Minnesota's Future Doctors

Frequently Asked Questions:

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When are my application, reference, and unofficial transcript due to Jo Peterson and Minnesota’s Future Doctors?

February 1, 2009. No late materials are accepted.

I am a college sophomore, junior, or senior in the academic year 2008-2009. Am I eligible to apply for Minnesota’s Future Doctors?

Maybe. This program targets college freshman. You cannot apply as a sophomore unless 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.

The target audience is college freshmen with 35 credits or less.

However, if you have taken several college credits in high school, and you graduated from high school in 2008, you are encouraged to apply regardless of how many credits you have completed.

Why are freshmen the target for this program?

The program is three years in length.

Each summer, after freshmen year, after sophomore year, and after junior year, there will be activities that are meaningful.

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

As your college instructors if they knew about it. College campuses, MnSCU, the private colleges, and the University of Minnesota campuses received information about the program. It is up to each campus to get it out to students in the fall.

Do I have to live on campus each summer?

Yes.

The program seems to target specific minority students, rural students, economically challenged students, and students who are first in their family to attend college. I am not in any of these communities. Should I apply?

Yes.

The program looks at each person as an individual.

However, individuals who have more barriers to success (challenged families, specific minority groups, and rural families, first in family to attend college) will receive more attention from the selections committee.

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

Yes.

The 60-member selections committee looks at every person as an individual. However, priority is given to qualified Minnesota residents from challenged communities/homes. We encourage you to apply for many national and international programs, pre med opportunities, research programs, etc.

I am an international student. I am not from Minnesota. Should I apply?

Yes.

I am in high school. I will graduate in 2010 or 2011. I do attend college now. Should I apply?

No.

Please wait until you have graduated from high school.

However, if you will be 18 by June 1, 2009, please email Jo Peterson to discuss your individual case. You will likely be asked to apply after you graduate from high school.

It appears that this program is only for Minnesotans. Is this true?

Yes.

You must be a Minnesota resident or have very strong, long-term ties to Minnesota. If you have just come to the state to attend college, and have no other ties, it is unlikely that you will be selected.

I am from Minnesota. I go to school in another state. Should I apply?

Yes.

I do not have a social security number and cannot work legally in the United States. Should I apply?

Yes.

However, you may not be able to receive pay for the summer program. You may not be able to complete the criminal background study required for many shadowing and volunteering sites.

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

No.

Please apply to the national Summer Medical Dental Education program.

Do you select students from community colleges?

Yes. Please apply.

This is my second year of college. I will take five or six years to finish. Can I still apply?

Yes. If you have less than 35 credits, please apply.

My coursework at the U of M or community college is all pre-college level reading, writing, English language learning, and mathematics. I haven’t started any classes in social science, science, or mathematics at the college level. It will take me at least five years to complete college. Can I apply?

Yes.

But, it is unlikely that you will receive a spot in the program. Even if you receive all A’s in your pre-college coursework, your application will not be competitive. You should wait a year.

I don’t know my college GPA yet. It’s only December 2008. What should I do?

Wait until you have your college grades from fall semester 2008. You need that transcript.

My GPA is lower than a 2.5. Can I still apply?

No.

Who picks the future docs?

A team of 60 doctors, med students, current future docs, and community leaders read the files and select the candidates.

The program is three summers long. Do I have to attend all three summers?

Yes and no.

Yes, you should.

No, you don’t have to.

Yes, you’ll want to.

If you find that you are going to graduate one year earlier than you had planned or come into the program as a junior (because of high school/college in high school credits) you will likely only attend the program for two years.

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

No.

No college has a pre med degree. You need to complete a college degree that is right for you.

All medical schools want diverse thinkers (film majors, chemistry majors, engineering majors). However, you must make certain that you take the pre-reqs required to attend medical school. Every medical school as a different set of pre med requirements.

Some people skip a year between college and med school. Should I?

Everyone paves their own path.

Do what’s best for you. Explore the world, do research, and serve man kind. All of these will make you a better medical school applicant in the long run.

Do you apply for med school after senior year?

No.

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

What is MCAT?

The Medical College Admissions Test. Google it. Find out more. Only listen to the American Association of Medical Colleges insights. They give the test.

Consider it the ACT or SAT of med school. It is a big deal.

What is AMCAS?

The American Medical College Admissions System. It is a centralized service where you will apply to medical school.

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

You share your experiences, get a solid advisor, and study!

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

No.

Is Minnesota’s Future Doctors difficult?

Yes. You will need to study. But, most found it fun and exciting too!

If I am accepted in 2009, do you guarantee my spot in 2010 and 2011?

Yes.

But, you must act like a young professional and keep your grades up.

This sounds like summer camp. Convince me that I should apply.

You either really want this or you don’t. There is no convincing.

How many people applied in 2007? 2008?

91 in 2007. 71 in 2008.

Do you only pick the people with the best GPA?

No. A student must show commitment to volunteering, work history (or work within the home), a commitment to education, challenging coursework in high school and college, and have two great essays.

The application is long. Is the essay portion important?

Yes.

A poor essay will eliminate you from selection.

Does it cost anything to apply?

No.

Does the program cost anything?

No.

Do I get paid?

Yes.

$1650 per summer plus some expenses related to parking/car travel.

How do I apply?

You must use the online system found at www.meded/edu/futuredocs

What is an unofficial transcript?

You go to your college’s web site, look for your unofficial transcript. Get your information then paste it to a Word document. You'll need to attach it to your application online by February 1, 2009.

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

No.

There are other programs and connections for you.

Can I have a job during the summer program?

No. You won’t have time. You can work after it is over.

Can I take summer classes during the summer program?

No. You won’t have time.

Do I have to live in the dorms each summer?

Yes.

Unless you are under 18, have a child, or care for someone in your home, you will stay in the dorms.

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

You are welcome to leave the program at any time. The program doesn’t suit everyone.

No medical school will know that you quit the program. Rest assured that this decision will be confidential, and never released to any medical school.

What if I have a major event that I need to attend in the summer?

You can’t miss more than three days. However, just let Jo know.

Do I really go to the Mayo Clinic for year two of the program?

Yes. It’s going to be an amazing experience.

Do the Future Docs have fun?

Yes. They form friendships, have fun together, do summer activities together.

What if I am not selected for the three summer program?

Some applicants will be selected to participate in the three academic year program. This occurs on weekends and during winter breaks in sophomore and junior year. It also occurs in the summer between junior and senior year (for MCAT prep). Those who are not selected for the 2009, 2010, 2010 Elk Cohort may be selected for the Frog Cohort.

The Bandicoots (the 1st academic year program) found great merit in attending. They had many unique opportunities.