What Do Medical Schools Value in Selecting Students

Gabriel Garcia, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Associate Dean for Medical School Admissions Stanford University School of Medicine [email protected]

APPLICANTS TO MEDICAL SCHOOL - AMCAS 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 93 94 % WOMEN 95 50000 45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 96 97 98 % MINORITY 99 2000 2001 2002 TOTAL APPLICANTS

80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Likelihood of a College Degree by age 24 in 1999

1

Socioeconomic status

2

Designing an Admissions Process

1. Mission of the Medical School 2. Societal Expectations 3. Health care system manpower concerns

Medical Schools Mission

1. Drive the admissions process to choose applicants that will be expected to embrace the values of the school.

2. Impact the curriculum to maximize the chances that a student will participate in activities that are important to the school.

3. Assign a higher value to graduates that engage in activities consistent with the mission.

Mission Statements

“To educate future physicians and foster their capacity to make discoveries and lead innovation in the science and practice of medicine.” “To prepare medical graduates for distinguished medical careers in service to the people of California, with emphasis on the needs of the underserved, inland and rural populations.” “To further the healing and teaching ministry of Jesus Christ "to make man whole…”

Desirable Traits of Physicians

• Consider the care of their patients their first priority – Ethical, honest, dedicated • Make good decisions for their patients – Smart and knowledgeable – Willing to learn and change their practice with newly acquired knowledge – Develop better ways of treating patients • Relate well to their patients – Communicate well and understand the cultural context in which care is given

Elements of a Good Admissions Process

1. Examines and values all the skills and attitudes of an excellent physician in the applicant.

2. Evaluates the fit of the applicant with the mission of the school.

3. Ranks the applicants according to how they will benefit from and contribute to your school.

Steps in the Admissions Process

Review of Application – AMCAS application – Supplemental application • Essays • Mission targeted questions • Letters of Reference – Individuals – Premedical Advisory Committee Interview Executive Committee decision

Review of Application

• Is performed by volunteers (a faculty member or a student) or admissions office staff members.

• The purpose of file review is to identify students who would be good candidates for admission.

• Is a labor-intensive process if performed correctly.

• The number of volunteers is usually inadequate to perform this function in a timely manner.

Review of Application

• Research and scholarly activities – Independence of thought, productivity • Leadership – Role model, legacy • Evidence of originality and creativity – Academic and non-academic accomplishments • Community service, clinical work, sports, arts, business or other activities • Educational context – Interpret the applicant’s record with regard to the “distance traveled”

What do medical schools value?

• Service (in the broadest sense of this word) – To underserved communities • Scholarly endeavors • Clinical experiences The mission of the school will determine which of these areas would be of most interest to the committee on admissions.

How Do You Demonstrate Your Passion for Medicine?

• • • • 1. Develop a track record reflecting a desire to impact the health care of all our communities Public service Cultural activities Educational endeavors Scholarly pursuits

How Do You Demonstrate Your Passion for Medicine?

2. Be a creative and imaginative leader and role model “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” Mohandas K. Gandhi.

How Do You Demonstrate Your Passion for Medicine?

3. Develop the skills and attitudes of terrific doctors – your own medical

toolbox

.

Barometer for Participation in Any Extracurricular Activity

Showing up Showing up for a long time Leadership

Advocacy Innovation

Legacy

How much is enough? An Example

Showing up Showing up for a long time Leadership

Advocacy Innovation Legacy

varsity sports for 3 years team captain mentored youth designed her racing wheelchair developed a system for others to design their own

Educational Context “Distance Traveled”

• • • • • • • • Interpret the scholastic record taking into account Parental income, education and occupation Pre-college education Hours per week of work while attending college for financial support Cultural barriers Geographic location where applicant was raised Prior experiences with any type of prejudice Impact of stereotype threat Special family circumstances

Interview

• Does your interaction with the candidate conform to the expectations you derived from reading the application? If not, what are the discrepancies?

