Dear 2023 applicants,
As many of you have now or are about to submit your AMCAS/other primaries including TMDSAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, VMCAS, and OMSAS, you may be getting ready to take Casper and, for some schools, also the other two Altus assessments Snapshot and Duo. Therefore, I wanted to remind you of the following resources and information about the Altus assessment test.
(For AAMC PREview updates and info, see the previous two emails sent to this list with that information. If you will be taking PREview, be sure to view the recordings of the 5/4 and 6/7 AAMC webinars about this exam).
Casper. Many applicants to US medical schools will need to take this online situational judgment test (SJT). You can learn more about CASPer here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_about-2…>.
Medical schools using CASPer<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_schools…> Scroll down at https://takealtus.com/schools-and-programs/ to find the list of participating US schools.
To learn if a school requires just Casper or also asks applicants to complete the Snapshot and Duo assessments, see the medical school's website).
Scheduling your test: Click here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_dates-2…> for the schedule of upcoming CASPer tests. Since participating schools use CASPer as a screening tool, it is important to prepare and schedule your test in a timely manner. Although you will see a range of test dates, plan to take yours by early August in order to ensure timely evaluation at all participating medical schools, and particularly at rolling admissions schools where an earlier interview date confers an advantage over later dates.
The Casper webinar for applicants can be viewed here<https://youtu.be/Miq9fobvd0s>.
You may also find the following resources helpful for preparing to take Casper:
How to Maximize Your Chances of Success on CASPer<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__view.attach.io_HyRRQrd…>
Student Information Flyer on CASPer<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__view.attach.io_rklcvnl…>
The resources page on TakeCASPer.com<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_blog_&d…> > Casper for 2022/23 Test Takers presentation: https://vimeo.com/677869922
PrepMatch<https://prepmatch.com/>: A free peer-to-peer CASPer simulation platform to help you prepare for a test that you were told you can't prepare for.
And here is the info about Casper on the OCS website<https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/amcas> (overlaps with some of the info above):
Casper (Computer-based assessment for sampling personal characteristics)
At this time, over 30<https://takealtus.com/dates-times/> U.S. medical schools require applicants to do an online situational judgment test (SJT) called Casper as a pre-interview screen. The test presents a scenario which includes an ethical dilemma and then asks applicants to comment on how the individuals in the scenario should proceed. Proponents of the test believe it measures personal traits such as integrity and the ability to reason. If applicants are required to do this, we strongly recommend that they do free online practices (see https://takecasper.com/sample-casper-test/ and http://apetest.com/caspersim/practice-test/ for two examples). The SJT requires timed, rapid typing about specific scenarios, so applicants need to practice that skill if possible. Note: There are on average just 1-2 test dates per month<https://takealtus.com/dates-times/>, so be sure to register ahead of time. Please be sure to review the Casper FAQs<https://takecasper.com/faq/>. We recommend that you aim to take Casper by the end of July, so it does not delay any interview invitations.
Good luck!
Oona
Oona B. Ceder, PhD
Director, Premedical and Health Career Advising
Associate Director of Career Services
Ph: 617.495.2595 / Fax: 617.495.3584
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
http://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Subscribe to the Harvard OCS Medical School Applicant Listserv: If you are applying to medical school in 2022 for matriculation in 2023, please subscribe to our Applicant Listserv at https://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/harvardocs-medschool-applica… with a @college.harvard.edu address, @post.harvard.edu address, or @alumni.harvard.edu address. Note: If you do not have a @post or @alumni.harvard.edu email address, please email premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> with your name, @college.harvard.edu email, and preferred email so we can verify that you were an undergraduate at Harvard.
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[cid:image001.jpg@01D880A1.7B2A7660]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[cid:image002.jpg@01D880A1.7B2A7660]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[cid:image003.jpg@01D880A1.7B2A7660]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[cid:image004.jpg@01D880A1.7B2A7660]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>
Dear 2022 Applicants,
1. Updating schools. We are getting lots of emails about updating schools you have not heard from. With questions about updates/letters of interest, please reach out to your House tutors first. If you have additional questions after consulting with them, feel free to reach out to us. You do not want to send updates to schools that do not accept them (some schools do not accept updates/letters of interest at all or only after you have interviewed), and you want to be careful if a school has a limited number of updates allowed. You may decide you want to be able to send those updates later in the process more than you want to send them now.
