1. 2011 Medical School application Workshop TimelineTimeline MCATMCAT Choosing SchoolsChoosing Schools Letters of RecommendationLetters of Recommendation HPAC applicationHPAC application AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSASAMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS HPAC InterviewHPAC Interview Confirming your letters have been sentConfirming your letters have been sent Secondary applicationsSecondary applications Interviews at the schoolsInterviews at the schools Accept/deny/holdAccept/deny/hold

2. 1: Register for the mcat REGISTER NOW

3. Preparation for the MCAT Kaplan Built-in accountabilityBuilt-in accountability PopularPopular All materials includedAll materials included Class does NOT replace Study!Class does NOT replace Study! DIY BYODBYOD AAMC tests are the bestAAMC tests are the best AAMC GuideAAMC Guide Examcrackers – Amazon or B&NExamcrackers – Amazon or B&N UA course going on now – Wednesday/Sat/SunUA course going on now – Wednesday/Sat/Sun

4. 2: Choose your medical schools Allopathic MD Degree MD Degree UAB, USA, etc. UAB, USA, etc. State of Residency Matters State of Residency Matters 131 US Schools 131 US Schools AMCAS AMCAS National Avg: 31 MCAT, 3.7 GPA National Avg: 31 MCAT, 3.7 GPA

5. Choose your medical schools Osteopathic DO DegreeDO Degree Schools in MS, TN, GA, FLSchools in MS, TN, GA, FL Essentially the same residency optionsEssentially the same residency options Less research orientedLess research oriented Slightly more emphasis on primary careSlightly more emphasis on primary care About half consider January MCATAbout half consider January MCAT AACOMASAACOMAS National Average: 3.5 GPA, 25.5 MCAT National Average: 3.5 GPA, 25.5 MCAT

6. Messin’ with texas TMDSAS – Most Texas SchoolsTMDSAS – Most Texas Schools Application very similar to AMCAS/AACOMASApplication very similar to AMCAS/AACOMAS Application available May 3Application available May 3

7. Offshore medical schools No centralized service; apply directly to the schoolsNo centralized service; apply directly to the schools INVESTIGATE graduation rates, board pass ratesINVESTIGATE graduation rates, board pass rates May (and probably will) take longer than 4 yearsMay (and probably will) take longer than 4 years Limited residency optionsLimited residency options Extremely limited transfer optionsExtremely limited transfer options

8. AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDS AS 3 parts:3 parts: TranscriptTranscript ActivitiesActivities Personal statementPersonal statement

9. HPAC pre-application Application at www.premed.ua.eduApplication at www.premed.ua.eduwww.premed.ua.edu CANNOT SAVE. Create your documents in Word & copy/paste.CANNOT SAVE. Create your documents in Word & copy/paste. Very similar in content to AMCAS/AACOMASVery similar in content to AMCAS/AACOMAS

10. Activities 15 slots15 slots What do you do when you’re not studying?What do you do when you’re not studying? Nothing off limits – almostNothing off limits – almost Don’t feel like you need to use every available character!Don’t feel like you need to use every available character! GUESS on # hours investedGUESS on # hours invested

11. Sample activities Honors/Awards/RecognitionsHonors/Awards/Recognitions Conferences AttendedConferences Attended Presentation/PostersPresentation/Posters PublicationPublication Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocatio nsExtracurricular/Hobbies/Avocatio ns Leadership – not Listed ElsewhereLeadership – not Listed Elsewhere OtherOther Intercollegiate AthleticsIntercollegiate Athletics Artistic EndeavorsArtistic Endeavors Paid Employment - not MilitaryPaid Employment - not Military Paid Employment – MilitaryPaid Employment – Military Community Service/Volunteer – not Medical/ClinicalCommunity Service/Volunteer – not Medical/Clinical Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/ClinicalCommunity Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical Research/LabResearch/Lab Teaching/TutoringTeaching/Tutoring

12. Documenting Activities

13. Personal statement 5300 Characters AMCAS 4500 AACOMAS5300 Characters AMCAS 4500 AACOMAS (approximately 1.5 typed pages single spaced)(approximately 1.5 typed pages single spaced) Good articles & examples onlineGood articles & examples online Tell your storyTell your story Address (but don’t dwell on) deficitsAddress (but don’t dwell on) deficits This and LOR most carefully read part of the applicationThis and LOR most carefully read part of the application

14. Letters of recommendation MAX of 5 Letters: 3 from Faculty, 2 personal MAX of 5 Letters: 3 from Faculty, 2 personal Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you?Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you? AT LEAST ONE from a BCPM professor (engineering OK)AT LEAST ONE from a BCPM professor (engineering OK) Content of the letter more important than the authorContent of the letter more important than the author DO schools want a letter from a DODO schools want a letter from a DO How to ask for a letter: our form resume with a picture

15. When to ask for a letter Ask now Someone you already work with/know wellSomeone you already work with/know well Someone you’ve worked with in the past.Someone you’ve worked with in the past. Someone who isn’t likely to have new information on you in the next few monthsSomeone who isn’t likely to have new information on you in the next few months Ask later Someone you don’t know well (YET!)Someone you don’t know well (YET!) Someone who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few monthsSomeone who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few months Sabbatical? Summer?

16. 2 Interviews HPAC interview In Lloyd HallIn Lloyd Hall Basis for your committee letterBasis for your committee letter Must be done before other letters sent to the schoolsMust be done before other letters sent to the schools March-SeptemberMarch-September NOT BlindNOT Blind School Interview At the medical schoolAt the medical school Some blind, some notSome blind, some not September-MarchSeptember-March

17. VIRTUALEVALS & AAMC LETTER ID

18. Primary vs. Secondary Primary Application AMCASAMCAS AACOMASAACOMAS TMDSASTMDSAS Individual application for non-service schoolsIndividual application for non-service schools Secondary application Request from the individual school for more informationRequest from the individual school for more information Time sensitiveTime sensitive Most schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondaryMost schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondary CostlyCostly Be concise!Be concise!

19. timeline

21. Questions?