• Do you think the letters of support represent the candidate fairly?

• Does the candidate have a interest in the world outside of school and in the welfare of others? • Does the candidate have any significant knowledge of your program and how it would benefit her in pursuit of her stated goals?

Interview

• Are there specific concerns that the candidate may have about your school?

• Does the candidate have a reasonable understanding of the positive and negative aspects of a career in medicine?

• Do you detect any characteristics that cause you to question candidate’s suitability for a career in medicine or the ability to think logically and critically?

• Have you explored answers to questions raised by file reviewers?

Committee Decision

1. How will this candidate contribute to and benefit from your school?

2. Will accepting this candidate be in keeping with the mission of your school?

Practical Points

Applicants • Ensure that your track record as stated in the application is a fair and honest reflection of who you are.

• Complete the supplemental applications knowing the unique mission of each school.

• Explain any unique or challenging factors in detail.

Advisors • Make sure the letters of evaluation and support address the skill set, character traits and attitudes that make the applicant particularly suited for a career in medicine.

Why Stanford?

Distinct Core Values at Stanford

GOAL = Encourage Scholarly Activity

•Flexible Curriculum = OPPORTUNITIES •Medical Scholars Program (Basic and Clinical Research, Arts and Humanities, and Public Service) and Traveling Scholars Program •Top-notch Basic Science and Clinical Faculty in Both the Medical Center and the Rest of the University Are Committed to You.

Autumn Winter

FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE I

• Cells to Tissues • Molecular Foundations of Medicine • Genetics • Development & Disease Mechanisms Gross Anatomy

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE I FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE II

• The Nervous System • Immunology • Gross Anatomy of Head & Neck • Introduction to Organ Systems

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE II SCHOLARLY CONCENTRATIONS

Spring

HUMAN HEALTH & DISEASE I

• Cardiovascular • Pulmonary

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE III HUMAN HEALTH & DISEASE II

•Renal/Genitourinary •Gastrointestinal/Liver •Endocrine/Reproductive

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE IV 8 Weeks

Internal Medicine Pediatrics Surgery Block 1 FOUNDATIONS OF MEDICINE

HUMAN HEALTH & DISEASE III

• Brain and Behavior • Hematology • Multi-Organ System

PRACTICE OF MEDICINE V SCHOLARLY CONCENTRATIONS PRACTICE OF MEDICINE VI April TRANSITION TO CLINICAL CLERKSHIPS May • 1-month intensive preparation for clerkships • Study for USMLE • Begin clinical clerkships 6 Weeks

Obstetrics & Gynecology

CLINICAL CLERKSHIPS 4 Weeks

Family Medicine Psychiatry Neurology Critical Care

Selectives

Ambulatory Practice (8 weeks) Subinternship

APPLIED BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES SCHOLARLY CONCENTRATIONS Electives

Block 2 HUMAN HEALTH & DISEASE Block 3 PRACTICE OF MEDICINE Block 4 CLINICAL CLERKSHIPS Block 5 APPLIED BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES

Distinct Core Values at Stanford

GOAL = Non-competitive Environment that Promotes Both Individual and Collaborative Achievement

•No Grades •No Ranking of Students •No AOA or Awards Until Graduation = Value Teamwork!

Distinct Core Values at Stanford

GOAL = No penalty for staying longer to continue to explore your education.

•Nominal tuition (fees only) after 13 quarters of attendance •Generous financial aid. Our maximum grant for our neediest students pays 83% of tuition. •Mean debt for 2002 graduates: –$91,000 at public schools –$124,000 at private schools –$63,000 at Stanford!

120000

DEBT AT GRADUATION OF INDEBTED GRADUATES

100000 80000 60000 40000 20000 0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

YEAR

1999 2000 2001 2002 National Stanford

Questions?

Go to our web site http://www.med.stanford.edu/osa/ Call us – 650 723-6861 E mail us [email protected]