Pre-Health Professions at Penn State Behrend Admissions Open
House February 8 th, 2014
Slide 2
What Are Health Professions Schools Looking For? Ultimately,
admissions committees want to know 3 things: 1.Can the student
handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why does the
student want to be a doctor or health practitioner do they want to
be in the profession for the right reasons? 3.Do they have a
diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor or health
practitioner? How can Penn State Behrend help the student
succeed?
Slide 3
Preparing the Student Academically Although each health
professions program is slightly different, in general they require:
Biology: a general biology core along with upper level courses in
genetics, cell biology and physiology and laboratories Chemistry: 4
semesters of general and organic chemistry and the laboratories
Physics: 2 semesters of physics Biochemistry: 1-2 semesters MCAT
2015 Psychology/sociology: 1-2 semesters MCAT 2015 Math: 2
semesters, usually calculus and statistics
Slide 4
Preparing the Student Academically At Penn State Behrend we
offer rigorous that fulfill these requirements strength of
application! The Pre-Health Professions Option in Biology is the
most specialized towards these goals. Students can major in
chemistry, physics or engineering! They work closely with their
health professions advisor to add the necessary biology courses to
their degree requirements In almost all cases leads to a biology
minor
Slide 5
Preparing the Student Academically but other
colleges/universities offer a specific Pre-Med Degree. Why not Penn
State Behrend? No health professions school requires or favors this
degree Pre-medical degrees are a marketing tool and are a
repackaged biology degree in most cases We urge you to compare the
course lists between these pre-medical degrees and our biology
degree versus the requirements of any health professions
program!
Slide 6
Preparing the Student Academically Most importantly: We advise
all of our pre-health students, whether they have a 2.8 or 4.0 GPA
to have a Back-up Plan in case they change their minds about a
career in the health professions or they do not make it into their
program. A rigorous Penn State degree in biology or chemistry leads
to many highly engaging, intellectual careers related to the health
sciences: Synthetic chemist, molecular biologist, virologist,
biochemist, geneticist, genetic engineer, microbiologist, health
physicist, environmental chemist, epidemiologist.to name just a
few!
Slide 7
Preparing the Student Academically Penn State Behrend is one of
the few schools that combines the best qualities of a large
research university and a small liberal arts college: Our
professors are active researchers in their respective fields who
publish cutting edge research in the current scientific literature
Our students receive hands-on training to cutting edge research
equipment not found at smaller schools. Many of our students become
involved in undergraduate research projects and present their work
to the scientific community both through presentation and
publication.
Slide 8
Preparing the Student Academically However, unlike a larger
research school our professors spend considerable time in the
classroom including laboratories. Small class sizes result in us
getting to know our students and to provide quick and early
intervention if we feel they are not learning the material. Many of
our instructors are dedicated lecturers whose research is actually
in developing new teaching methods. These individuals commit time
and effort in engaging students in the study of the sciences both
on campus and in outreach activities.
Slide 9
Preparing the Student Academically - Our track record: Averages
Behrend students who were accepted to medical school in the last
seven years: 3.63 science & math GPA 3.64 overall GPA 30 MCAT
Students to Pre-Health Professions 5.7%Pharmacy 4.3%Veterinary
3.8%Physician Assistant 4.3%Medical (Ostepath) 2.4%Medical
(Allopath) 2.9%Chiropractic 2.9%Physical Therapy 1.4%Occupational
Therapy 1%Optometry 1%Podiatry 0.5%Dental ~30%Biology
Graduates
Slide 10
What Are Health Professions Schools Looking For? Ultimately,
admissions committees want to know 3 things: 1.Can the student
handle the academic rigors of medical school? 2.Why does the
student want to be a doctor or health practitioner do they want to
be in the profession for the right reasons? 3.Do they have a
diverse set of skills necessary to be a good doctor or health
practitioner? How can Penn State Behrend help the student
succeed?
Slide 11
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student Pre-Health
Professions Committee Coordinator Dr. Michael W. Justik Associate
Professor of Chemistry Member of the National Association of
Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) Dr. Beth Potter
Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Matthew Gruwell Assistant
Professor of Biology Dr. Tia Deas Lecturer of Biology Dr. Victoria
A. Kazmerski - Associate Professor of Psychology, Physiological
Psychology Our advisers teach and mentor our pre-health students
not just advise!
Slide 12
Freshmen A census of Pre-Health students is made Planning
Guides are distributed to all pre-health students with contact
information for a specific pre- health advisor Checking in e-mails
are sent from committee by discipline Instructions as to scheduling
of SC 201 Student Timeline
Slide 13
Slide 14
Sophomore SC201 Fall Health career opportunities and admissions
committee expectations are discussed Personal statements,
interviews and standardized tests Seminars from local health care
practitioners and health professions recruiters Back-up plan what
if you dont get in? Student Timeline
Slide 15
Sophomore Spring Apply for pre-health advisor (with declaring
major) GPA requirement Personal statement draft Evidence of
shadowing and volunteer experiences Written statement of back-up
plan Student Timeline
Slide 16
Junior/Senior Scheduled meetings with advisees Personal
statement draft discussed Plan for application process Plan for
standardized tests discussed Back-up plan discussed Academic
advising Advisor constructs committee letter from LORs and Personal
Statement Student Timeline
Slide 17
Post-Baccalaureate Continued assistance for 2 nd and 3 rd round
applications Census of matriculated students to gauge success of
our programs! Student Timeline
Slide 18
AN ALTERNATIVE TIMELINE is now encouraged by many health
professions programs A year off between undergraduate and medical
school Post- baccalaureate programs increase the breadth and depth
of admissions requirements Strengthen the application through:
Working in a medical field, Teach For America, MPH, Research,
Volunteer work, and travel abroad Have a full undergraduate degree
in preparation for MCAT, DAT, PCAT, VCAT, etc. Student
Timeline
Slide 19
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student The Pre-Health
Professions Committee: Works with the student on an individual
basis and tailors their advising to the students career goals Can
provide early intervention in case of academic or other difficulty
Suggests health professions schools that match the student Assists
the student with the application process Collecting letters of
recommendation Writing of a summary letter Scheduling of courses to
be prepared for standardized tests For all students a Back-up Plan
is prepared just in case plans change!
