Tips for Getting into Graduate Schools

Pharmacy School Tips | Dental School Tips | Graduate School Tips | Medical School Tips

Tips for Getting into Pharmacy School

1. Is this what you want? One of the first things you are always asked on an admission interview is “Why do you want to become a pharmacist?”. This is a very good question! There are many different arenas where someone with a pharmacy degree can work, varying from retail to industry. This decision should be made dependent on your personality and which aspects of pharmacy you most enjoy. A good way of figuring this out is to work for a couple of weeks in a retail pharmacy or shadow a local pharmacist. In order to be competitive with the rest of the hopeful pharmacy school applicants it’s a good idea to get in some pharmacy experience as well.

2. Is your GPA important? Most pharmacy schools will list a minimum college GPA of at least 3.0 (a “B”) or better overall, and then another minimum cumulative science GPA. This means that you’re being critiqued on your grades from two different angles, so just because your overall GPA may be good, you also need to make sure you do your best in the classes that will pertain to your field. A good rule of thumb for study time is to make sure for every credit hour you take you allow at least three additional hours of study time per week. Taking 12 credits a semester then means that you will need to allow yourself 36 hours per week to study! Although many students may think they can get by without this type of dedication, remember, you have a goal. To get into the school you want will take some work and sacrifice.

3. The early bird gets the interview! When applying to any professional school, the best advice is to apply early. One of your most important tasks when looking at schools will be to find out when they start accepting applications – and when they stop. Applications usually require a personal statement, transcripts, PCAT scores, and three letters of recommendation. Depending on specific schools they may require you to supply additional materials. Finding all of this out as early as possible relieves the stress of last minute crunch and ensures that you will be able to do the best job possible. Applying early also gives you some “buffer room” in case some materials don’t make it there, etc. Trust me, the application process takes a LOT more work and time than you believe it will when you start, and pharmacy schools realize this. The sooner you get your materials in the more your dedication and excitement shows!

4. PCAT Preparation The PCAT is the standardized exam that is required for admission into most (but not all) pharmacy schools. When you look into specific pharmacy schools they should let you know if they require it or not. Remember, this test is extremely important and should not be underestimated. No matter what your grades were as an undergraduate you should still be prepared to study full-time for at least two weeks in advance for the test. Make sure you know your chemistry extremely well, such as general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry. You also want to make sure you understand physics and quantitative reasoning. In order to prepare, there are several workbooks available from bookstores, the best of which will offer a CD with practice tests/ problems for you to go through.

5. Chance favors the prepared mind! Be well informed! When applying to pharmacy school you cannot have too much information. You will need to consider which schools you want to go to, what their minimum requirements are, and what most of their admitted students had (GPA, volunteer hours, specific undergrad classes, etc.) just to start. This process can be a bit overwhelming, so most undergraduate schools have an advisor specifically to help give you direction and ideas if you get stumped. There is also an abundance of information via the web that offers tips, strategies, and recommendations. A useful site to visit is the AACP (American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy) where they provide information specifically for pharmacy school students and applicants.

Tips for Getting into Dental School

1. Plan on the long haul! When looking into dental schools, most of their websites will tell you that as long as you meet their requirements, it’s not necessary to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree. Although it is possible to get into dental school after two or three years, 95% of admitted dental students have a 4-year bachelor’s degree.

2. Is your GPA important? Most dental schools will list a minimum college GPA of at least 3.0 (a “B”) or better overall, and then another minimum cumulative science GPA. This means that you’re being critiqued on your grades from two different angles, so just because your overall GPA may be good, you also need to make sure you do your best in the classes that will pertain to your field.

3. Preparation as an undergrad When students are considering dental school as an option, usually the main obstacle to their goal that they think of is the DAT. Although this is important (and quite difficult) let’s say you get into dental school, what then? There are some key classes you can take as an undergraduate that will give you an edge during your first years of dental school. Some classes to think about taking are: anatomy, histology, systems physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, nutrition, biochemistry, pathology, embryology, Spanish or Latin, psychology, economics, marketing, management and sociology. Involvement in extracurricular activities such as clubs and volunteer work is also extremely important preparation and should be begun as soon as possible.

