e Who is eligible for the Minnesota’s Future Doctors program?

You may be eligible for the program if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

• You are the first in your family to attend college.

• You consider yourself to be a member of an ethnic minority group.

• You come from a rural area.

• You come from an economically-challenged family.

Most candidates meet several of these criteria, however, each applicant is considered on an individual basis.  If you believe that you can demonstrate to the selections committee that you come from an underserved community and face multiple barriers to success, you are encouraged to apply. 

Individuals faced with more barriers to success (e.g. economically-challenged families, specific minority groups, rural families, and first in family to attend college) receive more attention from the selections committee.  If you are unsure whether you are eligible for the program, contact Jo Peterson at jopete@umn.edu to discuss your eligibility.

How does the selections process work for the Minnesota's Future Doctors program?

Applications are due February 1.  Most students must apply during freshmen year of college to be eligible. We usually receive more than 135 applications.  A carefully selected team of 80 highly qualified individuals, including doctors, medical students, current Future Docs participants, and community leaders work together to review applications and select candidates.

Pending funding, 50 scholars will be selected for the 2011-2012, 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 program.

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Who runs the Minnesota’s Future Docs Program?

The Minnesota’s Future Docs program is a collaboration between the University of Minnesota Medical School (campuses in Duluth and the Twin Cities) and Mayo Clinic/Mayo Medical School.

Jo Peterson is the director of the program at the University of Minnesota.

Who pays for the program?

The Minnesota’s Future Docs program is funded primarily by a single family.  This generous family chooses to remain anonymous.  Additional funds are provided by Medtronic, the Minnesota Physicians Association, various private donors, as well as a grant from the State of Minnesota Department of Health,.

 The Minnesota’s Future Docs program does not receive funding from the University of Minnesota, the medical school, student tuition, or the federal government.  In the event that funding shortfalls impact the program, students will be given at least three months notice.

When will I find out if I’ve been accepted into the program?

All applicants will be notified of their status by March 5.

Applicants are encouraged to apply to other national summer programs. It is better to have many options rather than no options. 

What happens if I find out about this program after the application deadline?

If you’ll be a sophomore the next year and are following a 5-year graduation plan, you may apply the next year.

Is there a minimum GPA requirement?

A minimum overall college GPA of 2.8 is required.  A high school GPA of 3.5 or higher is also helpful, though not required.  Applicants who have performed well in college-level science courses are more likely to be accepted to the program.

You must submit all application materials, including your official application, reference list, and unofficial transcripts to Thuy Nguyen-Tran and Jo Peterson by February 1, 2011. No late materials are accepted. Apply online at http://www.meded.umn.edu/futuredocs/

I am a college sophomore, junior, or senior in the academic year 2010-2011.  Am I eligible to apply for Minnesota’s Future Doctors?

 Maybe. This program is meant primarily for college freshman with 30 credits or less. You may apply as a sophomore only if you are on a 5-year plan and have three years left (or at least 2.5 years left after sophomore year). You must have three full summers left before you graduate from college.

If you earned college credits in high school through PSEO, and are a currently a college freshman with more than 30 credits, you are encouraged to apply regardless of how many credits you have completed.

Why are freshmen the target for this program?

Freshmen are the target for this program simply because the program is three years in length, and participants are required to complete all three years.

I am now a sophomore in college. Why didn’t I hear about this program before?

 We do our best to make information about our program available to everyone.   All University of Minnesota campuses, MnSCU schools, as well as various private and public colleges and universities across the country are sent information about the program each year. However, it is up to each institution to get information out to students in the fall.

If you are currently a sophomore and believe that you still qualify for the program, please email Jo Peterson at jopete@umn.edu to discuss your qualifications. You must have a 3.2 GPA or higher.

I am from the middle-class/upper-middle class suburbs, not a minority, not rural, and my parents graduated from college. Should I apply?

Most of our scholars are from financially challenged homes, AND from targeted minority and/or rural communities in Minnesota, AND are the first in their family to attend college.  If you don’t meet any of these criteria, you are unlikely to be accepted to the program.

