Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond
• Lee Witters
• Sarah Berger
• Annette Hamilton

• Make your intention to possibly apply known to our advising system..i.e. SIGN IN
• Have an individual conversation with an advisor as to whether 2011 is the optimum time for you to be applying to medical school or whether you should consider delaying till 2012 or later
• Familiarize yourself with all the sources of information
• KEEP TO ANNOUNCED DEADLINES!

Some Medical School
Admission Statistics:
2010 Matriculants
National
•# applicants : 41, 309
•# accepted : 19, 086 (46%)
•GPA all applicants : 3.53
(3.43 BCPM)
•GPA accepted : 3.67 (3.62 BCPM)
•MCAT all takers
8.4VR/8.7PS/9.2BS/26.4/O
•MCAT accepted applicants
9.3VR/9.8PS/10.2BS/29.3/P
• # applicants: 170
• 77% alumni

• # accepted: 114 (67%)
• # schools/applicant: 19
• # acceptances/applicant: 2 (1-11)
• GPAs accepted :
– Overall: 3.58 (2.6-3.99)
– BCPM: 3.49 (2.6-4.00)
• GPA not accepted :
– Overall: 3.37 (2.8-3.94)
– BCPM: 3.24 (1.9-3.90)
• MCAT
– Accepted :
•10.9VR/11.4PS/11.4 BS/ 33.7
/Q
– Not Accepted:
•10.2VR/10.5PS/10.6BS/ 31.3
/Q

Includes only released data

Factors Influencing Admission Statistics
OVERALL GPA
• >3.3 overall GPA
BCPM GPA
• >3.3 BCPM
89% of ‘accepted’; 55 % of ‘not accepted’
74% of ‘accepted’; 44% of ‘not accepted’
MCAT
• >30 MCAT 87% of ‘accepted’; 80% of ‘not accepted’
Timeliness
• Application verified before Sept 1
80% of ‘accepted’; 56% of ‘not accepted’
OTHER DATA
Science GPA < 3.2; MCAT <30: Only 4% accepted
If Science GPA < 3.3 and ‘accepted’, average MCAT 31
If Science GPA > 3.3 and ‘ not accepted’, average MCAT 30
Other factors:
• Clinical Experience/Exposure
• Community Service
• Research Experience
• List of Schools (# and appropriateness relative to credentials)
• Personal statement & Interview
• Letters of evaluation
• Utilization of advising services

Elements of a Successful Application to Medical School
MCAT
Courses
(GPA,
Science
GPA)
Letters of
Evaluation
Extracurricular
Experiences
Personal &
Professional
Characteristics
Skills &
Abilities
Clinical Exposure
Altruistic Service
Scholarly Activity
(outside classroom )

Skills & Abilities Personal & Professional Characteristics
• Active listener
• Problem solver
• Communicator
(oral, written)
• Critical thinker
• Multilingual
• Resiliency
• Integrity/Judgment
• Adaptability
• Reliability/Dependability
• Persistence
• Motivation
• Intellectual curiosity
• Empathy
• Altruistic service

Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond
•Overview: Where is help?
•Important web sites:
– NSS (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss)
• Several links in “Must Reads & Links” section including Alumni Advice network
• ‘Medical School Application 2011-2012’ section (podcasts, documents)
– NSS Blackboard site (need to self-enroll; see instructions on
NSS home page)
• All important documents and podcasts to be posted here in ‘Pre-Health
Information’ >>>>’Medical School’ folder
– Career Services
(www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/students/gradschool/med/index.html)
– American Association of Medical Colleges
(www.aamc.org/students/applying/start.htm)
• Links on right: AMCAS, MCAT, Aspiring Docs.org, Medical Schools/More
Resources

Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond
• The MCAT exam, registration and preparation
– When/where?
– How to prepare? MCAT Survey: ‘How NSS Prepares’
– Other issues: testing accommodations; fee assistance
Posted on NSS home page

– TWO science faculty who’ve taught you
– Major professor
– Extracurricular letter

Consult Documents in “Medical School
Application” on NSS Home Page
• Open your Interfolio account
– Waiving your rights of access
• Ask letter writers – give them timelines
• Create & upload supporting documents
– Autobiographical Sketch
– Resume
– Transcript (official from Registrar; scan both sides)
• Release to Composite Writer
• Additional letters (after composite) – talk to
Annette
• Timelines/Deadlines (Agreement form)

See also: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/pdfs/interfolio_announcement.pdf
and the Interfolio FAQs at http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/pdfs/interfolio_faq.pdf

10-
11
11-
12
Fall
- Is this the best year for you to apply?
-Ask for
LETTERS
-Sign up for early MCAT
Winter
-Workshops
-Ask for
LETTERS
-Early MCAT (or sign up for spring/summer)
-Open Interfolio account
Spring Summer
-Workshops
-LETTERS
-MCAT
-Begin AMCAS application, incl. personal statement & school list
-Transcript
(after spring term)
-Submit AMCAS application target date
6/30
-Begin secondary applications
-Send LETTERS
-Complete 2° by early Sept
-Schools to have everything by now
-Interviews &
Offers
- Update Letters
-Interviews &
Offers
-Decision Day:
May 15
-Get ready for med school classes!

Summary of Deadlines
(Ideal (i.e. target) & Final)
Task
Taking MCAT
Ideal (target) date
By mid-June
Submitting AMCAS June 30
Submitting 2 o Apps Sept 1
Final deadline
August dates
Sept 1
Oct 1
Documents to Career Services
Timeline Agreement ASAP April 1
May 1 Composite Letter
Worksheet
End of winter term classes
Supporting Documents May 1
Supporting Letters May 1
Release to Composite
Writer
May 15
Composite Letter July 1
July 1
July 1
July 1
September 1

Applying to Medical School in 2011 and Beyond
A Few “Heads Up” For Later Meetings
• Winter Term Workshops :
– How to Ask for Letters (Friday, Jan 28, 4:30, Carson L01),
Getting Started on a Personal Statement (TBA)
• The AMCAS application
– Issue of institutional action/misdemeanor/felony
– Release date early May; suggested submission date end of June
– Spring workshops (e.g. how to fill out; personal statements; also post-bacc programs, ‘gap years’)
• Choosing schools : How to decide?
• Secondary applications
• The interview and the decision making
• What if I am planning to apply in later years?