OVERVIEW OF THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS

OutlineAcademic PreparationAllopathic/Osteopathic MedicineDental MedicineApplication TimelineOptometry SchoolPharmacy SchoolPA ProgramsQUESTIONS

Is a Career in Health for You??1. Do You Like to Deal with People?2. Are You Comfortable with and like the

Sciences?3. Are You Prepared to Keep Up with

Developments in Your Field?4. Are You Comfortable in a Health Care

Setting?5. Are You a Team Player?6. What Lifestyle /Work Ethic Do You

Envision?

What should I major In????For any of the Health Professions, one can major in

ANY major provided that one:Did well in science courses (Biology, Chemistry,

Physics , Organic and Math)Met prerequisite courses (for medical and dental

schools; typically one year of math and English plus one year of Biology with lab, General Chemistry with lab, Physics with Lab and Organic Chemistry with lab.)

Did well on entrance exams such as MCAT/DAT/OATHad appropriate health care experiencesObtained letters of recommendation/committee letterStrong extracurricular activities

Allopathic (MD) vs Osteopathic Medicine (DO)Both are 4 year medical schools with almost

identical curriculums. Both have residency programs

Both require the same prerequisites and MCAT exam.

MD is more competitive; 3.65 GPA and 130 schools

DOs a bit less competitive; 3.45 GPA and 30 schools.

DOs are trained in manipulation techniques.Both MDs and DOs can specialize. DOs are now

in every area of medicine, where in the past they mostly were in primary care areas.

Allopathic Medicine (M.D.)Nationally in 2008, 42,231 applied to MD

programs, 18,036 matriculants. Average GPA of Matriculants- 3.66Average MCAT Verbal Reasoning 9.9, Physical

Sciences 10.3, Biological Sciences 10.7.131 Medical schoolsStudents apply through centralized application

called AAMCAS located at www.aamc.org

Osteopathic Medicine (D.O)Nationally for the 2008 starting class, 12,875

applied 4,575 matriculated.Average overall GPA of matriculants 3.47Average science GPA of matriculants 3.35Average MCAT scores; Verbal Reasoning 8.59,

Physical Sciences 8.40, Biological Sciences 9.13.31 DO schoolsStudents need a letter from a D.O.Centralized application called AACOMAS located

at www.aacom.org

Penn State Medical School StatisticsAbout 400 students per year come to Penn State

with the intent of preparing for medical school.About 200 students per year apply for MD

admission. Another 70 or so apply to DO schools.About 135 student are accepted to MD schools

with another 50-60 or so accepted to DO schools.ALL PSU ACCEPT RATE IS 65-70%~70-75 percent of students are from the College

of Science, with the remainder mostly coming from Engineering, HHD, and Liberal Arts.

Medical SpecialtiesAllergy and Immunology (5)Anesthesiology (4)Colon and Rectal Surgery

(6)Dermatology (3-4)Emergency Medicine (3)Family Medicine (3) Internal Medicine (3)Medical Genetics (2-4)Neurological Surgery (5-7)Neurology (4)Nuclear Medicine (3)Obstetrics and Gynecology

(4)Ophthalmology (4)Orthopaedic Surgery (5)

Otolaryngology (5)Pathology(3-4)Pediatrics (3)Physical Medicine and R

ehabilitation (4)

Plastic Surgery (5-7)Preventive Medicine (3)Psychiatry (4)Radiation Oncology (5)Radiology (5)Surgery (5)Thoracic Surgery (6-8)Urology (5)

Dental SchoolNationally in 2008, 11,100 applied with 4,770

accepted.There has been a dramatic increase in applications and

competitiveness. In 2007 the average GPA was 3.48 science GPA 3.54

overall.Average DAT scores Academic 18.7, PAT 17.PSU students applying to dental schools has increased

almost 30%Prerequisites include 1 year with lab of the following

General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physics (though Physics is not on the DAT) Need to check particular schools for credits required for Organic Chemistry and if Biochemistry is required

Centralized application service called AADSAS located at www.adea.org.

We recommend students use our committee to get letters of recommendation.

Application Timeline ProcessFreshmen/Sophomore Years

Begin taking prerequisite courses and do well on them.Begin getting health care/volunteer experienceInvolvement in extracurricular activities/research

Junior YearStudy for and take MCAT or DAT (Both the MCAT and

DAT exams are offered electronically)Some student choose to take a review courseFill out centralized applicationsGet letters of recommendation for Penn State’s

Committee letter- try to get them in by the end of March

Send out applications in early summer and have interview with PSU’s Committee.

