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Welcome to Science in the EveningUniversity of MarylandDirector: Dr. Joelle Presson, Ph.DAssistant DeanCollege of Computer, Mathematics, & Natural Sciences

Topics for consideration IntroductionsOverview of programCourses and schedulesCareer goalsExpectations of studentsCommon questions from studentsSpecial discussion for pre-meds re MCAT2015If you want follow up with me please make advisingappointment through https://booknow.appointmentplus.com/7m4cbs18/

Introductions Dr. Presson, Assistant Dean CMNS SIE Director and academic advisorAdvising apt link is l jpresson@umd.eduGeneral Information sie.umd.eduCMNS Undergraduate Academic Programs Office Elaine Shaw-Taylor Coordinator estaylor@umd.edu301-405-68921322 Symons Hall Admissions, Registration, Billing email oes@umd.eduHealth Professions Advising Office Prehealth.umd.eduSupport for SIE medical and dental school applications with 24 UMD sciencecredits semester of application

Nature of program Started 1996Administered in College of Computer, Mathematics, and Natural SciencePart-time evening, you take what you need and have pre-reqs for UMD science courses Carries reputation of UMCP undergrad courses and curriculum- UMD transcriptBut, we serve students with a wide range of career goals.Course staffing Same courses as taken by undergraduate UMD prehealth studentsSIE is NOT accelerated- the full curriculum for medical or dental school takes fiveto six academic semesters plus one summerSections reserved for SIE students– smallMost students in SIE are interested in health professions, so we offer coursesrelated to these interests Courses and program follow UMD curricula, rules, schedulesStudents are UMD part-time, non-degree seekingFaculty are UMD instructors & adjuncts.TA’s are usually undergraduate degree seeking science majorsCost in-state per credit tuition rate plus pro-rated fees

Admission to SIE, provisional SIE is a non-degree, part time, postbac programA Bachelor’s degree from accredited university,official transcript requiredGPA 2.5 International students. difficult SIE will accept foreign credits as pre-requisites Many professional programs do not accept foreign credits as pre-reqs Many professional schools do not accept non-citizens / non residents at all

Registration for classes afteradmission math test Science courses at UMD require a high degree of math proficiencyMath readiness is assessed by the Math Placement Exam, taken after provisionaladmission to SIESIE students must earn 90% on arithmetic and algebra sections, and around 50% ontrig question Arithmetic 11 questionsAlgebra 1 18 questionsAlgebra 2 25 questionsTrig 14 questionsStudents can email Dr. Presson after they have taken the test to find outtheir results.The test can be taken twice in preparation for registration in a givensemester. If after two attempts the scores are not adequate the student mustdefer SIE admission for a semester and retake the math test beforeregistering in that next semester.

SIE courses Undergraduate Biology, Chem / Biochem, Physics Basic courses offered every semester Bio2, Genetics, Physiology, immunology, specialtopicsSIE does not offer Bio1, general micro, Cell biologygen chem 1 & 2, orgo 1 & 2, biochem,phys 1 & 2Other courses offered once a year Recommended courses maximize MCAT and DAT performance andcompetitiveness for admissionEnglish, math, statistics, soc scienceAll course pre-reqs must be met before registration

Typical scheduleTwo courses a semesterCHEM course MW BSCI course TuTh PHYS often taken in summer medical and dental Optimal preparation to take tests and apply --3 years of course workMCAT and DAT are critical and preparation cannot be rushedBest time of year for MCAT or DAT is later May to early JuneApplications go in early JuneOther health related programs on prehealth.umd.edu For other programs consult Dr. PressonPlan 1. Optimal preparation for MCAT with coursework starting any Fall semesterSemester#Fall1BSCI170 & 171 Principles of Cellular andMolecular BiologyCHEM131/132 Gen Chem 1Spring2BSCI222 GeneticsCHEM231/232 Orgo 1Summer Term3PHYS121PHYS122Fall4BSCI223 General MicrobiologyCHEM241/242 Orgo 2Spring5CHEM271/272 Gen Chem 2BSCI330 Cell BiologyFall6BSCI Scientific Readings or other upper levelBSCIBCHM463 BiochemBSCI440 PhysiologySTAT464 Biostat;Spring7CoursesPrepare for MCAT; Consider the UMD MCAT Preparation ProgramMay take MCAT; June ApplyGlide year8Consult with Dr. Presson; take courses to improve academic record.

What classes should you startwith? If you have NO undergraduate science courses- foralmost all career paths BSCI70/171CHEM131/132If you have already taken science courses Start in a place to ensure successIf you have C’s in past courses, you should retake beforemoving on to the next course.We do NOT recommend taking a course if you had the prereq more than 3 years ago. Retake the pre-req.If you are uncertain about where to start make an apt totalk with Dr. Presson

Day, summer, winter courses availableto SIE students with restrictions Day courses Summer open registration to all students, but few courses in eveningPHYS1, 2 offered in summer in evening are are manageableFew biology courses in summer, and all meet during the dayI do NOT recommend chemistry in summerWinter SIE students can register first day of classes if seats are openmisc upper level biology & online geneticsWinter is only 3 weeks, very hard to keep up if you workDay, summer, winter do NOT carry in state tuition for out of stateSIE students

Is SIE right for you?

