Are You Ready to Apply?...2019 DO Medical School: BCPM GPA & MCAT 2019 Cycle DO Admits: Avg. MCAT...

1PreMed/PreHealth Advising Office

Are You Ready to Apply?

11/


Agenda

Important deadlines

Role of the Advising Office

Making sure you are a competitive applicant

Deciding upon a timeline for when to apply

What to do with gap time

Application components

School selection

Cost to apply

Budgeting your time through the application process


Important DeadlinesIn order to have a committee letter written for you for the current application cycle, you must

meet the following three deadlines:

August 4, 2020Application and transcript must be submitted. DAT/MCAT score for this cycle must be available.

(For AMCAS, Pre-Health Advising must have a copy of your letter request form w/barcode).

May 29, 2020

All letters of recommendation must be on file with VE Collect.

April 24, 2020

Self-assessment and draft of personal statement must be submitted.


What Role do Pre-Health Advisors Play?

Your Advisor = Your Coach

• Supportive but honest and objective

• Focused on being strategic to maximize your chances of acceptance

• Informed with years of data and access to all applications

• Write committee letter – letter of evaluation

• Help with: school list, personal statement, identifying areas of strength

and opportunity

Your Family & Friends = Your Cheerleader

• Will look past any areas of weakness

• Will champion your areas of strength

• Will (almost) always tell you to go for it

Have you met

with an advisor

this semester?


Application Factors Important to Medical Schools

Grades | MCAT or DAT | GPA

Service | Clinical Experience

Campus Engagement Research

Letters of Recommendation

Course load

Major

Most important

Least important Weakness in one area

CANNOT be “made up for”

with strength in another area…


UMass 2019 Medical School Matriculation Highlights

UMass Amherst Med School Matriculants

Science GPA 3.81 (MD) 3.62 (DO)

MCAT Total 511.7 (MD)

505.9 (DO)

% Accepted 41% (MD) 51% (DO)

National Data Med School Matriculants

Science GPA 3.66 (MD) 3.43 (DO)

MCAT Total 511.5 (MD)

503.8 (DO)

% Accepted 41% (MD) 36% (DO)

Overall UMass

Acceptance Rate:

53%

Up 14% over 4 years!


2019 MD Acceptances: BCPM GPA & MCAT

2019 Cycle MD Admits:

Avg. MCAT percentile = 511.7

Avg. BCPM GPA = 3.81

80% Acceptance Rate

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2.9 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.9

2019 UMass Amherst Applicants to MD Programs

Not Admitted

Admitted

To

tal M

CA

T P

erc

en

tile

BCPM GPA


2019 DO Medical School: BCPM GPA & MCAT

2019 Cycle DO Admits:

Avg. MCAT percentile = 505.9

Avg. BCPM GPA = 3.62

84% Acceptance Rate

To

tal M

CA

T P

erc

en

tile

Science GPA

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

3 3.2 3.4 3.6 3.8 4

2019 UMass Amherst Applicants to DO Programs

Not AdmittedAdmitted


MD and DO Acceptance Data for 2019 Cycle

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2.9 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.9

TOTA

L M

CA

T P

ERC

ENTI

LE

UNDERGRADUATE (OR GRADUATE) SCIENCE GPA

2019 UMass Amherst Applicants to Medical School

Not Admitted MD and DO Not Admitted DO Not Admitted MD Admitted DO Admitted MD


Dental School Matriculation Data, 2018

73% Overall Acceptance

Rate

Median GPA: 3.63

Acceptance rate is up 25%since 2017

Median DAT Score: 21.1

National Acceptance

Rate: 51.8%


2018 & 2019 Dental School: Science GPA & DAT

90% Acceptance Rate

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

2.5 2.7 2.9 3.1 3.3 3.5 3.7 3.9

Aca

dem

ic A

vera

ge o

f D

AT

Undergraduate (or Graduate) Science GPA

Admitted Not Admitted

2019 Cycle

Average Science GPA = 3.60

DAT Academic Avg. = 21.1

DAT Total Science Avg. = 20.6

DAT Perceptual Ability Avg. = 21.4


Academics: Suggested Conclusions

• Strong Academic Record is Needed

• There can be variances in who gets

admitted. Common reasons:

• Details about GPAs

o Schools check both science GPA

and overall GPA

o A GPA that is going up or steady is

preferred to one that is falling

Typically associated

with gap time


High Metrics and Health Professional School Rejection

Common reasons alumni with high test scores and GPAs don’t get an

acceptance:

• Too little volunteer or clinical experience

• Interview did not go well

• School selection

• Applying too late in the cycle (late to submit secondaries or take

exam)

• Mostly shadowing for clinical experience (med school)

• MCAT or DAT was too low in one section

Applying before you are ready can hurt your chances in a future

application.


