<p>Can any current student that is premed at UMD tell me what it is like? Can you tell me how helpful the advisors are and what type of help can you get for the MCAT? Also, can you tell me about the research and internship opportunities that you have participated in or that you friends have participated in? What do you need to do to start your own research or help with a professors research? What do you need to do to get opportunities in the medical center and will the school help you to find positions in the hospital?
What did you do to get LORs from your professors?
Also, what kind of Honors society or organizations do you have for students preparing to go to med school? Is the work extremely stressful?</p>
<p>Are you in the Honors program? I know that our S was originally thinking of doing research in the sciences (biochemistry) and was being recruited with opportunities to do HHMI reseach. He chose not to go that route but the opportunities seemed amazing.</p>
<p>Jgirl,
I replied to your Pitt thread, also! It seems that you and my daughter are making decisions between the same schools! Again, I am interested in the answers that you get. I would love to hear from anyone who pursued a career as a Physician Assistant at Maryland, Pitt or Penn State.</p>
<p>jgirl,</p>
<p>I will do my best to answer your questions. DS is a freshman Honors Bio major (pre-med) at UMD. As far as advising, he says that what he has been told so far, he already knew going into the field. There is a lot of research available online and on CC for pre-med btw. They have had a meeting with the Pre-med organization, but again, for him it was information he already knew. The recommendation is to take the MCAT your sophomore year just to see how you do.</p>
<p>There are LOTS of intern opportunities and research opportunities. He receives e-mails all the time and forwards some of them to me. You apply and see what happens. </p>
<p>He was invited to be in the Catalyst program this semester. I don’t know the specifics, but it is selective and involves teaching you how to approach research. This program also will open doors for research opportunities. It is a 1 credit course, but I believe it is by invitation only.</p>
<p>LOR will come from professors you get to know by taking courses and attending seminars, events, or becoming involved in organizations, etc. For instance, DS is in Honors (Ambassador), bio major and B/K. He has made LOTS of contacts in just one semester being involved in the above with events and communication, etc. Honors and B/K have opened A LOT of doors for DS. No doubt. Professors also announce through the department web if they are looking for help. Find a professor you like or have heard great things about and search them for opportunities you may be interested in. </p>
<p>There is a National Honor Society. DS was just invited to participate. You must have a 3.5 GPA first semester and maintain this along with obtaining 3 community service credits to graduate with this distinction (cords). There is also a Medical Honor Fraternity/Sorority on campus. There is Rush each semester and although many Rush, DS says they only take about 15 each semester. </p>
<p>DS is only in his second semester, so I cannot speak to how stressful it may get. He did well his first semester in just about all Honors courses and only has one course left to receive his Honors Citation, but I don’t know if this is normal or abnormal. He just started his second semester, so not sure how stressful it’s going to get. He does LOVE sitting in on a Genetics class and thinks it is amazing, so he may not be the norm???</p>