SIE is ideal for students who: Are career changers and need all of the course prerequisites for their graduate or professional schoolprogramhave taken some courses but not all of them and needa flexible program to take just the courses they needhave completed most lower level pre-requisite coursesand wish to take upper level biology courseswork while taking courses No more than 40 hrs / week No travel, taking work home etc

SIE is not as useful for studentswho: Have taken many science courses and are looking toincrease their GPA by repeating courses. Thesestudents can enroll in SIE but .A GPA based on 120 undergrad credits is hard to raise SIE students typically do better in SIE then they did asundergrads, but sometimes not good enough to getinto professional school Professional schools sometimes not impressed byrepeated courses

How successful will you be in SIE courses? Most SIE students do better than they did in undergradBut often not a lot betterData from SIE students fall 2016 through spring 2021Undergraduate vs SIE GPA. 795 students with 7 or more SIE creditsBlack line represents equal undergraduate vs SIE GPA.Dotted line is trend uate GPA33.23.43.63.84

Is this the right time for you tostart the program? Other commitmentsJob family Financial situationAcademic preparation

Advising resources SIE.umd.edu Plans of study for pre-med, predentGeneral academic advising- Dr. PressonPre-health, pre-vet, grad school, others Apts by link on SIE advising webpage When you are ready to apply to professionalschool- Health Professions Advising OfficeHPAO- has restrictions on who it will serve. CheckSIE or prehealth website, or Dr. Presson. Prehealth.umd.edu

Rules, regulations Runs by same rules as all UMD programsThings like repeats, drops, adds, withdrawals alldictated by UMD rulesExceptions to policy petitioned by same rules thatgovern all UMD studentsCourses same as those taken by degree seekingstudents, same rules, same content

expectations of students Courses are UMCP CMNS undergraduate coursesExpect to be treated like you are 19 Follow the rulesPay attention to the expectationsRespect your instructors and TAsBe mindful of academic integrityThe best predictor of success is class attendance Don’t miss classDon’t come lateDon’t expect special treatment “because I work” med schools will not honor and respect our courses if we make exceptionsto the undergrad standards and rules

More expectations. grading Grading is determined by faculty, just like it waswhen you were an undergrad Don’t expect a better grade than you earned because“you worked so hard”or because your grade will keep you out of med school.Or.Don’t expect me to override faculty grading. I cannot dothat in our day program and cannot do it in SIE.SIE courses are challenging, difficult you can be successful if you put in enough time

Academic honesty DO NOT CHEATDo your own workDon’t copy from any other sourceMake sure your work is in your own words,paraphrased, not quotedPay attention to what each instructor considerscheatingAll cases of suspected academic dishonesty willbe handled by the UM Student Judicial ReviewOffice

Money issues & rules tuition,dates, etc oes.umd.edu SIE courses carry in state tuition Part-time per credit charge at UM MD in-state rate Out of state applies for summer, daytime, winterNo financial aid Terp payment plan: http://www.umd.edu/bursar/TPP.htmlSIE Program follows all UM Undergraduate policies Testudo.umd.edu E.g. drop add period, Drop with a W date, repeat policy Exceptions to policy request go thru the CMNS Students ServicesOffice in 1300 Symons Hall.SIE has special rules for paying tuition. Consult website and keep track ofOES emails

General questionsabout programIf you want a one on one apt with Dr. Presson use link onSIE.umd.edu

Information forpre-med and pre-dent students

The application cycle, medicaland dental school Take courses- all recommended not just those“required”Take MCAT or DAT in late may or early juneApply through central portal juneDo secondaries over summerGlide year, sept through may Interviews and acceptances sept through april

MCAT, DAT, application Only time to take MCAT or DAT- may - juneOnly one time to apply – junedon’t plan to apply later in summerMCAT tends to be conceptual, DAT tends to befact orientedPractice, practice, practice Should you pay for a prep course?

The glide year ASSUME you will have to apply againTake more courses Get more relevant experience Correct any weaknesses

Success factors forprofessional Grades, Grades, and did I say Grades?Test scoresPassion for your chosen fieldRelevant experienceCommunity serviceA pleasant, congenial presenceBeing special

Selling yourself Why the change in career? Does it make sense?Your motivations for your new field The role of personal experience with your new field Good and badCritics of the health care system- but not toostronglyYour accomplishments in your current field- howto think about it relative to medicineMaking up for past mistakes Rule of thumb- two or more years of mostly A workin rigorous science courses

Med school andMCAT2015

the new medical school landscape Admissions requirements & MCAT preparation 5 chem courses Minimum of two biology courses but should takefour or five for MCAT preparation Gen chem 1, orgo 1, orgo 2, gen chem 2,biochemistryInro to cells & molecules, genetics,general microbiology, upper level cellbiology, mammalian physiologyTwo semesters PHYS Choosing schools use MSAR https://apps.aamc.org/msar-ui/#/landing

the medical school landscape MCAT2015 First offered January 2015 Broad and integrativePassages test ability to read and interpret scientific studiesBiology section includes lots of biochemistry as applied tobiologyPhysics and chemistry passages often in life sciences contextSocial science section Based on HHMI Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians & inputfrom medical school facultyIncludes neurobiology, biological basis of behaviorNormalized scores 472 - 528

acceptance to med school ProbabilitiesBest chanceUndergrad GPA over 3.0 SIE GPA 3.5 or higher The more SIE credits the better, especially if lowundergrad GPA MCAT score 510 or higher, the higher the better