How Do You Apply for the Premed Program at IC?

Premedical Sciences FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Application

How do you apply for the premed program at IC?

There is no application procedure. Anyone who is interested in pursuing a career in the health sciences can register with the Premed Committee. Once registered, students will receive e-mails about upcoming events. Registration forms are available on-line.

What you will need:  Transcripts from every college attended – this includes community colleges, etc. o This will be the most time consuming part. You will need to categorize the courses into Biology/Chemistry/ Physics/Math (BCPM) versus all others.  List of all volunteer, work experiences – you will need to provide a contact/supervisor name for these.  Personal statement

Recommendations

You should be using a premed committee letter if they have that option; these letters will normally be ready to send out in July.  When requesting letters, send the Premed Chair a list of the schools the letters need to go to. o If you are applying to allopathic, osteopathic medical schools, or some optometry schools, we use an electronic letter delivery process: . VirtualEvals . AMCAS – some letters go through AMCAS, you will need to send us a form (with special ID number) so we can submit your letter to AMCAS. We will also need the schools you are applying to that use this mechanism of letter delivery. o For dental schools, please select the electronic submission option. . For veterinary we will send a paper copy of your letter. Please provide a complete address – this insures that your letter goes exactly where it needs to go. You do not need to provide envelopes, etc. If there are forms that need to accompany your letter, you can mail them to me but be sure you have signed the confidentiality statement before sending them to the Premed Chair.

Remember – applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. The sooner you get your application in, the better your chances. Every year we see highly qualified applicants on wait lists – wondering if they will get in and not finding out until late spring or even summer - because they didn’t send in their applications until Fall. Don’t let this happen to you!!!!

Majors

Is there a PreMed major at Ithaca College?

No. Students can major in any field they choose while an undergraduate and still apply to medical school. All medical school applicants must complete the minimum course requirements (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and English). Since the majority of these courses are introductory, they do not constitute a major, or even a minor. Your major will be in area that you enjoy and want to explore in greater depth.

Do certain majors have a better chance of getting into medical school than others?

No. It is the individual record of the student that determines their success. What you need to get into medical school are good grades, especially in science courses, good scores on the standardized tests (MCATs, etc.) and some type of experience in a clinical setting (i.e. volunteer work). Medical schools do not show any “favoritism” to specific majors. We have had successful medical school applicants with majors in Biology, Exercise Science, Chemistry, Psychology, English, Music, etc.

What should I major in?

You should major in an area that you enjoy – since you will have to take many more classes in this subject.

o You should also major in something that you are good at. Grades matter, and it is also important to feel good about yourself and your academic performance. o Since there is no “ideal major”, you should find that subject area that intrigues you, regardless of whether it’s in the sciences or not. o You only have one opportunity to explore diverse areas in a college setting. Once you begin medical school, all of your coursework is predetermined, so take advantage of the opportunities available here at Ithaca College!

Courses/Grades/Research

What types of grades do I need to get to be competitive?

Nationally, the average entering GPA of students accepted to medical school for the entering class of 2010 was a mean science GPA (math, biology, chemistry, physics) of 3.62 (B+ to A-) and a mean overall GPA (all courses) of 3.68. There were approximately 41,000 applicants for 18,000 seats. For some of the other health professions, such as dentistry and optometry, GPA’s of 3.0 or better are usually sufficient due to the smaller number of applicants.

Can I use my AP courses to fulfill prerequisites for medical school?

No. Medical schools will not accept AP courses in the basic sciences as substitutes for college Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or English courses. In some cases, where Math is required, schools may accept an AP Calculus course, but this is not universal. In general, we recommend that you take college-level courses in all of the required subject areas.

How do I go about planning my courses to prepare me for a career in medicine or one of the other health professions?

When you enter Ithaca College, you will plan your schedule with an advisor in the field you plan to major in. Let that advisor know of your intentions to pursue this career path and they will help you register for the appropriate course (i.e. Biology and/or Chemistry). In addition, the Premedical Sciences Advisory Committee holds an informational meeting for all incoming Freshman and transfer students to explain the requirements and procedures for students interested in the health professions. Members of this committee are always available to meet with students individually.

Can I take some of my prerequisites over the summer? Yes, with some important considerations. First of all, you need to think about why you want to take these courses over the summer. If it is because you simply can’t fit them into your schedule, or you need to complete them by a certain time and there’s no other way to do it, then yes. If you are doing it to allow you take only one science course a year because that’s “easier”, than we don’t recommend it. Medical schools look not only at your grades, but also at how challenging your curriculum was. Making it “easier” will be to your disadvantage. That said, there are many legitimate reasons for taking a course over a summer. If you do need to do this, make sure you take the course at a four- year institution rather than a community college if at all possible. It may not be fair, but some medical schools do not view courses from community colleges as being as rigorous as courses at four year institutions. We also recommend that you take no more than one course over a summer if possible. Summer courses, due to the short time available, often are not at the same depth as traditional courses and students often do not retain the information as well over the long term.

I’ve heard that you must do research at some point to be competitive, is this true?

There are lots of different activities you can pursue during your undergraduate career. If you are considering a career in academic medicine (i.e. becoming a physician at a teaching hospital, doing clinical research, etc.), research is very important. If you are more interested in pursuing volunteer opportunities (working in a soup kitchen, volunteering at the hospital, etc.), that is perfectly acceptable. Research is not “required”, it is simply one of a many activities you can become involved in that have clinical relevance in the long term.

Student Organizations

Is there any type of student organization related to medicine that I can get involved in?

