MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICANT MANUAL
MEDICALSCHOOLAPPLICANTMANUALFALL 2021 MATRICULATION
CONTENTS01 06OVERVIEWHealth ProfessionsAdvisory Board (HPAB)Medical SchoolApplication TimelineImportant DeadlinesApplicationManagementSystem(AMS)HPAB PROCESSAdvisor InterviewHPAB DocumentsHPAB Essays09APPLICATIONCOMPONENTSTranscriptSemester HoursConversionWork / ExperiencePersonal StatementLetters of EvaluationMCATMSARSecondaries262819INTERVIEWS &DECISIONSLETTERS OFRECOMMENDATIONAsking For LettersSubmitting LettersList of RecommendersRequesting YourHPAB PacketInterview PreparationDeciding on a SchoolUSEFUL LINKSTranscriptsInterviewingMCATAMCASAACOMASTMDSAS
HEALTH PROFESSIONSADVISORY BOARD (HPAB).individualized HPAB Committee Letterthat highlights an applicant’s academicachievement, intellectual strength.Many undergraduate institutions offer a letter from a prehealth committee in support of medical school applicants.At Penn, this committee is called the Health ProfessionsAdvisory Board (HPAB). It is comprised of the Pre-HealthAdvising Team as well as University faculty and staff,who aim to provide a holistic overview of each eligiblecandidate. Medical schools value the personalized insightsthese letters provide.Penn has a large number of applicants to medicaland dental school every year, so we have developeda systematic process that enables us to write acomprehensive Committee Letter for those who meet ourdeadlines.After meeting with each applicant, the Pre-Health AdvisingTeam writes a thorough, detailed, and individualized HPABCommittee Letter that highlights an applicant’s academicachievement, intellectual strength, non-academicaccomplishments, communication skills, maturity, fit forhealth care professions, service orientation, leadershipand community engagement.Medical School Applicant Manual1
MEDICAL SCHOOLAPPLICATION TIMELINESpring Take MCAT by the end of May. Begin primary application(s). Obtain at least 3 letters ofrecommendation. Request official transcript.Summer Submit primaryapplication(s) in June. Submit secondaryapplication(s) in July/August.Fall & WinterAttend medical school interviews!2
IMPORTANT HPABDEADLINESAttend a Medical School ApplicantOrientation.Open a Credentials File.Complete your Advisor Interview byApril 10.Secure at least 3 appropriate letters ofrecommendation in your CredentialsFile by May 15.Submit LOR Form by May 22.Upload Completed Application to AMS.CREDENTIALS REQUEST DATEJULY 17 AT 12PM ESTMedical School Applicant Manual3
APPLICATION MANAGEMENTSYSTEM (AMS)The Health Professions Application Management System(AMS) is an online system designed specifically for Penn’sHPAB Process.AMS can be accessed in the Apply to Health Professions Schoolpage of the Career Services Website (PennKey rationAfter logging into AMS, you will notice that there are threesections of the portal:Online Credentials FileHPAB Documents ChecklistCredentials Request (page 24)ONLINE CREDENTIALS FILEYour Credentials File, housed in Career Services, serves asa permanent repository for your letters of recommendationfor medical school. You can open a credentials file inperson at the Career Services Office, or by ation*Letters kept in your Credentials File can only be used for thepurpose of applying to medical school.4
APPLICATION MANAGEMENTSYSTEM (AMS)HPAB DOCUMENTS CHECKLISTThe HPAB Documents page allows you to upload eachof the required HPAB documents (page 7). Detailedinstructions on how to upload documents can be foundat the bottom of the checklist. ALL checkboxes must bechecked before you will be able to request your HPAB packet.Medical School Applicant Manual5
ADVISOR INTERVIEWAfter attending the orientation, contact BeckyTamayo at 215-898-1789 to schedule a 45-minuteAdvisor Interview.DECEMBER WORKSHOP ATTENDEESmust contact between January 6-January 8SPRING WORKSHOP ATTENDEESmust contact within 2 business days ofattending workshopPlease upload your HPAB Documents (Photo,Expanded Resume, BCPM GPA, & HPAB Essays)prior to your Advisor Interview.Due to the high volume of applicants,you will not be able to reschedule the Advisor Interview.6
