General Information for Pre-Medical Students

• College Major
• Health Care Experience
• Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
• American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
• Letters of Recommendation
• Connecticut College Health Professions Advisory Committee Interview
• Connecticut College Summary Letter of Recommendation
• Deciding Where to Apply
• Medical School Personal Statement
• Medical School Interview
• Research Opportunities at Connecticut College

 

 

College Major

No one major field is preferred over another. While the largest number of applicants pursue science majors, admissions statistics show no preference toward this group. English, history and philosophy majors had a higher ratio of acceptance than biology majors. When choosing a major, consider your interests, aptitudes and educational goals.

Medical schools are most concerned with the overall quality and scope of undergraduate work. The schools also recognize the desirability of including students with a broad variety of interests and backgrounds in medical school classes. "College grades are perhaps the most important single predictor of medical school performance." (Medical School Admissions Requirements, pages 27.) The recent mean undergraduate grade point average of first-year entrants nationally was 3.6.

 

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Health Care Experience

Experience in a health care setting, especially a clinical setting, is strongly recommended. As a hospital volunteer, for example, you have the opportunity to interact with patients in a supportive role, observe the day-to-day activities of a physician and participate in a health care delivery system. Such experiences allow you to better assess your interest in a medical career, recognize some of the demands of patient care and demonstrate commitment to medicine.

Throughout the year, Connecticut College premed students may volunteer at various hospitals and clinics in the area and shadow local physicians. Positions available involve Emergency Department liaison work, patient transportation, installing lifeline monitors in patient homes, working with the Oncology Team and providing information about the hospital to patients and their families. We also offer a Paramedic Internship Program. This program includes a weekly.seminar taught by the paramedic staff first semester and four twelve- hour ambulance call shifts second semester. There will be an information session early fall to learn more about these opportunities. If interested in community service contact the Office of Volunteers for Community Service (OVCS) at X 2958 for an interview.

 

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Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

The Medical College Admissions Test is required by all but two American Medical Schools (Johns Hopkins and University of Rochester do not). Beginning January 2007, the MCAT will be entirely computerized. Instead of two administrations per year, AAMC (The Association of American Medical Colleges) will administer 22 exams throughout the year. It must be completed at least one year in advance of anticipated admission to medical school. Most students planning to enroll immediately after graduation take the MCAT in April, May, June, July of their junior year (preferred) or in August prior to the start of their senior year.

Taking the test in the spring of the junior year allows the student a second chance in August if the initial scores are not competitive (if you do not perform well on the test, you should consider retaking it). Taking the test in spring and early summer also allows for an earlier decision by the medical schools. Because medical school admission committees utilize a rolling admission process, an August test does not allow your application to be considered as early as possible. However, the primary consideration is a strong performance. Schedule the test when you are the best prepared for it. In either case, begin submitting your application materials as soon as possible after June 1.

Subject areas covered on the MCAT include: Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning and a Writing Sample. The Writing Sample consists of two, half-hour essays on various topics. The essay section is assigned a letter score ranging from J (lowest) to T (highest). Performance on the other sections is rated on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 15 (highest).

To register and learn more about the MCAT go to: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm.

Students who have had difficulty on standardized tests or would like a more structured approach to preparation may wish to take a commercial prep course such as Stanley Kaplan Educational Center or Princeton Review. The Kaplan course is conducted on the Connecticut College campus at various times throughout the school year. Contact Kaplan at 1-800-kaptest or kaptest.com for further information. Tuition discounts are available at Kaplan for students who can demonstrate financial need.

 

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American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)

Most U.S. medical schools belong to a centralized application service called AMCAS. Students applying to AMCAS participating schools must utilize this service (a list of member schools is included in the AMCAS registration packet). Students fill out one AMCAS application and designate the schools to which they want their application sent (use the Semester System option for Connecticut College). The completed application materials and service fee should be forwarded directly to AMCAS. AMCAS will then distribute them to the medical schools.

The applicant also must request that official transcripts from all U.S. and Canadian schools attended be sent to AMCAS (see our Records and Registration Office, and be sure your Spring Term grades have been posted before sending). This is true even if you have studied elsewhere and the credit has been transferred to your Connecticut College transcript. Transcripts from foreign schools are not required. However, if a U.S. college sponsored a study abroad program, you must send an official transcript from that U.S. school.

Most AMCAS participating schools have their own secondary applications, which they send out after receiving the AMCAS application. These take time to fill out (they may request additional essays and information), which again highlights the need to apply early in the summer.

AMCAS registration is online. To register go to: http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm. AMCAS applications may be filed no earlier than June 1 (they will send it back to you before that time).

Individuals applying to non-AMCAS participating schools must contact these schools directly for application materials. Information and addresses of all U.S. medical schools are available in the Medical School Admission Requirements handbook. Official transcripts should be sent directly to non-AMCAS schools. You should arrange to have MCAT scores sent to them as well.

 

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Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are an important part of the application process. You will want to obtain at least three letters from faculty members whom assess your academic performance. These should include two letters from science faculty and one from a non-science discipline (there are schools which will require this). An excellent way to supplement faculty letters is to obtain one from a supervisor who supervised your volunteer or work experience in a health care setting. Another desirable letter would be from an individual under whom you have conducted research.

You will want to ask individuals who know you well and will write a substantive letter. It is advisable to ask people if they believe they can write you a strong letter. If you sense any ambivalence, withdraw your request and select another person.

Faculty from other schools you attended (during summer, study abroad, etc.) also may be used. Letters from personal friends of the family or politicians will carry little weight unless they have supervised you in a work situation or volunteer job.

