Pre-Health Professions
at Penn State
Behrend
Admissions Open House – October 17th, 2015
What Are Health Professions Schools Looking For?
Ultimately, admissions committees want to know 3 things:
1.
Can the student handle the academic rigors of medical
school?
2.
Why does the student want to be a doctor or health
practitioner…
…do they want to be in the profession for the “right” reasons?
3.
Do they have a diverse set of skills necessary to be a good
doctor or health practitioner?
How can Penn State Behrend help the student succeed?
Preparing the Student Academically
Although each health professions program is slightly different, in
general they require:
• Biology: a general biology core along with upper level
courses in anatomy, genetics, cell biology, physiology and
associated laboratories
• Chemistry: 4 semesters including general and organic
chemistry and the laboratories
• Physics: 2 semesters of physics
• Biochemistry: 1-2 semesters
• Psychology/sociology: 1-2 semesters
• Math: 2 semesters, usually calculus and statistics
Preparing the Student Academically
At Penn State Behrend we offer
rigorous degrees in biology and
the sciences that fulfill these
requirements
The Pre-Health Professions
Option in Biology is the most
specialized towards these goals.
Students interested in majoring in
chemistry, physics or engineering
work closely with their health
professions advisor to add the
necessary biology courses to
their degree requirements
Preparing the Student Academically
…but other colleges/universities offer a specific “Pre-Med Degree”.
Why not Penn State Behrend?
• No health professions school requires or favors this ‘degree’
• ‘Pre-medical’ degrees are a marketing tool and are a
repackaged biology degree in most cases
• We urge you to compare the course lists between these premedical degrees and our biology degree versus the
requirements of any health professions program!
Preparing the Student Academically
Most importantly: We advise all of our pre-health students, whether
they have a 2.8 or 4.0 GPA to have a “Plan B” in case they change
their minds about a career in the health professions or they do not
make it into their program.
A rigorous Penn State degree in biology or chemistry leads to many
highly engaging, intellectual careers related to the health sciences:
Synthetic chemist, molecular biologist, virologist, biochemist,
geneticist, genetic engineer, microbiologist, health physicist,
environmental chemist, epidemiologist….to name just a few!
Students entering these careers may not make as much as a
physician, but have accrued >$250k less debt!
Preparing the Student Academically
Penn State Behrend is one of the few schools that combines the best
qualities of a large research university and a small liberal arts
college:
•
Our professors are active researchers in their respective fields
who publish cutting edge research in the current scientific
literature
•
Our students receive hands-on training to cutting edge research
equipment not found at smaller schools.
•
Many of our students become involved in undergraduate
research projects and present their work to the scientific
community both through presentation and publication.
Preparing the Student Academically
However, unlike a larger research school our professors spend
considerable time in the classroom including laboratories.
Small class sizes result in us getting to know our students and to
provide quick and early intervention if we feel they are not learning
the material.
Many of our instructors are dedicated lecturers whose ‘research’ is
actually in developing new teaching methods.
These individuals commit time and effort in engaging students in the
study of the sciences both on campus and in outreach activities.
Preparing the Student Academically
Students to Pre-Health
Professions
Averages
5.7%
Pharmacy
Behrend students who were
accepted to medical school
in the last seven years:
• 3.63 science & math GPA
• 3.64 overall GPA
• 30 MCAT
4.3%
Veterinary
3.8%
Physician Assistant
4.3%
Medical, D.O.
2.4%
Medical M.D.
2.9%
Chiropractic
2.9%
Physical Therapy
1.4%
Occupational
Therapy
1%
Optometry
1%
Podiatry
0.5%
Dental
~30%
Biology Graduates
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student
Pre-Health Professions Committee
Coordinator
Dr. Michael W. Justik – Associate Professor of Chemistry
Member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions
(NAAHP)
Dr. Beth Potter – Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Matthew Gruwell – Assistant Professor of Biology
Dr. Tia (Deas) Young – Lecturer of Biology
Dr. Victoria A. Kazmerski - Associate Professor of Psychology,
Physiological Psychology
Our advisers teach and mentor our pre-health students—
— not just advise!
