Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë

As part of your health professions school, you typically must submit a personal statement. Traditionally, this is a one-page, single-spaced essay. The personal statement is your chance to communicate something unique about yourself to the admissions committee, and is an extremely important component of your application. It must be well written with respect to style and grammar. Its content should be geared toward developing the strengths of your personality and experience, which might not come through in the data you otherwise provide on your application. The ultimate goal is to tell a story about your and your experiences that construct a picture of your motivations and reasons for becoming a clinician.

1. Reflection: Reflect on your academic and extracurricular experiences and how they have shaped your motivations for a career in health care.
2. Inventory: Create a list of experiences that represent the evolution of your path to a career in health care. Also identity key people (faculty, mentors, advisors...) who have inspired you.
3. Strategy: Think about the message you wish to convey and how you want to illustrate it.
4. Structure: 
   • Organize the key elements in a manner that tells your story.
   • If you start with a thesis statement, remember to return to that thesis at the end to provide closure.
   • The body should illustrate your growth and maturation, using examples of life experiences, that have prepared you for a career in service to others: service, leadership, overcoming challenges, commitment to your endeavors, communication skills...
   • The conclusion restates your focus in a way that shows how your story has evolved, over time, from observations to reflection to wisdom.
5. Things to avoid:
   • Language that is overly flowery or controversial or opinionated.
   • Discussing why you don't want to become a researcher or type of clinician other than your intended career path.
   • Using cliches such as, "I've wanted to be a doctor since I was ..."
6. Proofread for errors, spelling, and subject-verb agreement. Make sure that you don't have sentence fragments or run-on sentences. Use punctuation correctly. Always have someone proofread your statement, and be mindful of your grammar.

The HPP office can offer guidance or ideas about how to build your personal statement, so feel free to request an appointment. Writing resources such as the Student Academic Success Center are recommended as starting points as you plan out your personal statement.

• Do we submit a PS specific to each school: NO, you submit one PS to a centralized application service, which sends that PS to all schools to which you apply.
• Can the PS be a story: YES, but it must address the prompt and provide illustrative points to support your reasoning for why you want to become a clinician.
• Can the PS include personally sensitive information: YES, you can include whatever is comfortable for you to include.
• Can I write about experiences that are not medically related: YES, especially if those experiences help craft a compelling narrative that you are prepared for the rigors of medical training and practice.
• If I worked during college, is that relevant to talk about: YES, in fact, you should write about having to work as a student and what you learned about professionalism, reliability, service, integrity, etc.
• Can I get help in drafting my PS: YES… you are very much encouraged to do so.
• Where can I get help in drafting my PS: Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë Global Communications Center (SASC), the HPP Director, your favorite faculty, mentor, advisor, peers…
• Should I talk about how important clinicians are in my PS: NO, it’s best not to preach to clinicians about what it’s like to be a clinician.

The pre-health committee interview is a vital part of the pre-health committee's evaluation of an applicant because it gives the committee a chance to hear the applicant contextualize one’s motivations and readiness for a career in medicine as a reflection of one’s experiences and education. Committee interviews run starting toward the end of the Spring semester and into the summer, the timing of which depends on an applicant's readiness. Each interview committee consists of two to three faculty:

• A faculty member selected by the applicant
• (Optional) A faculty member selected by the HPP office
• The HPP Director

The committee conducts a video-recorded 60-75 minute practice interview whereby the committee explores various aspects of the applicant’s readiness, including one's motivations for pursuing a career in health care, exposure to clinical medicine, academic readiness, research and leadership experiences, as well as one's record of service experiences. Committees provide targeted feedback and critique during the interview, assisting students in improving their oral presentation of their application. Following each interview, the HPP Director, with assistance from the committee, drafts a customized evaluative committee letter that is subsequently uploaded to the appropriate application system on behalf of the applicant.

In order to participate in the HPP Committee Process, applicants must attend the application workshop (winter) or view the recording, and complete the app packet steps (see above).

Committee Letters are generated as a result of the Committee Interview process. Letters are written in the order of committee interviews. Once the committee letter is written, approved and signed by the committee, committee letters will be uploaded to application systems starting in early July (committee letters are NOT required for you to submit your primary application). Anticipate about a 3-5 week turn around for committee letter writing.