PreMed Society at Ithaca College. This organization is run by students and they meet 4-6 times per semester. The PreMed Society serves as a network for students to help provide information on where to get volunteer experience, how to prepare for the MCATs, and how to go about applying to medical school. In addition, they try to bring in speakers, such as representatives from schools, physicians, or other health care professionals, to speak with students and are involved in service projects.

PreVet Club is a student-run organization for students interested in veterinary medicine. The clubs meets 4-6 times over a semester. The club organizes fund raisers for local animal organizations, helps student find local animal volunteer opportunities and brings in speakers to talk with students about the field.

When should I take the MCATs, or other standardized exams?

For students planning to go straight from their undergraduate program into a professional school, these tests are typically taken in the spring or summer of your Junior year. The MCATs are offered year round, and are taken on computer at designated test centers. The same is true of GREs and DATs. In general, you should have completed the exams on or before the time you begin submitting applications. Medical schools won’t consider your application until the MCAT scores are received (several weeks after the test). Applications are normally submitted during the summer between your Junior and Senior year for a direct path from college to medical school.

Can I take the MCATs in late summer of fall instead of spring? Although you can take the MCATs later in the year, schools won’t consider your application until they have the scores. Most medical schools use a rolling admissions process, where they begin offering acceptances as early as September in some cases. This means that students who take the exam in spring or early summer will get first consideration. If you are not applying to medical school right away (scores are good for 3 years), then it doesn’t matter which date you choose.

How should I prepare for the MCATs?

Each student should prepare in a way that best suits their needs. There are many books available to help study for the MCATs. The American Association of Medical Schools, which administers the MCATs, sells practice exams that you can take on-line. There are also formal prep course out there, such as Kaplan and Princeton Review. These work for some students but not others. They are also expensive (approximately $1300) so we recommend talking to other students before making that decision. Ultimately, you need to realistically evaluate how you need to prepare for this exam.

Financial Concerns

What is the estimated cost of applying to medical school?

Between MCAT prep courses, registration fees, application fees and interview costs, the application procedure itself can by quite expensive. This may mean planning far in advance to be sure you have the necessary financial means to complete the applications in a timely manner. A rough estimate of the cost of applying to 10 schools (an average number), which does not include interview costs, is approximately $3000! For a detailed breakdown of costs, click here.

I want to take a formal prep course, but I can’t afford it. What can I do?

The local Kaplan center in Ithaca offers reduced rates to some students who can demonstrate financial need. In addition, the Office of Career Services gives out a free Kaplan course each semester for MCATs and for GREs (one for each). Watch for flyers and apply! In addition, there is a $500 Kastenbaum PreHealth Award offered each semester to help offset costs of preparing exams.

Not ready for medical school now -- premed committee's recommendation AFTER I graduate from IC:

What if I’m not ready to go straight to medical school after graduation?

The average age of the entering medical student is approximately 24 years old, moving closer to 25. That means that many medical students don’t got straight to medical school, but spend a year or two working, taking classes, volunteering, or whatever before embarking on their medical career. It takes at least 6-7 years to complete your medical training, so if you’re not ready yet, by all means wait until you are truly ready.

What if I don’t apply to schools until after I leave IC? Will the premed committee still write a letter of recommendation?

Absolutely. We ask that students planning to go on to medical school at some point in the future interview with the premed committee their Senior year. We will generate a letter of recommendation and keep it on file until you are ready to apply. When you do begin the application process, contact the Chair of the Premed Committee to update them on what you’ve done since graduation. The Chair will then update your letter and send it to medical schools at your request.

Shadowing opportunities

Clinical experience of some kind is an absolute must. One way to get this is to shadow a physician (or any health care provider). In my experience, the best shadowing experiences are set up by the individual student. o Are there any physicians in your immediate family? Neighbors? Family friends? Perhaps your family physician would let your shadow them. . When in doubt, start visiting doctor’s offices. If you establish a personal connection with the doctor, they are much more likely to provide you with a rewarding experience. o The IC Premedical Society also has a network of IC alumni in the medical fields who are willing to mentor students. To be eligible for this, you need to be a sophomore, have completed at least one semester of Organic Chemistry, and you must meet with the Chair of the Premed Committee.

Schools Accepted to

How many Ithaca College students are actually accepted to medical school?

In the last five years a total of 64 students have applied to allopathic medical schools (approximately 90% of students apply to allopathic medical schools). Of those students, 36 (56%) were accepted. Including osteopathic medical schools as well, 65% of our applicants have been accepted.

What medical schools are they being accepted at?

Over the past five years Ithaca College students going to allopathic medical schools have been accepted to a variety of New York State Medical schools as well as Univ. of Pennsylvania, Univ. of North Carolina, Washington Univ. of St. Louis, Univ. of Colorado, Louisiana State Univ., Univ. of Vermont, West Virginia Univ., Univ. of Washington, Univ. of Florida, Temple, Pennsylvania State, Univ. of Minnesota, Univ. of Illinois, Univ. of Connecticut, Jefferson , Albert Einstein, Ohio State, Drexel University, Univ. of Miami, Univ. of California San Diego, and Univ. of Wisconsin.

What about veterinary school, how successful are the Ithaca College students in this field?

In the past 10 years, 9 Ithaca College students have applied to veterinary school. Our acceptance rate has been high, and the schools they were accepted at include Cornell University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Maryland, University of Virginia, Michigan State, and the University of Georgia, Tufts University, Ohio State University, Univeris of Oklahoma, and the University of Dublin.