Pre-medical Studies at Fresno State

Pre-medical StudiesatFresno State Larry G. Riley, MSc, PhD Professor – Comparative Endocrinology Pre-Med Advisor Biology Department California State University, Fresno Science 1, room 212 lriley@csufresno.edu Appointments are made with the Biology department @ 278-2001

The Journey Towards a Medical Doctor (MD) & Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)Additional Requirements

Extracurricular Activities Medically-Related Experiences & Exposure Employment Volunteer Work Internships and/or Research Letters of Evaluation Personal Statement Additional Requirements You are able to highlight up to 15 separate Work and Activity Experiences on you application including: **You may also identify up to three of these Work and Activity experiences that you consider to be the most meaningful. This designation will allow you an additional 1,325 characters to explain why this experience was particularly meaningful to you.

Keep track of all your work and activity experiences and the hours you devote. Consider keeping a journal of clinical experience, volunteer service, research, etc… to record your experiences and maturation: its good material for your personal statement. Working a service job could provide you with leadership opportunities (i.e. shift-manager), patience, compassion. Don’t disregard your job experiences. Keep Good Notes

Activities that you like to do Hobbies Reading Exercise Playing music Etc… Describe any personal growth that these activities may have had on you and shaped the person you are. Extracurricular Activities

Admissions committees look to see that your application conveys evidence of … empathy, service orientation, ethical responsibility to self and others, an awareness of what a career as a practicing physician entails, as well as other characteristics and strengths. Clinical Experience www.aamc.org

Shadowing a physician may offer you exposure to the patient care environment, BUT it’s not the only way to demonstrate these skills and attributes. Shadowing may not be a possibility for you due to… Balancing a rigorous academic schedule Extracurricular activities Personal responsibilities Etc… How do you can gain such experiences? Clinical Experience www.aamc.org

A recent survey of medical school admissions officers conducted by the AAMC found that 87% of respondents indicated that they accept an alternative activity, such as… Hospice Volunteer Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Volunteer EMT Hospital Scribe Caretaker (outside the home or for an ill family member) Alternatives to Shadowing www.aamc.org

No matter how you choose to gain clinical experience, it’s important to remember quality is more important than quantity. Admission officers want you to not only show depth of experience and a longitudinal commitment to the work you choose, but also to be able to articulate how your medical exposure has informed your motivation for a career in medicine Alternatives to Shadowing www.aamc.org

Medical school admissions understand that many students need to work out side of going to school. You can still demonstrate leadership skills, compassion, ethical responsibility, etc… Your job Volunteering Great way to further demonstrate those qualities Shows that you are a well-rounded individual Best if this activity has nothing to do with health-care Do something that you like Great source for a letter of evaluation Work & Volunteering

Suggested: Two science faculty, maybe one non-science faculty, and one or two others Doing research with a professor helps him/her get to know you and write a more credible, personal letter Doctor or supervisor in charge of your clinical experience, volunteer, or job are good people for letters of evaluation AVOID letters from family members, friends of family, doctors that are friends, and clergy Letters of Evaluation www.usnews.com

How many letters should I get? Varies across medical schools Boston University: min. 0; max. 6 UC Davis: min. 3; max. 6 Chicago Medical School: min. 3; max. 3 Letters of Evaluation www. aamc.org/msar

Tips for getting the best letters of evaluation Choose wisely Come from someone who can objectively comment on your potential as a medical student Someone who knows you well Ask if they are willing to write a positive letter of evaluation Be prepared to give them your C.V. and/or personal statement Request your letters earlier rather than later Give them at a minimum 4 weeks time to write their letter Visit your professors (present and past) Go to office hours: this allows them to get to know you better The more you share about yourself, the more personal the letter will be Sit up front in class (students that sit in the back are noticed less) Reach out to past professors, make an appointment to stop by and say hi, or call Remember you are asking for a favor, be respectful, humble, and sincere Letters of Evaluation www.usnews.com

Tips for getting the best letters of evaluation cont. Follow the application instructions Nurture your relationships We do not like to write letters to those students that have never come to our office Avoid asking a professor with whom you have never talked with to write a letter of evaluation Express your gratitude After they have agreed to write you a letter Send a thank-you note (not an email & not a verbal thank you), a small gift, or some other token As in many aspects of life, relationships matter. Paying attention to them can bring rewards. Letters of Evaluation www.usnews.com

Research teaches you a lot of skills you can’t get in a classroom Independence, working as a team, problem solving skills, oral & written presentation, how to communicate in laymen’s terms, etc… It expands your knowledge Research experience is a critical component to your application packet. Research

Percent of Students Accepted with Different Experiences

5300 characters or about 1 ½ page single spaced at 12-point font. It takes a lot of reflection and introspection to prepare, edit, and polish a strong statement. Don’t rehash your resume or other parts of your application in your essay. Be creative, think outside the box and review certain aspects of your life. Personal Statement

Start early, minimum 6 months. I suggest to start now by writing a mini-autobiography about your life experiences that have resulted in you wanting to apply to medical school. This does not need to be perfect, just thoughts that you can use in your personal statement. Write, re-write, let it sit, and write again. After you spend time writing set it aside for a minimum of 24 hours before you review and re-write. Stay focused: highlight interesting aspects of your journey – not your entire life story. Choose a theme and stick to it, and support it with specific examples Personal Statement: Suggestions www.princetonreview.com

Back off the clichés. Be personal and specific Find your unique angle What can you say about yourself that no one else can. Every one has trials in life What‘s important and unique is how you reacted to those incidents. Be interesting Create intrigue before launching into the story of who you are. Show don’t tell Don’t tell them about your unique qualities (ie. I’m compassionate) show them through the stories you tell about yourself Personal Statement: Suggestions www.princetonreview.com

Be thoughtful about transitions Vary sentence structure You don’t want your essay to be boring Stick to the guidelines Stay on topic Don’t ramble, it uses up precious space, it also can cause confusion Don’t overdo it Beware of being to self-congratulatory or too self-deprecating Ask for feedback before you submit Personal Statement: Suggestions www.princetonreview.com Two med school essays that admission officers loved https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/articles/2017-06-12/2-medical-school-essays-that-admissions-officers-loved

Pre-medical Studies at Fresno State