The easiest way to compile your letters is to establish a recommendation file at the CELS (Career Enhancing Life Skills) Office. http://cels.conncoll.edu CELS has standard recommendation forms that may be given to recommenders. Recommenders should fill them out and send them directly to Career Services.

If the recommender prefers, he or she may type the letter on his or her own letterhead, but should also attach the Career Services form indicating whether or not it is a confidential recommendation. You have a right to see what people say about you unless you waive your right (you will need to make that decision on the CELS form). Most medical schools prefer to see confidential letters. After three or four weeks, contact CELS to see if the letters have arrived.

 

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Connecticut College Health Professions Advisory Committee Interview

During the year you intend to apply to medical, veterinary or dental school, you must make arrangements with the Health Professions Advisor to be interviewed by the Connecticut College Health Professions Advisory Committee and a member of the Connecticut College Board of Medical Practitioners. These interviews are conducted spring semester starting in February. The Advisory Committee is comprised of faculty members and the Board is made up of practicing physicians in the New London area.

These interviews serve a dual purpose. Information gathered by the Committee and Board members can be used for an overall letter of recommendation, which the college provides to medical schools (most request or require such a letter). The interview also provides the student with valuable practice for actual medical school interviews (the committee and Board members give feedback to students on their performance).

To Obtain A Committee Letter Of Recommendation You Must Schedule An Interview With The Prehealth Advisory Committee.

Contact Marylyn Fallon to schedule your interview

TO PREPARE FOR THE INTERVIEW:

1. Open a recommendation file with CELS (Career Enhancing Life Skills). See Betty Ahnell x2770. Go to http://cels.conncoll.edu to download a standard recommendation form.
    
   Obtain a minimum of three recommendations, two from science faculty, and one from a non-science faculty. It is recommended you submit more than three; these may come from employers and/or internship experiences.
    
   All original recommendations must be sent directly to the CELS office by February 21st and they must be confidential.

2. 2. Write your personal statement for the AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service).
    
   Send a copy of the completed statement to Betty Ahnell in the CELS office by February 21st.

3. 3. Send a copy of your most recent transcript and a resume to Betty Ahnell by February 21tst

All interviews are held in OLIN 102 seminar room. They will be thirty minutes long. The committee consists of four science faculty and one non-science faculty. Appropriate dress is required.

For more information on obtaining letters of recommendation, writing a personal statement and the interview process, make an appointment to meet with Marylynn Fallon, Chair, PreHealth Advisory Committee (309 Olin, x2145) the semester prior to your scheduled interview.

 

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Connecticut College Summary Letter of Recommendation

After you have been interviewed by the Health Professions Advisory Committee and a physician from the Board of Medical Practitioners, the Health Professions Advisor will write you a summary letter of recommendation. This will be sent to CELS (Career Enhancing Life Skills) and incorporated into your reference letter file. It is your responsibility to visit CELS and request in writing where you would like all of the letters sent.

 

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Deciding Where to Apply

Serious research is required when putting together the list of schools to which you will apply. The most critical issue is that of state residency.

State supported medical schools will give strong preference to individuals from that state. Some, in fact, do not accept any out-of-state applicants. Students, therefore, should first consider applying to schools in their home state which give preference to in-state residents and avoid applying to schools from other states which accept few if any non-residents (see the Medical School Admissions Requirements book for this data).

This leaves the private medical schools and state-supported schools which do accept a reasonable number of out-of-state students. Examine the ratio of applicants to entrants at various schools, as some are better than others. For example, Boston University enrolls a reasonable number of out- of-state students (89 in a recent year). Yet they had 9,858 applicants for a ration of less that 1%.

Virtually all private schools receive a huge number of applications due to their openness to non- residents. This makes them extremely competitive, as you will see from the applicant/enrollment ratios. However, take heart-they will need to accept more people than they actually enroll in order to fill their classes, as some individuals who are admitted will go to other schools. While this improves the ratios a bit, it still is very competitive.

Due to the extreme competitiveness of the whole process (there is no such thing as a safety school), it is advisable to apply to a large number of schools (at least 12 to 14 is a reasonable number).

Other factors to consider include the emphasis of the school (some are geared toward academic medicine and research, others toward primary care, etc.), cost, geographic location, prestige (ranking) and curriculum (see AAMC Curriculum Directory and read the school catalog).

 

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Medical School Personal Statement

The personal statement constitutes an important opportunity to present yourself if you own words to the Admissions Committee of a medical school. AMCAS requires a personal statement and many medical schools require additional personal essays. You must use the space allowed on the AMCAS form for your statement.

This is an opportunity to articulate your interests and experiences, especially those related to the healthcare environment and research. Other topics might include how your interest in medicine came about, how you investigated this interest, your career goals, things about you which are unique (e.g. if a parent was in the Foreign Service and you grew up in a foreign country, etc.) and how you developed the skills and qualities important for a physician (caring, enjoy working with people, problem solving ability, work well under pressure, etc.).

 

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Medical School Interview

Virtually all medical schools prior to an offer of acceptance require an in-person interview. The interview provides a final screening and evaluation to the admissions committee. Since this is a people-oriented occupation, they will be checking out your interpersonal and communications skills. They will also probe your knowledge of current medical issues, their school in particular and ask you to elaborate on items listed on your application.

The interview gives you an opportunity to have personal contact with admissions officers, to communicate your motivation and commitment to a career in medicine (very important, due to the length of training required) and clarify any information on your application. You also will have an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the school.

Medical schools may have their own recommendation form, but will accept the CELS form instead. These individual letters will be sent from the CELS office to medical schools along with the summary letter written by the Health Professions Advisor.

 

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Research Opportunities at Connecticut College

Biology Department

Chemistry Department