Taking the MCAT or DAT

• Take the exam when you are ready –

• Earn the score you want 3 times on practice tests before taking the exam

• Take practice exams in an environment similar to what you will see on test day (time of day, level of noise)

• Dental students may take the DAT at most 3 times and have to wait 6 months between exams

• Plan to study a lot –

• Med students ~500 hours

• Dental students ~200 hours


Timing of MCAT Exam and MD School Acceptance Rate

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

1+ yearbefore

January March April May June July

2019 MCAT Test Date and Acceptance

Applied Accepted

55% 50% 28% 61% 45% 30% 20%


Assessing your Non-Academic Experience

Use these AAMC materials to help you assess your readiness…

https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/preparing-med-school/anatomy-applicant/

https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fastly.net/production/media/filer_public/50/74/5074e78f-3f39-401c-ae58-e071fde87ef1/aamc-anatomy-applicant-workbook_final_for_web.pdf


Creating a Timeline for ApplicationDo you have all of the following?

Family/Friends: We love you. We

often give feelings-based advice and

may not have access to up-to-date

information.

Advisors: We will give you

facts. We will support you in

getting you where you need

to be to be competitive.

Strong MCAT/DAT

Continuous dedication to clinical experience

Strong academics

Continued service to UMass &

community

Can you communicate these ideas via:

A strong breadth of references

An ability to articulate why you want to be in healthcare


Be Clear about Your Goals: Timeline v. Acceptance

What is your primary goal?

Be careful not to prioritize your method over your goal.

• Keep your timeline flexible

• Apply when you are competitive

• Set yourself up for success

What’s the harm in trying?

• Wasting time (your most precious resource)

• Wasting money (likely another precious resource)

• Need to demonstrate marked improvement over previous application if

you reapply

What is your method?

Admission

Timeline


2019 MD Acceptances and Gap Year

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 Gap Years 1 - 2 Gap Years 3+ Gap Years

% Accepted to MD in 2019 Cycle by Number of Gap Years Taken

Applicants Admissions

10% of Admitted UMass

Alumni took 0 gap years

Avg. BCPM GPA: 3.94

Avg. MCAT: 513.6

Strongest

Academic

Profile 65% of Admitted UMass

Alumni took 1-2 gaps years

Avg. MCAT: 3.87

Avg. BCPM GPA: 511.825% of Admitted UMass

Alumni took 3+ gaps years

Avg. MCAT: 3.77

Avg. BCPM GPA: 512.1


What to do with a GAP YEAR…

Clinical Research


Volunteer Service

What to do with a GAP YEAR…


What to do with a Gap Year…

Academic Enhancement through PostBacc, SMP, or MS


Between Now and Admission:Continue to Strengthen Your Application

There are no guarantees you will be

admitted on your first attempt, so…

Fill all three buckets and KEEP THEM FULL

• Keep doing clinical work

• Keep doing service


You are ready to apply. What to do over next 4 months:

June 30

• Complete entrance exam

• MCAT (June 27), DAT (July 21)

May 20• Gather letters of recommendation (LORs)

April 24

• Draft your essay

• Work on self-assessment

August 4• Select schools (MCAT or DAT score needed)

August 4

• Look over application instructions

• Draft responses


Resources for applying

Open Moodle Course:

Pre-Med/Pre-Health Applicant Support

Enrollment Key: PreMed2020-2021

Career Advising can assist with mock interviews

Writing Center can assist with personal statement


Within the Applicant Support Moodle

Slides from tonight’s presentation

Medical & Dental School Application Checklist – step-by-step instructions for applying

Read this BEFORE emailing with questions.

Tutorial for writing personal statement

Detailed admissions data for past UMass Amherst applicants

Tips for interviewing



Common to have 4 – 6 letters of recommendation. Max is 10.

One person may fill multiple categories.

