veCollect Update
This is an update as to where we are in terms of implementing a paperless reference letter system for use by the Prehealth Committee. It will directly affect anyone applying to the April 1, 2010 Prehealth Committee for a fall 2011 admission.
We are currently in contact with the vendor confirming several features to assure that the process runs smoothly when we begin the actual transition. We would like to see the complete testing of all the features to assure that the process is seamless once we open it up to the UB prehealth student population. As our institution involves a large population of potential users, our primary concern is the convenience and efficiency for all users involved (e.g., students, evaluators, professional schools). As such, we are going to reexamine where the vendors are at in early January 2010 before we open the veCollect system. In the interim, we will allow applicants to begin to request and collect letters using the system we have been using for the past several years.
Effective immediately, you can begin to ask recommenders for a letter and they have the option to submit them to our office before January. In order to have letters submitted to our office, you must first complete the top portion of the Letter of Recommendation Request Form and then give it to your recommender. He or she will then provide the reference and submit it to our office via paper. Please note that if they attach a letter of recommendation as opposed to using the actual form, the letter needs to be on letterhead stationery with their signature. Letterhead paper and the evaluator’s signature are REQUIRED. We will need to return any letters not on letterhead and/or missing a signature.
If, by early January the veCollect system is running to our satisfaction, we will send you an authorization code to open an account after you have attended a veCollect workshop. All workshops for fall 2009 and spring 2010 will be posted at the link.
Once veCollect is up and running, you will simply add the names of any evaluators on veCollect who may have already submitted letters for you via paper between now (November) and January. Our office will upload the paper letters into the veCollect letter system for you once you have opened an account and have created an entry for your evaluators.
Any questions you have can be answered by any of the prehealth advisors in 109 Norton Hall. Please set an appointment by calling 645-6013. Quicker questions can be answered via email. Jinny Majewski (vmajewsk@buffalo.edu) administrative support to the Prehealth Committee can assist you as well with any veCollect logistical questions.
Thank you for your patience while we make this transition. Again, the efficiency, accuracy, and convenience of the system for all users remains our primary goal.
This announcement is from the MCAT administrators.
Registration for the January - May 2010 test dates is now open. Examinees are successfully scheduling their test dates.
A new feature of the system this year is that it will display available sites rather than displaying all sites whether they have seat availability or not. For example, the seats for the January dates in Beirut, Lebanon are already sold out, so Lebanon will not appear as an option in the search function for January. This helps eliminate unnecessary searching and wasted time for the user.
If you have any questions about registration, please contact the MCAT Resource Center at (202) 828-0690 or mcat@aamc.org.
So, You Want to be a Doctor, Dentist, Veterinarian, Optometrist, Podiatrist or Chiropractor?
TODAY Mon., Nov 2 4:00-4:50 p.m. Meet at Norton 17 - Co-sponsored by Undergrad Academies
Prehealth Committee/veCollect Information Session
Tues., Nov 3 2:00-3:00 p.m. 145C Student Union
You Do NOT Need to Register For These Sessions
International Students and Professional Health School Admission
Wed., Nov 4 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 145A Student Union
Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Presentation - Sponsored by AED, APMS, and the Pre-Dental Association
Wed., Nov 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 215 Natural Sciences (NSC)
DO Information Forum
If you would like to know more about the DO medical degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), please consider coming to this session! One or possible two DO physicians who are currently completing their residencies in Buffalo will be available to share their advice, expertise, and knowledge pertaining to being a DO physician.
Pizza and refreshments will be served.
Thurs, Nov 5 from 4:00-5:00 in 145E Student Union.
Undergraduate Academies Announcement
YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE!!!
WHEN: THIS Thursday, November 5th 2009 @ 11:00AM-3:00PM
WHERE: Student Union FLAG ROOM (2nd Floor Student Union)
HOSTED BY: UB Against Cancer
Help ONE of the 10,000 people in the US awaiting bone marrow donations! Join UB Against Cancer for a Bone Marrow Registry Drive for the “BE A MATCH” registry!
IF YOU WANT TO HELP: Volunteers are needed for the following:
• Set Up (10-11am) 5 people
• OR Clean Up (3-4PM)
• Hour shifts: DURING the drive (4 People PER Hour)
• Snack Help: “Hospitality” Table Snack Help (2 people per hour)
• Flyering: Hand out Flyers in SU Lobby (2 people per hour) or Help distribute and post flyers around campus prior to the event
IF YOU WANT TO DONATE: Similar to donating blood, you’ll have to take a quick test (a swab of the inside of your cheek — NO NEEDLES!).