Wondering who to pick for your pre-health committee interview? Any facutly, in any department, and many staff members are eligible to participate on HPP mock interview committees. It is ideal that you and this person know each other well enough that you both are comfortable working together. Based on who you select, the HPP office identifies the second member to complement the student's chosen member to help provide a rigorous yet comprehensive mock interview. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the HPP Director to further discuss a strategy for creating the most effective interview experience.

In choosing your committee member, consider picking someone who:

1. is compassionate, energetic, and engaging,
2. will ask you challenging questions to help push you outside your comfort zone,
3. will provide valuable feedback to help you identify areas to strengthen for real interviews.

Q: I've picked my committee member, now how do I coordinate with my committee member to serve on the pre-health mock interview?

A: 1st) Work with the HPP office to identify a few possible dates and times to conduct your mock interview. 2nd) Share those dates with your selected committee member - once the two of you find a date and time that works, confirm with the HPP office to officially schedule your interview.

While you do not need to be fully prepared for the committee mock interview, applicants are strongly encouraged to reflect upon their HPP packets, including their personal narratives, lived experiences, academic experience, research, service, and shadowing. Other things to consider and think about:

• Your strengths and weaknesses - be prepared to offer examples
• Area of medicine you think you might like to practice and why
• Transformative experiences and observations from your clinical experience
• Research training: why did you join the lab, what was the project, what did you do, what did you learn and why is it relevant or important?
• Be prepared to discuss some of the highlights and challenges/difficulties of medical practice
• Think about other topics such as:
  • the importance of vaccinations and other aspects related to vaccines
  • why might people choose not to get vaccinated:
  • the opioid epidemic and how physicians are involved
  • why is DEI important for medicine
  • what role does AI play in the future of medicine
  • what is the difference between euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
  • how do you make difficult decisions or resolve conflict
  • what is the difference between doctor and PA and NP
  • what is the difference between MD and DO in medicine
  • what is the difference between DMD and DDS in dental medicine
  • how have you been challenged
  • how will you enhance diversity in medicine
  • what were your favorite and least favorite classes in college...and why
  • what would people close to you say about you
  • a time when you failed
  • your personal interests and passions outside school
  • what is wellness, mental health, physical health...
  • Plan B
  • Public health
  • COVID-19 and how the different vaccines work in providing immunity
• We will also explore strategies for answering scenario-based questions that require quick analytical thinking, creativity, sound judgment, and effective communication skills

• Who is eligible for a committee interview: any Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë pre-health applicant (current or alum)
• Can I select any faculty member to serve on my committee: YES
• Can I select a committee member from my letter writers: YES
• Can I select a humanities, engineering, computer science, art, music… professor: YES
• Can I choose both faculty members on my committee: YES
• Can I select my research advisor: YES, even if not in Pittsburgh
• How do I schedule my committee interview: Once you identify a faculty who agrees to serve on your committee for a given date and time (90 mins), contact the HPP office to schedule

Applicants are encouraged to meet with individual faculty, advisors, mentors, coaches and supervisors to discuss your motivations and readiness for attending a health professions school. The goal is to obtain strong, supportive letters of recommendation that speak to your strengths and preparedness for graduate training. Highly effective letters are those that reflect real knowledge of you, your performance and growth, whether in the classroom, laboratory, clinical, or volunteer setting. When thinking about potential letter writers, you should consider people who know you well and who will be supportive of your application. When requesting letters, it is a professional courtesy to request letters at least one month in advance so please be mindful of your timing.

See the AAMC Letter Guidelines to learn more about the Core Competencies that you can discuss with your letter writers.

• Medical School: It is recommended you obtain 3-5 letters of recommendation. Two science faculty are strongly encouraged as some med schools require 2 science rec letters. DO applicants require a letter from a DO physician.
• Dental School: It is recommended you obtain 3-4 letters of recommendation, one of which should be from a dentist.

Below is a sample list of potential letter writers. NOTE: this is not a list of required letters!

1. Two science faculty members whose classes you have taken. One letter can be from a research advisor. (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, BME, and some Psychology faculty members count as science)
2. A research advisor (if MD/PhD, letter(s) from research advisors is required)
3. A supervisor from a volunteer or service experience
4. A work supervisor, athletic coach, mentor...
5. A dentist, pharmacist, PA, physician, veterinarian, physical therapist, etc.