HPAB DOCUMENTSOnly the Pre-Health Advising Team will have access to thesedocuments. They will not be sent to any medical schools.PHOTOYou should be recognizable and prominent in the photo.EXPANDED RÉSUMÉA sample can be found in AMS.BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY, PHYSICS, & MATH (BCPM)GPAList the courses and grades that comprise your BCPMGPA, in addition to the GPA calculation. Follow the formatprovided in AMS. You can calculate your BCPM GPA byusing the GPA calculator found in your Worksheet onPennInTouch.Include the grades earned in any BCPM course, as wellas other courses with content that falls primarily in thesefour areas. Please review the Course Classification Guidesin the Useful Links (page 28).HPAB ESSAYSThis is an opportunity for reflection that will help yourpre-health advisor know you better and prepare you formedical school applications and interviews.AMCAS/AACOMAS APPLICATIONYou must upload your submitted AMCAS or AACOMASapplication before you will be able to request your HPABPacket (page 24).Medical School Applicant Manual7
HPAB ESSAYS1. How has your personal background shaped your life,influenced your thinking, or informed your priorities?2. How have you changed since beginning yourundergraduate education?3. What is your greatest interpersonal strength and howhave you demonstrated it?4. In what ways have you worked with people fromdifferent backgrounds—members of the largercommunity, in addition to people at Penn—duringyour undergraduate career? What have you learnedfrom these interactions?5. What ethical or practical problems in patient carehave you witnessed or faced during the course of yourclinical experiences?6. Do you believe your grades accurately reflect thestrength of your candidacy for medical school? If not,please explain. You must answer this question if yourBCPM GPA falls below a 3.1.7. Were you ever the recipient of any institutional actionby any college or university for unacceptable academicperformance or conduct violations? If “yes,” pleaseexplain in detail and plan to discuss the matter fullywith your pre-health advisor.8
PRIMARY APPLICATIONALLOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLSIf you are applying to allopathic medical schools (MD),use the American Medical College Application Service(AMCAS). The AMCAS application contains the following: Demographic InformationAcademic RecordWork/ExperiencesPersonal StatementLetters of EvaluationInitiate the AMCAS application by registering online. Theearliest you can begin filling out the application will be inearly May 2020. Submissions begin in late May/early Juneand we suggest submitting by the end of June.OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLSIf you are applying to osteopathic medical schools (DO),use the American Association of Colleges of OsteopathicMedicine Application Service (AACOMAS). This applicationis very similar to AMCAS, and is available online.TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOLSPublic Texas medical schools belong to a separate stateapplication service called Texas Medical and DentalSchools Application Service (TMDSAS). Please notify youradvisor if you are applying to any medical school in Texasvia TMDSAS.Medical School Applicant Manual9
PRIMARY APPLICATIONACADEMIC RECORDList all of your courses following the instructions providedby AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS. If in doubt, consult theCourse Classification Guides provided on each platform.TRANSCRIPTSOnly the Office of the University Registrar (at Penn or anyother university where you have completed coursework)can send your official transcript(s).1. Request an official Penn transcript online viaPennInTouch. The addressee must be the applicationservice(s) you will be using.2. After completing the AMCAS "Schools Attended"and AACOMAS and TMDSAS "Colleges Attended"application sections, download the "TranscriptRequest Form." You must email the Transcript RequestForm to the Registrar’s Office on the same day of thePennInTouch request: transcripts@upenn.edu.3. The Registrar’s Office will attach the form to yourofficial transcript before sending it directly to AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS.We recommend that you wait to request your transcriptuntil your spring grades are added (with the exception ofstudy abroad grades).Make sure to review your unofficial transcript for errorsbefore you place your request.10