**We had a longer discussion of updating schools in our previous message.
1. Zero to two interviews. If you have received 0-2 interviews, we recommend that you send emails now to the schools where you have not yet been rejected. In those emails, be gracious and acknowledge that you realize that not all people are granted interviews, but that you would be honored to receive an invitation. You can briefly comment on why you are interested in this school and can briefly give an update if you have something you would like to share. These should not be long notes. If you currently have 0-2 interviews, please get in touch with your House tutors and make an appointment with one of us at OCS. We can help you map out a strategy from here. Lots of people who were in this same situation at this point last year are now several months into their first year of medical school.
1. Two or more interviews or an acceptance. If you have had two or more interview invitations and have not been rejected from those schools (or if you even have an acceptance!), you can either sit tight depending on the number of invitations you have received and how you feel about those schools or you can send updates to other schools.
1. Post-Acceptance. Once you have an acceptance to any medical school, your House is unable to advocate on your behalf at any school. We (and your tutors) are happy to advise you, of course, as you advocate for yourself in your quest to receive additional interview invitations.
1. AMCAS Choose Your Medical School Tool. (https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/amcas-c…<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__students-2Dresidents.a…>) Please be aware of this tool and how you are supposed to use it. This link has a bunch of useful information, so be sure to read information provided there! The Choose Your Medical School tool will not be available until February 19, 2022.
1. Upcoming info session- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai info session and diversity panel, Monday, 11/8, 4-5pm. We encourage you to attend! Please join us for a special information session with Dr. Valerie Parkas, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions, Dr. Carrie Ernst, Professor in the Department of Psychology and Member of the Admissions Committee, and Jessica Maysonnet, Associate Director of Admissions at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Our speakers will focus specifically on diversity, equity and inclusion on their campus. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have, and to get to know the Mt. Sinai team in a more comfortable setting! Co-Sponsored by the Harvard Black Premedical Society and the Harvard Office of Career Services. REGISTER IN ADVANCE TO ATTEND<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__mssm.zoom.us_j_8721649…>
Best,
Emiko & Oona
Dear Applicants,
As a reminder, here are our July advising policies for current applicants. Congrats on submitting or being about to submit your primaries, and Good Luck as the application process gets underway!
OCS premed and pre-health advising summer schedule. Your House premedical tutors remain available during July to answer questions related to secondary applications, your school list, and other questions about your overall application and plans. Time-sensitive application-related questions that cannot be answered by your House premed tutor/s can be emailed to premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> and an advisers will get back to you within one business day. Regular premed/pre-health advising appointments for all premed/pre-health students, including current applicants, resume in August.
* If you are a current (2023) applicant with individual questions or concerns about your application or MCAT, please reach out to your House Premedical Tutors during July. If you need additional guidance or have an urgent question that cannot wait until August, please email premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> and we will get back to you within one business day.
* We will continue to send important updates and information via this listserv throughout the summer (and for the duration of the application cycle until summer 2023).
* For students who are not applying to medical school now, but have other premed or pre-health related questions during this time, please first review the information that can be found on the OCS website for information on premed courses, medical school requirements, getting clinical experience, gap year planning, and how to find research opportunities (https://careerservices.fas.harvard.edu/channels/pre-med-students/).<http://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health).Appointments>
We wish you a wonderful summer!
The OCS Pre-Health Advisers
Premedical and Health Careers Advising
https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[Description: cid:image002.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[Description: cid:image003.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[Description: cid:image004.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>
tel: 617.495.2595
For anyone applying MD-PhD who couldn't attend this infosession:
Dr. Walensky has kindly agreed to sharing the recording link with you. Please review the instructions below.
Topic: Harvard/MIT MD-PhD Program Infosession with Loren Walensky, MD, PhD
Date: Apr 7, 2022 04:51 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
If you are a current student or alum and wish to view the recording of this infosession, you are invited to do so by reviewing and agreeing to follow these instructions:
Restrictions for accessing this recording link: This recording link is for personal use by students and alumni of Harvard College only. Do not share this link with anyone. Violation of these restrictions is considered a violation of the Harvard College Honor Code.
