Transcript Applying to MD/PhD Programs

Special Applicant Session:
Applying to MD/PhD Programs
David Verrier, Ph.D., Director
Neil Neumann, MD/PhD Candidate, MS2
Office of Pre-Professional Programs & Advising
Garland Hall, 3rd Floor
Phone: 410-516-4140
Website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro
How do I know if an MD/PhD program is the
right choice for me?
First… Are you a competitive MD/PhD applicant?
• Do you have a competitive BCPM GPA and MCAT? What are
competitive numbers?
• Do you have the expected research background and evidence
of scholarly/academic investment?
• Do you have the necessary medically-related exposure?
• Do you have meaningful community service?
• Will you have strong letters of recommendation, particularly
from your research PI’s/supervisors
What does the competitive MD/PhD applicant look like?
Second…Are you ready?
• Can you clearly and authentically communicate why you want
to be a physician-scientist?
• Do you have time to focus on the HPCA, AMCAS application,
letters of rec., MCAT, graduation, multiple essays and
secondary applications?
• Are you putting your best foot forward at this time?
When to apply?
What are some good reasons for delaying applying?
2013 APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINE
Internal Process Overview – Nov. 2011 to Summer 2012
Nov.
Dec.
Jan.
Feb.
March
May
April
June
Committee Application
Available Online
Committee Interviews
Students Request Letters of Recommendation via veCollect
11/2011
Applicant
Meetings;
Initial
Request of
Rec. Letters
12/2011
HPCA
Application
Available
Online
Work on HPCA from
December to March
3/30/2012
HPCA
Deadline
4/2012
Committee
Interviews
Begin
5 /2102
Begin Work
on AMCAS/
AACOMAS/
AADSAS
application
5/2012
Committee
Interviews
End
6/2012
Early
submission of
AMCAS/
AACOMAS/
AADSAS
application ;
follow-up with
Pre-Prof. Office
Mid-June2012
4-6 letters of rec.
submitted
2013 APPLICATION CYCLE TIMELINE
External Process – May 2012 to August 2013
May
June July
Aug. Sept.
Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. March April May June July August
AMCAS/AADSAS/AACOMAS
Medical School Interviews
Acceptances
Acceptances off of Waitlists
Early May, Early June,
2012
2012
AMCAS,
AADSAS,
AACOMAS
go online
Starting
July 2012
First Date
Complete
to submit
Secondary
AMCAS
Apps
AADSAS,
AACOMAS
Mid-Sept., October 15,
2012
2012
Med./
Dental
School
interviews
begin
First
acceptances
sent out by
medical
schools with
rolling
admissions;
AMCAS
deadline for
many schools
Sept-Dec
2012
Continue
work on
Secondary
Apps
March, 2013 May 15, 2013 March –
Aug, 2013
Interviews
Last Date to
end at most Hold
Offers from
medical
Multiple
Med/Dent
schools
Acceptances School
Waitlists
Aug. 2013
Medical
/ Dental
School
begins
MD/PhD Letters of Recommendation
• Follow through with veCollect
o Register and receive manual
o Ask recommenders for LOR before putting their names into veCollect
o Give writers: resume, transcript (optional), paragraph on why you want
to be a physician, copies of appropriate papers.
• Request letters now
o Recommenders who know you well; can speak of your knowledge,
skills and abilities as a future physician
o Recommended distribution: science faculty, non-science faculty, those
outside of the classroom (research PI, athletic coach, volunteer
supervisor, employer, etc.)
• Letters should be submitted to veCollect by mid-June
How does the MCAT factor into your application?
• If taken by June, can choose to see scores before submitting
AMCAS application in July.
• If taken July or later, advised not to delay submitting your
AMCAS application.
• Scores automatically released to AMCAS.
• Plan to only take test once.
• What is a competitive score for MD/PhD programs?
• When does it make sense to retake?
When should I take the MCAT?
Essays for the MD/PhD Applicant
Schools view your personal statement as…
• A chance to move beyond your numbers and really show the admissions committee
who you are and why you are applying.
• A significant factor in whether or not you will be invited to interview.
• A writing sample.
Questions to consider for your personal statement:
• What experiences have shaped me the most and how?
• Why is it important for me to tell admissions committees about this topic as it
relates to me?
• What does this topic choice tell admissions committees about me? How does my
topic reflect on me?