Penn State sends packet to indicated schools through the Virtual Evaluation (VE) process.

Optometry SchoolThere are 20 schools of optometry in the US including one in

Puerto RicoMany of our students go to SALUS ( the old PA College of

Optometry in Philadelphia)Optometry schools generally require the same prerequisites as

medical school, but include calculus, biochemistry and microbiology with lab. Each school varies somewhat with additional prerequisites so it is important to check each one.

Students take the OAT exam typically in their junior year They are electronically based and taken at a Prometric Test Center.

In 2005 the average GPA was 3.37. The OAT is scaled on a score of 200-400. Students admitted typically have above 330.

Students apply through a centralized process called OptomCAS

Students may use our committee letter for optometry school admission

http://www.opted.org/info_main.cfm

Pharmacy SchoolPenn State does not have a pharmacy program,

however there are routes that students can choose to prepare for application to a Pharm D. program.

The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree program requires at least 2-years of specific pre-professional (undergraduate) coursework followed by 4-academic years (or 3-calendar years) of professional study. Pharmacy colleges and schools may accept students directly from high school for both the pre-pharmacy and pharmacy curriculum, or after completion of the college course prerequisites. The majority of students enter a pharmacy program with 3 or more years of college experience. College graduates who enroll in a pharmacy program must complete the full 4-academic years (or 3-calendar) years of professional study to earn the Pharm.D. degree.

Pharmacy contStudents apply either through PharmCas or

individually through the school if the school does not participate in the centralized application. There are 111 accredited schools

For the fall 2008 entering class, the average undergraduate GPAs of PharmCAS applicants offered admission were as follows: Science – 3.35,and Cumulative – 3.46. The majority of accepted applicants completed 3 or more year of college study before enrolling in a pharmacy degree program. Accepted applicants had an average composite PCAT score of 65 percent.

http://www.aacp.org

Physician Assistant ProgramsThere are currently more than 140 accredited

programs.Difficult to advise for. Each school is very different

and have varying requirements. Some are certificate programs. B.S. programs and M.S programs.

The typical PA program is 24-27 months long and requires at least two years of college and some health care experience prior to admission. The majority of students have a BA/BS degree and just under 40 months of health care experience before admission to a PA program. While all programs recognize the professional component of PA education with a document of completion for the professional credential (PA), seventy-five percent of the programs award a master's degree. [102 award master's degrees, 24 award bachelor's degrees, 4 award associate degrees, and 5 award certificates.]

PA contCourses most likely required include

chemistry, anatomy with lab, physiology with lab, and microbiology with lab…Again some schools may require additional courses.

Important for students to have health care experience. Some schools require up to 1000 hours.

In 2008 there were 10,550 applicants and of those 3,835 matriculated.

Average GPA was 3.25 and a Science GPA of 3.11

Students typically apply through CASPA, a centralized application

http://www.aapa.org/

Helpful advising resources Allopathic Medicine American Medical Association

http://www.ama-assn.org/ Assocation of American Medical Colleges

http://www.aamc.org/ Chiropractic The American Chiropractic Assocation

http://www.chirocolleges.com/ Dentistry American Association of Dental Schools

http://www.adea.org/ American Dental Association

http://www.ada.org/ Disadvantaged/Minority Student Programs MEDPREP

http://www.som.siu.edu/medprep/ NIH Undergraduate Scholarship Program

https://ugsp.nih.gov/  Financial Aid FAFSA http://www.fafsa.ed.gov FIRST (Financial Information, Resources, Services and Tools)

http://www.aamc.org/programs/first/start.htm Genetics National Society of Genetic Counselors

http://www.nsgc.org/ Holistic/Naturopathic Medicine American Association of Naturopathic

Physicians http://www.naturopathic.org/

Optometry The American Academy of Optometry http://www.aaopt.org/

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry http://www.opted.org/

Osteopathic Medicine American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine http://www.aacom.org/

American Osteopathic Association http://www.aoa-net.org/

Pharmacy American Assocation of Colleges of Pharmacy http://www.aacp.org/

Physical Therapy American Physical Therapy Association http://www.APTA.org/

Physician Assistants American Academy of Physician Assistants

http://www.aapa.org/  Association of Physician Assistant Programs

http://www.apap.org/ Podiatric Medicine American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

http://www.aacpm.org/ Public Health American Public Health Association

http://www.apha.org/ Sports Medicine American College of Sports Medicine

http://www.acsm.org/ Veterinary Medicine Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

http://www.aavmc.org/