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Health Professions Advising at Mason |
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Information for ApplicantsPicking SchoolsIt is too expensive for any medical school applicant to apply for "all" medical schools (and similarly for dental school applicants). So many questions that Health Professions Advisors field address the simple question, "What schools should I apply to?" The question actually breaks down to an applicant's knowledge of the following questions when evaluating each program. What is the school's mission?Most of the schools' admissions committees are looking for your interest in the health professions and the manner in which they can further promote and stimulate your education. Each school has its own unique educational mission and a vision of the type of physician that the school produces to fulfill the educational mission and the societal needs served by that school. What is more important is whether you agree with that vision and can articulate how your professional goals align with their educational goals. How do you learn?Every school has its own educational structure, whether it is a systems-based curriculum or a problems-based one. Many schools engage in large lecture sessions, while others break everyone up into smaller groups. Some programs push students into research-based problems early while others push students into early contact with patients. Some schools have pass-fail grading, others have a more standard letter-based system. You need to know whether and how a program presents an educational plan that you can optimize your acquisition of skills for a successful professional career. Will you be happy there?Going to medical school does not mean one goes home after class and studies (or not). Many medical schools desire and expect their students to be involved in community-based activities. Look at the list of student organizations supported by the school's office of student life or activities and see if you can find a community that supports you and your interests. Remember that you will be living among your colleagues and faculty for up to four years, so you are deciding on a place to work, exercise, play, and entertain. "Happiness" in a program involves a stimulating and positive environment that allows the candidate to grow not just as a student or a professional but also as a person and a leader. These should be kept in mind as one narrows down the list of schools. Will this school accept me?After the initial GPA/test score screen, any program would be happy to have a student body with a diverse perspective on human health needs. There are no guarantees that a specific school will accept any individual student, but one should also understand that the student must also accept the school as the "right place" for him/her. Just as in any job interview, a rejection sometimes is not a sign of any defect by the candidate; many times, it is a sign of a competitive applicant pool or a decision that the fit was not as appropriate. Schools know when they are really a "safety" school rather than seeing they are a "significant option", and they will choose those students who are sincere with their evaluation of the health professions program as "the right fit." How about Caribbean programs?There is a lot of resistance in the American medical system in accepting graduates from Caribbean programs, usually stemming from what is perceived to be a lack of academic rigor comparable to an American medical education. Unlike in the United States and Canada, there is little regulation of these programs so if one is going to look at Caribbean programs, one should look at ALL of them. The biggest worry is the ability to be licensed to practice medicine in the United States. While there is little consensus on accreditation, one resource to which most states look is the California Board of Medicine's list of approved medical schools (and their list of disapproved schools). The Virginia Board of Medicine does not publish their list, but they group all non-AAMC programs (outside of Canada or United States) as "not approved". St. Martinus -- the Caribbean program with an affiliation agreement with George Mason University -- is in the process of getting its medical school accreditation (as of 2007). Students with access to WebCT accounts have access to a Chronicle of Higher Education article from October 28, 2005, on Caribbean medical programs: "Sun, Sand, and an M.D." by Mike Ceasar, and neighboring articles. Response letters are found in December 2, 2005, Chronicle of Higher Education Review addendum. Go to List of Programs by Profession.
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Information for Applicants MSAC Pre-Application Checklist for Applicants Graduate Student or Employee Applicants Difficulty Paying for the Application Process Centralized Application Services Letters of Evaluation MSAC Interviews External Links NIH Graduate Partnership Program Premedical Students Guide to Preparing for Medical Programs (University Career Services) Medical Programs Internet Resources (University Career Services) Nursing and Health Careers Resources (University Career Services) Predental student timeline (University of Kentucky College of Dentistry) |
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