Underrepresented Students
Heath Professions Programs embraces the involvement of every student, staff member, faculty member, and employer. We recognize that a truly diverse community includes individuals from a range of backgrounds. Please visit our Student Services page for more information.
Your Application Profile: A Self Assessment
In a survey conducted by the American Association of Medical Colleges, it was found that the pre-admission variables accorded high importance by medical school admissions personnel included:
- undergraduate grade point average
- MCAT scores
- quality of degree-granted undergraduate institution
- letters of evaluation
- involvement in health-related work experiences
- interview ratings
- personal comments on AMCAS or supplemental applications
- involvement in extracurricular activities.
In light of these variables, it is important that you are able to step back and assess your developing profile as an applicant to health professions schools. What are the strengths of your developing application profile? What are areas in need of attention? What are ways you can improve your overall application?
Consider the following self-inventory
Be honest with yourself as you, confidentially, rate yourself according to the following scale:
Ratings:
1 = needs considerable improvement
2= needs some improvement
3= OK
4= very good shape
5= outstanding
Your involvement in health-related experiences
____ Your involvement in extra-curricular activities
____ Your ability to present yourself in person
____ Your ability to present yourself in writing
____ How well you relate to others
____ Ways you exhibit independence or initiative or perseverance
____ Ways you exhibit leadership skills
____ Your sense of purpose and motivation
____ Your sense of intellectual curiosity
____ Your common sense
____ Your ability to handle stressful situations
____ Your interest in science and biomedical research
____ Your breadth of interests
____ How you have demonstrated commitment to service
____ Your familiarity with current issues in health care
____ How you will distinguish yourself as a candidate
____ How well your professors and advisors know you
____ Strength of your overall undergraudate or post-bac grade point average
____ Strength of your standardized test scores
____
Taken from "The Advisor" March 2000/Vol. 20, No.2 "Assessing Your Application Profile: A Workshop for Pre-Health Students" by David Verrier, Ph.D. and Gale Lang, MSW