Applicants who complete a committee interview and obtain a committee letter (med & dental) need to indicate one letter in the AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS or AADSAS application:

• Letter Type = "committee letter"
• Author = "Dr. Jason D'Antonio" & contact information (dantonio@cmu.edu). The committee letter consists of the HPP committee letter plus all individual letters of recommendation. The HPP will upload this document packet to the appropriate application service starting sometime in late June/early July, provided we have received your MCAT or DAT score. FYI: Your committee letter is NOT required for you to submit your primary application!

Applicants who do not wish to have a committee letter may instead ask the HPP to upload a Letter Packet (compilation of individual letters of recommendation) to the appropriate application service. 

PrivateFolio for letter collection

will be used to collect letters of recommendation; this is cost-free to all registered HPP applicants. Detailed setup instructions and an access code will be emailed to applicants following the January application workshop.

Keep track of your letters

Use PrivateFolio to keep track of your letters of recommendation. It is your responsibility to ensure that your letter-writers have submitted everything on time. You should be logging into PrivateFolio regularly to check the status of your letters, and following up with your letter writers when necessary. Individual letters of recommendation are not required in advance of participating in the committee interview process. Please arrange to have all letters of recommendation submitted to your PrivateFolio account no later than June 1.

If you are a prospective applicant, you are encouraged to read over these instructions/guidelines and share them with your letter writers to assistant them in crafting strong, supportive, and targeted letters of recommendation.

• Do I need to create a veCollect account to get a committee letter: YES
• Can I have all rec letters sent to my veCollect account: YES…please do!
• Where should letter writers send their letters: to your veCollect account
• What email should I indicate for Dr. D’Antonio: dantonio@cmu.edu
• Can I include an additional rec letter separate from the CL: YES, you will enter that letter author as a separate line item and select “Individual Letter.” Send that author a letter request form.
• Does the HPP office / HPP Director pre-screen rec letters: NO, letters are confidential
  
  

For medical school applicants:

• Do I have to have my rec letters to submit my primary application: NO
• Do I have to have my rec letters to conduct my committee interview: NO
• How many science letters do I need: it is strongly advised to have 2 science letters
  • Science letters: Bio, Chem, Physics, Biochem, BME, Neuroscience, Research advisors
• Should I get a non-science letter: YES, if you can, but it’s not required
• Are letters from volunteer coordinators, employers, coaches, mentors valuable: YES
• Do I need a rec letter from a DO to apply to Osteopathic med schools: YES, some require it
• I’m applying for an MD/PhD… do I need a rec letter from all research advisors: YES!!!
  
  

For dental school applicants:

• Do I have to have my rec letters to submit my primary application: NO
• Do I have to have my rec letters to conduct my committee interview: NO
• Should I obtain a rec letter from a dentist: YES, it is strongly advised

• Can I submit my primary app without my MCAT or DAT score: YES
• Can I submit my primary app without rec letters: YES
• When should I submit my AMCAS application: ideally no later than mid-June
• When should I submit my AACOMAS application: ideally no later than the end of June
• When should I submit my AADSAS application: ideally no later than the end of July
• Can I make changes to my primary application after submitting: Yes, but very little can be changed so make sure to read the application manual before submitting.

• Do all schools send 2ndary apps: NO, but many do
• How many essays are there in each 2ndary app: varies (can be 1 or many)
• How long are 2ndary apps: range from about 100-500 words
• How much time do you recommend we dedicate to 2ndary apps in the summer: it will vary, but some weeks you will put in many hours/day, whereas others could be less, but plan for a lot of writing in July.
• Are the any 2ndary apps I can pre-write: YES, 1) the diversity essay, 2) the challenge essay, 3) why our school essay, 4) COVID-19 essay
• When should I send my completed secondaries: Ideally within 2-4 weeks

When applying to health professions programs, you are required to request copies of your official transcripts be sent to the appropriate centralized application service(s). It is strongly recommended you obtain copies of your official transcript through SIO for entering your coursework into the online application. NOTE: When requesting transcripts, make sure that the name you indicate on your transcript request form is the same as the name indicated on your transcript!

coursework from Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë:

1. Please submit a request through the HUB to have an e-transcript sent to the appropriate centralized application service (AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, TMDSAS, VMCAS, CASPA...)
2. For AMCAS, transcript ID (7-digit number) can be found under 'Schools Attended'. It populates after you add Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë to the list of schools attended.
3. If you are finishing up a semester, please select the option to wait for final grades to post before sending - this will likely occur in mid-May at the earliest so plan accordingly.
4. Paper copies can be obtained via the HUB.

