Applying to Graduate and Professional School
Douglas McBride
Pre-professional Advisor
Academic Factors
Your Chosen Major
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No major is better than any other major for professional school.
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Major can matter for graduate programs.
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Advantage of Biology and Chemistry Majors.
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140 Credit issue.
Academic Factors
Prerequisite Classes
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Medicine.
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Dentistry.
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Optometry.
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Podiatry.
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Other.
Academic Factors
Other Required Classes
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University of Utah Diversity Requirement.
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Books: MSAR, ADEA, OPTED
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Online Resources
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Data Sheets.
Academic Factors
Recommended Classes
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The value of additional upper division classes
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Biochemistry.
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Liberal Arts Classes
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Only doing the minimums.
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Calculus
Academic Factors
GPA
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An extremely important quantitative measure.
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A great GPA does “NOT” guarantee admittance.
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Cumulative vs Science GPA
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GPA from a “competitive” vs “non-competitive” school.
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GPA trends and standardized test scores.
Academic Factors
Standardized Test Scores - Other
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Medical – MCAT
Podiatry – MCAT or GRE
Dental – DAT
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Pharmacy – PCAT or GRE.
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PT/OT/Other graduate level programs – GRE.
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Veterinary School – GRE.
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VCAT no longer available.
Chiropractics – Usually not required.
Non-Academic
Factors
“The reward goes not to
him with the greatest
ability, but to him with the
greatest determination.”
-Voltaire
Non-Academic Factors
University of Utah Example“As important as grades and test scores are, by themselves they do
not predict who will be successful in medical school. The demands
of medical education and life as a physician are not for everyone. We
consider how the applicant balances outside activities and
responsibilities with schoolwork as an indicator of ability to deal with
the rigors of life as a physician. The committee is interested in
motivation for attending medical school and understanding of the
medical profession. Commitment to community service, ethical
behavior, compassion, leadership ability and communication skills
are important characteristics of physicians. We expect applicants to
be courteous, respectful and professional at all times.”
-Dean of Admission
University of Utah Medical School
Non-Academic Factors
The three guiding principles for selection:
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Overall Excellence
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Humanitarian Skills
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Diversity of Experience
Bio 311 - Professional School Preparation
Extracurricular Activities
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The more diverse your background and experience, the more
interesting you will become to the admissions committee.
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Don’t avoid out of fear of a lower GPA.
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Make sure your participation is ‘Active’ participation.
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Personal anecdotes in your application.
Personal Statement
Personal Statements – Common Topics
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The five common topic areas:
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Your motivation for a career as a physician.
The influence of your family / early experiences in life.
The influence of extracurricular, work/volunteer activities
on your life.
Your long-term goals.
Your personal philosophy.
Description of irregularities in you record.
Personal Statement
Attributes Committee Look For:
Realistic self-assessment
Acknowledging limitations
Resourceful
Seeking help when appropriate
Accountable
Accepting responsibility for learning
Cooperative
Working well with others
Persistent
Completing tasks
Resilient
Accepting disappointment and moving on
Reserve
Good performance in activities without being distracted by them
Supported
Not isolating self from others
Focused
Concentration on task at hand
Active Learner
Integrating and applying new information
Flexible
Willingness to change
Efficient
Making good use of time
Organized
Systematically taking care of business
Purposeful
Setting long-term and short-term goals
Personal Statement
The Most Common Essay Mistakes:
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Underestimating the Importance of the Essay.
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Using Excessive Detail
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Failing to Make the Essay Personal.
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Embellishing the Essay.
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Failing to Proofread the Essay.
Application Process
Allopathic Medical Schools
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MD/Ph.D., MD/JD
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AMCAS vs non-AMCAS
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115 out of 125 schools participate in AMCAS
Online AMCAS Available around May 15
Processing 1st to middle of June.
Early Decision Program
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Individual Applications.
Deadline August 1st
Application Fees
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$160 for the first school
$30 for each additional school.
Application Process
Osteopathic Medical Schools
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AACOMAS vs non-AACOMAS
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20 out of 21 schools participate in AACOMAS
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University of North Texas at Fort Worth
Online AMCAS Available around May 1
Processing begins June 1.
Application Fees
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A graduated scale:
1 - $155
5 - $275
9 - $375
13 - $480
17 - $580
2 - $185
6 - $295
10 - $405
14 – $505
18 - $605
3 - $220
7 - $315
11 - $430
15 - $530
19 - $630
4 - $250
8 - $345
12 - $455
16 - $555
20- $655
Application Process
Dental Schools
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AADSAS vs non-AADSAS
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54 schools participate in AADSAS
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Non-AADSAS - Louisiana State, Medical College of Georgia,
Northwestern U., University of Mississippi, University of Tennessee
Online AMCAS Available around May 15
Processing begins June 1.
Application Fees
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$195 for first school.
$60 for each additional school up to ten.
$50 for each additional school from 11 to 20
$25 for each additional school over 20
Application Process
Optometry Schools
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Independent Applications
Deadlines
OAT Scores
Transcripts
Application Process
Podiatry Schools
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AACPMAS
AACPMAS vs non-AACPMAS
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6 out of 8 schools participate in AACPMAS
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New York and Midwestern University in Arizona
Online AMCAS Available around September 1st.
