Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

30
Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Transcript of Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Page 1: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School:

A dean of admissions perspective….

Page 2: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Goal--Demystify the Admissions Process

(somewhat) :

•Discuss the basic criteria in which medical schools typically evaluate candidates

•Discuss how to decide where to apply•Discuss how Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine approaches the admissions process (including the MMI!)

Page 3: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Components of Evaluation—Basic Criteria (holistic review)

•Academic Performance/Metrics—GPA, MCAT

•Activities Consistent with Preparation for a Medical Career—written application

•Personal Characteristics—interview performance, written essays, activity descriptions, etc.

Page 4: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

So let’s start with academics!• Grade performance

Average (GPA)• Science GPA (BCPM)

• Overall GPA

• Trend in GPA

• Post-baccalaureate GPA/Credits

• Graduate Science GPA/Credits

• Graduate Non-science GPA

• UGH!!!—all are important considerations for admissions committees (but especially your post-bac performance!)

Page 5: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

And more academics!

New MCAT in 2015!

• Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Properties of Living Systems

• Physical, Chemical and Biochemical Properties of Living Systems

• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

• Behavioral and Social Sciences Principles

New MCAT scoring system

•Each section will be scored from 118-132 (total 472-528)

•Preparation should include coursework that covers concepts in entry-level biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, phycology, and sociology

•Consider using the Khan Academy-MCAT videos (free!) to review MCAT testing materials

•Take as many sample MCAT exams as possible (AAMC website)

Page 6: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

My take home on academics….

1. Academic competition is still very stiff among all applicants (there are many more academically qualified applicants than there are open spots into medical school)

2. There’s no absolute GPA cutoff that all schools agree upon

3. There’s no absolute MCAT score cutoff that all schools agree upon

4. Unofficially (from this Dean’s perspective) aim for perfection, but settle for a post-bac science GPA at or above 3.4, an overall post-bac GPA at or above 3.5, and an MCAT score at or above 28 (? 506 – 508 new MCAT ?); individual MCAT section scores at or below a 7 (? 124 new MCAT ?)are usually very concerning (candidates with academic metrics below these recommendations usually will need to be much stronger in other areas of the application)

Page 7: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Moving on…Activities

What activities should I consider in support of a career in medicine?

•Clinical Activities

•Community Service Activities--underserved

•Life Experiences/ Activities Outside One’s Comfort Zone

•Leadership Activities

•Teamwork Activities

•Employment Activities

•Activities that demonstrate inquiry or inquisitiveness

•Activities that demonstrate involvement in your community

•Activities that demonstrate an ability to educate

Page 8: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Activities: Other things to think about….• One or two activities of long

commitment (>6-12 months) usually are viewed more favorably than a voluminous series of isolated short-term activities (<1 month duration)

• Activities of purpose are usually viewed more favorably than activities of hobby—but not always!

• Avoid inclusion of high school activities unless they were extremely meaningful in preparation for medical school or were continued in college

Page 9: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Let’s move on to…Characteristics

• Compassion

• Cultural Sensitivity

• Ethical-awareness

• Effective Communication

• Maturity

• Self-awareness

• Teamwork

• Honesty

• Social Responsibility

• Professional Responsibility

Page 10: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

How Do I Demonstrate Character?

Communication and behavior is keyo How you communicate during your interview

o Personal statement

o Supplemental medical school application essays

o Descriptions of your activities

o How others view your behaviors and characteristics in your letters of recommendation

o How you address failure

o Willingness to try/experience new/different things/ideas/step outside comfort zone

o Communicate with believable passion (but avoid hyperbole)

Page 11: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

How do I figure out where to apply?

Page 12: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Things to consider….

• Look at your home state’s medical schools first—statistically this is your best chance for acceptance (California is tricky—way too many qualified applicants than spots available…as are Maine, Delaware, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming—none of which have medical schools).

• Pay very close attention to the medical school mission statement and website—if your values and career goals don’t align with the mission and its medical programs, don’t waste your time/money applying.

• Do look at other state supported medical schools as an OOS applicant—if you have ties to that state and/or that school’s mission/programming, apply and make sure your application supports this connection. Explain in your application why it is that you are interested in their particular medical school.

Page 13: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Michigan State University’s College of

Human Medicine

What is important to us?

Page 14: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Marsha D. Rappley, M.D.Dean, College of Human Medicine

Our Mission

Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine is committed to educating exemplary physicians and scholars, discovering and disseminating new knowledge, and providing service at home and abroad.

We enhance our communities by providing outstanding primary and specialty care, promoting the dignity and inclusion of all people, and responding to the needs of the medically underserved.

