Applying to American Medical Applying to American Medical Schools: A Canadian Schools: A Canadian

Student’s PerspectiveStudent’s Perspective

Elizabeth WuElizabeth WuUniversity of Toronto 2010University of Toronto 2010

Honours Bachelor of ScienceHonours Bachelor of ScienceJune 6, 2010June 6, 2010

OutlineOutline

1.1. Why do I want to be a doctor?Why do I want to be a doctor?

2.2. How do I make myself competitive?How do I make myself competitive?

a. Academicsa. Academics

b. Volunteeringb. Volunteering

c. Researchc. Research

3.3. How do I apply to medical school?How do I apply to medical school?

a. Personal statementa. Personal statement

b. MCATb. MCAT

c. Letters of Recommendationc. Letters of Recommendation

4.4. How do I prepare for the interview?How do I prepare for the interview?

5.5. What happens now?What happens now?

Why do I want to be a doctor?Why do I want to be a doctor?

Why American medical Why American medical schools?schools?

1.1. Greater choiceGreater choice 132 AAMC accredited M.D.-granting schools (vs. 17 in 132 AAMC accredited M.D.-granting schools (vs. 17 in

Canada)Canada)

2.2. Access to resourcesAccess to resources Research facilities and personnelResearch facilities and personnel Clinical opportunitiesClinical opportunities International opportunitiesInternational opportunities

3.3. CaveatsCaveats Expensive (escrow)Expensive (escrow) Future practiceFuture practice

How do I make myself How do I make myself competitive?competitive?

What makes me unique?What makes me unique?

1.1. AcademicsAcademics

2.2. VolunteeringVolunteering

3.3. ResearchResearch

4.4. Interpersonal and intrapersonal traitsInterpersonal and intrapersonal traits

How do I make myself How do I make myself competitive?competitive?

1.1. AcademicsAcademics

GPAGPA

Coursework: Coursework:

Basic requirements (also needed for the MCAT):Basic requirements (also needed for the MCAT):

1 year each of biology , general chemistry, and physics with lab1 year each of biology , general chemistry, and physics with lab

1 year of organic chemistry1 year of organic chemistry

Variable by school:Variable by school:

1 year of calculus or statistics1 year of calculus or statistics

1 year of English1 year of English

Courses in literature, languages, and social sciencesCourses in literature, languages, and social sciences

How do I make myself How do I make myself competitive?competitive?

2.2. VolunteeringVolunteering

Altruism, compassion, long-term commitmentAltruism, compassion, long-term commitment

CommunityCommunity

ClinicalClinical

KNOWLEDGE OF THE HEALTH CARE SETTINGKNOWLEDGE OF THE HEALTH CARE SETTING

International opportunitiesInternational opportunities

Volunteers for Intercultural and Definitive Adventures (VIDA)Volunteers for Intercultural and Definitive Adventures (VIDA)http://www.vidavolunteertravel.org

How do I make myself How do I make myself competitive?competitive?

3.3. ResearchResearch

Course-basedCourse-based

Research opportunity programsResearch opportunity programs

ThesisThesis

Summer researchSummer research

Summer studentshipsSummer studentships

- NSERC (National Science and Engineering Research Council)- NSERC (National Science and Engineering Research Council)

- CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)- CIHR (Canadian Institutes of Health Research)

Long-term commitment /Diversity of experiencesLong-term commitment /Diversity of experiences

How do I make myself How do I make myself competitive?competitive?

4.4. Interpersonal and intrapersonal traitsInterpersonal and intrapersonal traits

What makes me special?What makes me special?

- One size does not fit all- One size does not fit all

BUTBUT

- Don’t give yourself plastic surgery- Don’t give yourself plastic surgery

Character traitsCharacter traits

- Intellectual curiosity, altruism, leadership, well-roundedness- Intellectual curiosity, altruism, leadership, well-roundedness

- Thematic organization- Thematic organization

MCAT, AMCAS…SOS?MCAT, AMCAS…SOS?

In the U.S.:In the U.S.:

1.1. American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS): American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS): http://www.aamc.org/audienceamcas.htm

2.2. School-specific secondary applicationsSchool-specific secondary applications

What do I need?What do I need?

1.1. PERSONAL STATEMENTPERSONAL STATEMENT

2.2. REFERENCE LETTERSREFERENCE LETTERS

3.3. MCAT scoresMCAT scores

Also useful: Also useful:

- CV or List of Activities- CV or List of Activities

MCAT, AMCAS…SOS?MCAT, AMCAS…SOS?

1.1. AMCASAMCAS

- June 1- June 1stst: First day to submit primary: First day to submit primary

- August 1- August 1stst: Early Decision Program: Early Decision Program

- Regular admission deadline varies (majority - Regular admission deadline varies (majority October 15October 15thth))

2.2. Secondary ApplicationsSecondary Applications

- Deadlines vary- Deadlines vary

SUBMIT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLESUBMIT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE

MCAT, AMCAS…SOS?MCAT, AMCAS…SOS?

1.1. MCATMCAT

Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning (/15)(/15)

Writing Sample (M-T)Writing Sample (M-T)

2.2. Personal statementPersonal statement

Revise, revise, reviseRevise, revise, revise

Other readersOther readers

3.3. Reference lettersReference letters

DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU KNOW ME WELL ENOUGH TO WRITE ME A STRONG LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?WRITE ME A STRONG LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?

- Personal statement, 1-2 page CV, transcript- Personal statement, 1-2 page CV, transcript

How do I prepare for the How do I prepare for the interview?interview?

Thematic preparation

1. Personal qualities

2. Pivotal experiences and their significanceResearchVolunteering

3. Am I a good fit?

Additional:

- Current and future state of health care- Non-medical current events- Medical ethics

How do I prepare for the How do I prepare for the interview?interview?

Resources:Resources:

- Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)- Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)

- So You Want To Be A Doctor? (Niriksha Maladi, 2005)- So You Want To Be A Doctor? (Niriksha Maladi, 2005)

- So You Want To Be A Doctor, Eh? (Anne Berndl, 2007)- So You Want To Be A Doctor, Eh? (Anne Berndl, 2007)

- - http://www.studentdoctor.net

- University Career Centre/Interview Service- University Career Centre/Interview Service

- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE- PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

What happens now?What happens now?

1.1. Back-up plan(s)Back-up plan(s)

2.2. Offers/Waitlists/RejectionsOffers/Waitlists/Rejections

May 15May 15

3.3. Financing the futureFinancing the future

- Canada student loans- Canada student loans

- Personal lines of credit- Personal lines of credit

And the moral of the story is…And the moral of the story is…

Good luck, all!Good luck, all!