[bioundgrd] Next steps for the 2017 Med/Health Profession School Application Process

Mon Oct 26 10:04:16 EDT 2015

[Description: Description: Description: Description: GECD_departmentSmall_PH]
Next steps for the 2017 Med/Health Profession School Application Process

Greetings from MIT Prehealth Advising!

You are receiving this message because you've indicated that you're interested in applying for entry to medical/health profession school in fall 2017.

It's time for you to take the following 3 steps to prepare for the 2017 application process.

I know this is a lengthy email, but please read it in full to know what to do next and whether or not you're ready to apply. Thank you!

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1. Save the Dates! You should attend either the in-person workshop or online webinar version of all of the following 3 fall events that are part of the monthly 2017 Application Cohort Workshop Series to help you prepare for the application process.

  *   Please register for the events below in advance on CareerBridge, especially for the webinars in order to receive the webinar access link: https://www.myinterfase.com/mit/student

  *   Note: Webinars will be recorded and the playback links will be sent out for those who can't attend the live workshop or webinar events. It is encouraged to participate live if possible though, so that you can have your questions answered.

Prehealth Credential Service and COPA Process

  *   Workshop, Tuesday, October 27, 3-4pm, Room 3-270
  *   Webinar, Wednesday, October 28, 12-1pm, Register on CareerBridge for webinar link

Prehealth Requesting Letters of Recommendation

  *   Workshop, Wednesday, November 18, 7:15-8:15pm, Room 2-105
  *   Webinar, Friday, November 20, 12-1pm, Register on CareerBridge for webinar link

Find Your Why: Med School Essay Brainstorming

  *   Workshop, Wednesday, December 2, 7:15-8:15pm, Room 4-163
  *   Webinar, Friday, December 4, 12-1pm, Register on CareerBridge for webinar link

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2. Seriously consider your readiness to apply in the 2017 cycle or whether it would be best to wait until 2018 or later. How to know if you're ready? See below for general guidelines on academic stats and clinical exposure, etc.

a) You should be personally ready, meaning you don't have any doubts about whether this is the right career path. If you're still unsure about medicine in general or are still trying to decide between an MD and MD-PhD or another degree, consider gaining more shadowing and volunteering in a clinical setting and research experience, as well as meeting with MIT Prehealth Advising to discuss any questions you have and your strategy for career exploration and eventual application. Call MIT Prehealth Advising at 617-715-5328 to schedule an appointment.

b) Your application should be ready. Even if you're 100% set on going to med/health profession school, it doesn't necessarily mean your application is ready at this time, which I know may be frustrating, but will require you to take more time if you want to be successful with applying and getting in. You need to have solid academics (GPA and MCAT), sufficient clinical experiences (shadowing and volunteering), and other activities that make you stand out (service, leadership, research, other extracurriculars you're passionate about). Here are general guidelines of where you should be at this point or at least by the end of the spring 2016 semester in order to be ready to apply:

  *   An overall and science (biology, chemistry, physics, and math) GPA of 4.5 or above to apply; 4.7 or above for top MD programs and for MD-PhD applicants
  *   MCAT in the 91st percentile or above to apply; 96th percentile or above for top MD programs and for MD-PhD applicants; with solid scores across the individual exam sections, especially in the verbal or critical analysis and reasoning skills section
  *   Ideally at least ~100 hours of clinical exposure (shadowing and/or volunteering in a clinical setting)
  *   At least a semester, but ideally a year or more of some community service (could be clinical or non-clinical, i.e., tutoring)
  *   At least 2-3 activities you're passionate about that you've committed at least a semester to, ideally a year or more to (i.e. research, sports, arts, music, summer internships, global experiences, other student groups)

3. If you  haven't already, consider meeting with MIT Prehealth Advising for a 2017 Prehealth Advising Meeting to get advice on how you can prepare to apply.

  *   Prehealth Advising is no longer requiring Prehealth Registration meetings.
  *   Instead, individuals who are thinking about applying for entry to medical/health profession school in fall 2017 and who have never met with MIT Prehealth Advising (or who haven't met in a long while), should participate in a Prehealth Advising Meeting at some point this fall semester. It is recommended to come in before November 16.
  *   If you have met with Prehealth Advising recently and feel confident in your 2017 application strategy, it is not required that you meet with an Advisor again at this time, however, you will still need to complete the Prehealth Advising Questions (see below) by the end of January 2016 in order to participate in the COPA Letter process. More details to follow.

To schedule a Prehealth Advising Meeting to prepare for fall 2017 entry, follow the instructions below:

  1.  Complete and save the Prehealth Advising Questions<http://gecd.mit.edu/grad-and-med-school/prepare-medical-school/meet-prehealth-advising>.
  2.  Submit the Prehealth Advising Form<http://gecd.mit.edu/prehealth-advising-form> 24 hours in advance of your Prehealth Advising Meeting.
  3.  Call 617-715-5328 (M-F, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) to schedule a 60-minute Prehealth Advising Meeting (in-person, phone or Skype).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jennifer Earls

Assistant Director, Prehealth Advising
MIT Global Education & Career Development
617-715-5328

http://gecd.mit.edu/grad_school/health

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