If you agree to these restrictions, here's the link (enjoy!): https://harvard.zoom.us/rec/share/kz8FY4pVYLKN9lu2f6Dp_hMJBchkLUXB0Y3G0-HWl…<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__harvard.zoom.us_rec_sh…>
Best,
Oona
Oona B. Ceder, PhD
Director, Premedical and Health Career Advising
Associate Director of Career Services
Ph: 617.495.2595 / Fax: 617.495.3584
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
http://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Subscribe to the Harvard OCS Medical School Applicant Listserv: If you are applying to medical school in 2022 for matriculation in 2023, please subscribe to our Applicant Listserv at https://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/harvardocs-medschool-applica… with a @college.harvard.edu address, @post.harvard.edu address, or @alumni.harvard.edu address. Note: If you do not have a @post or @alumni.harvard.edu email address, please email premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> with your name, @college.harvard.edu email, and preferred email so we can verify that you were an undergraduate at Harvard.
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[cid:image001.jpg@01D8816C.9989B6E0]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[cid:image002.jpg@01D8816C.9989B6E0]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[cid:image003.jpg@01D8816C.9989B6E0]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[cid:image004.jpg@01D8816C.9989B6E0]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>
Dear applicants,
The OCS Medical School Applicant Listserv was down most of the day today but is now back up. Apologies for the multiple emails you received while HUIT was working on resolving the problem.
Best,
Oona
Oona B. Ceder, PhD
Director, Premedical and Health Career Advising
Associate Director of Career Services
Ph: 617.495.2595 / Fax: 617.495.3584
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
http://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Subscribe to the Harvard OCS Medical School Applicant Listserv: If you are applying to medical school in 2022 for matriculation in 2023, please subscribe to our Applicant Listserv at https://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/harvardocs-medschool-applica… with a @college.harvard.edu address, @post.harvard.edu address, or @alumni.harvard.edu address. Note: If you do not have a @post or @alumni.harvard.edu email address, please email premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> with your name, @college.harvard.edu email, and preferred email so we can verify that you were an undergraduate at Harvard.
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[cid:image001.jpg@01D880F4.657AECC0]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[cid:image002.jpg@01D880F4.657AECC0]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[cid:image003.jpg@01D880F4.657AECC0]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[cid:image004.jpg@01D880F4.657AECC0]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>
Dear 2023 applicants,
As many of you have now or are about to submit your AMCAS/other primaries including TMDSAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, VMCAS, and OMSAS, you may be getting ready to take Casper and, for some schools, also the other two Altus assessments Snapshot and Duo. Therefore, I wanted to remind you of the following resources and information about the Altus assessment test.
(For AAMC PREview updates and info, see the previous two emails sent to this list with that information. If you will be taking PREview, be sure to view the recordings of the 5/4 and 6/7 AAMC webinars about this exam).
Casper. Many applicants to US medical schools will need to take this online situational judgment test (SJT). You can learn more about CASPer here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_about-2…>.
Medical schools using CASPer<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_schools…> Scroll down at https://takealtus.com/schools-and-programs/ to find the list of participating US schools. To learn if a school requires just Casper or also asks applicants to complete the Snapshot and Duo assessments, see the medical school's website).
Scheduling your test: Click here<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_dates-2…> for the schedule of upcoming CASPer tests. Since participating schools use CASPer as a screening tool, it is important to prepare and schedule your test in a timely manner. Although you will see a range of test dates, plan to take yours by early August in order to ensure timely evaluation at all participating medical schools, and particularly at rolling admissions schools where an earlier interview date confers an advantage over later dates.
The Casper webinar for applicants can be viewed here<https://youtu.be/Miq9fobvd0s>.
You may also find the following resources helpful for preparing to take Casper:
How to Maximize Your Chances of Success on CASPer<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__view.attach.io_HyRRQrd…>
Student Information Flyer on CASPer<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__view.attach.io_rklcvnl…>
The resources page on TakeCASPer.com<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__takecasper.com_blog_&d…> > Casper for 2022/23 Test Takers presentation: https://vimeo.com/677869922
PrepMatch<https://prepmatch.com/>: A free peer-to-peer CASPer simulation platform to help you prepare for a test that you were told you can't prepare for.
