Transcript How to ask for a letter
2012 Medical School application Workshop • Timeline • MCAT • Choosing Schools • Letters of Recommendation • HPAC application • AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS • HPAC Interview • Confirming your letters have been sent • Secondary applications • Interviews at the schools • Accept/deny/hold
1: Register for the mcat
REGISTER NOW
Preparation for the MCAT
Kaplan and TPR • Built-in accountability • Popular • All materials included • Class does NOT replace Study!
DIY • BYOD (Bring your own discipline) • AAMC tests are the best • AAMC Guide (cheap & effective) • Examcrackers – Amazon or B&N • AED course in spring 2011
2: Choose your medical schools
Allopathic
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MD Degree
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UAB, USA, etc.
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State of Residency Matters
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131 US Schools
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AMCAS
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National Avg: 31 MCAT, 3.7 GPA
Choose your medical schools
Osteopathic
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DO Degree
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Schools in AL, MS, TN, GA, FL
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Essentially the same residency options
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Less research oriented
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Slightly more emphasis on primary care
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About half consider January 2012 MCAT
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AACOMAS is the primary application service
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National Average: 26 MCAT, 3.5 GPA
Messin’ with texas
• TMDSAS – Most Texas Schools use this instead of AMCAS or AACOMAS • Application very similar to AMCAS/AACOMAS • Application available May 2012
Offshore medical schools
• No centralized service; apply directly to the schools • INVESTIGATE graduation rates, board pass rates • May (and often will) take longer than 4 years • Limited residency options •
Extremely
limited transfer options
The application: AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS
• 3 parts:
•
Transcript
•
Activities
•
Personal statement
TRANSCRIPT
Transcript
• Obtain copies of your transcript from each school attended.
• Enter
each
course you have taken exactly as it appears on your transcript(s).
• Send official transcripts
from each undergraduate school attended
to AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS
ACTIVITIES
Sample activities
• Honors/Awards/Recognitions • Conferences Attended • Presentation/Posters • Publication • Extracurricular/Hobbies/Avocatio ns • Leadership – not Listed Elsewhere • Other • Intercollegiate Athletics • Artistic Endeavors • Paid Employment - not Military • Paid Employment – Military • Community Service/Volunteer – not Medical/Clinical • Community Service/Volunteer – Medical/Clinical • Research/Lab • Teaching/Tutoring
Documenting Activities
Activities
• 15 slots • What do you do when you’re not studying?
• Nothing off limits – almost • Don’t feel like you need to use every available character! Some may not warrant long descriptions.
• Estimates are fine when listing the number of hours invested in each activity; don’t get mired down in the details.
Personal statement
• 5300 Characters AMCAS 4500 AACOMAS • • (approximately 1-1.5 typed pages single spaced) Good articles & examples online at www.premed.ua.edu
• • • Tell your story Address (but don’t dwell on) deficits This and LOR most carefully read part of the application
Letters of recommendation
•
MAX of 5 Letters: 3 from Faculty, 2 personal
• • • • Planks in your platform: what can each one say about you?
AT LEAST ONE from a BCPM professor (engineering OK) Content of the letter more important than the author DO schools want a letter from a DO
How to ask for a letter:
~ our form ~ For recommenders who don’t know you as well, providing a resume with a picture is a good idea.
HPAC pre-application
• For UA use only: application at www.premed.ua.edu
• Complete this in addition to your primary application • We need both the Pre-Application and a copy of your primary application if you wish to interview with our committee (recommended by medical schools).
When to ask for a letter
Ask now • Someone you already work with/know well • Someone you’ve worked with in the past. • Someone 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 who will be able to write a stronger letter in a few months Sabbatical? Summer?
2 Interviews
HPAC interview • In Lloyd Hall • Basis for your committee letter • Must be done before other letters sent to the schools • March-September • NOT Blind School Interview • At the medical school • Some blind, some not • September-March
VIRTUALEVALS & AAMC LETTER ID
Primary vs. Secondary Primary Application • AMCAS • AACOMAS • TMDSAS • Individual application for non-service schools Secondary application • Request from the individual school for more information • Time sensitive • Most schools will not invite you for an interview prior to reviewing the secondary • Costly • Be concise!