Applying to Professional School

 

The following areas cover many of the basic details of the process of applying to professional schools. Review this carefully to better understand the entire process and how the system works.

 

Centralized Application Services

The majority of medical, dental and podiatric schools utilize the services of a centralized application processing service to assist students in making their initial application. Each of these services collects, computes and collates application data before forwarding the standardized information to the colleges selected by the applicant.

 

Standardized Admissions Tests

Admission Tests are used by the majority of professional schools to help admissions committees in predicting how well an applicant will perform in their curriculum. They are designed to assess an applicant’s proficiency with scientific thinking and writing skills as well as understanding of science concepts.

Exams required for professional programs (with links to the organization administering the test) include:

Preparation for professional schools exams should take place with the first college semester. Students are wise to approach their coursework with the ultimate goal of learning and understanding to a level which will allow them to demonstrate this knowledge well after courses are completed. Follow these suggestions for study and learning strategies.

 

Letters of Recommendation

Professional schools require letters of recommendation. While test scores and grades serve as indicators of an applicant’s academic performance, professional schools look to letters of recommendation to provide information on personal qualities and attributes. Comments on such attributes as an applicant’s dependability, willingness to accept responsibility, maturity, ability to be a team player, interpersonal skills, commitment, etc. are an important component of these letters.

 

Reflect on the past semester and evaluate your interactions with faculty. Were you the student who visited faculty during office hours, asked question during class, and contributed to class discussions?

 

Although the number of letters required varies from school to school, applicants can generally anticipate submitting 2 letters from science faculty members, 1 letter from a non-science faculty member, and possibly one letter from a health care provider. You should choose faculty who know you well, have had you in their course, and are favorably impressed by you. It is also helpful to submit 1-2 letters from individuals who know you outside the classroom such as a work or volunteer supervisor.

 

Students are encouraged to establish a “Letter or Recommendation File” for their letters. Michigan State University office of Career Services and Placement has partnered with Interfolio to provide credential management service. For information on these services and/or to open an account, see www.interfolio.com. Please note that most schools prefer confidential letters of recommendation. Students are encouraged to discuss the process for letters of recommendation with their preprofessional advisors.

 

While it may be too early for some students to begin collecting recommendation letters, it is never too early to make contacts with faculty and begin to form relationships. Faculty members are committed to helping you succeed, but you must make yourself known and seek out their resources. Many students are uncertain as to how to get to know faculty members. The easiest way is to ask your instructors (in or after class, or during office hours) about topics in the course you do not understand. Not only will you become known to your faculty, you may also improve your understanding of and performance in the class. An added benefit may be that you develop a mentor relationship with the faculty member.

 

Keep in touch with the faculty with whom you have made a connection. When you ask a faculty member to write you a letter, ask if the letter will be a favorable one. In addition, offer as much information about yourself as possible – copies of your transcript, a resume, a statement describing your motivation for the health career, and a personal meeting to answer the faculty members’ questions. The benefits of making this connection early with your faculty: intellectual stimulation, a support network, and if you need it in the future, a strong letter of support for professional school.

 

Choosing a Professional School: Items to Consider

Every spring, preprofessional students ponder to which professional schools they should apply. As students begin to receive applications in the fall, their thoughts often turn to “…where should I attend?”

The following list of items is helpful when making the choice about where to apply and attend:

  • State Residency: Your best chance of acceptance lies within the state in which you hold residency. For the purposes of schooling, you can only be a resident of one state. In looking at out-of-state schools, be sure to pay close attention to the number of students accepted from within the state. By and large, private schools do not favor students from with a particular state, but there are exceptions to this rule.
  • Location: How important is it to you to be in a particular environment such as urban or rural? How important is it to you to be close to family? How important is it to you to be close to particular resources such as culture, arts, and sporting events?
  • Interdisciplinary/Extracurricular Activities: If you were involved in certain activities during your undergraduate years, do you want to continue these activities during professional school? Does the school’s curriculum allow flexibility for you to participate in these outside activities?
  • Curriculum: What is the school’s grading system (pass/fall, graded)? How many courses will you take each semester? Does the school use problem based learning, a traditional curriculum, or a combination of both?
  • Grading System: How does the grading system impact the overall education system? Is the promotion to the third year of professional school linked to successful completion of a first step in a licensing exam? Does graduation depend upon successful completion of a certain step in the licensing exam?
  • Facilities: What is the student to cadaver ratio? Will you need a car for rotations? What is the patient base for clinical training?
  • Support and Administrative Services: How accessible are the faculty and Dean of Students?
  • Financial Aid: What will the eventual pay back cost be to you to attend a particular school? (Note: cost of attending a school should not deter you from applying. Rather, use this information in weighing your option on where to attend.) Is the financial aid office helpful in explaining their resources and helping you compare financial offers?
  • Student Body: Do they appear to share your passion, interest, goals, values, priorities, etc? Is this a group of people you want to be your life-long colleagues?

    This list is based upon a presentation given by Ms. Sylvia Robertson, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, in 1997.

 

Writing the Personal Statement for Professional Schools

All health professional schools require applicants to submit a “Personal Statement” during the initial application phase. This statement is a critical element in the application process and can significantly help or harm a student’s chance for success.