Coursework from outside Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë:

1. If classes were taken through the consortium (e.g., at Pitt or Duquesne during the semester), you may not have a transcript at the other institution but always call their Registrar's office to confirm.
2. If at a US school other than Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë, you will need to request an official transcript from the school's Registrar's office.
3. If at a non-US sponsored international school or if through study-abroad where courses may or may not show up on your Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë transcript, please review the transcript guidelines for each application service to determine whether you need a transcript or if you can request a waiver.

The is a situational judgement test that, according to the AAMC and partner medical schools, is "designed to to assess examinees’ understanding of effective pre-professional behavior across eight core competencies for entering medical school." Beyond grades and MCAT score, medical schools are interested in assessing whether you possess these competencies. To do so, the PREview test examines your responses to ethical scenarios.

The eight CORE competencies evaluated by PREview:

• Service Orientation
• Social Skills
• Cultural Competence
• Teamwork
• Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
• Resilience and Adaptability
• Reliability and Dependability
• Capacity for Improvement

= Situational Judgment Test (SJT) that examines an applicant’s general competencies related to problem solving, critical thinking, and communication to get a sense of what you would do in response to open-ended situations... and why. Many health professions schools are now requiring applicants to complete in addition to the primary and secondary applications. 

Details:

• 100-120 minutes
• Two sections:
  • Section 1: Typed responses to 3 text-based scenarios & 6 video-based scenarios
  • Section 2: Video responses to 2 text-based scenarios & 4 video-based scenarios
• Each scenario asks you to respond to 3 open-ended questions
• "Why" you choose what you do is more important than "what" you choose to do
• Designed to test for 10 competencies:
  • Collaboration
  • Motivation
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Professionalism
  • Equity
  • Resilience
  • Ethics
  • Self-awareness
  • Empathy
• Programs that require CASPer – just over 100 use it as of 2020 Application cycle.
  • MD & DO – tested together
  • Dentistry, PA, PT, Optometry, Vet, Graduate Nursing – tested together
  • If you apply to MD and Dental programs, you take two different CASPer tests

Below are a list of useful resources that are recommended as you begin your preparations for studying for and taking the MCAT.

• (shifting to AAMC Sept 2021)
• (NEW)
• What if I need?
• Contact the Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë HPP office for information about AAMC MCAT Practice Exams

So it's been several months since you submitted your secondary applications and you have not heard from some schools. Or, it has been a few weeks since you interviewed and you expect to hear soon. In either situation, you are feeling anxious and you are thinking you might want to send a letter to schools.

Pre-interview:

You may be interested in sending a "letter of update" to possibly trigger an interview. Things to consider:

1. Does school X accept updates / letters? Some schools, e.g., Penn State SOM, do not. It would be ill-advised to send a letter to these schools.
2. Make sure to research the program to include a few specific details about the SOM in your letter.
3. Letters are generally 3/4 to 1 full page - recommend keeping it to 1 page.
4. Include your name, application ID#, and email.
5. Direct and email the letter to the Office of Admissions, unless directed otherwise on the SOM's website.
6. Feel free to use these template letters to give you ideas of how to construct an effective letter of update.
   • Letter of Update / Interest_sample 1
   • Letter of Update / Interest_sample 2

Serving the community as a health care provider requires a strong knowledge base in the sciences, a deep commitment to service, the ability to empathize and be compassionate, as well as integrity and trustworthiness. Many health professions programs inquire about institutional actions because academic and conduct violations raise concerns about integrity and trustworthiness. While not all violations are the same, health professions programs look for an applicant with a violation to 1) show a sense of ownership, 2) express remorse, 3) offer evidence of reflection and 4) discuss personal growth as a result of 1-3. Students with violations must provide evidence of these four elements for schools to feel comfortable that an applicant has grown and learned from the experience. In fact, some individuals emerge stronger and more prepared for the demands of clinical practice having overcome life challenges such as academic or behavioral violations. However, multiple or repeat violations are especially concerning.