Likewise, most procedures to donate bone marrow are VERY similar to donating blood!
FIND OUT MORE! Visit the National Marrow Donor Program.
To sign up to volunteer for this event, contact:
Amelia Vangellow: ameliava@buffalo.edu
Please RSVP for these events at http://ubacademies.ning.com/events or email us at academy@buffalo.edu
Hosted by: The Undergraduate Academies
http://academy.buffalo.edu
Any questions call: 716-645-8177
This information was just released from the MCAT administrators.
We have a few updates for you as we prepare to open registration next week for the January - May 2010 test dates:
1) Registration will open Monday, November 2. We regret we cannot announce a specific opening time.
2) The 2010 MCAT Essentials are now posted online. This is REQUIRED reading prior to registering for the MCAT.
3) The MCAT administrators have posted a chart indicating which AAMC-member schools have indicated they will accept January 2010 scores for the current application year (i.e., applications for the 2010 entering class). They were able to provide information about schools who responded to the request for information.
This message from Kaplan Test Prep
While Kaplan’s classroom, online and tutoring options provide students with numerous tools for content review, some students want to further their science knowledge before the MCAT classes even begin. This October, Kaplan will provide free access to the MCAT Science Review program (a $499 value) to any student who enrolls in a Kaplan MCAT Online, Classroom or Tutoring
program.
Eligibility in this value-added promotion does not preclude AED members from taking advantage of our existing relationship by saving $100 off of the regular price of our program.
Make sure when you register to mention the AED 100$ discount!!!
~Mark Niec
President of AED
November Events
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events in November!
So, You Want to be a Doctor, Dentist, Veterinarian, Optometrist, Podiatrist or Chiropractor?
If you are a freshmen or sophomore or perhaps just beginning to think about applying to the professional health schools (e.g., medical school, vet school, dental school), come to this workshop to learn what you can be doing NOW to prepare. Learn what you need to do to become a competitive applicant for admission to these schools.
Mon., Nov 2 4:00-4:50 p.m. Meet at Norton 17 - Co-sponsored by Undergrad Academies
Wed., Nov 11 3:00-3:50 p.m. 111 Norton
Thurs., Nov 19 12:30-1:20 p.m. 111 Norton
Prehealth Committee/veCollect Information Sessions
If you are planning on using the services of the Prehealth Committee for the April 2010 deadline, you MUST attend one of the several Prehealth Committee/veCollect workshops offered from October 2009 to March 2010. Please note that only the fall semester workshop dates are noted below. After you attend, you can then become a registered veCollect user and be able to have individual letters of recommendation submitted to our office on your behalf. If you are planning on applying to the professional health schools at some later time and wish to be able to have letters submitted for you any time soon (for some later, future application), you may come to workshop as well. These sessions are not limited to juniors; freshmen and sophomore students may also attend so that recommendation letters can be submitted to our office on your behalf.
Tues., Nov 3 2:00-3:00 p.m. 145C Student Union
Thurs., Nov 12 3:30-4:30 p.m. 145C Student Union
Wed., Nov 18 11:00-12:00 p.m. 145C Student Union
You Do NOT Need to Register For These Sessions
International Students and Professional Health School Admission
Are you an international student interested in the professional health schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, etc? Do you know the considerations regarding admission in the US and considerations regarding financing a professional school education? Come to this workshop to be fully informed about the important issues associated with professional health school admission in the US for international applicants.
Wed., Nov 4 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 145A Student Union
Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Presentation
Sponsored by AED, APMS, and the Pre-Dental Association
The Army offers full scholarships for students pursuing medical school, dental school, optometry, and veterinary. The scholarships also offer stipends (i.e., compensation for living expenses) and several other advantages for recipients. AED, APMS and the Pre-Dental Association are hosting this session as one of their general meetings, so please consider attending for valuable scholarship information.
Wed., Nov 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 215 Natural Sciences (NSC)
DO Information Forum
If you would like to know more about the DO medical degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), please consider coming to this session! Two DO physicians who are currently completing their residencies in Buffalo will be available to share their advice, expertise, and knowledge pertaining to being a DO physician.
Pizza and refreshments will be served.
Thurs, Nov 5 from 4:00-5:00 in 145E Student Union.
Preparing for Fall 2011 Application to the Professional Health Schools
Are you ready to apply for admission in Fall of 2011? Do you know what you need to do to submit a complete and competitive application? The Prehealth Committee process? The timelines? Get an overview of the APPLICATION CYCLE for ALL (medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, vet) the professional health schools for fall 2011. A detailed handout will be distributed describing: your responsibilities, key deadlines, information regarding your personal statement, admissions’ tests, etc. Important information for ALL applicants!
