Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program

1. Lafayette College Health Professions Advising Program Professor Nancy Waters Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) Co-Chair Academic Year 2012-2013

2. What is ahead for Sophomore HP students? Professor Nancy Waters Health Professions Faculty Advisor, 209 Kunkel 6 September 2012

3. 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)

4. In addition… • We interface with Career Services to assist you in exploring allied health science careers including: • Nursing • Nurse Practitioner • Physician Assistant • Physical Therapist • Public Health practitioners ….among others.

5. …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!

6. 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 Officiomembers: Dr Julia A Goldberg, HPAC Committee Co-Chair, Associate Dean of the College, Scott Hall Ms Simona Glaus, Postgraduate Studies and Fellowship Assistant, Dean of the College Office, Scott Hall Dr Hannah Stewart-Gambino, Dean of the College, Scott Hall Ms 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

7. …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) falveyk@lafayette.edu • Rachel Gonnella (med aspirant) gonnellr@lafayette.edu • Evan Gooberman (med aspirant) gooberme@lafayette.edu • Morgan Oskutis (med aspirant) oskutism@lafayette.edu • Elizabeth Wilson (med aspirant) liz.v.wilson@gmail.com • Greg Troutman (med aspirant) troutmag@lafayette.edu

8. So what is the landscape now????

10. 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.

11. How important are good grades? ** Source: AAMC Data Warehouse at http://aamc.org/data

13. 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/

14. 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!)

15. Other relevant courses might include: Biol 251 Human Physiology (HPAC recommended) Chem 351 Biochem Survey (required by some schools) Phys 220 Medical and Biological Physics Psych 240 Health Psychology Rel 223 Religion and Medicine A&S 222 Medical Anthropology Biol 213 Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy Biol 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.

16. But what about……? • Advanced Placement Use sparingly and augment replacements • Summer 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 experiences • Internships/Externships so many opportunities! Check out Career Services to see what is available! • Study Abroad mostly viewed favorably so do it but plan ahead • Research Independent Research, Honors Thesis and Excel-type experiences are fast becoming essential among your portfolio • Electives 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-educated • Extra-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!

17. 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!

18. Application Timeline For 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!

19. 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!