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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 1-800-KAP-TEST 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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. 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat Big Picture: The Structure of the MCAT Course 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat Most Personalized Prep: Class Options Available Live Online! 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat The Most Personalized Prep: Course Feature Highlight New Review Notes developed in partnership with Scientific American 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat Review Notes Online 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat Lessons-on-Demand 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat Explanations-on-Demand 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat The Most Personalized Prep: Smart Reports Track Scores: Diagnostic, most recent and highest overall Track progress by Subject See how scores trend over time 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat The Most Personalized Prep: Smart Reports Analyze performance by Section to determine your areas of greatest opportunity 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat The Most Personalized Prep: Smart Reports Dig deeper to uncover content strengths and weaknesses 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat 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 1-800-KAP-TEST | kaptest.com/mcat