PRIMARY APPLICATIONSEMESTER HOURS CONVERSIONApplicants using AMCAS do not convert their Penn courseunits. Enter them exactly as they appear on the officialtranscript.Applicants using AACOMAS & TMDSAS must convert Penncourse units to semester hours for their applications.For applicants using AACOMAS & TMDSAS,1 credit unit 4 semester hoursFor example:0.5 c.u. 2 credit hours1 c.u. 4 credit hours1.5 c.u. 6 credit hoursIf you have questions about converting yourcourses to credit hours, please contact the Office of theUniversity Registrar:215-898-6636Medical School Applicant Manual11
PRIMARY APPLICATIONWORK / EXPERIENCE SECTIONList and describe up to 15 of your most importantextracurricular and co-curricular activities and awards.You will be asked to write more extensively on up to 3activities you choose as your “most meaningful.”Do not include high school activities without consultingyour pre-health advisor.TIPS FOR WRITING DESCRIPTIONS List the most appropriate (non-student) contactperson. Explain your role, accomplishments, responsibilitiesand contributions. Provide what you learned and why it’s meaningful. Review the tone and content of the Expanded Resumesample provided on AMS to assist you in writing yourown descriptions.12
PRIMARY APPLICATIONPERSONAL STATEMENTYou will write an essay that details one or two adult (notchildhood) experiences, in which you were an activeparticipant.The Personal Statement illustrates qualities that makeyou a strong candidate.Strive for a unifying theme.Provide detailed and concrete examples.Convey your maturity and capacity for selfreflection.Convey your commitment to medicine andyour “fit” for the profession.In order to have your personal statement reviewed byyour advisor, you must first upload the document toyour Handshake account and then request a "Pre-HealthPersonal Statement Review" appointment via BlueJeansvideo conference.Final day to request yourPersonal Statement reviewMay 22Medical School Applicant Manual13
AMCAS APPLICATIONRELEASING YOUR INFORMATIONAMCAS poses this question in the "Schools Attended"section of the application:Please indicate “YES.” The aggregate information will helpus assemble Penn-specific statistics for future applicants,just as past information was helpful to you.AMCAS LETTERS OF EVALUATIONPenn applicants must indicate that they will be submittinga “Committee Letter” (not a “Letter Packet” or "IndividualLetter") in the "Letters of Evaluation" section. List your pre-health advisor as the Contact/Author. Do not list the individual letters of recommendation in thepacket on your AMCAS or AACOMAS application. AMCAS suggests the Letter Request Form be sent toyour committee letter author. We do not need thisLetter Request Form. Please do not send this to our office.14
AMCAS APPLICATIONAPPLYING TO MULTIPLE PROGRAM TYPESIf you decide to apply to more than one program type,you will need to add a Letter of Evaluation for eachprogram type in order to receive distinct Letter IDs:Under the AMCAS "Medical Schools" section, you willselect the programs to which you are applying. You willthen assign the appropriate Committee Letter to eachindividual program:Medical School Applicant Manual15
MEDICAL COLLEGEADMISSION TEST (MCAT)Take the MCAT no later than the end of May in the year youintend to apply.PREPARATION You can discuss your preparation plan with your prehealth advisor. Applicants have had success with avariety of approaches. The AAMC provides guidance and resources for MCATpreparation online (See Useful Links page 28).FEE REDUCTIONApply for Fee Assistance through the AAMC: http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/fapPlease inform us if you receive the Fee Waiver so we are ableto waive your HPAB fee.ACCOMMODATIONSApply well in advance of registration: odations/JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMSApplicants to some joint degree programs might berequired to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE),in addition to the MCAT. For information about the GRE,visit www.gre.org16
MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONSREQUIREMENTS (MSAR)The MSAR is an online resource available through theAAMC that provides a comprehensive list of allopathicmedical schools and information about them, including:Statistics on the range of GPAs and MCATscores for admitted students.Admission ratios and tuition for in-state vs.out-of-state applicants.Detailed information on school curricula.Penn-specific admissions statistics are available onthe Apply to Health Professions School page the CareerServices website and in the Career Service Library.You can discuss your tentative list of schools with yourpre-health advisor.Medical School Applicant Manual17
