Premedical/Predental

Advisement

Dr. Theresa M. Curtis

College Premedical/Predental Advisor
Department of Biological Sciences
 What courses do I need?

Pick an undergraduate major you are

passionate about

Excel in your major and premedical/dental

course work
 Pre-medical Course work
BIOLOGY

One year of Biological Sciences (BIO 201-202) is required

Additional courses recommended: Cell Biology, Genetics, Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology

CHEMISTRY

One year of General (Inorganic) Chemistry (CHE 221 and 222) is required
One year of Organic Chemistry (CHE 301 and 302 - including laboratories) is required
One semester of Biochemistry (CHE 451) is required

ENGLISH

Medical schools require one year of English (Composition)

MATHEMATICS

One year of college-level mathematics, including at least one course in Statistics

PHYSICS

One year of General Physics (PHY 105/106 or PHY 201/202) is required

PSYCHOLOGY AND SOCIOLOGY

One semester of General Psychology I (PSY 101) and one semester of Introduction to Sociology (SOC 150) is required
 Pre-PA Course work
BIOLOGY
One year of Biological Sciences is required
One year of Anatomy and Physiology is required

CHEMISTRY
One year of General (Inorganic) Chemistry is required
One semester of Organic Chemistry (including laboratory) is required

ENGLISH
Most require one year of English (Composition)

MATHEMATICS
One year of college-level courses in mathematics, including Statistics and Calculus, is required by some
schools

ADDITIONAL COURSES/REQUIREMENTS
Additional Biology courses (Microbiology, Genetics, Cell Biology)
Biochemistry
One year of Behavioral or Social Science
Health care experience 100-1000 hours
General GRE’s
MS in PA Biology Anatomy/ Microbiology Other Courses General Organic/ Stats Social/Behavioral Patient GRE
Programs Physiology Chemistry Biochemistry Sciences Contact

Albany Medical BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO303 All programs CHE301 yes 3 credits 1000 yes
College 8hrs 8hrs or require CHE or
BIO304 221/222 CHE451
SUNY Upstate BIO110/111 BIO301/302 BIO 303 BIO 306/312, CHE301 (lab) yes 6 credits 1000 yes
or or or medical terminology or -ENG comp and elective
BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304 CHE451 (lab) required

Weill Cornell BIO110/111 BIO301/302 BIO303 CHE451 (lab no ______ 200+ yes
Medical or or or recommended)
BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304

Arcadia BIO110/111 BIO301/302 BIO303 CHE301 (req) yes 3 credits (PSY 101) 200+ Yes or
or or or and MCAT
BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304 CHE451 (rec)

Touro College* BIO201/202 BIO324/514 ________ CHE301 yes 6 credits 200+ no

(Manhattan) 8hrs 8hrs or and +6 credits of humanities
CHE451 (lab) calcA

Touro College * BIO201/202 BIO324/514 ________ CHE301 yes 6 credits 200+ no

(Bay Shore) 8hrs 8hrs or and +6 credits of humanities
CHE451 calcA

Stony Brook * BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304 BIO312 CHE301 yes 9 credits 1000 no
and +6 credits of arts/humanities
CHE451
Pace University ** BIO201/202 BIO301/302 BIO303 CHE301 yes _______ 200+ no
8hrs or or or
BIO324/514 BIO304 CHE451 (lab)

NYIT * BIO110/111 BIO301/302 BIO304-recommended BIO312- ________ yes 3 credits (PSY 101) 100+ no
** or or recommended and
BIO201/202 BIO324/514 calcA

Daemen College BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304 No more than 2 C’s in CHE301 Just calcA 9 credits 120+ no
any course. or
CHE451 (lab)

LeMoyne College BIO201/202 BIO324/514 _________ BIO210 CHE301 yes 6 credits 750+ no
and or and
BIO312 CHE451 calcA
LIU Brooklyn BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO303 ______ yes ______ 500+ yes
or
BIO304
Mercy BIO110/111 BIO302/302 BIO303 BIO312, CHE451 yes _______ 500+ no
or or or Immunology, and
BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304 Neuroscience calcA

