The most popular medical school admission podcast we’ve ever hosted was an interview with Jennifer Welch, Associate Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid at SUNY Upstate Medical University – and today, she’s joining us again.

Jennifer is extraordinarily experienced in med school admissions. Since 1994 she has served first as SUNY Upstate Medical University’s Director of Admissions and in January 2013 she became the Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at SUNY Upstate Medical University. So that’s over 20 years heading up a medical school admissions office. And in addition to heading up admission for the medical school, she is also in charge of admissions for all healthcare related programs including Nursing, PT, PA, MD, MD/MPH, MPH. Welcome, Jennifer!

What’s new at SUNY Upstate? [1:55]

We have a new president – our first female president (an African American woman). She’s dedicated to our mission of promoting diversity in medical education. We’re also just launching a new curriculum this fall, including new clinical contacts in the first two years. There’s a big focus on self-directed learning.

What does that mean? [3:22]

We’re emphasizing small groups and teams. We have collaborative co-directors teaching the curriculum (both MDs and PhDs). It’s competency-based, system based. There are more hands-on experiences (less time sitting in a lecture hall). Students are becoming more involved in their learning. It’s been a 3-year process – everyone’s really excited about it.

The future of medicine is team based.

The curriculum includes earlier clinical exposure, and a focus on understanding the clinical relevance behind what they’re doing.

What are your thoughts about the new MCAT? [6:45]

It’s still a work in progress – we’re learning from it. Some students have the old score, some have the new, some have both the old and the new.

We’ve always done a holistic approach to evaluation. So the exam is still important, but we’re looking for grades, consistency of grades, the strength of the undergraduate curriculum, what the student has in terms of extracurricular involvement, volunteer work, etc.

Our average this year was 509 (80th percentile), which is about a 30 on the old test.

I’m excited about the social sciences section on the new MCAT – I think it’ll ultimately bring us a different type of doctor.

What have you learned from the new MCAT? [9:00]

We’re looking at each of the categories vs the overall score – so we’re looking at it a little differently than in the past. Also, we’re not averaging multiple scores anymore. It all comes back to holistic review.

Any advice for handling/responding to secondaries? [10:50]

Sometimes students make the mistake of thinking they’re not as important as the AMCAS. They are. And they need to pay close attention to all the pieces that are asked.

In terms of handling multiple secondaries: prioritize. Some can be answered relatively quickly, and others will take more time. But make sure each one is done well and done correctly.

Our secondary is pretty straightforward in terms of the questions asked – but you need to pay attention to detail: it has to be done right. The secondary gives us info about applicants, and also info about how they do things (professionalism, attention to detail).