Preparing for the 2015
Application Cycle
University Advising and Career Center
Hood House Room 102
(603) 862-7740
www.unh.edu/premed-advising
Katie Whittemore
Pre-Professional Health Programs Advising Office
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Yes: Applicants to medical (MD/DO), dental, and
podiatric programs.
 Committee Evaluation is expected and preferred
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No: Applicants to all other graduate level
programs (PA, OD, PharmD, PT, ND, and DC)
 Generally, no Committee Letter is
required/requested
 Start reviewing the letter requirements for
schools of interest now.
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AMCAS - https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/: Most
US allopathic (MD) medical schools
AACOMAShttp://www.aacom.org/infofor/applicants/Pages/default.aspx:
Osteopathic (DO) medical schools
TMDSAS: https://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/: Texas public
medical and dental schools
AADSAS: https://portal.aadsasweb.org/: Dental schools
CASPA: https://portal.caspaonline.org/: PA programs
PTCAS: http://www.ptcas.org/: Physical Therapy programs
OptomCAS: http://www.optomcas.org/: Optometry programs
PharmCAS: http://www.pharmcas.org/: Pharmacy programs
AACPMCAS: https://portal.aacpmas.org/: Podriatry
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Complete the Self-assessments on our website under
Application Process and read the 10 Good Reasons to Delay
Ask yourself – would I be a substantially stronger applicant in
one year, based on courses I will be taking, research I will be
doing, or experiences I will be having, improved exam
scores?
Do I have 3-5 faculty and others who can write detailed,
specific, and personal letters of recommendation on my
behalf?
Can I articulate why I have chosen this path, and that I am a
good fit for this profession?
Do I have evidence to demonstrate these claims?
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Review the Four Year Timeline
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How do you rate?
What are your strengths?
Which areas need attention?
Given this, how do you assess your chances for
acceptance?
 What is your plan to improve/add to your profile?
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Schools do not evaluate applicants on their major.
Evaluation is based on:
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Grades: All years and schools attended, science GPA, total GPA, nonscience courses
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Experiences: Sustained commitment, knowledge of field and healthcare
in general, personal attributes and desire to serve others
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Letters of Recommendation: Faculty, providers, supervisors, mentors,
and Committee (medical/dental applicants)
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Entrance Exams: Taken only after pre-reqs are completed
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Interviews: UNH Committee and Medical Schools
National Averages: Accepted Applicants
(2012 Cycle)
Note: averages do not reflect other factors that come in to play
when evaluating an applicant’s file
FIELD
GRADE POINT AVERAGE
Overall/Science
EXAM SCORE
Medicine
MD: 3.68 Overall/ 3.63 Science
DO:3.51 Overall/ 3.42 Science
Mean MCAT: 31 (Allopathic Schools)
27 (Osteopathic Schools)
Dentistry
3.4 Overall/ 3.35 Science*
DAT: Mean - Academic Average: 19.5
Perceptual Ability: 18.7
Total Science: 19.5
Optometry
Accepted range 3.28-3.92
Not available
Physician Assistant
3.51 Overall/ 3.45 Science*
303 average on GRE
3.3 Overall / 3.1 Science
MCAT: 21
3.38*
PCAT Not available
3.52 Overall/ 3.37 Science
Not available (GRE)
Podiatry
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
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Why have you chosen to prepare for a career in health?
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How familiar are you with healthcare environments?
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Have you volunteered or worked in a medical or healthrelated environment? If so, in what capacity?
◦ What do you know about what it’s like to be a patient?
◦ What do you know about what it’s like to be a
physician/dentist/other?
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If you have worked in a health-related environment, what did
you find most enjoyable and most challenging about this
work?
If you haven’t, what has kept you from doing this?
Important Attributes of Healthcare
Professionals
How have you developed/demonstrated these qualities?
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Adaptability
Critical Thinking
Integrity
Logical Reasoning
Intellectual curiosityresourceful
Personal Maturity
Reliability
Self Discipline
Work Habits
Motivation for Healthcare
Persistence
Teamwork
 Professionalism
 Ability to use good judgment
 Ability to balance multiple
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priorities
Resilient
Strong interpersonal skills listening and speaking
Ethical, cultural, and social
awareness/understanding
Dedication to service
Empathy
Compassion
Altruism
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Low Grades
 It is very difficult to overcome multiple semesters with a low
GPA (< 3.3 + C’s in pre-req)
 Consult with the HP advisor – what are your options?
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Limited experiences
 Unprepared to make informed decision about a heathcare
career.
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Judicial Sanctions and/or Criminal Record
 You will be asked on applications – whether the record has
been expunged or not.
All your file
documents
Go to your UNH Committee interviewers
The contents of your file, including interview
notes, are then used to compose:
The
UNH Committee Letter of Evaluation
which is submitted to every school to which you apply .
Your
letter packet, which includes:
◦ Committee Letter of Evaluation
◦ Supporting letters of recommendation
received
◦ We do not send any other materials, such as
transcripts or personal essay
Year One: Developing your
portfolio
• Fall 2013 – Spring 2014
• UNH:
• Application File
• Committee Interviews
• Entrance Exams
• Professional Schools:
• Primary application
submissions (June)
• Secondary Applications
(Summer)
Year Two: Decisions
•Summer 2014 – Summer 2015
•Professional Schools:
•Secondary Applications
• School Interviews
•Apply for Financial Aid
•Decisions:
• Accepted
• Reapply
• Other
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This timetable is designed to help you complete your
application and be considered for admission at the
earliest possible date (June submission)
Assuming you have a strong application, it is in your
best interest to submit your application as early as you
can
Important:
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Most schools use a rolling admissions process
Schools evaluate applications as they are completed
Schools offer interviews as applications are received
There are very limited interview slots given the number
of applications received
No interview = no acceptance.
Complete by end of May 2013
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1 year General Biology w/lab (BIOL 411/412)
1 year General Chemistry w/lab(CHEM 403/404)
1 year Organic Chem. w/lab (CHEM 651-654)
1 year General Physics w/lab (PHYS 401/402)
1 year English
1 year Math (Statistics and 1 semester Calculus)
1 semester Biochemistry w/lab (can be completed over summer
or next year)
◦ Psychology/ Sociology
*AP Credit is not universally accepted by medical or dental schools. It is strongly
recommended that you take the course at UNH. If you do not take the course, you
will need to take additional upper level courses in that subject area.
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Explored the health professions
◦ Gained exposure to the profession over the past 3-4
years
 Volunteer/paid experiences
 Shadowing
 Informational interviews
◦ Researched the options – been informed
 Look at health professions websites
 Subscribed to an online health profession newsletter
 Reading daily paper
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Maintained a balance between academics and
social activities
Earned good grades (ideal: 3.5> GPA)
Gotten to know your professors and advisors
Been involved in your major–research
opportunities/independent study
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Been involved – It’s not a checklist!
◦ Demonstrate committed participation in areas that are
truly important to you, such as:
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Campus and community organizations
Healthcare environments
Service and volunteering
Leadership
Research
Mentoring/tutoring
Employment
Hobbies
Athletics
Travel
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Doubts? Questions? Meet with Katie or other
trusted advisors. Schedule appointment by
calling 603-862-7740.
Ready to start? Review UNH file requirements,
materials, deadlines, and timeline at
http://unh.edu/premed-advising/2015application-cycle-new-applicant
Deadlines are not negotiable – stay up to date
New Applicant Files can be opened between
now and Nov. 15th