If you apply to the Minnesota's Future Doctors program with a great GPA and other application materials, but are not selected - chances are that the selections committee believes you have enough support at home, in college, and within your own community to get into medical school.  We support you, but believe you can succeed without the help of our program.

We encourage you to seek out and apply to the many other national and international programs, pre-med opportunities, research programs, and other opportunities available to you.

I am an international student residing in Minnesota. I am not from Minnesota. I am not a permanent resident or citizen. Should I apply?

You may apply, however, students who grew up in Minnesota have a higher probability of being selected.

In the past, international students have only rarely been accepted into the program.

If you are an international student, we encourage you to apply for the many other national and international programs, pre-med opportunities, research programs, etc. available to you.

I am currently a high school student who will graduate in 2011 or 2012. I have already earned college credits through PSEO, and am very interested in joining the program. Should I apply now?

If you are currently a high school student who has earned 20 or more college credits, you may be eligible to apply for the program now.  However, most students will increase their chances of being selected by waiting until after high school graduation.  If you have specific questions about your situation, please contact Jo Peterson at jopete@umn.edu.

It appears that this program is only for students with Minnesota resident status. Is this true?

Yes, this program is intended primarily for students with Minnesota resident.  However, if you don’t have resident status, but can demonstrate to the selections committee that you have very strong, long-term ties to Minnesota, you may still be eligible.

If you have recently come to the state to attend college, and have no other ties, it is unlikely that you will be selected.  If you have specific questions about your situation, please contact Jo Peterson at jopete@umn.edu.

I consider myself a Minnesota resident, but I currently attend school in another state or country. May I still apply?

Yes, if you have retained your status as a Minnesota resident, you are still eligible for the program.

No, never.  All of your application materials, as well as your application status, will be kept strictly confidential.

Our program is very competitive.  Many excellent medical school candidates apply to Minnesota's Future Doctors, and are not accepted. Many have since gone on to great success in various medical careers without the support of our program.

I am not from Minnesota. I don’t attend college in Minnesota. I have no ties to Minnesota. Can I apply?

No, this program is not for you.  We encourage you consider other programs, such as the national Summer Medical Dental Education program.

Do you select students from community colleges?

Yes. Every year we receive many applications from qualified community college students, and many have been accepted. Please apply.

I’m in my second year of community college. I expect to take five or six years to graduate. Can I still apply?

If you have less than 30 credits, you may still apply. Many second-year community college students have been selected.

Most of my community college coursework so far has been in pre-college level reading, writing, English language learning, and mathematics.

I haven’t earned any college-level credits in social science, science, or mathematics at the college level yet. It will take me at least five years to complete college.

Can I apply?

Without demonstrating college-level success in math and science, it is unlikely that you will earn a spot in our program, even if you have received all A’s in your pre-college coursework.  You may be better off waiting to apply until you have achieved more success at the college level.

I don’t know my college GPA because my grades haven’t posted yet. It’s only December. What should I do?

You may begin the application process, but wait until your Fall Semester grades have posted to complete your application. Your transcript is one of the required application materials.

My GPA is lower than a 2.8. Can I still apply?

No, a 2.8 GPA or higher is required for all applicants. On average, Minnesota’s Future Docs participants earn  a 3.4 GPA in their first semester of college.

Who is part of the selections committee for the Minnesota’s Future Docs program?

A carefully selected team of 80 highly qualified individuals, including doctors, medical students, current future docs participants, and community leaders work together to review applications and  select candidates.

My college doesn’t offer a pre-med degree. Should I transfer?

No.  Actually, no college offers a degree specifically in pre-med. You should continue pursuing a college degree that fits your goals and interests.

Medical schools seek diverse thinkers from many disciplines that may seem unrelated to medicine, for example, film majors, chemistry majors, and engineering majors. However, you must be sure to complete the required prerequisites for medical schools you are interested in applying to.  Different medical schools have different sets of pre-med requirements.

I’ve heard that some people skip a year between college and med school. Should I?

