MCAT Prepartion
The current medical school application cycle is well underway. If you are applying to medical school next year (2021), now is the time to start "thinking ahead" about several important things to set your self up for success. This PrIMES Newsletter focuses on these important things, and provides some guidance in how to start planning ahead. Note: During the pandemic there will be limitations on clinical service, research and other activities. This is a challenge shared by students throughout the country
October 2020
Looking for free resources?
1. Khan Academy 2. Princeton Review Free MCAT Prep Trial 3. Union Test Prep 4. MCAT Review 5. AAMC Content Outlines 6. MCAT for Me 7. Charles Feng 8. Examkrackers
Monthly Newsletter
Planning Ahead
Learn how others prepared for the MCAT >>
In partnership with
Click here for access
Wondering how to begin preparing for the MCAT exam? Questions about finding the time to study, what to study, and how to build support systems? A first-year MD-PhD student and two prehealth advisors shared their tips and advice to help you think about this and more from the AAMC.
PREMEDS: IT'S TIME TO START THINKING AHEAD
Wondering what is the best way to prepare for the exam? This AAMC guide walks you through six steps to develop your own study plan. Click here to access it.
8 Free MCAT Study Guides
Fee Assistance Program The 2020 AAMC Fee Assistance Program application is now open. The program assists those who, without finanical assistance, would be unable to take the MCAT, apply to medical school, and more.
How to shadow a doctor as a premed student: advice from the aamc
How do I find a doctor to shadow? If you have a relationship with your own doctor(s), or know any doctors, start by asking them. You can also ask your teachers, professors, and premed or academic advisors if they know any doctors that other students have shadowed in the past. If you’re in college, leverage any relationships your school may have with a medical school or hospital on campus. It’s also okay to contact hospitals through their volunteer office, or search online for local doctors with specialties that interest you. Call their office or email them at least a few weeks before you’d like to begin shadowing. How should I ask them? Express why you want to shadow this person specifically. Maybe someone recommended them or maybe they practice a specialty that interests you. Briefly tell them where you go to school, any medically related experiences you’ve had, and your goals. Be courteous and professional. Many doctors welcome opportunities to talk to students, so if you get turned down, ask other doctors. Read examples and learn more tips here. How long should I shadow? Arrange something that fits both the doctor’s schedule and your level of interest. You may only want to spend one day with them, or you may want to shadow a few hours a week for several weeks or months. If you have the time in the summer or over a break, you may want to shadow full time for an entire week. Find out what the doctor is comfortable with or what has worked well in the past. What should I wear and what should I bring? Dress professionally and comfortably: dress pants and a tie for men, dress pants or a dress for women, and closed-toed shoes you can walk in all day. Bring a notebook. Ask questions and take notes in between patients, not in front of them, and prepare some questions ahead of time. Should I talk to patients? The doctor is required to introduce you to each patient and explain that you are a premedical student, so expect to talk to patients. Some people may be uncomfortable having you in the room during an examination or the entire appointment, so you may be asked to step out. Other patients may ask you questions about yourself, school or your plans to become a doctor. In either case, it’s important that you keep all patient information private. You may be required to sign a HIPAA compliance document stating that you will not disclose any patient information or details that could lead to patient identification. What should I do afterwards? Write a thank you note to give the doctor on your last day that thanks them for their time. If you think it went well, ask for a letter of recommendation right away. Don’t wait until you need it because the experience may not be fresh in the doctor’s mind by that time. Reflect on what you’ve learned from your shadowing experience and write down anything you may want to remember later. What if I can't find a shadowing opportunity? Getting clinical experience is important to confirm that medicine is the right career for you, and to build your application to medical school, but it doesn’t necessarily have to include shadowing. In a 2016 survey of medical school admissions officers conducted by the AAMC, 87% of respondents indicated that they accept an alternate activity instead of clinical shadowing.
Shadowing a doctor is a great way to gain a better understanding of what a doctor's typical day is like, and give you good experience to talk about in your applications and interviews for medical school. It's also a great way to gain familiarity with different specialities and medical environments.
Check out these alternatives to shadwings, and the more ways to get experience here.
How to find research opportunities
Remember the search for research opportunities is best started sooner rather than later. Below is a list of things that can be done to begin the process of identifying potential research opportunities: Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department of your intended major. Your Director will often know of faculty who are undertaking research in a specific scientific area. Consider going outside your department, and even outside the College of Science; relevant and worthwhile research experiences can certainly be found in the Colleges of Engineering and Arts and Letters. Visit departmental websites, where faculty will describe their research interests. Faculty may also provide an estimate of the number of undergraduates they typically mentor at one time and post opportunities to work as technicians in their laboratory – a useful way to get experience working in a lab. If you know of undergraduates already working in labs, talk to them about opportunities that may exist in those labs. Talk to instructors of your courses, especially those you have enjoyed. Your professors may have opportunities available in their laboratory or may know of faculty looking for undergraduate researchers. Similarly, the teaching assistants in courses you are taking may also know of opportunities in faculty laboratories where they are doing their undergraduate or graduate research. Take advantage of events that promote undergraduate research. Students share their experiences of research at two major events, the Fall Undergraduate Research Fair in late October and the Joint Annual Meeting at the end of the spring semester. Talk to other students already engaged in research. As you get to know upper-classmen or pre-meds, or your former PrIMES Mentor, find out how they got involved in their current line of research and any recommendations they might have. Visit Your College's Carreer Center. The Career Center and Center counselors can provide information on numerous research internships outside of the semester and off-campus. University career centers often have their own website where you can also find a database of research and internship opportunities.
Ultimately, you'll need to do some footwork, knock on doors, and be persistent. Many times it’s simply a combination of luck and just talking to the right people that will give you the kind of undergraduate research opportunity you are looking for. However, if you show some flexibility while keeping your ears and eyes open for opportunities, you will almost certainly be successful.
>> Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)
The AAMC's SHPEP is a free (full tuition, housing, and meals) six-week summer medical and dental school preparatory program that offers eligible students intensive and personalized medical and dental school preparation. The programs include academic enrichment activities, clinical exposure, and other activities. The goal of the SHPEP is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. Each of the thirteen program sites has different entrance criteria and all are interested in first- and second-year college students with a demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations. Applications are competitive.
Looking ahead: Summer Opportunities
New York Methodist Hospital Summer College Intensive Program (SCIP) Albert Einstein College of Medicine Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Brookhaven National Laboratory The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) Brookhaven National Laboratory Nuclear Chemistry Summer School (NCSS) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Summer Undergraduate Research Program Columbia University/ Barnard College Amgen Scholars Program Gerstner Sloan-Kettering Graduate School Summer Undergraduate Research Program Joan Nicole Prince House Mount Sinai College of Medicine Graduate School of Biological Sciences New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene The Health Research Training Program New York University Medical Center, Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine Health Care Opportunities Program New York University Project Healthcare New York University Ronald O. Perelman Department of Emergency Medicine Research Associate Internship New York University Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) Roswell Park Cancer Institute Summer Program St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital (Columbia University) Academic Associates Program University of Rochester Medical Center Strong Children’s Research Center Summer Training Program Weill Cornell Medicine Medical College Travelers Summer Research Fellowship Program (TSRF) Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan-Kettering Gateways to the Laboratory Program Cornell University Practicing Medicine: Health Care Culture and Careers Weill Cornell Medicine Career Advancement for Research in Health Equity Program Weill Cornell ACCESS Summer Research Program
>>New York Based Summer Opportunities
ceh2003@med.cornell.edu
Pandemic PrIMES Premeds: Staying Healthy
For more information, please contact primesmentorship@gmail.com or reach out to:
Annaclaire Brodnick
Check out our new website!
CAITlin Hoffman, M.D.
www.primesmentorship.org
Gold Zone deadline*: Aug. 8 Silver Zone deadline**: Aug. 22 Bronze Zone deadline***: Aug. 29
If you know anyone who might be interested, please encourage them to apply today! primesmentorship.org/apply
pRIMES IS NOW RECRUITING FOR OUR 2020 MENTEE COHORT
anb4015@med.cornell.edu
brh9058@nyp.org
Benjamin Hartley, M.D.