Application Fees
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Application Processing Fees:
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1 school: $50.00
2-3 schools: $75.00
4+ schools: $100.00
Application Process
Pharmacy Schools
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PharmCAS vs non-PharmCAS
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42 out of 84 schools participate in PharmCAS
Online AMCAS Available around May 5th
Application Process
Physician Assistant Schools
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CASPA vs non-CASPA
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68 out of 134 schools participate in CASPA
Online CASPA application available April 15th.
Application Fees
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Graduated Scale
Standardized Tests
Why Take Standardized Tests?
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Grades Don’t Tell the Whole Story
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The Great Equalizer of Undergraduate Education
More Important for Students Graduating from Schools not Well
Known or Schools Who’s Reputation is Less than Other Schools.
Determine the Test Taking Ability of an Applicant.
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Will you Do Well on Medical School Exams?
Will you Do Well on a Licensing Exam?
Standardized Tests
What are the Different Tests?
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MCAT
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Allopathic
Osteopathic
Podiatry
Some Veterinary and Pharmacy Schools
DAT - Dental
OAT - Optometry
PCAT – Pharmacy
VCAT – Veterinary (No Longer Offered)
GRE – Graduate Schools
Standardized Tests
Should You Retake a Test?
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Are your scores consistent with your grades?
Did you prepare adequately for the test?
Will you have the time and motivation to prepare for a second
test?
Doing the same or worse a second time will hurt you.
What is your job as a freshman student?
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Work hard and get good grades.
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Get as much out of the university resources as possible.
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Get to know you professors.
Letters of Recommendation
How do you get to know your professors?
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Arrive at your appointments on time.
Find time for extra appointments.
Be honest about any problems you may have with an
application.
Always feel free to ask questions.
Have evaluators read your personal statement.
Let your evaluators know where you have been accepted.
Letters of Recommendation
Why are letters important?
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Judgment of your non-academic attributes.
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Character
Personality
Motivation
Maturity
Integrity
Etc..
Will you make a good clinician?
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation Tips
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Ask potential evaluators if they can write a ‘good’ letter on
your behalf.
Let your evaluator know the type of health profession school
you are applying to.
Be prepared to furnish information about yourself.
Get at least two science evaluations.
Diversity your evaluations.
Give sufficient lead time.
Collect evaluations after you finish a class.
Keep track of your evaluations.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation – Don’ts
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Don’t get a letter from family member.
Don’t get letters from well known persons unless they know
you well.
Don’t procrastinate.
Don’t act unprofessional around your potential letter writers
– Ever.
Interviewing
Keep up on current topics!
• World and Local News
• Current Industry Issues
Interviewing
What percentage of an applicant’s
overall
evaluation does the interview constitute?
0-25%
17
20%
25-50%
34
39%
50-75%
29
33%
75-100%
7
8%
Interviewing
Why do schools interview?
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Intellectual Curiosity
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How you approach the unknown
How do you organize your thoughts
What is your preferred learning style
Do you have the desire for continuous learning
Social Awareness and Cultural Competency
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Exposure to people with different interests, religion, culture,
economics, gender, age, ethnicity, language, education, and race.
What value do you place on these differences
Can you modify your behavior to show respect for differences.
Interviewing
Why do schools interview?
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Communication and Interpersonal Skills
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What is your perception of yourself
What is your response when others have misunderstood you
What are your experiences with teamwork
How do you handle criticism
Maturity
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What have you done to explore a health career
What disappointments have you experienced in your life
What accomplishments are you most proud of
What is your definition of a leader
Interviewing
Preparing for an interview
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Practice your responses to questions.
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List five important things you want to make sure the interview knows
about you.
List five powerful questions you want to ask during the interview.
Describe three ways you can contribute to your class.
What are your three most significant leadership qualities?
List of anticipated questions.
List of toughest questions you could be asked.
Review potential interview questions.
Learn all you can about specific schools.
Mock Interview.
Interviewing
Any Questions?
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Don’t forget to have some good questions to ask.
Masters/Ph.D Programs
What is it like in Graduate School?
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Masters (M.S. Degree)
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Most Graduate Schools offer an M.S. degree
Typically 2 years
Thesis usually required.
Ph.D Programs
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1/5 of graduate schools offer Ph.D ONLY program.
The rest offer combined M.S./Ph.D programs.
Typically about 5 years
Masters/Ph.D Programs
How hard is graduate school?
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Attrition rate of some Ph.D programs is as high at 75%
By comparison more than 90% of medical school students
receive degrees.
Very few jobs in biology for B.S. degree students.
You usually must do a graduate level program to get a good job.
Masters/Ph.D Programs
Choosing a Graduate School
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Talk to professors
Review graduate school posters
List programs that have degrees in your area of interest
Visit the school
Learn about and talk to researchers in your area of interest to
find out if space is available in their lab.
Masters/Ph.D Programs
Financing a Graduate School Education
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National Fellowships
University Fellowships
TA, Research Assistants
Loans
Masters/Ph.D Programs
How do programs select students?
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GPA
Reputation of undergraduate school
GRE scores
Letters of recommendation
Statement of Goals