Hostra * BIO201/202 BIO324/514 BIO304 BIO210 CHE301 yes _______ 50+ no

8hrs 8hrs or or
BIO 312 CHE451

1. All lab course must be hands-on (no on-line courses)

2. Science courses cannot be older than 5 years
3. May need to have all pre-reqs and hours completed at time of application. May need to have degree completed at time of application.
4. Some accept AP credit and courses taken at a 2yr institution and some do not
5. * Stared Institutions want pre-req classes to be for science majors
6. **Double Stared Institutions indicate that you must have B- or higher in all pre-req classes
 Pre-dental Course work
BIOLOGY
One year of Biological Sciences (BIO 201-202) is required
Additional courses may be required: Cell Biology, Genetics, Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology

CHEMISTRY
One year of General (Inorganic) Chemistry (CHE 221 and 222) is required
One year of Organic Chemistry (CHE 301 and 302 - including laboratories) is required.
Biochemistry may be required (some schools let Biochemistry replace second semester of Organic Chem)

ENGLISH
Medical schools require one year of English (Composition)

MATHEMATICS
One year of college-level courses in mathematics, including at least one course in Calculus and Statistics,
is highly recommended. (some schools require two semesters of Calculus)

PHYSICS
One year of General Physics (PHY 105/106 or PHY 201/202) is required

ADDITIONAL COURSES/REQUIREMENTS Business, Social, Behavioral Sciences and shadowing hours

 Admission Tests
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): The test covers Biological and Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems, Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, Psychological,
Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior, Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

• Courses you need: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Statistics, Psychology, and
Sociology
• Additional courses that will help: Cell Biology, Genetics, Physiology, other upper level bio courses (such as
Microbiology), and additional Psychology and Sociology courses

Dental Admission Test (DAT): The test covers the natural sciences (systems approach),
perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. * have to wait 90 days to retake

• Courses you need: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Statistics

• Additional courses that will help: Cell Biology, Genetics, Developmental Biology, Physiology, Biochemistry, and other
upper level bio courses
• 2015 DAT will contain more critical thinking like MCAT. Will include data analysis and interpretation, probability and
statistical analysis
• The reading comprehension section requires the ability to read, comprehend, and thoroughly analyze basic scientific
information.

GRE (General): The test covers verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, analytical writing
 Dental – perceptual ability

The following is list of activities we suggest could be useful in fine-tuning your motor skills. Please
note this is not an exhaustive list:

• Drawing
• Painting
• Woodcarving
• Creating 3-D artwork through jewelry-making, sculpting or ceramics
• Soap carving
• Sewing/needlepoint
• Cross-stitching
• Crocheting
• Knitting
• Learning to tie fishing knots
• Learning a musical instrument that requires extensive hand-eye coordination (e.g. piano,
violin)
 Independent Study/Research
Sustained scholarly exploration develops lifelong learning skills that
are essential to a career in medicine/dental. It teaches students how
to critically think, ask important questions, and explore them in great
depth.

Opportunities:
1) Faculty at SUNY Cortland
2) Outside research opportunities – summer undergraduate research
fellowships- AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), NSF,
NIH, or American Physiology Society
Development of Personal Attributes
Intelligence is important but not sufficient. The doctor-patient relationship is very
important!

Need to have a demonstrated compassion and concern for others.

What are they looking for?

– professional awareness
– commitment to the profession
– leadership qualities
– service and community orientation
– communication skills (interpersonal skills)
– personal and behavioral qualities
– self confidence
– motivation and initiative
– professionalism
– social support and coping abilities

What are you going to do????? Be a well-rounded college student

 Activities outside of the classroom
School admission committees will look at three
things:
– Length of time invested
– Depth of the experience
– Lessons learned