SECONDARY APPLICATIONSAfter your primary application has been verified, you willstart receiving secondary applications (“secondaries”)from most medical schools.STANDARD COMPONENTS OF SECONDARIES Write additional essays. List the courses you have taken which satisfy theschool’s requirements. Pay an additional fee. Submit Letters of Evaluation.In your case, this will be the HPAB Packet, which consistsof the HPAB Committee Letter and your 3-6 letters ofrecommendation.Be as diligent and timelyas possible in completing andreturning thoughtful secondaryapplications18
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONIn addition to your HPAB Committee Letter,medical schools require that you submit letters ofrecommendation as a part of your application. The HPABCommittee requires that you send a minimum of 3 lettersand you may send a maximum of 6.ASKING FOR A LETTER OF RECOMMENDATIONGive your recommenders at least 4 - 6 weeks' time towrite and submit your letter.Letters of recommendation from famous and/or wellknown people are not advised. Character referencesfrom friends or family members are also not advised.One, or better two, letters of recommendation shouldbe from a science professor or TA.If possible, at least one letter of recommendationfrom a non-science professor or TA demonstrates awell-rounded background.One letter must be from a member of thestanding faculty at Penn.Medical School Applicant Manual19
HOW TO SUBMITLETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONComplete and sign a ConfidentialityAgreement for each letter requested(available in Career Services and on ourwebsite).Mark your letter CONFIDENTIAL or NONCONFIDENTIAL, sign, and date your form.Note: medical schools value confidential letters.Give the Confidentiality Agreement to yourrecommender. The recommender shouldreturn the form to our office along with theirletter of recommendation.Instructions as to how to submit the letterare in the bottom-right corner of theConfidentiality Agreement for yourrecommender.20
CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTMedical School Applicant Manual21
YOUR LIST OFRECOMMENDERS FORM (LOR)Your List of Recommenders Form (LOR) designates the3-6 letters to be included in your HPAB Packet.Submit your LOR Form (via AMS) by May 22Include all letters you intend to send in your HPAB packet,even if they have not yet been received by our office.Submit a separate LOR Form for eachprogram to which you are applying: MD, MD/PhD, or DO.Submit a new LOR form for each cycle, evenif you plan to use the same recommendationletters. Prior to requesting your HPAB packet, make sure yourLOR form is updated and includes only letters thatare on file on AMS. We will use the most recently submitted LOR Form. We will cancel your request if you request before allof your letters of recommendation are on file.22
YOUR LIST OFRECOMMENDERS FORM (LOR)Medical School Applicant Manual23
REQUESTING YOURHPAB PACKETHPAB PACKET The packet includes your Committee Letter and up tosix letters of recommendation.The author is your Pre-Health Advisor.The HPAB Packet has its own, unique, Letter ID(AMCAS Only).APPLICATION ID The AMCAS ID has 8 digits and the AMCAS Letter IDhas 7 digits.The AACOMAS ID has 10 digits.The TMDSAS ID has 5 digits.SUPPLEMENTAL LETTERS There is an additional fee of 5 for sending out asupplemental letter of recommendation.When requesting a supplemental letter in AMCAS,make sure to specify the author of the letter, not ouroffice. Our office can still submit the letter on theauthor's behalf.AMCAS will then create a unique Letter ID for thesupplemental letter of recommendation, which isdifferent from that of the HPAB Packet.24
REQUESTING YOURHPAB PACKETINSTRUCTIONS FOR PLACING YOUR REQUESTRequests, placed through AMS, begin at:12pm EST on July 17.Flat fee of 95 per cycle.You must complete the HPAB DocumentChecklist (page 5) before you will be able toplace your request.1. Check AMS to confirm your LOR form reflects theletters on file. If not, your LOR form must be updated.2. Choose the appropriate program type and enter theApplication ID and Letter ID.3. Choose Recipient (Electronically):MD – AMCAS LOETexas MD – TMDSASDO – AACOMASChoose Recipient (Manually): Non-AMCAS / CaribbeanSchools – enter the email or mailing address of school.4. Choose “HPAB Packet” or “Supplemental Letter.”5. Proceed and pay with Debit/Credit Card.6. Allow 7-10 business days for your packet or letter tobe uploaded. You will receive a confirmation email.Please email Becky Tamayo with questions:rtamayo@upenn.edu.Medical School Applicant Manual25
