“How to get into Medical School” In 12 easy steps.

““How to get into Medical How to get into Medical School”School”In 12 easy steps.In 12 easy steps.

Stephen Symes MD, FACP Assistant Dean for Diversity and Multicultural AffairsUniversity of Miami Miller School of Medicine

YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLAN

UM-JMH Medical CampusUM-JMH Medical Campus

Application Statistics 2010Application Statistics 2010

Applicants 5,282

Secondary Apps 3,042

Interviewed 450

Acceptances 200*

Enrolled 150

#1 Good Grades really #1 Good Grades really help!help!

Science GPA above 3.5 (Chance of being accepted)

◦ 100% 3.80◦ 90% 3.70◦ 80% 3.60◦ 70% 3.50◦ 60% 3.40◦ 50% 3.30◦ 40% 3.20◦ 30% 3.10◦ 20% 3.00

Fulfillment of all required pre-requisite courses.

At the most competitive University possible.

Competitive = 3 Points

Highly Competitive = 15 Points

Most Competitive = 30 Points

Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges, 2009

#2 MCAT Scores are #2 MCAT Scores are importantimportantBegin to prepare for MCAT’s as a freshmanIdeal scores above 30 ideal 10, 10, 10,You should have above an 8 in each

sectionVerbal Reasoning is most important of

scoresPlan to take MCAT’s after Biology,

Chemistry and Physics Courses are Complete

Leave enough time to take them again.Nobody is ever satisfied with their

scores!!!!

Academic Statistics 2009Academic Statistics 2009

Cumulative GPA 3.74

Science GPA 3.66

MCAT 31.4

#3 APPLY EARLY#3 APPLY EARLY

Submit your AMCAS Application as early as possible. It will be reviewed early.

Return your Secondary Application with 7 days.

Request your Letters of Recommendation early!!

Medical Schools begin to book Interviews in September

After January, you will likely be on an Alternate List.

More people will be accepted on May 15th then any other day.

#4 Carefully select who will #4 Carefully select who will write your Letters of write your Letters of RecommendationRecommendationMake sure the Professor knows

you well and will write a favorable letter.

Two letters from faculty, one letter from your clinical experiences.

The letter should be able to demonstrate that the person writing can adequately judge you as a person.

#5 Be a Leader#5 Be a LeaderMake an effort to be a leader.Be an officer in organizations you

belong to.Strive to be a captain or co-captain

in sports.Be familiar with the traits of a good

leader.Be ready to give examples of times

when you have had to step forward and take control of a bad situation.

#6 Exposure to Health #6 Exposure to Health CareCareSpend enough time volunteering in

health care to be able to assure the medical school that you understand what it means to be a physician.

Shadow physiciansVolunteer in hospitals/doctor’s

officesPay attention to the challenges of

being a health care provider.

#7 Everyone has Life #7 Everyone has Life ExperiencesExperiencesShow examples of how you:

Overcame adversityHad to work hard to achieve a

goalHelped others in need

Be able to describe the road that has brought you to the front door of the medical school

#8 Write a Meaningful #8 Write a Meaningful Personal StatementPersonal StatementAfter reading the statement, the

evaluator should know a great deal about you and what values you believe to be important.

NO spelling of grammar errors. Show your Statement to others for corrections and suggestions.

DO NOT PlagiarizeMake the Statement interesting and

well organized.

File Evaluation Generates File Evaluation Generates PointsPoints

Life Experiences: (1-15) x3 Reviews = 45Pt. Care Experiences: (1-20) x3 Rev. = 60Letters of Rec: (5-15) x3 Reviewers = 45Life Adversity (0-10 points) = 10______________________________Quality of Acad. Institution: (3-30) = 30Science GPA (3-45 points) = 45MCAT Score (3-45 points) = 45

Maximum Points for an Applicant = 280

#9 Dress to Impress for the #9 Dress to Impress for the InterviewInterviewWear very professional,

conservative and tasteful attire.Make sure you can walk ½ mile

in the shoes you select.It will be cold inside and very hot

outside.Minimal jewelryProfessional looking (very

conservative) hair and nails

#10 Anticipate the #10 Anticipate the Questions for your InterviewQuestions for your InterviewKnow why you want to attend

this specific medical school.Traditional questionsBehavioral questionsThought provoking questionsControversial questionsPRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

#11 Know about the School #11 Know about the School you have applied to.you have applied to.Understand their strengths and

weaknessesBe familiar with the:

CurriculumClinical ExperiencesResearch OpportunitiesCommunity Outreach

Our MissionOur MissionDeliver high-caliber,

compassionate health careAdvance patient care through

applied researchEducate the next generation of

medical leadersContribute to a healthier world

Our ValuesOur Values

ExcellenceCompassionDiscovery

CollaborationLeadership

Integrity

#12 Be on time, polite and #12 Be on time, polite and courteous to everyone on courteous to everyone on admissions day.admissions day.

When you are wearing your dark interview suite, or professional business dress, everyone will know you are here for an interview.

Ask questions of the students you will meet with. They will be judging your interest and enthusiasm.

Uinversity of Miami – Miller Uinversity of Miami – Miller School of MedicineSchool of Medicine

Dan Barry, Ph.D., M.D.