Those writing your letters should know you well:

• If someone is hesitant, take that as a “no”

Represent the many facets of

YOU

2 science faculty

1 non-science faculty

Research PI

Clinical experience supervisor

Service or campus

engagement supervisor

Job or internship supervisor



Ask early (in February)

Letters should be:

Signed

Dated

On letterhead

You can provide your personal statement draft, resume

Provide the AAMC’s guide to letter writing:

https://www.aamc.org/system/files?file=2019-09/lettersguidelinesbrochure.pdf

https://www.aamc.org/system/files?file=2019-09/lettersguidelinesbrochure.pdf


VeCollect for Collecting LOR

veCollect

• Pre-Health Advising requires you to use

• Collects, stores letters of recommendation

• This is where your letter writers will submit their LORs

• You do not need to add your school list

Getting Started with veCollect

• Complete online form

• You will receive an invoice that you can pay by check

or credit card ($25/year)

• Account will be activated after payment is processed

Track Your Letters in veCollect

• You can see when letters are submitted

Incomplete Complete

• Once they are all submitted, make a Quiver

• They are due by May 29

https://collect.virtualevals.net/start_registration




Reapplicants

Renew veCollect account:

• You should have received an email

when your year-long subscription

was about to end that explained

how renew your account.

• If you cannot find it, contact

veCollect, and they can resend the

email.

Ask your letter writers to update their

letters of recommendation.

Old Letters

New Letters


The Committee letter puts your accomplishments into perspective compared to others in your cohort.

It is a thorough and candid assessment of the many facets of your candidacy:

Content of letter from advising office draws upon:

Advising meetings | Letters of recommendation in veCollect | Self-assessment

Request 1 LOR (committee letter) with author as Ms. Eden, Ms. Nussbaum, or Dr. Webley

Written after application is submitted and complete. It is uploaded manually. It includes the letter

from the advising office followed by the letters you submit in veCollect as one long PDF.

Committee Letter

Maturity Integrity Professionalism

Clinical

Experience

Preparation

for Academic

Rigor

Commitment

to Service


AMCAS Letter Request Form


PreMed Advising Online Self-Assessment

https://secure.cns.umass.edu/webforms/pre-med-pre-health-self-assessment

Your thoughtfulness in

responses =

thoughtfulness in

committee letter

It is similar in format to the

AMCAS and AADSAS

Applications.

Write responses in Word,

then copy and paste into

online assessment




Maintain Relationships throughout Application Process & Beyond

There are no guarantees that you will be admitted in your first attempt, so…

Keep in touch with Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advising

• Work with current students and alumni

• In-person and remote (Skype/phone) advising available

• Available over winter break and in the summer

Keep in touch with letter writers

• Stop by office hours

• Go for coffee

• Send email updates; i.e., pass along a news article that may be of interest


Personal Essay (4500 – 5300 characters)

2. Bring your rough draft for feedback and help:

Writing Center Pop-Ups: Feb 4 & 6, 11 & 13

Meet with Pre-Health Advisor (Faith Nussbaum)

1. Get started over Thanksgiving break with these resources:

• Preparing a Personal Statement on the Applying to Schools page

• Audio Workshop on Moodle

3. Submit with your Self Assessment in April!


Use Application Instructions for Medical & Dental Schools

https://aamc-orange.global.ssl.fastly.net/production/media/filer_public/2d/5d/2d5d7c94-6b23-4edf-ab1b-d574221bf6e3/2019-amcas-applicant-guide.pdf

https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/how-to-apply-to-osteopathic-medical-college/aacomas-application-instructions-and-faqs

https://help.liaisonedu.com/ADEA_AADSAS_Applicant_Help_Center


School Selection: Where to find information

https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-

medical-school/applying-medical-school-

process/medical-school-admission-

requirements/

https://choosedo.org/explorer/

https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Application_Prep/The_Application_to_

Dental_School_ADEA_AADSAS/Deciding_where_to_apply.aspx

https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process/medical-school-admission-requirements/

https://choosedo.org/explorer/

https://www.adea.org/GoDental/Application_Prep/The_Application_to_Dental_School_ADEA_AADSAS/Deciding_where_to_apply.aspx


School Selection

Major Factors to Consider – Will I be competitive?• Do I have their course pre-requisites and their application requirements (letters

of recommendation)?

• What is a reach/target/safety school for me?

• GPA, entrance exam scores

• Typical applicant extracurricular activities

• Which schools admit such small numbers that they are a reach even for those

who meet their stats?

• What is the school’s mission and am I a fit? (Pay special attention to HBCU’s

and schools with strong religious affiliations.)

• What percentage of students come from out-of-state?

• What are the stats of UMass alumni who have been admitted (check Moodle)?

• Am I open to applying to schools in the middle of the country? (Increased

geographic diversity can increase odds of admission….)


School Selection

Major Factors to Consider – Would I go if admitted?• What is the school’s mission and am I a fit? (Pay special attention to HBCU’s

and schools with strong religious affiliations.)

