| Q: |
What is the purpose of the NON-Matriculating SPFD? |
| A: |
The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (BSOM) is committed to educating primary care physicians, making medical care more readily available to the people of eastern North Carolina, and providing opportunities to minority and disadvantaged students. It is also the commitment of BSOM to offer encouragement and opportunities for the training of premedical students. The Academic Support and Enrichment Center, in affiliation with BSOM, sponsors an intensive, challenging educational summer program that allows participants to experience the pedagogical style and demands of the medical school curriculum. |
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| Q: |
How much does it cost to attend the program? |
| A: |
Students attend the program FREE of charge. The Brody School of Medicine actually pays each eligible participant a stipend to assist with the lodging and traveling expenses incurred throughout the program. |
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| Q: |
What are my housing options? |
| A: |
In the past, we have offered the summer participants several housing options. These options include: University Housing, Hotel Accommodations, or sublease apartments of medical students who are away for the summer. The student is responsible for all housing costs. |
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| Q: |
When will I know if I've been selected? |
| A: |
The acceptance process occurs in two steps. First, at approximately two weeks after the application deadline, applicants who met the criteria for the interview process will be notified by mail and/or phone of the assigned interview date/time. Shortly thereafter, the interview process begins. After about four weeks of interviews, the committee will meet to decide the participants for the program. Next the chosen applicants will be notified via phone that they have been selected to participate in the Summer Program for Future Doctors. If one of the top chosen participants declines the position, we then go to the alternate list to select a replacement. We continue this process until all non-matriculating positions are filled. At that point, acceptance and decline letters are mailed to all applicants to the summer program. |
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| Q: |
What if I haven't taken the MCAT yet? |
| A: |
The MCAT is not a prerequisite for the summer program. Even though we would prefer that you have taken the MCAT, it will not hurt you if you haven't. If you have not taken the MCAT, be sure to include your SAT scores and scores from any other standardized admission test (i.e. GRE). |
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| Q: |
Do I have to travel to the Brody School of Medicine for the interview? |
| A: |
We prefer that students travel to Greenville. However, if you live a considerable distance from the Brody School of Medicine, you do have the option of conducting your interview over the phone. If you so choose, this will not hinder your chances of being accepted into the program. |
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| Q: |
If I can't get my SAT scores, what happens? |
| A: |
Check for your SAT scores in various places: undergraduate institution, your college transcript, or your high school transcript. You may also contact the Educational Testing Services (ETS) for an official copy of your SAT scores. If you absolutely can't get a copy of your SAT scores, please contact the Academic Support & Enrichment Center at 252-744-2500. |
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| Q: |
I've been out of college for awhile and may have a hard time getting letters from my professors. What should I do? |
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Because you will need these letters when you apply for medical school, it is a good time to try to reconnect with your professors. If this is not possible, you may have to get letters from supervisors, mentors, and service supervisors. |
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| Q: |
Who can apply to the program? |
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Eligible applicants include college juniors, seniors, or post-graduates. Applicants must have satisfactorily completed introductory college courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. Organic chemistry is strongly encouraged. Currently, only North Carolina residents are accepted. Minority, disadvantaged, and nontraditional students are given preference, but all students are encouraged to apply. |
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| Q: |
If I've already applied to the Brody School of Medicine, do I still have to complete the application? |
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Yes. You still need to complete the background demographics and essay portions of the application and sign the release form giving the Office of Admissions permission to release your AMCAS application information to our office for the Summer Program file. This release form is available for download on the program website. |
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| Q: |
What is the application deadline for the NON-matriculating applicants? |
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See program information section for deadlines. |
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| Q: |
Can I use the grades from the Summer Program in my undergraduate education? |
| A: |
That's at the discretion of each institution. The Summer Program for Future Doctors does not give an official transcript of your grades. We do, however, provide a detailed summary of your grades along with a summative evaluation. |
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| Q: |
On the SPFD application, you ask for the overall and science GPA. How do I calculate my science GPA? |
| A: |
This is a hard topic to explain. Your overall GPA should be displayed on your transcript(s). If you have more than one transcript, average the overall GPAs from all institutions. First you may want to check and see if your last institution calculated your overall GPA with their average. For the science GPA, separate the science courses from the general college/other courses to figure out the science GPA. Use the GPA calculator to transfer your credits to a science GPA. |
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| Q: |
On the SPFD application, you ask for documentation of financial status. What will you accept? |
| A: |
You only need to submit the tax information if you want to be considered a coming from a disadvantaged background. You may send a copy of your previous year's completed tax forms or a copy of your W4. |
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| Q: |
Who funds the SPFD? |
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Funds by the Brody School of Medicine make the summer program possible. |
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| Q: |
Whom should I contact if I have questions? |
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Dr. Virginia Hardy is the Director of the Summer Program for Future Doctors. However, if you have any questions regarding the SPFD, please feel free to contact our office at 252-744-2500 or via e-mail at ascc@mail.ecu.edu. You may ask for Jennifer Harris or Verna Perry. |
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