Thurs., Nov 19 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 145C Student Union
The MCAT administrators just indicated that they will be posting a list of all AMCAS schools who have noted that they will accept January scores 2010 for the current application year of 2010.
This list will be available on the MCAT Web site by the time they open registration for the January – May administrations of the MCAT exam. They expect to open registration November 2.
The DO schools that will accept a January MCAT are already listed in the College Information Book (CIB).
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events in November and remember to regularly check this Bulletin for the latest announcements and reminders.
So, You Want to be a Doctor, Dentist, Veterinarian, Optometrist, Podiatrist or Chiropractor?
If you are a freshmen or sophomore or perhaps just beginning to think about applying to the professional health schools (e.g., medical school, vet school, dental school), come to this workshop to learn what you can be doing NOW to prepare. Learn what you need to do to become a competitive applicant for admission to these schools.
Mon., Nov 2 4:00-4:50 p.m. Meet at Norton 17 - Co-sponsored by Undergrad Academies
Wed., Nov 11 3:00-3:50 p.m. 111 Norton
Thurs., Nov 19 12:30-1:20 p.m. 111 Norton
Prehealth Committee/veCollect Information Sessions
If you are planning on using the services of the Prehealth Committee for the April 2010 deadline, you MUST attend one of the several Prehealth Committee/veCollect workshops offered from October 2009 to March 2010. Please note that only the fall semester workshop dates are noted below. After you attend, you can then become a registered veCollect user and be able to have individual letters of recommendation submitted to our office on your behalf. If you are planning on applying to the professional health schools at some later time and wish to be able to have letters submitted for you any time soon (for some later, future application), you may come to workshop as well. These sessions are not limited to juniors; freshmen and sophomore students may also attend so that recommendation letters can be submitted to our office on your behalf.
Tues., Nov 3 2:00-3:00 p.m. 145C Student Union
Thurs., Nov 12 3:30-4:30 p.m. 145C Student Union
Wed., Nov 18 11:00-12:00 p.m. 145C Student Union
You Do NOT Need to Register For These Sessions
International Students and Professional Health School Admission
Are you an international student interested in the professional health schools of medicine, dentistry, optometry, etc? Do you know the considerations regarding admission in the US and considerations regarding financing a professional school education? Come to this workshop to be fully informed about the important issues associated with professional health school admission in the US for international applicants.
Wed., Nov 4 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 145A Student Union
Army Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) Presentation
Sponsored by AED, APMS, and the Pre-Dental Association
The Army offers full scholarships for students pursuing medical school, dental school, optometry, and veterinary. The scholarships also offer stipends (i.e., compensation for living expenses) and several other advantages for recipients. AED, APMS and the Pre-Dental Association are hosting this session as one of their general meetings, so please consider attending for valuable scholarship information.
Wed., Nov 4 from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 215 Natural Sciences (NSC)
DO Information Forum
If you would like to know more about the DO medical degree (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), please consider coming to this session! Two DO physicians who are currently completing their residencies in Buffalo will be available to share their advice, expertise, and knowledge pertaining to being a DO physician.
Pizza and refreshments will be served.
Thurs, Nov 5 from 4:00-5:00 in 145E Student Union.
Preparing for Fall 2011 Application to the Professional Health Schools
Are you ready to apply for admission in Fall of 2011? Do you know what you need to do to submit a complete and competitive application? The Prehealth Committee process? The timelines? Get an overview of the APPLICATION CYCLE for ALL (medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, vet) the professional health schools for fall 2011. A detailed handout will be distributed describing: your responsibilities, key deadlines, information regarding your personal statement, admissions’ tests, etc. Important information for ALL applicants!
Thurs., Nov 19 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. 145C Student Union
Please be informed that the School of Dental Medicine has announced the following changes in relation to their Early Assurance Program effective from this point forward:
Early Assurance (EA)
Applicants need at least a 3.3 overall and BCP (biology, chemistry, physics) GPA to apply. If accepted into the EA program, a 3.7 is needed for the BCP and overall GPA to continue in the program. DAT scores must be 20 Academic Average (AA), 20 Perceptual Ability (PAT), and 20 Reading Comprehension.
Should anyone have any questions, please consult one of the prehealth advisors in 109 Norton Hall.
UPDATE - MCAT 2010 Registration
Please go to the link above to see that the Jan-May 2010 MCAT registration begins MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2009.
