Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016 - (Page 41)

planning ahead for college Is Med School in Your Future? by Linda E. Brody, Ed.D. Interview with Paul T. White, J.D. Assistant Dean for Admissions Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Many of our high school readers already plan to go to medical school when they graduate from college. Should that influence their choice of an undergraduate college? Students should choose a college based on such factors as the strength of the academic programs, the opportunity to enroll in classes without being closed out, the opportunity for non-academic involvement, and the types of graduate programs alumni of the college attend. Can students who attend a less selective college be admitted to a medical school as prestigious as Johns Hopkins? Absolutely. The important thing is that they do extremely well academically and have the same kinds of experiences that the most competitive candidates typically have. These include service, clinical, and research experiences, though not necessarily all at the college. We often see students from smaller or less selective institutions broaden their experiences by seeking enriching opportunities off campus during the academic year or during the summer. Do you have any advice about choosing a major? Can a student with a humanities major be a competitive applicant to medical school? I always tell students to choose a major that interests them and that will allow them to demonstrate their intellectual ability. Medical schools want students who are accustomed to solving problems and are clearly intrigued by ideas and eager to learn beyond what is required. Suppose a student decides late in their undergraduate years to apply to medical school. Can they catch up on the science requirements and be admitted? We know that not everyone arrives at college thinking they want to be a doctor; some students do not come to this realization until their junior or even senior year. If this student was a science major, they may only need a few science courses and should try to take them before graduating. If they can't fit them in, they may need to spend an extra semester or year in college to complete the requirements. There are also post-baccalaureate programs geared towards non-science majors who need the prerequisites to apply to medical school. Is it important for prospective medical students to volunteer in medical settings or to do medical research? Most medical schools, including Hopkins, evaluate applicants holistically, looking at their academics, essays, letters of recom- www.cty.jhu.edu/imagine ISTOCK.COM/WAVEBREAKMEDIA mendation, test scores, leadership, and extracurricular interests. In terms of the latter, this can come in the shape of community and/or medical service. Admissions committees hope to admit students who have had clinical exposure, understand the roles that physicians play, and have an interest in patient care. While research is not required for applicants to M.D. programs, it can be beneficial for students interested in the more competitive medical schools, where experience in solving problems through research and being a part of a lab demonstrates the student's understanding of teamwork. If someone is contemplating applying to an M.D./P.h.D. program, it is absolutely critical that the candidate have had significant research experience prior to applying. What about accelerated students who apply to medical school at younger-than-typical ages? Will their age negatively affect their admission? Age is not a factor in the admissions process. We are barred by law from discriminating against anyone because of their age. What matters in admissions is whether they have the same experiences as the other applicants. Do you have any final advice for our readers? Choose a college where you will be able to get a great education, have excellent personal experiences, and be able to grow intellectually and emotionally. Colleges select students who they believe will be an excellent fit for the institution and will make great use of the academic and non-academic opportunities that they offer. Students should do the same thing. Sometimes this means ignoring the annual ratings publications, as these say nothing about the student experiences and whether they were satisfied with their education. n imagine 41

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016

Big Picture
In My Own Words CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H.
My Summer of Medicine Three ways of exploring healthcare
Teens Target: Public Health How high school students are solving real-world public health problems
Slowing the Race Addressing antibiotic resistance
For the Greater Good Majoring in public health
Epic Epidemics Studying History of Disease at CTY
Teen Health is Public Health Interview with Beth Marshall, Associate Director, Center for Adolescent Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Building Bridges Addressing health disparities through service
Becoming a Disease Detective Behind the scenes at the CDC
Finding Light in the Darkness Astrophysics at UCSC SIP
Girls Who Code Paving the way to careers in tech
Selected Opportunities and Resources
Off the Shelf Review of Iris Chang’s The Chinese in America
Word Wise
Exploring Career Options Interview with epidemiologist Christine Scott-Waldron, M.S.P.H.
One Step Ahead Summer in limbo
Planning Ahead for College Is medical school in your future?
Students Review: Tufts University
Creative Minds Imagine Essay contest winners
Mark Your Calendar
Knossos Games

Imagine Magazine - Johns Hopkins - January/February 2016