INTERVIEWS & DECISIONSInterviews begin at the end of August and can runthrough the beginning of March.Acceptances might be offered as early as October or aslate as the following June (off the “wait list”).Each school has its own system and timeline, so there isno standard timeline for interviews and acceptances.INTERVIEW PREPARATIONVisit the interviewing section of our website.Pre-Health Interview Workshops are open toall and offer helpful tips.A mock interview in the traditional formatcan be scheduled after you have accepted aninterview invitation from a medical school.To schedule please check for availabilityon Handshake. If you are unable to find anappointment slot, please email Becky Tamayoat rtamayo@upenn.edu.Multiple Mini-Interview (MMI) Workshops areoffered to applicants who have already scheduledan MMI with a school. Please email BeckyTamayo at rtamayo@upenn.edu with your MMIdate and location to sign-up for a workshop.26
INTERVIEWS & DECISIONSDECIDING ON A SCHOOLYou can hold multiple acceptances before April 30.Accepting an early offer does not mean you are committed tothat school. You can release the acceptance later.According to the AAMC Traffic Rules for Admissions,you are permitted to hold only one acceptance after April30. (You may remain on the waitlist of other schools,however).Once you have made your decision, please contact theother medical schools to release your other acceptances.Remember to contact the schools’ admissions andfinancial aid offices to fully understand the cost ofattending each program.For further information, please make sure to review theAAMC Application and Acceptance Protocols: cols-applicants/Medical School Applicant Manual27
USEFUL LINKSRequesting Transcripts: Interview Practice: ical-school-interviews/MCATMCAT Registration: al-school/taking-mcat-exam/register-mcat-exam/MCAT Fee Assistance Program: http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/fapMCAT Special Accommodations: odations/AMCASContact: amcas@aamc.org or (202) 828-0600AMCAS General: www.aamc.orgAMCAS Application: -medical-school-amcas/MSAR: school-admission-requirements/AMCAS Course Classification: S Transcript Entry: al-school/article/section-4-course-work/AMCAS Application Protocols: cols-applicants/28
USEFUL LINKSLetter Writing Guidelines: uidelinesbrochure.pdfFinancial Aid: AACOMASContact: aacomasinfo@liaisoncas.com or (617) 612-2889AACOMAS General: www.aacom.orgAACOMAS Application: nAACOMAS Course Classification: https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACOMAS Applicant Help Center/Filling Out YourAACOMAS Application/Academic History/5 AACOMASCourse SubjectsAACOMAS Transcript Entry: https://help.liaisonedu.com/AACOMAS Applicant Help Center/Filling Out Your AACOMAS Application/Academic History/3 Transcript EntryTMDSASContact: info@tmdsas.com or (512) 499-4785TMDSAS General: www.utsystem.edu/tmdsasTMDSAS Application: https://www.tmdsas.com/applytmdsas/TMDSAS Application Handbook: dfTMDSAS Course Classification: escribedCoursework.htmlTMDSAS Transcript Entry: .html#InfoTMDSAS Deadlines: https://www.tmdsas.com/deadlines.htmlMedical School Applicant Manual29
CONTACT215-898-17893718 Locust WalkMcNeil Building, Suite dshake.com/
GPA List the courses and grades that comprise your BCPM GPA, in addition to the GPA calculation. Follow the format provided in AMS. You can calculate your BCPM GPA by using the GPA calculator found in your Worksheet on PennInTouch. Include the grades earned in any BCPM course, as well as other courses with content that falls primarily in these
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※ Applicant who transferred shall submit previous university's transcripts. ※ If an applicant's transcript does not include information on GPA, it is required to submit an official document issued by the applicant's graduated school describing the university's evaluation system and applicant's academic achievement.
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Review the application, resume/C.V., and any other submitted documents for each applicant and determine which applicants you wish to interview. After you review each of the applicant’s documents, update the applicant’s status to denote their current status within the