• Does the student experience – programs of interest, faculty, curriculum –

appeal to me?

• What community outreach do they do?

• Where will I do my clinical rotations?

• What are their pass rates on boards?

• What are their common placements for residencies?


School Selection

10%

70%

20%

Breakdown of Where to

Apply

Reach

On Target

Safety

Medical: ~20 schools

Dental: 8-10 schools

Talk about your list with an advisor.

Target schools also include your home state’s

medical/dental school(s).

Your MCAT Score Is… Your DAT Score Is…

Reach 3 pts below median, generally no more! 2 pts below median, generally no more!

Target Within 1-2 pts of median Within 1 pt of median

Safety 2 pts above median 2 pts above median


Cost Associated with Medical School Application

General Fees:

• MCAT Prep = ~$500+ MCAT = $315 VeCollect = $20

AMCAS Application Fees:

• Primary: $170 for the first school + $40 for each additional school

• Secondary: $30 to $150 (average ~$110)

• 20 schools = $3,130

AACOMAS Application Fees:

• Primary: $195 for the first school + $45 for each additional school

• Secondary: $30 to $150 (average ~$110)

• 10 schools = $1,745

• Deposit $200 - $3,000 (some are non-refundable)

CASPer Fees:

• Exam: $10 to take test + $10 to distribute to each school

• 10 schools: $110 (not all schools require)

Interview and Deposit Costs:

• Depends on number and location: $3,000 estimate

• DO programs can require deposits of $500 - $2,000 for those admitted

~$4,000 for

20 schools

(plus travel)

~$2,000 for

10 schools

(plus travel)

https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/eligibility/


Cost Associated with Dental School Application

General Fees:• DAT Prep = ~$500 DAT = $460 VeCollect = $20

ADEA AADSAS® Application Fees:• Primary: $245 for the first school + $108 for each additional school

• Secondary: ~$75 to $100 per school (change year to year, depending on applicant numbers)

• 10 schools = $2020

Interviews: • Travel costs vary depending on location (~$1,000/interview) depends on number and location

• Professional clothing (varies)

Deposit:• Costs range from $500 to $2,000. When you are accepted to a dental school, you will have to give the

school a deposit to hold your spot in the first-year class.

Fee Assistance Program Available – Apply early!!

~$3000 for 10

schools

(plus travel)

http://www.adea.org/GoDental/Application_Prep/The_Application_to_Dental_School_ADEA_AADSAS/Fee_Assistance_Program.aspx


CASPer Test

Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics

CASPer is a form of situational judgement

test.

Required by about one third of medical

schools

Made up of 12 sections

Each section contains a video-based or

written scenario and 3 open-ended

questions. Test takers are asked to type in

their responses within a 5-minute time limit.

Need to be a FAST typist

https://takecasper.com/2019/05/how-should-i-study-for-the-casper-test/


Time You Will Devote to Applying

Personal statement

Take MCAT/DAT

Create school list

Gather LORs

Self-assessment

Prepare Work/Activities Section- Short essays for 12 activities

- Longer essays for 3 most meaningful activities

Fill out application: Personal information | Academic history |

Supporting information | Provide transcript

Secondary Applications- Supplemental essays for most schools

- Look online to see questions from last year

- Start drafting responses ahead of time

CASPer

Prepare for

interviews

March June 1 Sept. 1

Interview


Most important things to remember

• Use the Med & Dent Checklist and Moodle on the Applying to Schools

page

• Meet with an advisor regularly until you are accepted

• Start your personal statement and self-assessment early

• Know our deadlines

• Continue to get clinical experience and to do community service until you

are admitted—even after graduation


17 – 19 UMass Alumni Admitted to the Following MD Programs:Albany Medical CollegeAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBoston University School of MedicineCase Western Reserve U School of MedColumbia University College of P&SCreighton University of MedicineDartmouth Medical SchoolDavid Geffen School of Med at UCLADrexel University College of MedicineDuke University School of MedicineEastern Virginia Medical SchoolEmory University School of MedicineFlorida International University COMGeorge Wash U Sch of Med & Hlth SciGeorgetown University School of MedHarvard Medical SchoolHofstra University School of MedicineHoward UniversityJohns Hopkins U School of MedLoma Linda University School of MedLoyola U Chicago Stritch School of MedMayo Clinic - AZMayo Medical SchoolMedical College of WisconsinMedical University of South CarolinaMeharry Medical CollegeMichigan State UniversityMount Sinai School of Medicine

