Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program

Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program

Professor Nancy WatersHealth Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) Co-Chair

Academic Year 2012-2013

What is ahead for Sophomore HP students?

Professor Nancy WatersHealth 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:

NursingNurse PractitionerPhysician AssistantPhysical TherapistPublic 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 HallMs Simona Glaus, Postgraduate Studies and Fellowship Assistant,

Dean of the College Office, Scott HallDr Hannah Stewart-Gambino, Dean of the College, Scott HallMs 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) [email protected] Rachel Gonnella (med aspirant) [email protected] Gooberman (med aspirant) [email protected] Oskutis (med aspirant) [email protected] Wilson (med aspirant) [email protected] Troutman (med aspirant) [email protected]

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

Acceptance ratio for GPA 3.60 +

Acceptance ratio for GPA3.59-3.20

Acceptance ratio for GPA < 3.20

Overall acceptance ratioALL GPAs

Lafayette 6-yraggregate data 2005-11 MD+DO

89% (55/62)

61% (46/75)

35% (13/37)

66%

(114/174)

National 3-yr 2008-10 aggregate data MD only **

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 PhysicsPsych 240 Health PsychologyRel 223 Religion and MedicineA&S 222 Medical AnthropologyBiol 213 Comparative Vertebrate AnatomyBiol 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 replacementsSummer 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 experiencesInternships/Externships so many opportunities! Check out Career Services to see what is available!Study Abroad mostly viewed favorably so do it but plan aheadResearch Independent Research, Honors Thesis and Excel-type experiences are fast becoming essential among your portfolioElectives 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-educatedExtra-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 TimelineFor 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!