*Choose a few things that are meaningful instead in

participating in a long list of activities that you only do
once
Admission committees are aware that some students need to pay for college. Having
a job while going to school is not a negative thing and can be used to your advantage.
Professional awareness and commitment
to profession
Need to shadow!
Get exposure to patients:
– Care for an ill family member
– Become EMT, Phlebotomist, Medical Assistant, EKG
Technician, or Scribe
– Work at rape/suicide crisis center, HIV/AIDS resource clinic,
planned parenthood
– Volunteer at a nursing home or hospice
– Medical internship abroad
– Work in dental office/clinic
Development of Personal Attributes
Leadership positions on and off campus – sports,
clubs, tutoring, TA, SI, student justice, employment…

Volunteer/Community service – demonstrate

compassion and concern for others
– Go to SUNY Cortland Civic Engagement or SUNY
Cortland Student Volunteer Program (CSVP) websites
for endless opportunities.
 Important Web Sites
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
http://www.aamc.org
AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service)

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)

http://www.aacom.org
AACOMAS (AACOM Application Services)

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)

http://www.aapa.org
CASPA (Central Application Service for Physician Assistants)

American Dental Education Association (ADEA)

http://www.adea.org
ADEA AADSAS (ADEA Associated American Dental Schools Application Service)

*Student doctor network

 Timeline
Freshman
Focus on your courses and meet with me
Sophomore
Focus on your courses, meet with me, and now get involved on campus
Junior
Focus on your courses, meet with me, continue your work on campus, prepare to take
admission test (MCAT, GRE, or DAT).
Apply to school:
MD: Opens May 3rd, can submit on June 7th and deadlines are September through Dec
PA: Opens April 27th, deadlines are Sept through Jan
Dental: Opens June 3rd, deadlines are Feb 1, offers start going out Dec 2
Senior
Finish applications, interview, and decide where you are going to school!

Use winter and summer breaks: gain medical experience, participate in research, go
abroad, volunteer, and perform community service
 The Application
• Input college courses by hand (get official transcripts sent)

• Awards/honors/scholarships
• Shadowing experience
• Extracurricular/volunteer/community service
• Work experience
• Research experience
• PA school application has different sections for patient care
experience, other health care experience, health care shadowing

• Personal statement

• Letters of Recommendation – next page

 Letters of Recommendation
Letters cannot be from family members, need to come from professionals.

MD/DO
Prefer committee letter
3 faculty (at least 2 science faculty)
1 MD or DO
1 other

PA
Upload individual letters (3 maximum)
2 faculty
1 PA

Dental
Prefer committee letter
Upload individual letters (4 maximum) - 2-3 science faculty, 1 other, and 1 dentist
SUNY Cortland Graduates in Medical Professions

(16’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate

(16’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(16’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(16’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(16’) Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
(16’) Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton, Florida.
(15’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(15’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(15’) Dental School – New York University
(14’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(14’) Medical School-SUNY Buffalo
(14’) SUNY College of Optometry
(13’) Vet School-Ohio State University
(13’) Vet School-Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
(12’) Dental School – University of Buffalo
(12’) Dental School-University of Indiana
(12’) Medical School-VCOM, VA
(11’) Medical School-University of Michigan-College of Osteopathic Medicine
(11’) Medical School-NYCOM, NY
(11’) Medical School-SUNY Upstate
(11’) Medical School – SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
(11’) Medical School - Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (CCOM)
(11’) Medical School- SUNY Buffalo
(11’) Medical School - University of New England College of Osteopathic (UNE COM) Medicine
(11’) Medical School – LECOM Erie, PA
(10’) Medical School - St. George University in Grenada
(10’) Medical School-Ross University School of Medicine, Caribbean
 Plan B
1) Post-baccalaureate programs (accredited programs listed on AAMC website:
https://services.aamc.org/postbac/) to help low GPA or MCAT score. Some post-bac
programs you can only get into if you apply and get rejected from medical school.

2) Master’s programs to help low GPA or for career-changers to get pre-reqs.

3) Get 1 year of health care experience and then reapply. Good for applicant that
doesn’t have much health care experience.

4) If you need to work on “personal development” then take time off and apply for one
of these programs: Teach for America, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps.

5) If the problem is low MCAT scores invest in some test prep courses.

6) Find a different and rewarding career in health care (www.explorehealthcareers.org)