First Advisory Group Meeting Fall, Year 1

First Advisory Group Meeting

General Information The primary goal of the group meeting is to provide the opportunity for students to meet with their faculty advisor and peer mentors and to discuss common experiences and learn from each other, the advisor and peer mentors. In addition, this is a time for advisees to give feedback to the faculty on how things are going, the transition into medical school, how their summer was etc. Peer-mentors (2nd, 3rd and 4th year students) will share their experience and help address some of these issues along with the faculty advisor.

Format of Advisory Programs 1. There will be two Advisory Program Meetings held throughout the year, once each semester. The meeting will be held with two societies at a time (half the class). Students will sit in their advisory groups with their faculty advisor and peer mentors during the meeting. The meeting will be a combination of lecture and small group discussion. The purpose of the meeting is to provide you with an opportunity to meet with your faculty advisor, discuss common experiences and learn from each other and from your peer mentors as well as to foster relationship building within the advisory group and society.

2. During the group discussion time, the following could occur: a. Introductions of faculty, peer mentors, and student advisees. b. Open discussion centered on first or second year experiences c. Discuss plans/topics to discuss at next advisory group meeting in January d. Conclude and provide contact info

Faculty Introductions This can be in whatever form you’d like…suggestions: - Background - Position at Drexel - Clinical and/or academic interests - Interests outside academics

Peer Mentor Introductions Again, whatever form you’d like: suggestions: - What is your background before Drexel (undergraduate, work experience, etc.) - Interests outside of school - Best experiences at Drexel (this should be academic or school-based: remember, that they have a Big for the more informal stuff) - First and second year experience (academic, extracurricular activities etc.) - What you did during the summer between first and second year - Specialty interest(s) or what specialties that you are applying in, if you know. Student Advisee Introductions Ask advisees to introduce themselves. Things to encourage them to include might be: hometown, undergraduate institution, undergraduate major, interests outside school etc.

Suggested Topics for Open Discussion 1. How are things going? Good, bad etc. Are there any immediate questions? 2. Are your finding your way around campus, Philly, restaurants, grocery stores etc 3. What classes seems to be giving people trouble? (Optional) a. Anyone finding that class easier? If so, ask them to give suggestions to the group as to how they approach the subject matter, and what resources they use. b. This is a great topic for peer-mentors to give their input in.

Conclude Conclude by providing students with information on how to set up individual appointments, your contact information – office number, e-mail, and any preferred means of communication that you’d like. Remind them that you will be meeting as a group again in January. Frequency of group meetings is at the discretion of the advisor and peer mentors.