Transcript File
The Dos & Don’ts of
Med School Admissions
Your Name
Your Title
Kaplan Test Prep & Admissions
(xxx) xxx-xxxx
[email protected]
www.kaptest.com/mcat
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Med School Admissions Trends
Number of tests administered , and number of applicants
More competitive MCAT scores
% growth in applicants greater than % growth in 1st year seats since 2003
Tip #1:
Know the competition.
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Med School Admissions Timeline
Ideal
MCAT
Jan
Desirable
Secondaries
Primary
May
June
July
Aug
Acceptance
Interview
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Early Decision
Period
Rolling Admissions Period
Tip #2:
Submit your application early.
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Feb
MCAT School Admissions Factors
MCAT Score
Index Formula
Undergraduate GPA
Clinical Experience/Volunteer work
Research
Personal Statement
Interviews
Letters of Recommendation
Tip #3:
Presumably Admit
Presumably Deny
Absolutely Deny
Control the process.
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The Dos & Don’ts of Med School Admissions
Clinical Experience and Volunteer Work
Gain clinical experience to confirm
Neglect direct-patient-care clinical
experience
Commit to work you're passionate about
Over-commit yourself
Carefully consider your "List of 15"
Rely on experience to overcome
weaknesses
interest.
Research
Research your research opportunities
Assume research "isn't for you"
Understand whole project, not just your
Over-commit yourself
Consider research outside of med/science
Substitute research for clinical
experience
part
Tip #4:
Make your experience work for you.
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The Dos & Don’ts of Med School Admissions
Personal Statement
Use past/present stories and a theme.
Write “why I want to go to med school”.
Showcase lessons learned from
Speak negatively of anyone or anything.
Write effectively and follow directions
Go at it alone.
experience
Interviews
Consider every interview mandatory
Discount them
Schedule interviews strategically
Judge schools based on ranking alone
Become acquainted with admissions staff
Inundate admissions staff with requests
Tip #5:
Distinguish yourself by showing your passion.
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The Dos & Don’ts of Med School Admissions
Letters of Recommendation
Select professors who know you well
Worry about clout
Give recommenders content to work from
Allow your recommenders to fly blind
Ask specifically for strong, detailed letter
Write the letter yourself
Tip #6:
Help your recommenders help you.
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The Dos & Don’ts of Med School Admissions
GPA
Choose major that interests/challenges
Choose Bio major "just because" premed
Squeeze out every point you can.
Game your GPA with easy classes or P/F
“Trend-up” and do well in major.
Over-estimate importance of GPA.
you
Tip #7:
Your academic potential is measurable.
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The Dos & Don’ts of MCAT School Admissions
The MCAT
All sections are passage-based (except for WS).
Verbal Reasoning is the “most difficult” section.
Physical Sciences is the “most feared” section.
The Writing Sample IS important.
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The Dos & Don’ts of MCAT School Admissions
The MCAT
Give the test the attention/time it
Consider it just an obstacle to admission
Learn critical thinking skills (and science)
Tackle the exam as a whole, all at once
Learn/practice to gain efficiency for each
Take test after test w/o changing
behavior
Focus on your opportunities for
Prepare with college text books
Understand you can do it.
Consider it just an obstacle to admission
deserves
skill
improvement
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The Dos & Don’ts of Med School Admissions
The MCAT
The MCAT is the common measuring stick.
# of right answers = raw score; no guessing penalty.
Raw score scaled score conversion varies per test.
Small improvements result in significant gains.
Repeat test-taking remains unadvisable.
Tip #8:
You can raise your MCAT score.
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Why prep for the MCAT?
The MCAT is the most important factor in your application.
Med schools are very competitive.
Small gains on the MCAT can translate into massive
“leapfrogging” of other test-takers.
The MCAT is an important predictor of med school
success.
Tip #9:
The MCAT matters.
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A Sample MCAT Question…
2. Which set of graphs best depicts the
optimal temperature and pH range for
pepsin activity?
Tip #10:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Kaplan can help.
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Big Picture: The Structure of the MCAT Course
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Most Personalized Prep: Class Options
Available Live Online!
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The Most Personalized Prep: Course Feature Highlight
New Review Notes developed in partnership with
Scientific American
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Review Notes Online
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Lessons-on-Demand
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Explanations-on-Demand
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The Most Personalized Prep: Smart Reports
Track Scores:
Diagnostic, most recent
and highest overall
Track progress by
Subject
See how scores trend
over time
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The Most Personalized Prep: Smart Reports
Analyze performance
by Section to
determine your
areas of greatest
opportunity
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The Most Personalized Prep: Smart Reports
Dig deeper to
uncover content
strengths and
weaknesses
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The Kaplan Advantage
The Most
Personalized
Prep
Unmatched
Expertise
Guaranteed
Results
Greatest number of course options because one size does not
fit all.
Only program with online on-demand instruction (250+ hours)
Individual online score analysis and prescriptive feedback
through our exclusive Smart Reports™
Only national MCAT program with instructors who have scored
at or above the 90th percentile on each section of the MCAT
that they teach
Most realistic practice through 19 Computer-Based tests,
including all AAMC practice tests
The largest MCAT question library, with 11,000+ questions,
including the most Verbal Reasoning practice
Higher Score Guarantee
Readiness Satisfaction Money Back
More people get into med school with a Kaplan course than with
any other major course
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