Lafayette College
Health Professions
Advising Program
Professor Nancy Waters
Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) Co-Chair
Academic Year 2012-2013
What is ahead for
Sophomore HP
students?
Professor Nancy Waters
Health Professions Faculty Advisor, 209 Kunkel
6 September 2012
Our Purpose Today:
To remind you of steps critical to
achieving your career goal in the
medical & allied health professions of:
Medicinae Doctor (Allopathic MD)
Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
Dental Medicine & Surgery (DMD &DDS)
Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
Veterinary Medicines (DVM & VMD)
Optometry (OD)
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD)
In addition…
We interface with Career Services to
assist you in exploring allied health
science careers including:
Nursing
Nurse Practitioner
Physician Assistant
Physical Therapist
Public Health practitioners
….among others.
…shout out for a hot new date!
Allied Health Alumni Dinner Panel
Tuesday September 25th, 6-8:30 pm
• Network and dine with our LC alumni
working as PAs, PTs ,OTs, NPs and
Genetic Counselors!
• Moderated panel opens the evening,
followed by dinner, dessert and
discussion one-on-one with guests!
• Advanced sign-up required in Career
Services Office, Hogg Hall!
Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC)
105 Scott Hall
Focus: to serve and guide students interested in applying to
medical, dental, optometry and veterinary schools; interview
and collectively recommend students for admission
Six faculty members:
Prof Nancy McCreary Waters, Health Professions Faculty Advisor,
HPAC Committee Co-Chair, Department of Biology
…plus 5 other appointed faculty members
Ex Officio members:
Dr Julia A Goldberg, HPAC Committee Co-Chair, Associate Dean of
the College, Scott Hall
Ms Simona Glaus, Postgraduate Studies and Fellowship Assistant,
Dean of the College Office, Scott Hall
Dr Hannah Stewart-Gambino, Dean of the College, Scott Hall
Ms Linda Arra, Director of Career Services, Hogg Hall
Career Services, 201 Hogg Hall
This is where to go for help sorting through career plans, finding
internships/externships, and other opportunities in allied health fields
…and don’t forget your fellow students…
The Health Professions Club, a student
organization, is looking for revival! Why not
get involved to reinvigorate it????
Also Peer Mentors available for advice:
Kara Falvey (vet aspirant) falveyk@lafayette.edu
Rachel Gonnella (med aspirant) gonnellr@lafayette.edu
Evan Gooberman (med aspirant) gooberme@lafayette.edu
Morgan Oskutis (med aspirant) oskutism@lafayette.edu
Elizabeth Wilson (med aspirant) liz.v.wilson@gmail.com
Greg Troutman (med aspirant) troutmag@lafayette.edu
So what is the
landscape now????
Your undergraduate preparation continues
to be key to your Success…
Each HP school sets their own criteria and
standards but all consider several key areas:
Academic/Science grades (45-55%)*
Admissions tests (20-25%)*
Health-related experiences
Research experiences
Community service and volunteer work
Letters of recommendation
HP school interview
* Relative importance data courtesy NAAHP.
How important are good grades?
Applicant
Matriculation
Year
Lafayette
6-yr
aggregate
data
2005-11
MD+DO
National 3-yr
2008-10
aggregate
data
MD only **
Acceptance Acceptance Acceptance
ratio for
ratio for
ratio for
GPA
3.60 +
GPA
GPA
3.59-3.20 < 3.20
Overall
acceptance
ratio
ALL GPAs
89%
61%
35%
66%
(55/62)
(46/75)
(13/37)
(114/174)
64%
34%
18%
45%
** Source: AAMC Data Warehouse at http://aamc.org/data
Unveiling the new MCAT2015…
• Revision 1991: 4 sections: verbal reasoning, writing
sample, physical and biological sciences
• 2015 REVISIONS:
• Writing sample deleted and replaced with Critical
Analysis and Reasoning sections
• Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of
Behavior subsection added
• Different question/time distribution: 60-65 question
items allowing 95 minutes for each of 4 sections
• Implications? You need to include introductory level
sociology, psychology and statistical experience
among your preparation courses! Check out:
• https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/mcat2015/
Preparation – Academic coursework
 Graduate with a major/minor that suits you! Follow a plan
you love! HP schools expect strong natural science
foundation but the rest is up to you!
