The Nathan Smith Society

Veterinary Medicine

Dental MedicinePublic & Global Health

The Health Career

Experience and

Advising at Dartmouth

Speakers• Lee Witters, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions

Program & Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry

• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry• Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center• Marietta Smith ‘12• Michael Randall ‘12

Other Key People• Dr. Robert Keene, DMD, Pre-Dental Advisor• Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program

Administrative Coordinator

A “To-Do” List• Join the Nathan Smith Society one of three ways:

1. Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around2. Enroll on NSS web site3. Blitz ‘Nathan.Smith.Society@dartmouth.edu’

Nathan Smith Society Events Winter/Spring/Summer Terms 2011

• DHMC Shadowing Program• Community Veterinary

Shadowing Program• Community Dental Shadowing

Program• Dartmouth Ears (a patient

visiting program at DHMC)• Dartmouth TALES (visitation

with Alzheimer patient/family)• ‘Dinner with a Doc/Vet/Dentist’

Program• DMS “Interest Groups” &

Alumni Workshops

• Narrative Medicine Workshop• ‘Take a Med Student to Lunch’

Program• “Mock Admissions”• Paying for Medical School

(DMS Financial Aid office)• Senior Night• DC/DMS Night• Workshops on

Medical/Dental/Vet School Application

• NSS Research Opportunities Database

• MD/PhD, MD/MBA programs

A “To-Do” List• Join the Nathan Smith Society one of three ways:

1. Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around2. Enroll on NSS web site3. Blitz ‘Nathan.Smith.Society@dartmouth.edu’

• Visit the NSS web site (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss) and review the document entitled “Advice for Entering Students’– While there,“self-enroll” on NSS Blackboard site

(instructions on NSS home page)

A “To-Do” List• Join the Nathan Smith Society one of three ways:

1. Sign sheets on clipboards being passed around2. Enroll on NSS web site3. Blitz ‘nss’

• Visit the NSS web site (www.dartmouth.edu/~nss) and review the document entitled “Advice for Entering Students’– While there,“self-enroll” on NSS Blackboard site

(instructions on NSS home page)• Hang onto the info sheets being passed out– Key points of contact and advice for curricular and

extracurricular decisions AND a D-planning document

Six “Helpful Hints”

Six “Helpful Hints”

1. Dartmouth does not have a specific pre-med or pre-health curriculum. Major in what you enjoy and are interested in, but bear in mind that you must be able to demonstrate scientific aptitude and excellence. A wide experience in the humanities and social sciences is a real asset to a health career, as well.

Not “premed”

Six “Helpful Hints”2. Most Dartmouth students initiate application to med/vet/dental

school at end of senior year or as alums, rather than spring of junior year, creating one or more “gap years”.

EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER THIS OPTION TO SEE WHAT IMPACT THIS WOULD HAVE ON YOUR DARTMOUTH

EXPERIENCE (examples: course flexibility, FSP/LSA, curricular/major options,

avoiding “doubling up”, building your credentials, athletics)!Later isgreater?

Six “Helpful Hints”3. Choose your first year courses (and especially your fall term

courses) carefully with the advice of someone familiar with you, the courses and with the pre-health requirements. “Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not?

Math Course?

Chemistry Course?

Biology Course?

?More than one of above

?None of theabove

Physics Course?

English• First Year Seminar• Writing 5• If exempted from Writing 5, a

course in literature in English, Comparative Literature or Linguistics Dept (“literature” in title a good idea). NOT any other literature, even if taught in English (e.g. Russian Literature)

Speakers• Lee Witters, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Program

& Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry

• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry• Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center• Marietta Smith ‘12• Michael Randall ‘12

Other Key People• Dr. Robert Keene, DMD, Pre-Dental Advisor• Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program

Administrative Coordinator

Math OptionsGeneral requirement: Two math courses (calculus, statistics)

Math 3IntroductionTo Calculus

Math 1/2Calculus

With Algebra(by invitation)

Math 8(Variable Calculus)OR ABOVE

Take a Math course if needed for beginning chemistry

sequence!

Have Math 3 Credit?

Wait??

Chemistry OptionsGeneral requirement: Two terms general chemistry with lab;Two terms organic chemistry with lab; biochemistry (some)

Chemistry 2QuantitativeReasoning

in Chemistry(by invitation)

Chemistry 5General Chemistry(Second term is Chem 6)

Chem 5 also available in winter term (Chem 6 in spring & fall)

Pre-ReqMath 3

(or Math 3 credit or Math 1/2)

Pre-Req

Chem 10 (by exam) “counts” for 2-term general chem requirement

ANOTHER OPTIONBiology-Chemistry 8/9

Stay tuned!

Physics OptionsGeneral requirement: Two physics courses (with labs)

Physics 3General Physics I

Physics 4General Physics II

Offered winter &spring terms

Math 3 Pre-Requisite

Physics 13Introductory Physics I

Physics 14Introductory Physics II

Offered winter &spring terms

Usually taken by intended physics/math majors or with strong background in physics & math

Many pre-health students defer

physics till later, since it, unlike Bio 11

& Chem 5, is not a pre-req for other

required pre-health courses

Math 3 and 8Pre-requisite

(or concurrent Math 8)

Biology OptionsMinimum** required: 2 Biology courses with labs

Biology 11The Science of Life

(no lab)

Lab CoursesBiology 12 (Cell Biology) Biology 13 (Genetics) Biology 14 (Physiology) Biology 15 (Microevolution) Biology 16 (Ecology)

Biology 2Human Biology

(no lab)

Want backgroundin human biology to orient

your other studies?Uncertain about rigor of college

science courses?Testing your interest in health

or biology?

