PREMEDICAL ADVISING OFFICE Chase Hall, Suite 208 Phone: 610-896-1148 Fax: 610-896-1338

Timeline for Pre-Medical Students

1. Freshman Year — During Customs Week Michele Taylor will have a general meeting to introduce herself and answer questions. Each student should consult with the faculty advisor to whom he or she has been assigned as advisee to work out a course schedule for the freshman year, and a tentative schedule for the sophomore and junior years for the suggested science courses. ALL ENTERING PRE-MEDICAL STUDENTS SHOULD DISCUSS THEIR PROGRAMS WITH MEMBERS OF THE BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, OR PHYSICS DEPARTMENTS, IN ADDITION TO THEIR REGULAR ADVISORS. If the freshman meeting is missed, the student should write a note through campus mail to Dr. Wheeler to be placed on the mailing list of pre-medical students. Contact Dr. Wheeler during the freshman and sophomore years if any problems arise.

2. Sophomore Year — In early April of the sophomore year each pre-medical student should make an appointment for an individual conference with Michele Taylor to review progress up to that time and to consider changes in the student’s program if necessary. Any student planning on studying abroad should see Michele Taylor before leaving.

3. Junior Year — Some students, who have completed their four science requirements, take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in August prior to their junior year, but most usually take the MCAT in April of their junior year. After winter break, Dr. Wheeler with have a meeting with all students considering applying in the upcoming summer. Each prospective applicant should have a conference with Dr. Wheeler, begin gathering their recommendations, and apply to take the MCAT. Occasionally a student may wish to take the exam in August before the fall of the senior year. Each student should give Dr. Wheeler a copy of the test results after the examination has been taken and the results have been made available. Near the end of the semester each applicant will meet with Michele Taylor again to discuss their recommendations and received input on medical schools to help decide on the list of schools where they will apply.

4. Summer between the Junior and Senior Years — Students apply to medical schools during this summer, preferably in June or July through the web application (EARLY is best).

5. Senior Year — Each senior should confer with the pre-med office as early as possible in September, and keep it informed about progress in gaining admission to medical school.

C. Letter of Recommendation to Medical School

1. Procedure — At Haverford, the letter of recommendation gives students the chance to pick people who know them well to write for them; the recommendations are gathered into a composite picture of the applicant with a summary emphasizing special qualities that bring out their personality on paper.. These recommendations are collected and screened by Dr. Wheeler and the Committee on Recommendations to Medical School in mid-April, with information provided by the applicant on their extracurricular/ summer activities and personal reasons for pursuing medicine. We encourage each student to arrange an interview with each potential recommender as well as with Michele Taylor to discuss these interests in person— and practice talking about themselves for future interviews in medical schools. The student has the option of waiving the right to see the actual letters, according to the Buckley Amendment. After mid-April, the applicant will be able to get feedback on their letter of recommendation and suggestions on where to apply in a meeting with Michele Taylor. By August the final letter will be sent to all medical schools to which the student has applied.

2. Information and When It Should Be Obtained

a. General Meeting of potential applicants with Michele Taylor in early February of the year before application (usually the junior year) followed up by individual meetings with Michele Taylor.

b. Students will then hand out recommendation forms to faculty, major advisors, professors and other people who know them well, to be collected by Michele Taylor for the committee letter.

c. The applicant will write up their reasons for going into medicine, and a summary of extra-curricular and summer activities for the committee in the spring.

d. The MCAT scores may be discussed with Michele Taylorwhen available (usually mid-June after junior year).

e. A final application list of medical schools, developed in a meeting with Michele Taylor, handed in by the end of June.

f. Application to AMCAS application service as early as possible, starting in June. Secondary applications from individual schools, returned completed to them as soon as possible in the fall.

My office is in Chase Hall, Suite 208. An appointment can be arranged by calling Cheryl Mathes. She is available any weekday morning at (610) 896-1148. I will have a meeting with all freshmen interested in medicine during Freshman Week, and hope to meet you then.