Class Meetings
2. December 4, 2015
-Spring registration
-Winter break
-MCAT prep
-Organizing Spring semester
-Application time line
Future Class Meetings
Jan-April, 2016
3. Medical School Applications- how to write personal statement,
experiences, transcripts, letters, timing
4. MCAT Prep specifics
5. Dr. Witzburg- the medical school application process
Spring Registration
1. Register before winter break
2. Remember to include MS640 Section A1 (Biomed Information)
and MS972 (2 cr) Rel Med Sci
Biostats Waivers
If you have submitted a waiver and have not
received a reply, you have successfully waived the
requirement. The Registrar will update your file in
the next month or so.
Winter Break-1
-Relax, spend time with family and friends
-Reflect on Fall semester
-Biosketch Form (due to advisor and GMS Feb 1)- this will
help you think of theme for Personal Statement. Also gather
details for experience paragraphs (hours, contact info…)
BIOSKETCH FORM
2016
In order for the Division of Graduate Medical Sciences to prepare your MAMS Program
Letter of Recommendation, please complete this form and send as an email attachment to
[email protected] as well as to your advisor.
NAME:
BU ID#:
BU Email:
Other Email:
Telephone #:
Current Address:
Permanent Address:
To assure that your Program Letter is completed in a timely manner, please follow the
following deadlines:
February 1: Submit this form electronically to the GMS Office ([email protected]) and to your
advisor.
April 1: Meet with advisor to discuss Biosketch Form and AMCAS/AACOMAS applications.
June/July: After submission of AMCAS application, Submit Program Letter Update Form to the
GMS Office.
I. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION
Please complete the table below to include all undergraduate colleges/universities you attended.
College/University
Dates Attended
Major
Minor
Degree/Latin Honors
II. GRADUATE EDUCATION
Please complete the table below to include all graduate colleges/universities you attended. Be
sure to include any post-baccalaureate education, certificate programs, or graduate courses taken
as a non-degree student.
College/University
Dates Attended
Major
Minor
Degree
III. ACTIVITIES
In chronological order, please list all activities you participated in since the beginning of your
undergraduate career using the following format.
Categorize “Type” as following: Research, Leadership, Teaching/Tutoring, Awards/Recognition,
Presentations, Community Service, Paid Employment, Hobbies/Athletics, Other.
For “Description,” be concise and structure the 2-5 sentence response by including: 1) a
statement describing what the activity is, 2) a description of your role, 3) a statement of what you
learned from the experience. You may use a maximum of 700 characters.
(EX. 1. Rosie’s Place is a shelter serving homeless women in the city of Boston. 2. I prepared
meals, cleaned up the kitchen, and visited with the residents. 3. I learned about the unmet social
and medical needs of homeless individuals.)
Note: You may designate up to 3 activities as “Most Meaningful”. For these, your descriptions
may include up to 2,025 characters.
Most Meaningful (Y/N): _______________________________________________________
Type: ______________________________________________________________________
Experience Name: ____________________________________________________________
Dates: ______________________________________________________________________
Total Hours: _________________________________________________________________
Organization Name: ___________________________________________________________
Contact Name, Title, phone and email: ___________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
City, State, Country: ___________________________________________________________
Description:
Winter Break-2: Personal Statement
Winter Break-3: Thesis
-Literature thesis -get started if expect to start med
school in August (deadline to hand in thesis August 1).
Choose a topic, gather background information.
If applying this summer, will be almost impossible to
write thesis for Sept graduation (Aug 1 deadline)consider Jan or May, 2016 graduation- do not need to
be here, can work, no extra cost
Where will you be next year?
What kind of thesis project would you like to complete?
Let’s talk about the rumors….
1. If planning to return home for 2016-2017 year, can use winter break
to make contact with previous employers, positions to see if paid
position possible for next year
- scribe
-research
-EMT
You can work while you complete a literature thesis
2. Can also make contact with local PIs in area of interest and set up
informational meetings for lab thesis
3. If staying in Boston, you can begin looking for opportunities in
Feb-March
Winter Break 4
Recommendation Letters
-Most students will submit 2 sets of letters:
undergrad (committee letter or letter packet) and MAMS
(letter packet). This applies if within 3 yrs of graduation
Undergrad Letters
-Committee Letter Procedures
-Contact individual writers for updated letters
(if faculty are near your home, you could stop
by to catch up and request updated letter)
-If no committee, letters will be submitted by UG
letter service or directly by writers or Interfolio
MAMS Letters (2-3 letters)
- My letter
-Advisor letter
-Any ONE faculty letter (ask in April, May)-optional
Winter Break-5: MCAT 2015
1. Gather information from AAMC website
2. Review Competencies
3. Use AAMC and Khan Academy resources (see later)-focus on
Sociology and Psychology, CARS
4. ExamKrackers/Kaplan/PR CARS question books
5. READ- The Economist, NY Times, history, philosophy, politics
6. Order “Sample test” and other online question resources.
Save available practice test for later.
I. Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living
Systems
Foundational Concept 1
Biomolecules have unique properties that determine how they contribute to
the structure and function of cells, and how they participate in the processes
necessary to maintain life
Foundational Concept 2
Highly-organized assemblies of molecules, cells, and organs interact to carry out
the functions of living organisms
Foundational Concept 3
Complex systems of tissues and organs sense the internal and external
environments of multicellular organisms, and through integrated functioning,
maintain a stable internal environment within an ever-changing external
environment.
COT and Biochem!
II. Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Foundational Concept 4
Complex living organisms transport materials, sense their
environment, process signals, and respond to changes using
processes that can be understood in terms of physical principles.
Foundational Concept 5
The principles that govern chemical interactions and reactions form
the basis for a broader understanding of the molecular dynamics of
living systems
Physiology!
III. Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior
Foundational Concept 6
Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence the ways that individuals
perceive, think about, and react to the world.
Foundational Concept 7
Biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors influence behavior and behavior change
Foundational Concept 8
Psychological, sociocultural, and biological factors influence the way we think about
ourselves and others, as well as how we interact with others
Foundational Concept 9
Cultural and social differences influence well-being
Foundational Concept 10
Social stratification and access to resources influence well-being
IV. Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Good place to start:
Khan Academy
-free
-excellent content, AAMC endorsed
-short, focused videos matched to competencies
-assessment questions
https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/individuals-and-society
Spring Semester
-Coursework- most important!!
-May have time to volunteer (1 morning/wk)
See volunteer opportunities on MAMS website
If BMC (including bWell) or Boston Healthcare for the Homeless
or Pine Street Inn, apply over break for Spring positions
-Some students spend 5h/wk on CARS MCAT prep
(also Soc and Psych)
Application Time Line
Much more to follow- 3 class meetings in the Spring
Feb-May (if not before)
FINISH Personal Statement- advisor will help
FINISH “Experience Paragraphs”
Feb (approx)- register for MCAT – June 18 date (also July 8, 9)
Ask recommenders for letters
May-June
AMCAS opens
Submit official BU transcript when grades posted
Order transcripts from all undergrad institutions
May-June
MCAT Prep
Physics, O-Chem and Behavior course (optional)
June -SUBMIT AMCAS
June 18 (or July 8-9)Take MCAT
Late June-July
-Secondaries
August
-Begin lab thesis
If currently applying to medical school:
-make sure you have listed me as Individual Letter
Writer on AMCAS (and have sent me the form)
-upload Unofficial Transcript (Student Link) to school
portals as soon as Fall grades available