Based on the wording in health professions programs' applications, the expectation is that an applicant reports ANY violation regardless of whether one's academic record has been expunged or sealed. See below for language from AMCAS:

AMCAS (online application)

You must answer "Yes" even if the action does not appear on or has been deleted or expunged from your official transcripts due to institutional policy or personal petition.

Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw?

Institutional Action (as described in AMCAS manual)

If you were ever the recipient of any institutional action by any college or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, you must answer Yes, even if such actions did not interrupt your enrollment or require you to withdraw. Furthermore, select Yes even if the action does not appear on, or has been deleted or expunged from, your official transcripts as a consequence of institutional policy or personal petition.

Failure to provide an accurate answer to the question about institutional action or, if applicable, failure to complete the form provided by the school will result in an investigation. Medical schools require you to answer the question accurately and provide all relevant information. Medical schools understand that many individuals learn from the past and emerge stronger as a result. Full disclosure will enable medical schools to evaluate the information more effectively within the context of your application.
If you become the subject of an institutional action after certifying and submitting the AMCAS application, you must inform your designated medical school(s) within 10 business days of the date of the occurrence.

If you have any questions about academic or conduct violations, or want to learn more about how to best remediate a violation, please with the Director of the Health Professions Program.

• Can pre-meds apply to both MD and DO schools: YES
• Can pre-dental applicants apply to both DDS and DMD schools: YES
• Is it a good idea to apply to both MD and DO schools: It depends on your personal mission for becoming a physician and whether or not that mission aligns with the MD and DO schools to which you apply
• What is the difference b/w DDS and DMD dental programs: Nothing, really, same accreditation
• If I have not gotten an acceptance to an MD school by December, should I apply to DO schools: NO, this is not advised for several reasons. Contact Dr. D’Antonio to discuss.
• Can I practice any specialty or subspecialty of medicine as a DO: YES

• National average (medical) = 18 schools
• Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë (medical) = about 32
• Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë (dental) = about 15-20
• Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë (Vet) = about 5-10
• Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë (PA) = about 20

Thinking about how you are going to pay for medical, dental, vet or pharmacy school? For most applicants, this is a significant factor in selecting a health professions school. You should start reading and learning about your options well before the start of the application cycle so you are well informed. In addition to speaking with the financial aid office at Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë, below are a few resources.

Medical schools: and        

Dental schools:

Pharmacy schools: see individual school websites for information on financial aid

Physical Therapy schools:

Identifying schools requires time and investment into learning about the "fit" between you and a school. You need to consider factors such as cost, geography, class size, curriculum, as well as each school's metrics, mission statement, and values. Proper research will help you identify schools with metrics that can support your training as well as programs and opportunities for you to enrich your particular skills and interests, for example, in primary care, rural medicine, or research.

Useful links to assist you in learning about health professions programs:

• Allopathic medical schools:
• Osteopathic medical schools:
• Dental schools:
• Texas medical, dental, and Vet schools:
• Pharmacy schools:
• Physical Therapy schools:
• PA schools:
• Veterinary medical schools:

• Do I have to take the MCAT and have my score before submitting my primary application: NO
• Do I have to have my MCAT score before conducting my Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë committee interview: NO… but you will not be put into the CL queue until you provide the HPP office with your MCAT score
• When is the latest I can take the MCAT for the current cycle: technically, a Sept MCAT will be accepted by many med schools; however, the general recommendation is to take the MCAT no later than the end of June. The reason being: a June MCAT score will arrive in July, around the time schools begin reviewing apps for interviews.
• How long do MCAT scores last: roughly 3-5 years depending on school

• Do I have to take the DAT and have my score before submitting my primary application: NO
• Do I have to have my DAT score before conducting my Ò»±¾µÀÎÞÂë committee interview: NO… but you will not be put into the CL queue until you provide the HPP office with your DAT score
• When is the latest I can take the DAT for the AY23 cycle: Recommend no later than end of August, ideally by the end of June if possible
• In general, is there a lower-end threshold for DAT scores: Dental schools have indicated that an overall or section score below 17 is likely not viable