And here is the info about Casper on the OCS website<https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/amcas> (overlaps with some of the info above):
Casper (Computer-based assessment for sampling personal characteristics)
At this time, over 30<https://takealtus.com/dates-times/> U.S. medical schools require applicants to do an online situational judgment test (SJT) called Casper as a pre-interview screen. The test presents a scenario which includes an ethical dilemma and then asks applicants to comment on how the individuals in the scenario should proceed. Proponents of the test believe it measures personal traits such as integrity and the ability to reason. If applicants are required to do this, we strongly recommend that they do free online practices (see https://takecasper.com/sample-casper-test/ and http://apetest.com/caspersim/practice-test/ for two examples). The SJT requires timed, rapid typing about specific scenarios, so applicants need to practice that skill if possible. Note: There are on average just 1-2 test dates per month<https://takealtus.com/dates-times/>, so be sure to register ahead of time. Please be sure to review the Casper FAQs<https://takecasper.com/faq/>. We recommend that you aim to take Casper by the end of July, so it does not delay any interview invitations.
Good luck!
Oona
Oona B. Ceder, PhD
Director, Premedical and Health Career Advising
Associate Director of Career Services
Ph: 617.495.2595 / Fax: 617.495.3584
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
http://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Subscribe to the Harvard OCS Medical School Applicant Listserv: If you are applying to medical school in 2022 for matriculation in 2023, please subscribe to our Applicant Listserv at https://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/harvardocs-medschool-applica… with a @college.harvard.edu address, @post.harvard.edu address, or @alumni.harvard.edu address. Note: If you do not have a @post or @alumni.harvard.edu email address, please email premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> with your name, @college.harvard.edu email, and preferred email so we can verify that you were an undergraduate at Harvard.
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[cid:image001.jpg@01D880CA.67BA95A0]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[cid:image002.jpg@01D880CA.67BA95A0]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[cid:image003.jpg@01D880CA.67BA95A0]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[cid:image004.jpg@01D880CA.67BA95A0]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>
Now:
2023 Medical School Application Q&A
Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2022, 5:00pm to 6:00pm
Location: Virtual
Join us virtually to ask questions about AMCAS, the application process, and more. PLEASE REGISTER TO ATTEND.<https://harvard-csm.symplicity.com/students/app/events> If you have accessibility needs or questions related to this event, please contact ocsrecep(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:ocsrecep@fas.harvard.edu>.
----------------------------------------------------
Premedical and Health Careers Advising
https://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[Description: cid:image001.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[Description: cid:image002.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[Description: cid:image003.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[Description: cid:image004.jpg@01CD8445.F53D2F50]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>
tel: 617.495.2595
Instructions for applicants applying to MD-PhD and MD programs and using different Committee Letter PDFs for each group of schools:
If you are applying to both MD and to MD-PhD programs and wish to send a different selection of individual letters and/or different versions of your Committee Letter to your MD and your MD-PhD schools, respectively, you will create two separate AMCAS Letter IDs for these two sets of letters. You will then assign the MD schools' Letter ID to the schools where you are applying MD only, and the MD-PhD Letter ID to the schools where you are applying MD-PhD. Be sure to provide your Academic Coordinator with these two unique Letter IDs, noting which one is the MD Letter ID, and which one is the MD-PhD Letter ID, so that they will be able to upload both Letter PDFs to AMCAS.
Oona B. Ceder, PhD
Director, Premedical and Health Career Advising
Associate Director of Career Services
Ph: 617.495.2595 / Fax: 617.495.3584
Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers
http://ocs.fas.harvard.edu/medical-health
Subscribe to the Harvard OCS Medical School Applicant Listserv: If you are applying to medical school in 2022 for matriculation in 2023, please subscribe to our Applicant Listserv at https://lists.fas.harvard.edu/mailman/listinfo/harvardocs-medschool-applica… with a @college.harvard.edu address, @post.harvard.edu address, or @alumni.harvard.edu address. Note: If you do not have a @post or @alumni.harvard.edu email address, please email premed(a)fas.harvard.edu<mailto:premed@fas.harvard.edu> with your name, @college.harvard.edu email, and preferred email so we can verify that you were an undergraduate at Harvard.
Office of Career Services<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>, Harvard University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences
54 Dunster Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
[cid:image001.jpg@01D8766E.34CDEAE0]<http://www.facebook.com/OCSHarvard>[cid:image002.jpg@01D8766E.34CDEAE0]<http://twitter.com/HarvardOCS>[cid:image003.jpg@01D8766E.34CDEAE0]<http://ocsharvard.tumblr.com/>[cid:image004.jpg@01D8766E.34CDEAE0]<http://www.ocs.fas.harvard.edu/>