Slide 20
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student The Pre-Health
Professions Committee: Provides assistance with the writing of the
personal statement. Works with student organizations to set up
tours of local health professions schools, invite speakers and
provide volunteer event opportunities Works with fellow faculty and
administration to ensure that our Pre-Health programs are at the
forefront of meeting the requirements of health professions schools
and standardized tests.
Slide 21
Advising the Pre-Health Professions Student We recommend to the
student: Get to know faculty by active participation in lab and
lecture, lab assisting, doing research, some sort of thesis, etc.
Clinical experience Become a fan of your health profession! Show
your dedication! Shadow, shadow, shadow, volunteer, volunteer and
volunteer!!! Set yourself apart: Specialty area of study:
computational science, medical humanities, neuroscience program
Study abroad Fluency in a language like Spanish or Mandarin
Research experience Leadership and service to the community Depth
of experience is better than creating a long laundry list!!!
Slide 22
Student Organizations The Behrend Scrubs Club Open to all
students Volunteer work through Habitat for Humanity and TOPSoccer
Speaker series The American Medical Students Association Chapter
started in 2012 Tour of Hershey Medical School Same organization as
students in medical school
Slide 23
Accelerated Programs Penn State Behrend has agreements with
several health professions schools to provide accelerated programs
for gifted students
Slide 24
Accelerated Programs 3+4 Accelerated Program in Primary Care -
LECOM Phase I - Penn State Behrend SAT combined math and verbal
score of 1200 High school GPA of 3.5 and high school rank in top
25% of class; Interview conducted on the Penn State Behrend campus.
Maintain a 3.3 GPA at Behrend, MCAT >24 Phase II - LECOM LECOM
Secondary Application must be completed prior to scheduling an
admissions interview. Letters of recommendation and supporting
documentation must be submitted for LECOM review.
Slide 25
Accelerated Programs 3+4 Accelerated Program in Dentistry
Temple University Phase I - Penn State Behrend SAT combined math
and verbal score of 1200 High school GPA of 3.5 and high school
rank in top 25% of class; An interview conducted on the Penn State
Behrend campus. Behrend GPA (science) >3.3 and >18 DAT Phase
II - Temple University Final acceptance of candidates to Phase II
of the program will be determined by Temple University. Students
must apply through the AADSAS to Temple during the fall of their
third year. Letters of recommendation and supporting documentation
must be submitted for Temple review by the first day of
January.
Slide 26
Accelerated Programs 3+4 Accelerated Program in Dentistry
University of Buffalo Phase I - Penn State Behrend SAT combined
math and verbal score of 1200 High school GPA of 3.5 and high
school rank in top 25% of class; An interview conducted on the Penn
State Behrend campus. Behrend GPA >3.5 (science) and PCAT
>400 average Phase II - University at Buffalo University at
Buffalo may also require a formal interview with a designated
interviewer as part of the admission process. Receive a favorable
letter of recommendation from the Penn State Behrend Health and
Allied Health Professions Committee.
Slide 27
Accelerated Programs 3+4 Accelerated Program in Optometry Ohio
State University Phase I - Penn State Behrend SAT combined math and
verbal score of 1200 High school GPA of 3.5 and high school rank in
top 25% of class; An interview conducted on the Penn State Behrend
campus. Penn State Behrend GPA > 3.5; OAT >320 (at least 300
in each cat.) Phase II - Ohio State University An automatic
invitation to interview at the College of Optometry will be granted
if the student participating in the Accelerated Program meets the
following criteria while attending Penn State Behrend: Observed at
least two optometric practices. Received a favorable letter of
recommendation from the Penn State Behrend Health and Allied Health
Professions Advisor.
Slide 28
Accelerated Programs While not an accelerate program, Our Early
Assurance Program with the Penn State College of Medicine gives
outstanding 2 nd year Behrend students the opportunity to apply for
provisional early acceptance to Penn State's College of Medicine in
Hershey. Program Requirements SAT > 1300, GPA > 3.6 at the
end of the sophomore year, and completion of required courses. Must
demonstrate high academic achievement and Extra- curricular
activities and student involvement in human service experiences A
typed statement of 300 to 500 words describing significant past
experiences, personal interests, motivation for pursuing a career
in medicine, and plans for the future followed by review of Penn
State Hershey Medical School
Slide 29
Start the student investigating their health professions
graduate programs NOW to see the requirements so they can make the
most informed decision on an UG program Review the admissions
requirements so the student has an expectation to do well their
freshman year Most programs now require 100+ hours of patient
contact experience to apply start now What can you do?
Slide 30
Consider PSB as a preferred destination! All the research
facilities of a large university. but small class sizes! Hands-on
use of all research equipment Personalized advising by professors
for pre-health We are highly regarded by admissions committees.
Accelerated programs for students you identify as being gifted and
destined to a career path. What can you do?