4. Take that DAT! The DAT is a standardized exam that is required to be taken by all prospective dental students. It functions to give the application process a uniform “measuring stick” as a baseline for admission, and lasts for four hours and fifteen minutes. Your score on this test will not be the only factor in the selection process, but it is an important one. The test will cover biology, general and organic chemistry, scientific reading comprehension, quantitative studies (Algebraic equations, fractions, conversions, percentages, exponential notation, probability and statistics, geometry, trigonometry, and applied mathematics problems), and perceptual ability (angle discrimination, form development, cubes, orthographic projections, apertures, and paper-folding). Trust me, you will definitely want to review before this test at least two weeks before you take it, and the earlier you take it the better. Usually a year before your plan to apply is the best, that way if your score isn’t what you hoped for you have some time to retake it before the application crunch begins (although at $150 each time you take the test you probably want to avoid “do-overs”). I cannot emphasize enough that in the application process the earlier the better!!

5. Chance favors the prepared mind! Be well informed! When applying to dental school you cannot have too much information. You will need to consider which schools you want to go to, what their minimum requirements are, and what most of their admitted students had (GPA, volunteer hours, specific undergrad classes, etc.) just to start. This process can be a bit overwhelming, so most undergraduate schools have an advisor specifically to help give you direction and ideas if you get stumped. There is also an abundance of information via the web that offers tips, strategies, and recommendations. Some useful sites to explore are the American Dental Association website and the American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS) . The AADSAS site provides the standardized application form that you send out to dental schools.

Tips for Getting into Graduate School

1. Is this what you want? One of the first things you are always asked on an admission interview is “Why do you want to attend graduate school?”. This is a very good question! It is important that you do not choose graduate school only because you don’t know what else you want to do after college. Graduate school is intense both academically and in research. This is not a career for everybody. Before making your decision, take a couple of months to participate in laboratory research, either by working or shadowing. Try to even work in a couple of different labs, to get a feel for what type of research you enjoy. During the application process, many schools will want to know that you are pursuing grad school out of a deep interest in science and learning, with some ideas already about what you would like to study. Undergraduate research experience is key in both discovering if this is for you, and also the application process. Many professors are willing to take on student researchers upon request, or will direct you where to go if their lab is already too full.

2. Chance favors the prepared mind! Be well informed! When applying to graduate school you cannot have too much information. You will need to consider which schools you want to go to, what their minimum requirements are, and what most of their admitted students had (GPA, volunteer hours, specific undergrad classes, etc.) just to start. This process can be a bit overwhelming, so most undergraduate schools have an advisor specifically to help give you direction and ideas if you get stumped. There is also an abundance of information via the web that offers tips, strategies, and recommendations.

3. The GRE is GREat! The GRE is a standardized exam that is required to be taken by most prospective graduate students. It functions to give the application process a uniform “measuring stick” as a baseline for admission, and lasts for about four hours. Your score on this test will not be the only factor in the selection process, but it is an important one. The test will have four sections, covering verbal reasoning, critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills. Trust me, you will definitely want to review before this test at least two weeks before you take it, and the earlier you take it the better. Usually a year before you plan to apply is the best, that way if your score isn’t what you hoped for you have some time to retake it before the application crunch begins (although at $130 each time you take the test you probably want to avoid “do-overs”). Depending on which schools and programs you apply to, you may be required to take a subject test. There are eight of these tests that are specific to the program that you wish to apply to. For more information on the GRE, you can visit the official GRE website.

4. The early bird gets the interview! When applying to graduate school, the best advice is to apply early. One of your most important tasks when looking at schools will be to find out when they start accepting applications – and when they stop. Applications usually require a personal statement, transcripts, GRE scores (general, subject, or both) and three letters of recommendation. Depending on specific schools they may require you to supply additional materials. Finding all of this out as early as possible relieves the stress of last minute crunch and ensures that you will be able to do the best job possible. Applying early also gives you some “buffer room” in case some materials don’t make it there, etc. Trust me, the application process takes a LOT more work and time than you believe it will when you start, and graduate schools realize this. The sooner you get your materials in the more your dedication and excitement shows!

