1. The Health Career Experience and Advising at Dartmouth
The Nathan Smith Society
Veterinary Medicine
Dental Medicine
Public & Global Health

2. Speakers
Lee Witters MD, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Program & Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry
Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor
Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center
Another Key Person
Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program Administrative Coordinator
And Some Other Very Special People
Teaching Science Fellows
Faculty/students representing dental & veterinary medicine
Pre-health mentors from the Class of 2015

3. Where is Pre-Health Advising at Dartmouth?
Two
Convenient
Locations
Sarah Berger
Student Academic Support Center, Carson/Berry
Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS web site)

4. Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS web site)
Where is Pre-Health
Advising at Dartmouth?
Enter Here & Check
The Electronic
Map!
Two
Convenient
Locations
Dr. Lee Witters
122 LSC
Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS web site)

5. A “To-Do” List
Join the listserv of the Nathan Smith Society one of two ways:
Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around
Blitz

6. A “To-Do” List
Join the listserv of the Nathan Smith Society one of two ways:
Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around
Blitz
Visit NSS web site ( and check out the ‘Getting Started’ menu

7. Ten “Helpful Hints”

8. “Hints” #1 & #2
1. This is a challenging and time-consuming curriculum. You will need to develop new strategies and continually reassess (and maybe regroup). Everyone’s pace and track is different! 2. Be pre-emptive; don’t sit back and wait to “see how you are doing”. Utilize course resources, the Academic Skills Center and knowledgeable advisors. Plan your path carefully!

9. “Hints” #3 & #4
3. Learn to reflect periodically on the experiences you are having in and out of the classroom, the growth you are experiencing and your sense of purpose and motivation 4. You are not alone in this! There is a large pre-health community of other students and alumni, who are traveling (or have traveled) this same road, to help you.

10. Hint #5
5. Most Dartmouth students initiate application to med/vet/dental school at end of senior year or as alums, rather than spring of junior year, creating one or more “gap years”.
EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS OPTION TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON YOUR DARTMOUTH EXPERIENCE
(examples: course flexibility, FSP/LSA, curricular/major options, avoiding “doubling up”, building your credentials, athletics)!
Later is
greater?

11. Hint #6
6. Dartmouth does not have a specific pre-med or pre-health curriculum. Major in what you enjoy and are interested in, but bear in mind that you must be able to demonstrate scientific aptitude and excellence. A wide experience in the humanities and social sciences is a real asset to a health career, as well.
Not “premed”

12. “Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not?
Hint #7
7. Choose your first year courses (and especially your fall term courses) carefully with the advice of someone familiar with you, the courses and with the pre-health requirements.
“Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not?
Writing/English (2 courses required)
First Year Seminar
Writing 5; Writing 2/3
Consider other courses that emphasize writing and critical analysis of writing
Chemistry
Course?
Biology
Course?
Math
Course?
Physics
Course?
?More than
one of above
?None of the
above

13. Take a Math course if needed for beginning chemistry sequence!
Math Options
General requirement: Two math courses (calculus, statistics)
Have Math 3
Credit?
Math 3
Introduction
To Calculus OR
Math 8
Variable Calculus
Math 1/2
Calculus
With Algebra
(by invitation)
Statistics
(Math 10; others)
Take a Math course if needed for beginning chemistry sequence!
If you have Math 3 or 8 credit and are invited to enroll in a higher level Math class, you don’t “have” to do that!

14. Professor Siobhan Milde
Chemistry Options
General requirement: Two terms general chemistry with lab;
Two terms organic chemistry with lab; one term biochemistry
Chemistry 2
Quantitative
Reasoning
in Chemistry
(by invitation or
request)
Enter
Professor Siobhan Milde
Chemistry 5
General Chemistry
(Second term is Chem 6)
Math 3
(or Math 3 credit)
Pre-Req
Chem 5 also available in winter term (Chem 6 in fall & spring)
Chem 10 (by exam) “counts” for 2-term general chem requirement
Completion of
Chemistry 6 or 10
in fall term
Chemistry 57/58
(Honors)
in winter/spring terms
Pre-Req

15. Introductory Physics I Introductory Physics II
Physics Options
General requirement: Two physics courses (with labs)
Many pre-health students defer physics till later, since it is not a pre-requisite for other required pre-health courses
Math 3 and 8
Pre-requisite
(or concurrent Math 8)
Math 3
Pre-Requisite 
Physics 3
General Physics I
Physics 13
Introductory Physics I
Physics 4
General Physics II
Offered winter &
spring terms
Physics 14
Introductory Physics II
Offered winter &
spring terms
Usually taken by intended physics/math/chem/engineering majors or with strong background in physics & math

16. Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs
Biology Options
Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs
Biology 11
The Science of Life
(no lab)
Biology 2
Human Biology
Lab Courses
Foundation Classes
Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology)
** More are strongly recommended

17. Biology Options Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs
The Science of Life
(no lab)
Fall offering
(Cooperation & Conflict Across
Biological Systems)
Spring Offering
(Emerging Infectious Diseases)
Lab Courses
Foundation Classes
Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology)
** More are strongly recommended

18. Biology Options Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs
Human Biology
(no lab)
Fall Offering
Want background
in human biology to orient
your other studies?
Uncertain about rigor of college
science courses?
Testing your interest in health
or biology?
Lab Courses
Foundation Classes
Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology)
** More are strongly recommended

19. Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs
Biology Options
Minimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs
How to Decide?
Canvas (under ‘My Courses): Advising Test Results + Academic indices (SAT (verbal + math))+ AP test scores
Strength of your background in Chemistry & Biology
Uncertainties about interest in pre-health or hesitancy about college science courses
Talking to an advisor
Biology 11
The Science of Life
(no lab)
Biology 2
Human Biology
Lab Courses
Foundation Classes
Biology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology)
** More are strongly recommended

20. Psychology & Sociology
Psychology 1 (fall, winter, spring)
Sociology
Sociology 1 (fall, spring) OR
Sociology 2 (winter)

21. Teaching Science Fellows
Natalia Vecerek 14 (Biology 12 & 13)
Rui Shu 14 (Chemistry 5 & 6)

22. How Do I Decide Which Classes to Take?
Have a conversation about YOU and your specific goals, aspirations and scholastic background with a knowledgeable advisor before committing to a specific class schedule and keep on talking to knowledgeable advisors as you proceed through Dartmouth!
Walk-in D-plan help Friday, Sept 12, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM; 125 Haldeman; new group every 30 minutes
HPP offices (Student Academic Support Center; LSC) weekly (hours to be ed & as posted on home page of Nathan Smith Society)
CEM 5
Many combinations possible (only some shown)!

23. Hint #8
8. Get to know your professors (as mentors & future letter writers)
USE OFFICE HOURS!

24. Hint #9
9. Learn to write well! The process of med/vet/dental school application will emphasize your verbal reasoning skills and ability to write well-structured and reasoned essays (MCAT; applications to schools). In addition to working with professors, use the Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology (RWiT) whenever you have the opportunity.

25. Hint #10
10. Participate in extracurricular activities that abut on the health care profession and service to society; sustain your involvement, so that your humanity, creativity and impact are evident.

26. Elements of a Successful Application to Medical/Vet/Dental School
Courses (GPA, Science GPA)
MCAT DAT GRE
Letters of Evaluation
Extracurricular Experiences
Personal & Professional Characteristics
Skills & Abilities
Clinical Exposure
Altruistic Service
Scholarly Activity
(outside classroom)

27. Intellectual curiosity Empathy Altruistic service Active listener
Evaluating Beyond Grades,MCAT/DAT/GRE Scores and Prior Experiences in Health
Skills & Abilities
Personal & Professional Characteristics
Resiliency
Integrity/Judgment
Adaptability
Persistence
Motivation
Intellectual curiosity
Empathy
Altruistic service
Active listener
Problem solver
Communicator (oral, written)
Critical thinker
Multilingual

28. Nathan Smith Society Events Fall/Winter/Spring/Summer Terms 2013-14 A Sampling
DHMC /VA Shadowing Program
Community Veterinary Shadowing Program
Community Dental Shadowing Program
Dartmouth Ears (a patient visiting program at DHMC/VA)
Dartmouth-Geisel Ethics Discussion Group
Dartmouth Cancer Scholars
Symposium on Gender Inequity in Health with Geisel Physicians for Human Rights
‘Dinner with a Doc/Vet/Dentist’ Program
‘Take a Med Student to Lunch’ Mentoring Program
“Mock Admissions”
Paying for Medical School (Geisel Financial Aid office)
Senior Night
DC/Geisel Nights
NSS Research Opportunities Database
MD/PhD, MD/MBA, MPH programs

29. Dental & Veterinary Contacts at Dartmouth
Dentistry
Dr. Robert Keene or
Ryan Lisann 15
Elisabeth Schricker 17
Veterinary Medicine
Suzanne Rosen 15
Angela Jin 15

30. Pre-Health Mentor Corps
Stephanie Chavez 14
Sara Heard 15
Max Jentzsch 15
Rachael Williams 15