• How is this topic relevant to my pursuit of the health professions and to my
application to health professions school?
However, you are required to submit three essays with your AMCAS
application…
Essays for the MD/PhD Applicant (page 2)
• You are required to provide two (2) additional essays.
• Use the M.D./Ph.D. essay to state your reasons for pursuing the combined
M.D./Ph.D. degree. Your responses will only be forwarded to your
designated M.D./Ph.D. program(s). This essay is limited to 3,000
characters.
• Use the Significant Research Experience Essay to describe your significant
research experiences. In your statement, please specify your research
supervisor's name and affiliation, the duration of the experience, the nature
of the problem studied, and your contributions to the project. This essay is
limited to 10,000 characters.
• If your research resulted in a publication on which you were an author,
please provide the full citation in the Work/Activities section of your
application.
Selecting MD/PhD Programs
• How to sort out MSTP programs and non-MSTP programs.
• Last year: $160 for initial school; $32 for additional schools + fees
for secondary applications (additional $50 - $100/school)
• National average: 14 schools/applicant; not necessarily an advantage
to apply to 20+ schools
• Some selection factors: residency, location, cost, class size,
male/female ratio, diversity, mission, etc. PLUS: MSTP affiliation;
location of potential research mentors; schools with strong
graduate programs in your area(s) of interest
• Sources of information: MSAR, Website, Interview Reports
Is it OK to apply MD-only at some schools and MD/PhD at others?
Will schools consider me for admission as MD-only if I am not considered a
strong MD/PhD candidate?
AMCAS
• Application available May 5.
• Can start submitting application approximately June 1.
• AMCAS “verifies” academic and other demographic
information; downloads to schools selected by applicants.
• Additional schools can be added through the AMCAS
website
Some additional questions…
• What can I expect with secondary applications?
• How big are the programs and how many new students do they
accept each year?
• When should I expect to hear from schools?
• What if I am not a US citizen and applying to MD/PhD
programs?
If time allows…
• What can I expect regarding MD/PhD interviews
Remaining Workshops
Special Applicant Session: Applying to MD/PhD Programs
Monday
3/12/2012
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Shaffer 101
Personal Statement Workshop: Dr. Kelly Barry, Director, Office
of Scholarships and Fellowships
Thursday
4/5/2012
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Mergenthaler 111
Health Professions Fair DON’T MISS THIS!
Tuesday
4/10/2012
11:00 AM 2:00 PM Glass Pavilion
Personal Statement Workshop: Jason Hoppe, Director, The
Writing Center
Thursday
4/12/2012
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Maryland 110
Inside Scoop on Applying to Medical School: A panel of current or Tuesday
recently admitted med students
4/17/2012
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Mergenthaler 111
Personal Statement Workshop: Jason Hoppe, Director, The
Writing Center (a repeat of 4/12/2012)
Wednesday
5:00 PM
4/18/2012
Applicant Session II: The AMCAS/AACOMAS Application
Thursday
4/26/2012
Special Applicant Session: Applying to Dental School & AADSAS
Thursday
5/3/2012
Applicant Session II: The AMCAS/AACOMAS Application (a repeat MONDAY
of 4/26/12)
5/7/2012
6:00 PM Ames 234
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Maryland 110
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Gilman 119
5:00 PM
6:00 PM Maryland 110
Ongoing Contact with Pre-Professional Office
• When you officially apply to medical schools, hardcopy of AMCAS
application and Master List of Schools to Pre-Prof. Office.
• Pre-Prof. Office starts uploading your Committee Letter with
veCollect letters of rec in mid-July, after receiving your AMCAS
application and Master List of Schools.
• Notification of additional schools.
• Notification if recommenders change.
• Get to know Mrs. Krause and Mrs. Sanders (advising questions to
Verrier/Snydman; administrative questions to Krause/Sanders).
Key Resources
Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR). Profiles and statistics on every US
and Canadian medical school. Purchased through Association of American Medical
Colleges: http://www.aamc.org or at http://www.amazon.com
MD/PhD resources on the Pre-Prof Website
http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/md_phd.html
MCAT application information, preparation and FAQs:
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/
Official MCAT practice tests: http://www.e-mcat.com/
The Pre-Professional Office website: http://web.jhu.edu/prepro/health/applicants.html
Questions?