SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN
THE SCIENCES
Susana C. Sandoval, M.A.T.
Jose J. Rea, M.A.
UC Irvine
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
• FIRST THINGS FIRST!
• DECIDING WHAT YOU WANT
• DEVELOPING A PLAN OF ACTION
• BE PRO-ACTIVE
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
 WORK HARD
 WORK SMART
 WORK EFFECTIVELY
 RISE ABOVE THE STUMBLING BLOCKS
 BUILD YOUR CONFIDENCE
 ENJOY THE JOURNEY: CHALLENGES
&SUCCESSES
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
TOOLS
 ESTABLISH EDUCATIONAL
PLAN WITH COUNSELOR
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
TOOLS
LEARN REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH
PROFESSION; EXAMPLE-PRE MED
-–
–
–
–
2 YRS BIOLOGY WITH LAB, *include biochemistry
1 YR GENERAL CHEMISTRY WITH LAB,
1 YR ORGANIC CHEMISTRY WITH LAB,
1 YR PHYSICS WITH LAB,
MATH WILL VARY—RECOMMEND 1 YR
COMBINATION OF CALCULUS & STATS
– DIVERSITY OF COURSES IN HUMANITIES AND
SOCIAL SCIENCES
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
TOOLS
 LEARN POLICY IN YOUR MAJOR
AND UNIVERSITY
 BUILD A REALISTIC SCHEDULE
Know pre requirements for the
sciences
AS YOU PROGRESS WORKLOAD
WILL INCREASE & YOU WILL ADD
TOOLS TO BOX
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
STUDY SKILLS
 Attend study skills
workshops at your
university, most provide
this academic support
service
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
 OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION
 GOAL SETTING – PRIORITIES
Have a daily, weekly, monthly planner of
all activities, academic and non
academic
 TIME MANAGEMENT
Planner mandatory, build in tutoring,
professor office hours, clinical
experience, and time to do a non
academic activity such as swimming,
salsa dancing, other-work, house
keeping, family visits
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
 NOTE-TAKING - take lecture notes and
make summary sheets of lecture
 TEXTBOOK READING - take notes as you
read material, rewrite notes as you review
textbook and select most important topics
and the application of the knowledge
presented
 MEMORY & CONCENTRATION
 PROBLEM SOLVING - writing summary of
notes from lecture will be helpful in solving
problems on exams
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
 EXAM PREPARATION
Lecture notes, summary sheets,
rewriting of notes from readings,
and study groups will be helpful;
also meet with course discussion
group and professor office hours
to clarify points, attend review
sessions, appropriate sleep &
proper nutrition are key factors
 VOCABULARY BUILDING - this is
constant
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
 STUDY GROUPS —after you have read
material/taking notes, studied lecture
notes – re wrote lecture notes with
summary of important points---study group
discussion will help you internalize and
reinforce information and problem solving
skills,
 TUTORING—most successful students use
dept. tutoring in the sciences; and also
becoming a tutor is great preparation for
the MCAT, DAT, OAT, & OTHER EXAMS
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
READ OUTSIDE OF YOUR COURSES
• LA TIMES - DAILY
• NEW YORK TIMES
• NEWSWEEK
• ATLANTIC MONTHLY
• NEW YORKER
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
“FIND A MENTOR”
 DEVELOP NETWORKS
BY CONNECTING TO:
–COUNSELORS
–PROFESSORS
–RESEARCH - key in building your
analytical and problem solving skills
in the sciences, plus
communication skills in working
with the research team
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
MEDICAL SCHOOL CONTACTS
•NEXT CONFERENCE AT:
STANFORD SCHOOL OF
MEDICINE,
FEB 9TH 2008
http://summa.stanford.edu/
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
SCIENCE & PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS
• SPECIALISTS/ATTEND SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS
— AT YOUR SCHOOL THAT WILL ADD TO
YOUR SCIENCE KNOWLEDGE – AND
AWARENESS OF ISSUES; EXAMPLE – A
SEMINAR ON STEM CELL RESEARCH. IF
YOU ARE NOT AT A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL --YOU CAN ALWAYS GO TO THE WEB OF
THE CLOSEST UC CAMPUS AND LOOK UP
DATES FOR SCIENTIFIC SEMINARS AND
EVENTS.
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
CLUBBING – STUDENT
ORGANIZATIONS---CCM/
Chicanos for Community
Medicine is a great
resource, honor societies
as well
KEY - FIND A MENTOR/S
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
ADD TO YOUR ACADEMIC TOOL BOX
*SUMMER PROGRAMS & INTERNSHIPS
*NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH:
http://www.training.nih.gov
UROP/Undergraduate Research Opportunity
Program AT UCI
www.urop.uci.edu
*APPLY FOR EDUCATION ABROAD
PROGRAMS
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
• ORGANIZATIONS:
• ANNUAL BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
CONFERENCE FOR MINORITY STUDENTS
www.abrcms.org
• SOCIETY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
CHICANOS & NATIVE AMERICANS IN
SCIENCE
www.sacnas.org
*AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE
ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
www.aaas.org
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
• COMMUNITY SERVICE
• MUST ESTABLISH SOLID CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE & LEADERSHIP
CAPABILITIES
• STRONG COMMUNICATION SKILLS –
ORAL & WRITING
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
ISSUES TO RESOLVE: PART OF THE
JOURNEY AND ALWAYS EVOLVING
•
•
•
•
•
FAMILY
FRIENDS – POSITIVE PEOPLE IS KEY
MONEY – KEEP A GOOD BUDGET
TRANSPORTATION
OTHER, ON GOING SUPPORT
SYSTEM
SETTING A FOUNDATION
FOR THE SCIENCES
Yes – I can do it!
Building the solid science
foundation is key in
moving your academics &
career dream forward
“SIEMPRE ADELANTE”