 Typically, 1 Year of:
Introductory Biology with laboratory (e.g., 101/102)
Physics with laboratory (e.g., 111/112; 131/132/133; 151/152)
Mathematics (e.g., 125 & 186, 161 & 186, 161 & 162 )
Writing-Intensive Coursework (e.g., English 110, FYS, VAST,
plus two additional “W” courses).
 Typically 2+ Years of Chemistry
General Chemistry with laboratory (e.g., 121/122)
Organic Chemistry with laboratory (e.g., 221/222)
Biochemistry (e.g., 351…students taking MCAT2015 will need
a semester of Biochemistry!)
 Other relevant courses might include:
Biol 251 Human Physiology (HPAC recommended)
Chem 351 Biochem Survey (required by some schools)
Phys 220 Medical and Biological Physics
Psych 240 Health Psychology
Rel 223 Religion and Medicine
A&S 222 Medical Anthropology
Biol 213 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
Biol 340 Molecular Medicine
…plan early since most of these have prerequisites!
many of which will help with MCAT 2015 !
Do not delay in making good choices! Degrees of Freedom are
waning!
 Some HP schools have added specific requirements (e.g.
nutrition or microbiology or immunology). Check out YOUR
choice of schools! If a course is not offered at Lafayette,
plan ahead to enroll at another institution during summer or
at an LVAIC school during the academic year.
But what about……?
Advanced Placement Use sparingly and augment replacements
Summer School Not for core; demonstrate laboratory skills in load
Pass/Fail. Avoid if possible; instead demonstrate evidence of your
success in the breadth of your course experiences
Internships/Externships so many opportunities! Check out
Career Services to see what is available!
Study Abroad mostly viewed favorably so do it but plan ahead
Research Independent Research, Honors Thesis and Excel-type
experiences are fast becoming essential among your portfolio
Electives Choose wisely based on YOUR interest and passion; do
not select by ‘what looks good’….that’s a poor criterion for
judgment! Be true to who you are to be broadly well-educated
Extra-curricular activities Do this with sincere commitment,
manage complex obligations, work within an organizational
hierarchy, hone both leadership and teambuilding skills…but do not
compromise your academic success (GPA & MCAT preparation)
READ Stay abreast of current news, opinion, discussion of health
care and related areas! Try journaling to keep records of your
experiences. Retain control over YOUR portfolio!
Academic Integrity and Conduct
HAVE INTEGRITY!!!
Practice Principles of Intellectual Honesty
Make judicious choices in your behavior!
Exhibit high personal standards of ethics—cheating,
plagiarism, alcohol/drug violations, vandalism, etc.
all compromise your character AND your HP
application.
Applications REQUIRE the Dean of the College to
report disciplinary action and/or conduct violations
to HP schools! So think & ACT carefully!
Application Timeline
For many (increasingly most) students, optimal application
includes a ‘gap’ year, so apply in Spring/Summer of
your SENIOR year. To attend the fall after graduation,
apply in Spring/Summer of your JUNIOR year.
Get your portfolio in place so HPAC can work with you:
continue to complete your science requirements;
continue to craft a competitive profile that includes
research, dedicated medical-related experiences, and a
meaningful complement of co-curricular activities;
select wisely among elective courses to prepare for your
admissions test (MCAT, DAT, OAT, or VCAT/GRE);
…..THEN…
HPAC submissions, recommendation letters,
interview, etc., will get scheduled typically around
the 7th week of the semester to create YOUR
Composite Letter!
Lafayette’s Health Professions Advising Program
All of us at Lafayette wish you success
in your plans for a career in the health
professions. Visit our web site:
http://healthprofessions.lafayette.edu/
Attend HPAC events (remember…we
write you that letter!).
Seek us out for advice and answers!