Applying to Graduate and Professional School
Kent L. Barrus
Pre-professional Advisor
Academic Factors
Your Chosen Major

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
University of Utah ExampleThe 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:

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
Allopathic Medical Schools
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Deadlines
MCAT Scores
Transcripts
Secondary Applications
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Letters of Recommendation
TMDSAS / OMSAS
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
Osteopathic Medical Schools
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Deadlines
MCAT Scores
Transcripts
Secondary Applications
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Letters of Recommendation
Sample Application
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
Dental Schools
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Deadlines
DAT Scores
Transcripts
Secondary Applications
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Letters of Recommendation
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
Podiatric Schools
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Deadlines
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April 1st for Priority Consideration
July 31st for Final Deadline.
MCAT, DAT, GRE Scores
Transcripts sent directly
Letters of Recommendation sent directly
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
Pharmacy Schools
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Deadlines
PCAT or GRE Scores
Transcripts sent to PharmCAS
Secondary Applications
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Letters of Recommendation sent to schools.
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
Application Process
Physician Assistant Schools
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Deadlines
GRE Scores
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Transcripts sent to CASPA
Letters of Recommendation
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Some schools may accept the MCAT
3 letters sent to CASPA
Letters may be submitted electronically
Sample Application
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
MCAT Essentials
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When to Take the Test
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Where to Take the Test
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April 17th or August 14th
Deadlines: March 12th or July 9th
Idaho – Albertsons College (Caldwell), University of Idaho
(Moscow), Idaho State University (Pocatello)
Utah – Utah State University, Southern Utah University, Weber State
University, Brigham Young University, University of Utah
Costs
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Regular Exam Fee - $185.00
Miscellaneous Fees ranging from $10 to $60
Standardized Tests
DAT Essentials
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When to Take the Test
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Where to Take the Test
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Any time of the year
Give yourself at least 3 weeks to register
Idaho – Boise Sylvan Learning Center
Utah – Ogden, Orem, or Salt Lake City Sylvan Learning Center
Costs

Regular Exam Fee - $160.00
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Score Sent to 5 schools, NOT AADSAS.
Additional score reports are $10 per school.
Standardized Tests
OAT Essentials
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
COMPUTERIZED IN 2004
When to Take the Test
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Where to Take the Test
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February 7th 2004 and October 16th 2004
Deadlines: December 29th and September 7th
Idaho – Idaho State University
Utah – Weber State (Ogden) or BYU (Provo)
Costs
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Regular Exam Fee - $130.00
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Score Sent to 5 schools.
Additional score reports are $10 per school.
Standardized Tests
PCAT Essentials
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When to Take the Test
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Where to Take the Test
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January 24th 2004, March 27th 2004, and October 25th 2004
Deadlines: December 5th, February 13th, and September 12th
Idaho – Idaho State University
Utah – Weber State (Ogden) or BYU (Provo)
Costs
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Regular Exam Fee - $69.00
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Score Sent to 1, 2, or 3 schools.
Must arrange for PCAT score to be sent to PharmCAS if applying to
PharmCAS schools.
Standardized Tests
GRE Essentials
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When to Take the Test
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Where to Take the Test
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Any time of the year
Deadlines: December 5th, February 13th, and September 12th
Idaho – Pocatello, Boise
Utah – Ogden
Costs
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Regular Exam Fee - $115
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Score Sent to 4 institutions.
Additional Score Report $15 per Institution.
Standardized Tests
Test Taking Skills
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Pace Yourself
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Mark up the Test Booklet (for paper-based tests)
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Don’t forgo answering easy questions because you spent to much time
on harder questions.
Underline important points
Strike through wrong answers
Make calculations or drawings
Read the Entire Question Carefully
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Don’t make an assumption as to the answer with thoroughly reading
the question.
Standardized Tests
Test Taking Skills
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Use the ‘dot’ method
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Put a small dot on the answer sheet for a question that will require
significant time to answer.
Put a question mark next to this question in the test booklet.
If you run out of time on the test, you can go back quickly and fill in
the answer sheet where you placed the dot.
This helps reduce the possibility of missing questions due to totally
random guessing.
Helps prevent frame shifting errors.
Standardized Tests
Test Taking Skills
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Answer Every Question
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Unlike the SAT, there are no penalties for guessing.
Your first instinct is more likely to be correct.
Don’t change answers unless it is obvious that you misinterpreted the
question.
Approximate the answer
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If the possible answers differ significantly from each other it is possible
to approximate for quicker calculations.
Adjust the numbers to be calculated by rounding off or move to a close
number with a known trig function.
With most problems you will be able to tell which answer is a
reasonable estimate.
Standardized Tests
Test Taking Skills
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For Reading and Verbal Tests
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Answer the question only on the basis of the information given, NOT
from prior knowledge.
Sometimes reading the questions and answers first can alert you as to
what you should be looking for in the passage to be read.
For the Writing Sample
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Practice, Practice, Practice.
Read the Op-Ed pieces in major newspapers.
Typical Structure
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Explain what the statement means
Describe some situation in which you disagree with the statement
Provide justification for your disagreement.
Standardized Tests
Test Taking Skills
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Study for the test like you would a 4 credit class.
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There are no ‘tricks’ or ‘strategies’ that can substitute for knowledge of
a subject.
Get a good nights sleep
Arrive in plenty of time so you are not hurried.
Eat well before the test and during.
If you are a poor standardized test taker, you can improve.
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Visit the Learning Assistance Lab
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 Options
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Individual Letters
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Advantages:
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Individual letters of recommendation may be more favorable.
Less time commitment.
Disadvantages:
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Schools may disregard non-committee recommendations because they
lack credibility.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of Recommendation Options
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Committee Letters
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Advantages:
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Interview experience.
Application Preparation.
Feedback on your application
The reputation of a committee letter.
Disadvantage:
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Time consuming process.
If you are not a strong applicant, the letter will reflect it.
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.
Letters of Recommendation
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

Buckley Amendment
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Your rights
Waived rights is best.
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?

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
Types of Interviews
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Open
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Semi-Open
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Interviews has reviewed your application and personal statement.
Interviewer will often refer to information in the application.
Interview has read your personal statement but nothing else.
Interviewer will often seek answers to questions not found in your
personal statement.
Closed
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Interview has never seen your application materials.
Interview will ask more open ended questions.
Don’t be annoyed that questions may be answered in your application.
Interviewing
Types of Interviews
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Group
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More than one interviewer and/or interviewee.
Designed to see how well you play with others.
Interviewing
Preparing for an interview

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?

Don’t forget to have some good questions to ask.
Masters/Ph.D Programs
What is it like in Graduate School?

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
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Take between your Junior and Senior years

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Important for financial awards to be considered.
Subject test sometimes required
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