Getting Ready to Apply
for
College Juniors and Seniors
Carl Truesdale, MS1
Alyssa Reyes, MS1
Christina Chapman, MS3
Juron Foreman, MS4
In spite of variability, here are some basics which
helped all of us succeed:
THE PREGAME
Gather Information & Utilize Resources

Rule #1: Get Organized!!!
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Estimate COSTS (and SAVE if you can)
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Learn the Application Process

Know the Deadlines
Gather Information & Utilize Resources

Register with AspiringDocs for information, guidance,
and inspiration about preparation for medical school and
medical careers.
http://www.AspiringDocs.org

Read “Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors,” which
assists premedical and medial students in their planning
for the financial aspects of their medical education.
http://www.aamc.org/md2
Gather Information & Utilize Resources

Read AAMC publications and admissions web sites for
medical schools of interest
* Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) –
Become familiar with admission requirements,
curriculum, school’s mission, first year class profile,
financing, etc.
* Minority Student Opportunities in US Medical
Schools (MOUSMS) – Learn about recruitment,
applicant and matriculant data by gender, race and
ethnicity; summer programs, educational partnerships,
etc.
Gather Information & Utilize Resources
 Confer with
premed advisors, mentors, and medical
students who can support you through the application
process.
 Attend a
medical school recruitment fair to learn from
representatives about their schools
http://www.aamc.org/calendar/careerfairs
The Numbers
Medical School Admission Committees WILL NOT read
every applicant’s personal statement and the rest of the
application.
Every school has to screen its applications to reduce the
number of applications they actually have to read.
Once the screening process is done, then they start
reading the applications.
Let’s talk about the
numbers…
Presented by Carl Truesdale,
Contributions by Christina Chapman,
Derek Mazique,
Alyssa Reyes,
MS1
MS3
MS1
MS1
General Tips on the MCAT
 As
we’ve said, the MCAT does matter – don’t be
fooled into thinking it doesn’t!
 Aim to take the MCAT once – Why?
All schools calculate multiple MCAT’s differently…
Last score
 Average all of scores
 Best sub-score in each category

A lesson learned…
MCAT Stress
 Janell was
a junior and studied for the MCAT for two
months. She hadn’t taken organic chemistry yet but
heard it was only a minor part of the test, so she
wasn’t worried. To prepare for the biology section,
she studied intently from her dusty biology book that
she used freshmen year for Bio 101. She registered a
month before the test, and was surprised when she
got put at a testing site 1 hour away and had to wake
up early on testing day. When her scores came back,
she felt frustrated as she got seven points below the
average for her target school.
 How can we help Janell?
MCAT: The Inside Scoop
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Learn about the subject areas tested in the MCAT
Take all classes, biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics
before taking the MCAT
Create a MCAT study schedule and stick to it
Take an MCAT prep course or study from review books made
specifically for the MCAT as not all subjects are covered in college
courses
Look for summer programs or scholarships that provide free or
reduced MCAT prep
Register early and sign up with the AAMC Medical Minority
Applicant Registry (Med-Mar) Program when you take the MCAT
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Med-Mar is for applicants who are from groups which are underrepresented
in medicine or who are economically disadvantaged.
The registry distributes biographical information about examinees and their
MCAT scores to diversity/multicultural and admissions offices of medicals
schools interested in increasing opportunities for applicants who are
underrepresented or are economically disadvantaged.
MCAT: The Inside Scoop cont’d
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Study, seriously, not the type where you sit in the library and talk to
your friends
Do lots and lots and lots of practice MCAT’s –
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/practicetests.htm
Don’t resort to calling yourself a “bad test taker”
Read explanations for all correct and incorrect answer choices
MCAT: Test Day and Beyond
 Get sleep
the night before
 If you get stuck on a problem, move on and come
back to it later
 Pace yourself with a watch
 Continue to live life while your wait for your scores
 Retake if necessary, but study harder, or else your
score will be unlikely to improve
Alyssa Reyes, MS1
American Medical College Application
Service (AMCAS)
 Centralized
application service through the AAMC
 Available online in mid-May of your application year
www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm
 Can submit AMCAS in early June
Sections of the AMCAS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Identifying Information
Schools Attended
Biographic Information
Course Work
Work and Activities
Letters of Evaluation
Medical Schools
Essay(s)
Standardized Tests
Work and Activities
 Average
hours per week
 Description of your experiences
Key point:
Frame in context of how skills acquired/lessons
learned will make you a better physician!
Get creative!
Letters of Evaluation(a.k.a recommendation)
Required:
2 letters from instructors in science courses
1 letter from instructor in a non-science course
Extras:
Pre-med advising office
Coaches, deans, research P.I.’s
You can have up to 10 letters of recommendation
(not recommended!)
Letters of Evaluation cont’d
 Choose
individuals who know you well and who will
write very favorable letters of recommendation for
you
 Investigate if your school has a pre-health committee
assigned to write a cover letter providing an overall
recommendation of you along with individual letters
of recommendation
 If possible, your letter packet should include
recommendations representing both academic and
non-academic accomplishments
Letters of Evaluation cont’d
 Prepare
a portfolio (resume, personal statement,
self-addressed envelope to the office where the
letter must be sent) for the writer
 Request your individual letters of recommendation
EARLY!
 Follow up with the letter writer and make sure that
your letter is on file at the pre-health office or career
center
Personal Statement
 Leave
lots of time to write it
 Have many, many people read it (e.g. writing tutor)
 Make the admissions committee want to meet you!
NOTE:
MD/PhD applicants have 3 essays
1. Personal statement
2. Significant research experience
3. “Why do I want to do this?”
Anything Else?
 Primary
application: The AMCAS
Submit one set of application materials to
AMCAS, which verifies transcripts and forwards
application to the medical schools that you
indicate.
 Secondary applications
Most schools send you a supplementary application
(usually requires additional fees and essays).
How much does it cost to apply to
medical school?
 Primary
application: The AMCAS
$160 for the first school and $32 for each additional
school
NOTE: Not all schools use AMCAS, so these (i.e. Texas)
schools might have different fees.
 Secondary applications
Fees range from $25 to $100
Other expenses: Travel and overnight accommodations for
medical school interviews, suit, MCAT prep course, etc.
(Source: “The Cost of Applying to Medical School,” aamc.org)
Ways to save money while applying
 AAMC
Fee Assistance Program (FAP)
Reduction of MCAT registration fee from $235 to $85
 Waiver of application fee for submission of completed
AMCAS application to a maximum of 14 schools.
(Applicants pay an additional fee for each school beyond
the 14 free applications.)
 Total family income must be 300 percent or less of the
poverty level for their family size to be eligible

