connell, Chair Medical Careers Advisory Committee Antonino Scarpati, Assistant Dean, Nursing and Health & Exercise Science Patricia Van Hise, Assistant Dean, School of Science

I. Introduction Institutional Context Shared Advising Philosophy and Models II. Individual Advising Approaches / Examples Marcia Marcia O’Connell - Pre-med students Pat Van Hise - Open option science students Antonino Scarpati - Nursing, health & exercise science students II. Q&A IV. Evaluation

Highly selective institution with national reputation as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. Strong liberal arts core with seven schools— The Arts & Communication; Business; Humanities & Social Sciences; Education; Science; Nursing, Health, & Exercise Science; and Engineering. Proud of its public service mandate to educate leaders of New Jersey and the nation, the College will be a national exemplar in the education of those who seek to sustain and advance the communities in which they live. The College regards education in the service of human welfare as its chief end.

Undergraduate Enrollment Approximately 6,135 full-time students. Average Class Size21 students Student-Faculty Ratio13:1 On-Campus Freshmen95 percent Freshman-to-Sophomore Retention 95 percent Graduation Rate86 percent Average SAT Score Nearly 1300 for General Admits (Critical Reading and Math Only) Athletics Consistently ranked among three best NCAA Division III programs in the nation. Employers Recruiting on Campus400+

Viewing Students Holistically and Ecologically Internal Primary Groups Academic Career Community

Academic Advising Model Goal: Successful and Fulfilling Life Academic PathsLife & Career Paths Personal Values and Aptitudes

The Advisor’s Balancing Act Challenge Support

Advising students focused on medical careers 1.Medical Careers Advisory Committee (MCAC) – Faculty advisors who assist students from all majors who are interested in medical careers 2.Challenge - How to assist and guide students who are: Not yet ready May never be ready 3.Change is coming……….2015 and beyond

Advising students focused on pursuing a career in medicine 1.The MCAC process: Timeline (developmental process) Committee decision-making (transparent process) Reality check and … an opportunity for encouragement!

Advising students focused on pursuing a career in medicine 1.Guiding students who are not yet ready for medical school: Take time before applying to medical school? (average age of entry, ~25!) Consider all options (MD vs. DO, other health careers)?

Advising students focused on pursuing a career in medicine 1.Guiding students who may never be ready: To be continued…………

Advising students focused on pursuing a career in medicine 1.Change is coming……….2015 and beyond Entering class of 2012 Areas of expertise vs. courses (psychology, sociology, biochemistry) “The Bridge Solution” National Association for Advisors of the Pre-Health Professions (NAAHP) and Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Students at a critical crossroad in their lives may be on the verge of crisis Students Need: Genuine concern Reassurance Understanding of the value of liberal education

The Human Capital View “ …develop students’ capacity for lifelong development of the most enduring transferable skills and prepare students to continually reinvent themselves to compete and advance in the rapidly evolving workplace.” (Shaffer, 1997/2009; Shaffer & Zalewski, 2011 [pp.64-74])

Outcomes of a Liberal Education Good communication skills Enhanced critical thinking Cross-disciplinary awareness A sense of global citizenship A liberal education prepares a person to fill almost any post.

Persuading Students of the Utility of Liberal Education Ask “which of these would you not want to have?” persuasive well-rounded charismatic rational analytical adaptable worldly-wise (Rust,2011)

A Liberal Education Helps Students : Identify and develop your unique talents Understand the larger world, their place in it, and how they can impact it Learn how to become a life-long learners

Avenues to help students choose a major within liberal education (This is essential when a student seems to be making an uninformed decision about his/her major!) Ask the student to delve deeply. “Was this choice of major based on personal interest and skills or other reasons?” Determine if the student has accurate and complete knowledge of the requirements of that major.

There Is More than One Path to the Same Goal Can the reasons for the choice of a particular major be achieved by aiming for a similar career? For example, students often say that want to help people. What other careers in health care provide that opportunity? “Careers in Health Care” booklet given to open option students at TCNJ.

Identifying Personal Priorities to Guide Career and Academic Decision-Making NEEDS (Non-negotiable) Helping Others Health Care Environment WANTS (Negotiable) Nurse High Income Career

Challenging Students to Expand Their Career and Academic Options Need Want

Challenging Students to Expand Their Career Options Need Viable Options

Effective Advising Example Goal: Successful and Fulfilling Life Academic Path: Sociology, MSW Career Path: Medical Social Work Values / Aptitudes: Helping Children

PGEPPGEP

Passion Good Enough Perseverance

Bibliography Citations: Shaffer, L. S., Zalewski, J. M. (2001) A human capital approach to career advising. NACADA Journal, 31(1); pp64-84 Shaffer, L.S. (2009). A human capital approach to academic advising. NACADA Journal 29(1), (Reprinted from NACADA Journal, 1997, 17[1], 5-12) Rust, M.M. (2011) The utility of liberal education: concepts and arguments for use in academic advising. NACADA Journal 31(1);5-13 URLs: