Selecting Medical Schools Office of Career Services Harvard

Selecting Medical Schools Office of Career Services Harvard University April 4, 2019

Goals Today • Get you started Ø Factors to consider Ø Resources Ø Case studies (not included on the handout)

The Process of Selecting • 155 total U. S. medical schools Ø How many schools to apply to? • Campus visit after application “I can’t distinguish between them. ” “What are the top medical schools? ” “I’ll just apply to a lot and decide after I’m accepted. ”

Understanding Rankings

Criteria for U. S. News • Assessment methods appropriate? * Ø (30%) Reputation Ø 15% med school deans and senior faculty rate academic quality Ø 15% residency program directors select the 25 best med schools Ø Response rate ~40 -50% Ø (40%) Research grants awarded Ø (20%) Student selectivity Ø (10%) Science/Clinical faculty to students ratio • Real-life value? *Academic Medicine, Vol. 76, No. 10, October 2001

All Things Considered

Opportunities

Preclinical Years • Teaching methods/Curriculum Ø Traditional Lecture Teaching Ø Problem- or Team-Based Learning Ø Organ- and Systems based Curricula Ø versus “traditional” Subject- and Discipline-based Curricula Ø Pros and Cons of different curricula Ø Many Med Schools are currently developing and implementing new Curricula • Duration of “Pre-Clinical” years

Preclinical Years • Classroom & Anatomy Lab Technology • Simulation Labs Ø Medical mannequins Ø Standardized Patients (SPs) • Grading System Ø Traditional Ø Pass/Fail Ø Narrative evaluation & Portfolio-based mentorship, goal-setting and feedback/debriefing Ø Class ranking

Preclinical Years • Curriculum • Flexibility • Clinical exposure

Clinical Years • Most important factor • Timing and choices (e. g. , flexibility of rotation schedule, clinical electives) • Diversity of patient population • Number and diversity of affiliated hospitals in the U. S. and abroad • Level of autonomy

Location

Cost • Type of financial assistance Ø Loans, grants, state assistance, outside sources, merit scholarships • • Annual budget In-state vs out-of-state tuition Ø Interstate agreements (WWAMI) Ø Residency definitions: Vary by state • • Financial aid Learn more from school Financial Aid website and the MSAR

Gathering Information

Medical School Admissions Data

Medical School Admissions Data

School Websites

School Websites

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) • Purchase access to the MSAR website from the AAMC for $28. 00 at https: //students-residents. aamc. org/applying-medical-school/applying-medicalschool-process/deciding-where-apply/medical-school-admission-requirements/

The MSAR includes entries for all U. S. medical schools

Sample school entry in MSAR

MSAR acceptance information

OCS Website

Finding Balance Important considerations: Ø Your state school(s) can be your best bet Ø Residency definitions vary by state – contact med schools directly to learn more Ø Don’t put any schools on the list just because you think you have a high chance of getting accepted Ø For most applicants, the number of schools ranges from 14 to 40 schools Ø If you plan to be out of the country while applying, put together a longer list Ø A good list has a good balance of very competitive schools, “match” or “target” schools, and less competitive schools Ø There are no “safety schools”