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student
The Pre-Health Professions Committee:
• Works with the student on an individual basis and tailors their
advising to the students career goals
•
Can provide early intervention in case of academic or other
difficulty
•
Suggests health professions schools that ‘match’ the student
•
Assists the student with the application process
• Provides assistance with the writing of the personal
statement
• Collecting letters of recommendation
• Writing of a summary letter
• Scheduling of courses to be prepared for standardized tests
•
For all students a “Plan B” is prepared just in case plans
change!
Student Timeline
Freshmen
• A census of Pre-Health
students is made
• “Planning Guides” are
distributed to all pre-health
students with contact
information for a specific prehealth advisor
• “Checking in e-mails” are sent
from committee by discipline
• Instructions as to scheduling of
SC 201
Student Timeline
Sophomore
• SC201 – Fall
• Health career opportunities and admissions committee
expectations are discussed
• Personal statements, interviews and standardized tests
• Seminars from local health care practioners and health
professions recruiters
• Back-up plan – what if you don’t get in?
Student Timeline
Sophomore
• Spring—Apply for pre-health advisor (with declaring major)
• GPA requirement
• Personal statement draft
• Evidence of shadowing and volunteer experiences
• Written statement of back-up plan
Student Timeline
Junior/Senior
• Scheduled meetings with advisees
• Plan for application process
• Plan for standardized tests discussed
• Back-up plan discussed
Advisor constructs committee letter from LORs and reviews student’s
Personal Statement
Post-Baccalaureate
• Continued assistance for 2nd and 3rd round applications
• Census of matriculated students to gauge success of our
programs!
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student
We recommend:
• Get to know faculty by active participation in lab and
lecture, lab assisting, doing research, some sort of thesis, etc.
•
Clinical experience
• Become a fan of your health profession! Show your
dedication! Shadow, shadow, shadow, volunteer,
volunteer and volunteer!!!
•
“Set yourself apart”:
• Specialty area of study: computational science,
medical humanities, neuroscience program
• Study abroad
• Fluency in a language like Spanish or Mandarin
• Research experience
•
“Leadership” and service to the community
Depth of experience is better than creating a long laundry list!!!
Student Organizations – Get Involved!
The American Medical Students Association
• Chapter started in 2012
• Tour of Hershey Medical School
• Same organization as students in medical school
• Speaker series
Accelerated Programs
Penn State Behrend has
agreements with several
health professions schools to
provide accelerated
programs for gifted students
Accelerated Programs
LECOM – D.O.
Temple D.D.S.
U. Buffalo,
Pharm.D.
OSU, O.D.
HS GPA
>3.5
>3.5
>3.5
>3.5
SAT
1200
1200
1200
1200
3.3
3.3
3.5
3.5
Behrend GPA
Standardized test
score
MCAT >24
DAT >18
PCAT >400
OAT >320
LECOM admits
all students into
Behrend phase
and monitors
progress.
Applies through
AADAS in 3rd
year; priority
application,
guaranteed
interview
Guaranteed
formal interview
with positive
letter from
health
professions
advisor
Guaranteed
formal interview
with positive
letter from
health
professions
advisor +
observed two
optometry
practices
Accelerated Programs
• While not an accelerated program, Our Early Assurance
Program with the Penn State College of Medicine gives
outstanding 2nd year Behrend students the opportunity to apply
for provisional early acceptance to Penn State's College of
Medicine in Hershey.
Program Requirements
• SAT > 1300, GPA > 3.6 at the end of the sophomore year, and
completion of required courses.
• Must demonstrate high academic achievement and Extracurricular activities and student involvement in human service
experiences
• A typed statement of 300 to 500 words describing significant
past experiences, personal interests, motivation for pursuing a
career in medicine, and plans for the future followed by review
of Penn State Hershey Medical School
CONSIDER AN ALTERNATIVE TIMELINE
AN ALTERNATIVE TIMELINE is now encouraged by many health
professions programs
• A year off between undergraduate and medical school
• Post- baccalaureate programs – increase the breadth and
depth of admissions requirements
• Strengthen the application through:
• Working in a medical field, Teach For America, MPH,
Research, Volunteer work, and travel abroad
• Have a full undergraduate degree in preparation for MCAT,
DAT, PCAT, VCAT, etc.
Thanks for Listening!
Questions?
Feel free to contact us at any time if you
have questions later!
justik@psu.edu
behrendprehealth@psu.edu