New York Medical CollegeNew York UniversityNorthwestern U Feinberg School of MedNova Southeastern U College of Allopathic MedPennsylvania State University College of MedRosalind Franklin University of Medicine and SciRush Medical CollegeSaint Louis University School of MedicineSeton Hall-Hackensack Meridian Sidney Kimmel Med Coll at Thomas Jefferson UState U of New York Downstate Med CenterStony Brook University - School of Medicine

SUNY at Buffalo School of MedicineSUNY Upstate Medical UniversityTemple University School of MedicineThe Frank H. Netter Sch. Of Med- Quinnipiac U.The Ohio State Univ College of MedicineThe University of Arizona College of MedicineThe University of Miami School of MedicineThe University of Toledo College of MedicineThe University of Vermont College of MedicineTufts University School of MedicineTulane University School of MedicineUMDNJ - New Jersey Medical SchoolUMDNJ - Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolUniformed Services University of the Health SciUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of California San Diego

University of California San FranciscoUniversity of Central Florida COMUniversity of Chicago - PritzkerUniversity of Cincinnati College of MedicineUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineUniversity of Connecticut School of MedicineUniversity of Hawaii John A Burns School of MedUniversity of Iowa, Carver College of MedicineUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolUniversity of Michigan Medical SchoolUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineUniversity of Oakland School of MedicineUniversity of Pennsylvania School of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicineUniversity of Rochester School of Med & DentUniversity of TN Health Science Cntr Coll of MedUniversity of Virginia School of MedicineUSF Health Morsani College of MedicineVanderbilt University School of MedicineVirginia Commonwealth U School of MedWake Forest University School of MedicineWarren Alpert Medical School of Brown UWashington University of MedicineWayne State University School of MedicineWeill Medical College of CornellWright State U Boonshoft School of Med


17 -19 UMass Alumni Admitted to the following DO Programs:

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Arizona College of Osteopathic Med. of Midwestern U.Arkansas College of Osteopathic MedicineA.T. Still U. of Health Sciences Kirksville Coll. of Osteopathic Med.Campbell U. Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Med.Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern U.Des Moines University College of Osteopathic MedicineKansas City U. of Med. & Biosciences Coll. of Osteopathic Med.Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineLake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton CampusLiberty University College of Osteopathic MedicineLincoln Memorial University DeBusk Coll. of Osteopathic Med.New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Med.Nova Southeastern U. Dr. Kiran C. Patel Coll. of Osteopathic Med.Philadelphia College of Osteopathic MedicinePhiladelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia CampusRocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine – UTRowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Touro College of Osteopathic Med. - New YorkU. of New England Coll. of Osteopathic Med.U. of Pikeville - Kentucky COMWest Virginia School of Osteopathic MedicineWestern U. of Health Sciences COM of the PacificWestern University of Health SciencesCollege of Osteopathic Med. of the Pacific NWWilliam Carey University Coll. of Osteopathic Med.


16 -19 UMass Alumni Admitted to the Following Dental Programs:Boston University Henry M Goldman School of Dental MedCase Western Reserve University School of Dental MedicineColumbia University College of Dental MedicineDalhousie University Faculty of DentistryHarvard School of Dental MedicineHerman Ostrow School of Dentistry of the U of Southern CAIndiana University School of DentistryLake Erie College of Osteopathic Med School of Dental MedLoma Linda University School of DentistryMedical U of SC James B. Edwards Coll of Dental MedMeharry Medical College School of DentistryMidwestern U College of Dental Medicine-ArizonaMidwestern U College of Dental Medicine-IllinoisNew York University College of DentistryNova Southeastern University College of Dental MedicineRoseman U of Hlth Sci Coll of Dental Med - South Jordan, UTRutgers, The State U of New Jersey School of Dental MedStony Brook University School of Dental MedicineThe Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry, Temple UTouro College of Dental Medicine at New York Medical Coll

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine University at Buffalo School of Dental MedicineUniversity of California, Los Angeles School of DentistryUniversity of California, San Francisco School of DentistryUniversity of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine University of Detroit Mercy School of DentistryUniversity of Florida College of Dentistry University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry University of Louisville School of Dentistry University of Maryland Baltimore School of Dentistry University of Michigan School of Dentistry University of Minnesota School of DentistryUniversity of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Dental Medicine University of New England College of Dental MedicineUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University School of DentistryWestern U of Health Sciences College of Dental MedUniversity of Maryland Baltimore School of Dentistry

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Are You Ready to Apply?...2019 DO Medical School: BCPM GPA & MCAT 2019 Cycle DO Admits: Avg. MCAT...

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