 

The personal statement…

…is a “revelation of your personality”
…includes your strengths, beliefs, and values
…is your first (and perhaps only) opportunity to sell yourself
…uses concrete, vivid details to demonstrate the qualities and
characteristics you possess and will also aid you as a health care
provider

 

Following is a list of things to consider when writing this statement:

This statement must be personal. It is your initial opportunity to address the admissions committee. This statement can lead to an interview IF you express your commitments, motivations, and values. The personal statement should be reflection of the unique individual that you are.

Be sure to discuss WHY you are interested in the chosen profession. Schools want to assess your motivation for this career before they ask for an interview. Are there events, people and/or experiences that reinforce you interest? Share personal vignettes that support you stated interest and motivation. Avoid clichés and undocumented generalizations about wanting to help people. Remember that numerous other professions cite “helping people” in their mission statement.


Before starting this statement, ask yourself “…what have I done to personally convince myself that I want to be a…?” Being a health care provider often means a lifetime of giving back to society—what sustained commitment have you made to humanitarian activities?

 

You may wish to discuss individuals or incidents that have shaped your life. However, avoid extensive references to childhood or high school experiences. Granted early exposure to medicine may have parked an interest, but should not be the reason behind your pursuit of this goal. You must convey that you’ve made an adult decision to pursue this career.

 

ELABORATE upon extracurricular activities and/or volunteer/work experiences that you have listed elsewhere in the application. Use this opportunity to give new information about your involvement which is not listed elsewhere. Since many students are involved in a number of activities, focus on noteworthy ones. Describe you depth of your involvement in a fashion that implies you have certain characteristics necessary to be a good health care provider. Discuss your contribution, what you have learned from the experience, and the personal satisfaction you have gained.

 

Consider personal qualities that have been developed and/or enhanced through such involvement. Do not write “I am a warm, compassionate person”-let the reader draw his/her own conclusions after reading your statement. Describe your experiences so that the reader concludes you are mature, independent, etc.—refrain from directly telling them so. Consider responses to the following questions: What did you learn? How has this reinforced your interest in the chose profession?

 

The personal statement provides the opportunity to answer any perceived questions. Most applicants will not need to use this space to explain academic irregularities. However, if you have a significant number of “W’s” or “I’s” on your transcript, you may wish to consider addressing the reasons in the statement. Do not use the entire space to discuss your transcript and leave other questions about motivation and activities unanswered. If necessary briefly explain the nature of the situation and accept responsibility for your academic record. Consult with your pre-professional advisors if you need further guidance.

 

Many students wish to write about their personal philosophy-caution this is a tricky thing to discuss in the statement because you may come across as being narrow-minded or intolerant to different opinions. While your personal philosophy is important, it is a difficult task to produce a relevant and sincere statement while discussing these items. Weigh the pros and cons before deciding to include this item. Perhaps your philosophy is better discussed at the interview.

 

Do you have a non-traditional background? If so use it to your advantage. If returning to school after a significant gap in time, describe why your career change is a well though out decision. Focus on the positives of your current career while describing how medicine will fill the gaps of what is missing.


This statement must be well written with an introduction, body and conclusion. Do not expect your first draft to be the final product. Once the statement is complete, it is beneficial to have it reviewed by several individuals with different perspectives. An individual who has good editing skills for both spelling and grammar usage is of particular importance.

 

Take advantage of the consultants in the “Writing Center” in Bessey Hall who are available to work with writers at all levels of proficiency and at various stages of the composing process. Call to schedule an appointment. The campus grammar hotline can also be consulted for current information of proper grammar usage.

 

Use an easily readable font size (minimum 10 point). Carefully space the essay on the page so that the available space is used. You are given a certain amount of space for a reason, and using one-half page does not convey a strong interest in the application.

 

If you are submitting an application through a services (i.e.: AMCAS), do not express an interest in a specific health professional school. Your personal statement will be photocopied and sent to all schools you have requested. Your application may not be very successful if MSU-CHM reads about your strong interest in U of M.
Personal statements sent directly to schools not participating with an application service should include a brief discussion of your interest in the school and its program.

 

The Interview Process

Interviews are generally conducted 6-11 months prior to the beginning of the fall semester in which an applicant would matriculate. For the majority of applicants, this would occur during the senior undergraduate year.

 

The interview process differs from school to school. Some schools will conduct interviews one-on-one, while other schools will schedule an applicant to meet with a panel of interviewers. Still other programs will have a combination of both. Information regarding a school's specific interviewing policies and procedures should be provided to candidates in the initial stages of the selection process.

 

Applicants are invited to interview with a school based on their academic performance. The interview process then provides the school with the opportunity to learn more about an applicant's personal characteristics, professional history and motivation for pursuing a career in the health care field. Applicants should also use this opportunity to ask specific questions about the curriculum and the school.

 

Following are some steps that should be taken to prepare for an interview:

  • Read all available professional publications produced by the schools with which they will be interviewing. Schools will expect interviewees to ask well-informed and intelligent questions about their program.
  • Participate in meetings offered on "Interviewing Skills" by many of the medically-related student organizations. This topic is typically addressed during Fall Semester.
  • Role play an interview situation with a friend or acquaintance to develop confidence to address whatever questions you may ultimately encounter.
  • Arrive for the interview on time.
  • Get plenty of rest the night before. Interviewing demands a lot of energy!
  • Treat the office staff with great respect. They often share their impressions of applicants with members of the admission committee.
  • Follow up your visit with a thank you note to each of your interviewers.