General Information
Rutgers - Newark Students Opening A File:
Recommendation Forms: RecForm'06.pdf
Use these forms to obtain references from science professors, employers and health care professionals. Three or four references are usually sufficient.
Declaration of Intentions (2 pages) link
This form requires a recent photo - (it need not be a passport photo). On page 1 under professional plans you may check 2 areas. The information you supply may be updated by simply adding it on a separate piece of paper and submitting it to the PreHealth Office Hill 306 or if the office is closed, bring the written correspondence to the receptionist in Hill 312 where it will be placed in the PreHealth mailbox. Do not use abbreviations.
There are many health related careers. Detailed information on these and other careers can be obtained in the U. S. Dept. of Labor "Occupational Outlook Handbook" Please see:
Link to "Professional and Related" and scroll to "Health diagnosing and treating occupations" and "health technologists and technicians".
The Association of American Medical Colleges has prepared an excellent source of information on medical schools.
A Guide to the Ranking Of Medical Schools:
http://share.studentdoctor.net/medical-school-rankings.asp
Have you considered health careers such as: physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, BS Health Care Administration, oriental medicine or acupuncture? If so, examine opportunities available at Touro College - School of Health Sciences.
Please note: There is no premed major, students can major in any subject with the provision that the admission requirements for the health professions have been met. To assist in selecting a major:
http://www.MyMajors.com Start by clicking "I'm new."
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Additional General Information (Scroll the list for details) |
1. A) The MCAT
B) On-line medical school application service: www.amcas.org
2. Interview Questions
3. Admission Requirements
4. What is a D.O.?
5. The OAT
6. Annual Regional Pre-Medical Conference
7. Annual Rutgers-Newark Pre-Medical Meeting
8. Medical Laboratory Science Program
9. What is a DPM? Learn about podiatric medicine
10. What is a Physician Assistant?
11. Medical and Dental Scholarship Programs: U.S. Navy
12. Dental Schools
13. Current Health Related Topics
14. UMDNJ Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
15. Volunteer Experiences
16. A Career as an Occupational Therapist
17. A Career that Blends Science and Medicine: BS Degree in Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences
Details:
1. The MCAT:
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has been changed to a computer-based format as of 2007. The new computerized MCAT in 2008 will be offered on twenty-five testing. There will be a greater percentage of testing dates later in the year. Also, additional testing sites are expected to be announced to meet student demand. The length of the testing day (including check-in) is about six hours. Results will be reported approximately 30 days after the test date.
The new computer-based MCAT and the older paper MCAT measure the same things. The individual multiple-choice sections (verbal reasoning, biological sciences and physical sciences) each have scores ranging from 1 - 15. The writing sample ranges from J to T.
National MCAT Total Scores for Spring 2007 and 2006:
Verbal Reasoning - Spring '07: 8.1, Spring '06: 8.4.
Biological Sciences - Spring '07: 9.0, Spring '06 8.8.
Physical Sciences - Spring '07: 8.4, Spring '06 8.4 (same score).
Writing Sample - Spring '07: "O", Spring '06 "O" (same score).
To learn more about the new computerized MCAT, visit their web site:
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/cbt.htm
Students preparing for admission to medical school should be preparing for the MCAT beginning in the freshman year of college studies. This comprehensive exam tests your knowledge of biology, chemistry and physics and includes a writing section.
The MCAT exam should not be taken until the student has completed one year of general biology, one year of physics and two years of chemistry (general and organic). The labs need not be completed before the MCAT but are required for admission to medical school. Additional courses useful to prepare for the MCAT include Foundations of Biology, Biochemistry and Genetics.
Question: How do you prepare for the MCAT beginning in your freshman year?
Answer: Improve your reading skills (newspapers, magazines, books and journals including medical journals that are available in many libraries). You may not understand every word so purchase a good dictionary and build up your vocabulary. Enhance your reading and comprehension skills, do you understand what you read? Are you a slow reader? Improve your reading skills starting now - remember that the MCAT is a timed exam - if you are a slow reader you will not be able to finish the exam. Some answers to MCAT questions can be obtained by carefully reading and understanding the passage.
Consider a MCAT review course - contact organizations like ExamKrackers 1-888-KRACK'EM, www.examkrackers.com , Kaplan 973/884-3500 www.kaplan.com , Princeton Review 609/683-0082, etc. for information. There appears to be a relationship between the score on the SAT and the MCAT (both are standardized exams) - if you did not perform well on the SAT you should consider a review course - most students do take a review course. Good grades alone will not get you into medical school - the MCAT is important and compares you to other students nationwide.
Question: I understand the importance of the MCAT, what else is important?
Answer: Apart from a good MCAT score and respectable grades (at least a 3.4 GPA), you should have some kind of health related experience. This can be volunteer or paid services (working as an EMT, volunteering in a medical office or hospital, research, etc.). These experiences will help you decide if you really want to become a doctor. In an interview with a medical school, can you answer the question as to WHY you want to become a physician? Can you provide an answer based on your experiences? What evidence can you provide? What sets you apart from other premedical students? Remember there are more applicants to medical school than seats.
What leadership skills do you possess? Community activities?
Note: The AAMC has advised the medical schools to use the MCAT together with coursework, grades, recommendations, students' health-related experiences, extracurricular activities and interview results in the decision-making process for admission. Admissions officials are also asked to rely more on the total MCAT score rather than on individual scores on the multiple-choice sections.
