Premed Self-Assessment

Transcription

1 Premed Self-Assessment The self-assessment is designed to help you evaluate your qualifications and preparedness for applying to medical school. Grades and MCAT scores are important, but it is also important that you portray characteristics that will make you a successful physician. The questions and spaces below will help you determine your motivation for pursuing a degree in medicine and where your strengths and weaknesses may be. Why do you want to be a physician? What is a typical day like for a physician (in any specialty)? What characteristics do you have that you feel would help you be an excellent physician? Have you had experience working with people from backgrounds different than your own? What impact has it had on you?

2 Physician Shadowing Admissions Committees want to see that you have spent enough time with physicians to understand what their day to day activities are and see the rewards and difficulties that go along with working with patients. You should have at least 24 hours of shadowing experience with at least three different physicians. Physician s Name Specialty Hours Date Total # of hours: What have you learned about the medical profession that surprised you? What have you learned about working with people?

3 Volunteer Service Activities To be a strong applicant for medical school you must show dedication to serving the community. Volunteer service can be done with any group or organization and does not have to be medically related. To be counted as volunteer service you cannot receive pay or be compensated in anyway including school credit. Medical schools usually like to see between hrs of volunteer service per year. Being involved in 2-3 long-term service opportunities will benefit you more than having several brief experiences. Volunteer Service Start Date End Date Total Hours/Year Total # of hours for each year: 8/2010-7/2011: 8/2009-7/2010: 8/2008-7/2009: 8/2007-7/2008: Total Hours Prior to 8/2007: What is the most important lesson you have learned about yourself through volunteer experiences?

4 Leadership Experience Most students learn a great deal in their leadership experience such as teamwork, critical thinking, dependability, etc. These should be experiences that have lasted at least 3 months or more. This includes experiences as tutors, mentors, coaches, teachers or leaders in campus clubs and organizations as well as employment and church leadership. A minimum of three different leadership positions is recommended. Leadership Experience Start Date End Date Total Hours/Week What characteristics do leaders have that make them a good leader? Do you feel that you have any of these same characteristics? Which ones? Are there characteristics you feel you could improve? Which ones and how can you improve them? What are the most important things you have learned about yourself through your leadership experiences?

5 Research Experience Research is required to apply at the University of Utah School of Medicine and is highly recommended for all other medical schools. Research should be hypothesis-based and can be in any subject. List any research projects you have been involved in including a senior or honors thesis, internships or assisting a professor on campus. At least 50 hours should be completed before applying. Research Hypothesis Start Date End Date Total # of Hours Total # of hours: Can you describe your research, including the hypothesis, and how your role in the research impacted the project as a whole? Patient Contact Direct patient contact can be in the form of employment or volunteering and can take place in a variety of settings such as hospitals, assisted care facilities, clinics, etc. This shows admissions committees that you are comfortable around people who are sick or injured and have experienced some of the rewards and difficulties associated with patient interaction. At least 50 hours should be completed before applying. Name of Activity For How Long? Avg. Hours/Week

6 What is the most important lesson you have learned from your patient contact experience? Evaluation Mark Y or N for each question. Can you explain to someone why you want to be a physician? Y N Is your GPA above a 3.2? Y N Has your trend of grades improved over time? Y N Have you earned a B or better in all of your science classes? Y N Do you have 50 or more hours of medical experience? Y N Have you shadowed 3 or more physicians? Y N Do you have a diversity of extracurricular and volunteer activities? Y N Have you shown a consistent dedication to volunteer service over time? Y N Have you been involved in research? Y N Can you explain the hypothesis of your research? Y N The more Ys you have, the stronger your application. Review the areas you marked with an N.

7 Are there areas where you can improve your application? Do you feel that you have distinguished yourself in any specific area? How? There are many factors considered when applying to medical school including your GPA, MCAT scores, extracurricular activities, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and interview. This selfassessment can be used as a tool to evaluate your preparedness for applying to medical school, but completing it is not a guarantee of acceptance to any medical school.