5. Be Active! A good way to set yourself apart from the other applicants is by what you accomplish outside of your academic work. Any extracurricular activities such as membership in campus clubs, volunteer work, conferences, or jobs that apply to your field are a must to keep track of. Many schools actually require a certain amount of research experience in order to be admitted. It is also wise to keep track of the dates you participated in these activities, and how many hours a week they entailed. The activities portion of the applications take forever to fill out, but having all of that information easily available makes things go smoother. You should also keep a list of any scholarships, awards, or honors you have received. These also help to separate and distinguish you from the rest of the applicants.

Tips for Getting into Medical School

1. The earlier the better! Probably the most important singular piece of advice that you can take to hear is start early! Once you have made up your mind that this is a career that you want to pursue, you cannot begin getting information together too early. You will need to identify schools you’ll want to apply to, get prerequisite classes out of the way, study for the MCAT, take the MCAT, send out your applications (primary and secondary), and get in your interviews as early as possible! The actual application process takes about a year, so you will want to get the application ball rolling near the summer before your senior year to avoid the last minute crunch. Just remember, the earlier you begin the process, the less stressed you will be to get everything in on time, but it will also make you look good to your schools.

2. Apply yourself! The application process consists of a primary application, and then a secondary application. The primary application is run through AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service). This application is then sent out to whichever schools you choose. If the schools like your primary, they will request a secondary application. This application is very similar to the primary, but it also will require your letters of recommendation, extra essays, perhaps a photograph of yourself, and other items that they will inform you of. For more information about the application process, visit the AMCAS website at http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm.

3. Come highly recommended! A very important part of the application process to keep in mind is your letters of recommendation. These are usually submitted by professors, bosses, research supervisors, etc that you have worked with and liked the job you did. Most schools require three, although some may want more or less. It is very important to build up a reputation and relationship with those you plan on asking for letters. They must have a good idea of your work ethic, and also your personality. This kind of relationship cannot be built overnight! So make sure to communicate often with those you think you’d like to ask. Also, it is usually a good idea to have two or three “back-up” letter writers, just in case something happens to your first choices. Remember, you are responsible for getting your letters turned into the medical school on time. When requesting a letter, it may be prudent to give some people extra time if you know they have difficulty meeting a tight deadline. Telling the schools that the professor, employer, research professor, etc didn’t get the letter done on time will not be a reasonable excuse.

4. MCAT Preparation. MCAT stands for the Medical College Admissions test. This test is a required part of the admissions process by all US medical schools. It covers general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology (such as molecular, micro, and anatomy), physics, verbal reasoning, and a writing sample. This test is long, it’s not uncommon for test-takers to be at it for eight hours. The best advice for the MCAT is to start studying as early as possible. Many students take study courses (such as through Kaplan), but you can also purchase review books from a bookstore (Borders and Barnes and Noble are good for these). It’s best to start studying about three or four months at least before you’re scheduled to take the test. Also, many of the study guides or courses will offer practice tests (and the internet is also a good source). Do these! This will help you to identify any weaknesses you have, while providing some familiarity with the format. The MCAT is offered in April and August, but it’s best to take the test in April. You’re able to take it over if you didn’t get the score you were hoping for, so taking it then gives you a “buffer period” to take it over again if you need to. For more information on the MCAT visit the official MCAT website.

5. Be Active! A good way to set yourself apart from the other applicants is by what you accomplish outside of your academic work. Any extracurricular activities such as membership in a Pre-Med Club, volunteer work, conferences, or jobs that apply to your field are a must to keep track of. Many schools actually require a certain amount of volunteer work in order to be admitted. It is also wise to keep track of the dates you participated in these activities, how many hours a week they entailed, the sponsor name and contact information, and a description of the experience. The activities portion of the primary application takes forever to fill out, but having all of that information easily available makes things go smoother. You should also keep a list of any scholarships, awards, or honors you have received. These also help to separate and distinguish you from the rest of the applicants.