(For more information, go to
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/fap/)
 Make
use of student hosting programs
Juron Foreman, MS4
The Interview:
Making a Good Impression
Good for
ALL
professional
situations,
in college
even before
you
interview
 Begin with
a firm handshake
 Address interviewer with their correct
title (Dr., etc)
 Wait to be invited to be seated
 Maintain eye contact
 Be conscious of nonverbal
communication
 LISTEN
 Laugh, smile when appropriate! (It’s ok
to have a personality)
 BE CONFIDENT!
 BE YOURSELF!
The Interview:
Making the Most of Your Time
 Answer
questions concisely, but fully, highlighting
positives
 Use negative experiences as learning experiences
and weaknesses as potential areas of growth
 Be willing to converse about shared interests
 Have questions available that demonstrate interest
in the program, without appearing aggressive or
negative
Interviewing 101
 BE
ENTHUSIASTIC!!
Be polite to EVERYONE – The interview starts with your
response to the invitation
 Know what you like about the school, and why you’d be a
good fit
 Make all interactions a positive experience

Interviewing 101
5
DEADLY INTERVIEW MISTAKES TO AVOID AT ALL
COSTS
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Being Late
Being Rude or Aggressive
Being Inappropriate at any point during your time at a new place
Appearing bored or uninterested (including falling asleep during
presentations)
Answering your phone at the wrong time
Interview Attire
 Women
*Suit – black, blue, or tan
 Closed toe shoes (comfortable)
 *Groomed hair
 Clean Nails
 Light Perfume (if any)
 Conservative jewelry
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*nothing flashy or that stands out
Interview Attire cont’d
 Men
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Suit – black, blue, or gray
Dark socks
Polished shoes
Light cologne (if any)
Clean cuts
Interview Budgeting
 Create a
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Airfare – you are responsible for travel expenses
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Try to arrange interviews in same region around the same time
Lodging – unless otherwise indicated

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Budget EARLY accounting for:
Room w/ family, friends, students to cut costs
Suits, shoes, portfolios
Last minute interviews that may arise
Interviewing 101
 Other
Especially this
first point
tips:
Make sure your phone is on SILENT or OFF
throughout your interview day.
 Be aware of your surroundings
 Keep mints, mirror, comb, brush, etc.,
available for after lunches, dinners, etc.
 Save space in your budget (next slide); and
carry enough cash with you
 Enjoy Yourself!!
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Questions?
Keep in touch!
Juron Foreman, MS4
juronsf@mail.med.upenn.edu
Christina Chapman, MS3
cchap@mail.med.upenn.edu
Derek Mazique, MS1
mazique@mail.med.upenn.edu
Alyssa Reyes, MS1
alreyes@mail.med.upenn.edu
Carl Truesdale, MS1
carltru@mail.med.upenn.edu