2 offerings in fall: (Biology in the News;

DNA to Diversity)1 offering in winter:

(Cooperation & Conflict) & 1 in spring:

(Emerging Infectious Diseases)

** More strongly recommended

Pre-Req

NEW OPTION Fall/Winter 11-12!Biology-Chemistry 8/9

Chemical Principles/Biologic Processes• Two-term nterdisciplinary class combining principles of

both disciplines • Taken together over two consecutive terms, this option

gives credit for Chem 5 and takes place of Bio 11, thus serves as pre-requisite for Biology lab classes and for Chemistry 6.

• If a student takes only the one term (8) it will count as a distributive, but NOT towards any pre-requisites. 

• Along with its interdisciplinary goal, it is also aimed at giving students more time to learn the Chem 5 material.

• The enrollment in this class is capped at 80 students.• Pre-requisites:

• Math 3 (can be concurrent)• NO pre-matriculation credit for Chemistry 5

CHANGES COMINGPossible New Directions/Courses

Needed• Course Requirements• Biochemistry• Statistics

• Course Recommendations (?)• Introductory Psychology• Introductory Sociology

• 2015 MCAT Exam Changes

Taking More Than One…. or None …Among Math, Chem & Bio Courses?

“Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not?

CHEM 2 BIO 2

MATH

BIO 11CHEM 5

CHEM 5

BIO 2

CHEM 5

BIO 11

OTHER

MATH

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

MATH OTHER

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

MATH?

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

CHEM 5

PHYSICS 3

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Many combinations possible (only some shown)!

Taking More Than One…. or None …Among Math, Chem & Bio Courses?

“Should I ease into a college science-based curriculum or not?

CHEM 2 BIO 2

MATH

BIO 11CHEM 5

CHEM 5

BIO 2

CHEM 5

BIO 11

OTHER

MATH

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

MATH OTHER

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

MATH?

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

CHEM 5

PHYSICS 3

Writing 5 (or 2)or lst YrSeminar

Many combinations possible (only some shown)!

Take-Away Message Have a conversation about YOU and your specific

goals, aspirations and scholastic background with a knowledgeable advisor before committing to a specific class schedule and keep on talking to knowledgeable advisors as you proceed through Dartmouth!

Your first year faculty advisor A pre-health advisor

(Walk-in D-plan help Monday Sept 19, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM; 125 Haldeman; new group every 30

minutes) and in HPP office (11 Parkhurst) weekly (hours to be e-mailed & posted on home page of

Nathan Smith Society)

Six “Helpful Hints”

4. Get to know your professors (as mentors & future letter writers)USE OFFICE HOURS!

Six “Helpful Hints”5. Learn to write well! The process of med/vet/dental school

application will emphasize your verbal reasoning skills and ability to write well-structured and reasoned essays (MCAT; applications to schools). In addition to working with professors, use the Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology (RWiT) whenever you have the opportunity.

Six “Helpful Hints”

6. Participate in extracurricular activities that abut on the health care profession and service to society; sustain your involvement, so that your humanity, creativity and impact are evident.

Evaluating Beyond Grades,MCAT/DAT/GRE Scores and Prior Experiences in Health

• Active listener• Problem solver• Communicator

(oral, written)• Critical thinker• Multilingual

• Resiliency• Integrity/

Judgment• Adaptability• Persistence• Motivation• Intellectual

curiosity• Empathy• Altruistic service

Skills & Abilities Personal & Professional Characteristics

Speakers• Lee Witters, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Program

& Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry

• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry• Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center• Marietta Smith ‘12• Michael Randall ‘12

Other Key People• Dr. Robert Keene, DMD, Pre-Dental Advisor• Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program

Administrative Coordinator

What & Where is Pre-Health Advising at Dartmouth?

I must be at the rear entranceto Parkhurst!

Weekly walk-in office hours (posted on NSS and NSS

Blackboard sites)

Speakers• Lee Witters, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Program

& Nathan Smith Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry

• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry• Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center• Marietta Smith ‘12• Michael Randall ‘12

Other Key People• Dr. Robert Keene, DMD, Pre-Dental Advisor• Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program

Administrative Coordinator

Speakers• Lee Witters, Faculty Advisor, Health Professions Program & Nathan Smith

Society; Professor, Biology/Medicine/Biochemistry• Sarah Berger, Health Professions Program Advisor• Jon Kull, Professor of Chemistry• Carl Thum, Academic Skills Center

• Marietta Smith ‘12• Michael Randall ‘12

Other Key People

• Dr. Robert Keene, DMD, Pre-Dental Advisor• Annette Hamilton, Health Professions Program Administrative

Coordinator

Lee Witters & Sarah Berger will be available to assist you in choosing your fall courses on Monday, September 19,

from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, 125 Haldeman(new group every 30 minutes on the

hour & half hour)

Pre-Health Students at Dartmouth• Medicine

– Marietta Smith ’12– Michael Randall ‘12

• Dentistry– Dr. Robert Keene (

Robert.C.Keene@dartmouth.edu)– Allison Clark ‘12 & Alicia Kim ‘12

• Veterinary Medicine– Michelle Evans ‘13– Sean Kaufman ‘13

And don’t forget the web site for the Nathan Smith Society www.dartmouth.edu/~nss

Be sure to put your name on clipboard sign-in sheets before you leave today