2. What are your responses to the following interview questions?
- When was the first moment you were certain that you wanted to pursue a medical career?
- Whom do you admire? Reason/s?
- What accomplishments are you most proud of? Why?
- Describe the activities you have participated in that are health-related (volunteer or paid work).
- What are the qualities of an excellent physician? Which of these are the most challenging to achieve?
- Name a strong positive trait that you possess. Describe your greatest weakness.
3. Admission requirements for professional schools.
Admission requirements to professional schools are subject to change, it is recommended that students carefully check the course requirements for the schools they plan to apply to so that these requirements are fulfilled.
4. What is a D.O.?
An osteopath is a doctor. A physician in the United States can be either an M.D. (doctor of medicine, also referred to as allopathic medicine) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy). Approximately 5% of physicians are doctors of osteopathy. Osteopathic schools place emphasis on primary care and frequently become family practitioners, pediatricians, gynecologists and internists. In the U.S. osteopaths prescribe drugs (like M.D.s) and perform surgery. However, in certain countries like Canada, osteopaths are not licensed as "doctors".
Unlike M.D.s, osteopathic medicine stresses the importance of the musculoskeletal system in many disorders with hands-on manipulation therapy. Today, many osteopaths do not utilize manipulation therapy and function instead like M.D.s.
Many students do not fully understand osteopathic medicine. The D.O. is a fully licensed physician who utilizes all scientific modalities to restore and maintain health.
The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine offers a concise definition:
"There are only two kinds of physicians qualified to be licensed for unlimited practice of medicine in all 50 states: those holding the M.D. degree, and those who have earned the D.O. - doctor of osteopathic medicine - degree.
Osteopathic physicians perform surgery, deliver babies, and prescribe medicine in hospitals and clinics across the nation. Whether they're family doctors or specialists, D.O.s use all the tools of modern medicine...and more.
They help their patients develop attitudes and lifestyles that don't just fight illness, but prevent it. They give special attention to how the body's nerves, muscles, bones, and organs work together to influence health. Through osteopathic manipulative treatment, they can use their hands to diagnose injury and illness... and encourage the body's natural ability to heal itself.
These extra touches distinguish th D.O.'s whole-person philosophy of medicine. It's a century-old tradition of caring for people, not just treating symptoms."
Learn more about osteopathic medicine:
5. Optometry Admission Test (OAT)
The OAT is offered in a computerized format. Testing is available throughout the year. The applicant selects the date, time, and place that is most convenient. Test results are obtained immediately after the exam and schools receive the scores within two weeks.
Beginning in 2006, the major source for information regarding applications will be online at:
Information on the Optometry Admission Testing Program can be obtained by telephone: 1-800-232-2159.
6. Annual Regional Pre-Medical Conference
Premedical Conference see link
7. Annual Rutgers-Newark Pre-Medical Conference
Please see link
8. -Medical Laboratory Science Program
UMDNJ information sessions & tours link
9. - Podiatric Medicine - Learn about a career as a podiatrist!
A) The American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine has an excellent web site: www.aacpm.org
B) Explore podiatric medicine with an internship at the School of Podiatric Medicine at Temple University!
Programs are Jan. 7 - 10, 2008 and June 6 - 13,2008. Housing is provided. Explore this excellent opportunity, for further information:
Internship Programs, Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, Office of Student Affairs, 8th at Race Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel.: (215) 625 - 5451 or (800) 220 - 3338. http://podiatry.temple.edu
10. - Physician Assistant-
Learn about a career as a physician assistant: http://www.aapa.org/geninfo1.html
11. - Medical and Dental School Scholarships-
Interested in a scholarship for medical and dental school. The United States Navy:
LT Kelly Bricko, MSC, USNR
732-433-3009
12. - Dental Schools
Admission requirements for U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools: http://www.adea.org
For information regarding the DAT: http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/index.asp
On-line application service: www.aacomas.org
13. Current Health Related Topics
Some sources of current topics include:
American Medical News http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/
Washington Highlights http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/washhigh/start.htm
14. The University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ) of New Jersey entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
UMDNJ is offering a full-time three-year program preparing students in differential diagnoses, and advanced clinical and management practices. For further information: 973/ 972-4547.
15. Volunteer Experiences
Project Health Care at Bellevue Hospital - see link
Project Health Care is a 10-week program beginning the first week of June and ends in August of each year. Participants work at least 22 hours per week in scheduled rotations within the Department of Emergency Services: Adult Emergency Services, Pediatric Emergency Services, Psychiatric Emergency Services, Urgent Care and the Emergency Ward. For details, see link (above) or call (212) 562-4858. Program Director: Priscilla Daniels, Dept. of Volunteer Services.
16. Occupational Therapist
The occupational therapist assists individuals with mental and physical challenges master skills for everyday living. OTs help people faced with conditions such as injury, disability, stroke, disease, mental illness and Alzheimer's. They may provide assistance for children in a school environment, or in their homes or clients in theirhomes or in medical, rehab or assisted-living facilities. They frequently work together with physicians, nurses, social workers and other OTs. In addition, some OTs have private practices.
This field is considered to a rapidly growing health career.
For further information:
www.aota.org for the American Occupational Therapy Association
www.bls.gov/oco/ocos078.htm and www.promoteot.org OT careers
17. A Career that Blends Science and Medicine: BS Degree in Clinical Laboratory and Biomedical Sciences
Openings still available at UMDNJ - please see link