Self-Assessment Checklist

The application process is best summed up as one of finding the right fit for the school and for you so that a match can be made. As you go into the application process, it is important to examine, critically and reflectively, not only your scores and experience but also what they mean to you and to the schools to which you apply.

Well-prepared candidates have found the aspects of the following Self-Assessment Checklist to be significant to their applications. Consider the degree to which each statement represents your own readiness for the current cycle. If, after considering your readiness in these regards, you think a gap year might be in your best interest, your pre-health advisor, as well as the pre-health advisors in the Career Center, are happy to help you generate options.

Academic Metrics

  • For at least 8 schools on my application list, my AMCAS BCPM GPA is within the middle 50% (see WU Matriculation Stats, or MSAR for schools we don’t have data for).
  • For at least 8 schools on my application list, My MCAT total score is within or above the middle 50% and all my subsection scores are within the 10th-90th percentile (see MSAR for this data).
  • My BCPM GPA by year is stable over time or shows an upward trend and the “capacity for improvement” as noted in the core competencies.

Service Orientation/Clinical Experiences

  • I have demonstrated a consistent commitment to service in a clinical setting for an extended period. AMCAS® Application Cycle Numbers for 2021 Matriculated Applicants showed 423.6 average community service hours.
  • I have some service outside of clinical settings to demonstrate a service orientation in my character. “I care about others besides myself” evidence.
  • I have acquired a genuine understanding of what it means to be a doctor through clinical experiences/patient interactions. The middle 50% for clinical hours last year for admitted applicants 300 -800 hours. The median was 600 hours.

Narrative/Commitment to Doctor/Why Doc?

  • My personal statement and activities section demonstrates that I understand the physician role and patients’ needs.  I have adequate hours of exposure as well as mature reflections on relevant activities.  Note: This might be through shadowing; paid employment in a clinical setting –(did I directly interact with physicians and patients there?); or clinical volunteering – (did I directly interact with or observe physicians while I volunteered?)
  • I show increasing depth of commitment over time to some project. (For example, by taking a leadership role; by pursuing academic work related to my co-curricular work; or by pursuing similar work with multiple populations or in different settings.)
  • In my Personal Statement and Most Meaningful Activities, I clearly articulate my motivation and a patient-centered vision for my future work.
  • At least one of my Most Meaningful Activities is a clinical experience.

Fit and Match/School List

  • I am able to describe specifically why my application makes me a good fit for each of the schools on my list based researching deeply each school and matching my important criteria with the school’s important criteria.
  • If I am emphasizing research – research was either a Most Meaningful Activity or is the activity I participated in the longest and had the most hours for – I will apply to schools that especially value research.
  • If I am emphasizing a dominant path for primary care, I will apply to schools that especially value providing community benefits, primary care or community-based health, etc.
  • True or False:  My highest priority is attending medical school as soon as possible and will be happy attending my state school.
  • True or False:  It is very important to me to know that I gave myself every opportunity to secure a seat at a research-intensive, highly selective medical school.  I am willing to take extra time to ensure that I am a competitive candidate at these schools.

Submission

  • I will be able to submit my application in the first two weeks of June.
  • My summer plans allow me to return secondaries within one to three weeks of receiving them.

Recommendations

  • I have two letters of recommendations from instructors who have supervised me in the mastery of the scientific core competencies. I have given these recommenders specific evidence from my point of view about how I have demonstrated the scientific competencies so that I can have in depth and personalized letters. PI letters can work here but I should think about having the PI as an “other” letter.

Prepare for Interviews

  • I know which of the schools on my list use CASPer or PREview, and I have utilized Big Interview or some similar mechanism to practice before taking CASPer.  I also will be able to take CASPer in May.
  • I have made contact with the Career Center to get prepared for multiple interview formats such as the MMI.
  • I have practiced sufficiently and received feedback on my interview presence and performance.

Other Considerations

  • If I have to report an institutional action or conviction, I have worked with my prehealth advisor or other close mentors as I prepare to write and talk about the incident.
  • I have also contacted the PreHealth Advising office about my infraction so they can help address it in my cover letter.
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