There are many paths to medical school, and you should follow the path that you believe makes the most sense for you.  Don’t be afraid to spend time exploring the world, doing research, volunteering, and helping others in need.  These choices and others can make you a better medical school applicant in the long run.

Do I apply for med school after senior year in college?

No.

Most apply for medical school in June of their junior year. You should plan to spend your senior year interviewing for medical school.

What is the MCAT?

MCAT stands for The Medical College Admissions Test.  Think of it as the SAT of med school.  Google it.  Find out more.  Pay special attention to information from the American Association of Medical Colleges. This is the organization that administers the test.

What  is AMCAS?

AMCAS stands for The American Medical College Admissions System. It is a centralized service that allows you to complete a single, standardized application for medical schools everywhere in the United States. Google it. Learn more about it.

If I am selected for Minnesota’s Future Doctors, what happens when I go back to my home campus?

When you return to your home campus you will continue your studies in light of the new perspectives you have developed through your experiences with the Future Docs program.  You can look forward to sharing your new insights with others, as well as feeling more confident about your ability to tackle the next steps towards achieving your goals.

Does participation in Minnesota’s Future Doctors guarantee that I will get into medical school?

No, only hard work, great MCAT scores, excellent AMCAS materials, strong interview skills, and other factors can get you into medical school.  The Future Docs program is not a free ticket to med school, but it offers you a great chance to get a head start!

To complete the program successfully, you must maintain certain standards of professional conduct and academic performance.  For example, you will not be invited to continue into the final stages of your program if your GPA is not at a 3.4.

Do you only pick the people with the best GPA?

No, GPA is only one criterion for admission to the program.   Applicants must also demonstrate professional potential, academic breadth, a commitment to volunteering, and show that they face multiple barriers to success.

I haven’t been able to volunteer as much as I’d like to because I work. Is that going to be a problem on my application?

Not necessarily. We understand that in some cases, individuals aren’t able to volunteer as much as they’d like to because they have to work to support themselves or their families.  If you work to support yourself and your family, or if you work in a family business, or if you take care of your siblings or older adults in your family, share that in your application. We consider each applicant individually.

It looks like the essay is a big part of the Future Docs application. Is it really that important?

Yes, writing a strong essay is a great way to increase your chances of being selected.

A poor essay will likely eliminate you from the selection process.

Does it cost anything to apply?

No, there is no application fee.

How do I apply?

You can find all of the application materials, as well as helpful instructions at:

http://www.meded.umn.edu/futuredocs/

What is an unofficial transcript?

An unofficial transcript is usually free and easily found online at your college’s web site.  Official transcripts, on the other hand, usually cost money, take time to order, and must be officially stamped and sealed by the transcript office.   You only need to submit your unofficial transcripts for the Future Docs application.  Simply find your transcript online, copy and paste it to a Word document. You'll need to attach it to your online application by February 1, 2011.

Remember, you must include an unofficial transcript from every college that you have attended, even for college credits you may have earned in high school. You do not have to send us AP or IB grades.

I would rather be a dentist or pharmacist. Should I apply?

 No, this program is not designed for future dentists or pharmacists.  Other programs will serve your needs better.

 What if I am accepted and don’t like it.

You are free to leave the program at any time.  Rest assured that this decision will be kept strictly confidential, and never released to any medical school.

Do the Future Docs hang out after the program is over?

Yes.

The Future Docs have formed an organization called COG - Circle of Giving. COG members work together to serve their communities.  

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

Dame, a Future Doc scholar in the Coyote program, would be happy to help you with additional questions. Email her at Idoss002@umn.edu   

Why is the Minnesota's Future Doctors Program important?

Every year, Minnesota becomes more culturally diverse. American Indians, African Americans, Latinos, Asian Americans, as well as many recent immigrants from East Africa and other parts of the world, all contribute to Minnesota’s growing diversity.  Unfortunately, members of these underrepresented groups often face multiple barriers to success in professions like medicine.  

Minnesota’s Future Doctors Program strives to empower members of underrepresented groups to succeed in the field of medicine.  We believe that Minnesota’s diverse communities are best served by professionals who reflect that diversity.