Page 15: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Our StudentsExcellent interpersonal skills

Diverse in terms of gender, age, academic major, personal experience, culture, and race/ethnicity

Substantial human service and clinical experience

Page 16: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Entering Class Profile 2014

Average age 24, range 21-51

90 men, 100 women

Michigan residents – 85%

Disadvantaged – 48%

Rural – 11%

Race/ethnicity other than white– 43%

Underrepresented in medicine– 28%

140 BS degrees, 39 BA degrees, (6 with double degrees)

18 have a master’s degree; two have PhDs

Page 17: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Graduating Class Profile 2014

The following is from this last year’s CHM graduating student AAMC exit survey (number in parenthesis is the national average)

• Research project with faculty member:  87.0% (69.3%)

• Community-based research project:  43.2% (29.2%)

• Authorship of a peer-reviewed oral or poster presentation: 57.5% (43.6%)

• Field experience in home care: 39.0% (33.1%)

• Global health experiences:  38.4% (29.0%)

• Experience related to health disparities:  71.9% (71.4%)

• Experience related to cultural awareness and cultural competence:  70.5% (70.9%)

Page 18: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Application Process

6400+ Applications Received

500+ Candidates

Interviewed

190 Entering Class

Page 19: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Application to Acceptance

Professional review of AMCAS application: academic profile, essays, experiences, CHM secondary essays, and letters of recommendation

Written applications are rated by faculty who sit on the Committee on Admissions

• Blinded to academic metrics and letters

Interviewers

• Blinded to academic metrics and letters• Interview consists of a multiple mini-

interview format and a traditional 30 minute interview with a medical student

Page 20: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI—A New Interview Tool

Developed by McMaster University (Canada) 2002

Involves a series of short, highly structured “interviews” to assess candidate characteristics

CHM uses eight stations during an MMI circuit; each station is eight minutes in length with a two minute break between stations

Page 21: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI Visual Mock-up

Each station lasts 8 minutes

One room will have 2 candidates together

Two minutes in between stations

Station 1 (8 min.) Station 2 (8 min.) Station 3 (8 min.)

Rest (8 min.)

Two candidates together

Station 4 (8 min.)

Station 5 (8 min.)

Rest (8 min.)

Station 8 (8 min.) Station 7 (8 min.) Station 6 ( 8min.)

Page 22: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

1. Question2.Collaboration3. Role Play

TYPES OF MMI STATIONS

Page 23: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI:The Question Station

•This is the most traditional of stations

•A question is posed to the candidate that will require thoughtful responses and demonstrate critical thinking skills.

Page 24: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI:Example of a Question Station

Every week your classmates gather at the local coffee house to review lessons from the previous week. Everyone has been working together on a major paper on Roman History that accounts for 40% of the course grade. One of your classmates has copies of two of the papers that students wrote for last year’s course. Your classmate has emailed copies of these papers to you and to the other people in your group. What would you do in this situation and why?

Page 25: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI: The Collaboration Station

• A collaboration station involves two applicants who must complete a task together.

• Applicant A will give direction to Applicant B who must complete the task.

• The applicants will have about 4-5 minutes to engage the task and 3-4 minutes for debriefing by the interviewers.

• There will be two interviewer raters evaluating the collaborative effort, one for each applicant.

Page 26: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI: Example of a Collaborative Station

When indicated, enter the room with the other applicant, greet your interviewer(s); sit in the chairs back-to-back. You will be looking at a picture, and the other applicant will have a blank sheet of paper and pen. Describe verbally to your fellow applicant how to draw the picture. You may not turn to face each other during this task.

Page 27: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI: The Role Play Station

• Role play stations involve a candidate, an interviewer rater, and a standardized actor, who is playing the role of someone in which some type of conflict occurs.

• The applicant engages the actor in this role play scenario. • The applicants will have about 5-6 minutes to role play and 2-3

minutes for debriefing by the interviewer rater.

Page 28: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

MMI:Example of a Role Play Station

You have been friends with Sam since grade school, but over the past 3 months, (s)he has begun to lose weight. You notice that Sam is not eating as much as (s)he used to and will no longer eat “junk food” when you hang out. You are worried that Sam is struggling with an eating disorder and have decided that it is time to talk to him/her about your concerns. Sam is in the room. First introduce yourself to your interviewer, and then start a conversation with Sam about your concerns.

Page 29: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Admissions Committee Process

Applicants are presented anonymously - identified by number, school, major

Application and interview ratings/comments are presented to the committee

Secret ballot after discussion

A motion requires more than a simple majority

to pass

Student members have a voice but no vote per University regulations

Page 30: Preparing MSU Future Doctors for Medical School: A dean of admissions perspective….

Questions?