Pre-Medical Summer Enrichment Program (PSEP)

PSEP is an intensive six-week full time (M - F, 8 - 5 p.m.) summer program for highly motivated students who are preparing for medical school or physical therapy school.

 

Results:

 

·       Enhances the competitiveness of talented "underrepresented in medicine" populations or disadvantaged students for admission into medical school;

·       Provides needed mentors for minority students;

·       Serves as a recruitment tool to USF College of Medicine. 

 

 Eligibility:

 

·     Students must have completed a minimum of 60 hours with an overall and science GPA no less than 3.0 prior to the start of the program.

·     Graduate students may apply.

 

In addition, applicants must meet ONLY one of the following criteria:

 

·         First generation college student.

·         Permanent address in a rural county within the state of Florida.

·         Low-income family. Meet the federal government poverty guidelines.

·         Self identify themselves as underrepresented in medicine. Per the Assoication of Medical Colleges, "underrepresented in medicine" is defined as African Americans, Mexican-Americans, Native Americans (that is American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians), and mainland Puerto Ricans.
 

Should you have questions about your eligibility, please contact Mr. Prince Amattoe at pamattoe@health.usf.edu.

 

Educational Grant:

 

Students receive a $1,500 grant for participation in the PSEP program. The grant is paid out in two installments. 

 

Application Instructions:

 

Please read the PSEP Program Overview and Expectations prior to applying to the program.  Click here for the PSEP Program Overview and Expectations.

 

Application and Attachments:

 

PSEP 2011 Application (PDF)

PSEP 2011 Science Faculty Recommendation Form (PDF)

PSEP 2011 Character Recommendation Form (PDF)

 

The 2011 PSEP application (and attachments) must be received or postmarked by 5:00 p.m., Friday, February 18, 2011.  Submit via mail or hand deliver completed application packets to:

 

University of South Florida

College of Medicine

Office of Student Diversity & Enrichment

12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC 24

Tampa, FL 33612

 

For questions regarding the program and/or application process please contact Mr. Prince Amattoe at pamattoe@health.usf.edu or 813-974-7592.

 

Program Components:

 

1.     Academic Enhancement:

 

·         Biology, Chemistry and Physics: a review of concepts in biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics.  

·         Verbal Reasoning and Writing Skills: opportunity to enhance their reading and reading inference skills as well as gain writing experience through personal essays and other assignments.

·         MCAT Test Preparation: Participants will take a pre and post half-test and simulated MCAT exams during the program. 

 

2.     Test Taking Strategies:

 

·         Participants will work closely with L.E.A.R.N. Program faculty in the areas of reading skills, test taking skills, etc. Utilizing a proven model of metacognition and intentional learning, students utilize the results of such assessments to develop individualized plans to improve or enhance essential learning skills.

 

3.     Clinical Experience:

 

·         Participates will be paired with physicians in the local community and you will have the opportunity to develop an appreciation of the "real world of medicine or physical therapy" through weekly clinical experiences.

 

4.     Clinical Seminars:

 

·         Participants will take part in one hour per week of exposure to the "real world of medicine" through clinical topics such as health disparities, obesity, diabetes, heart disease and more.

 

5.     Workshop Series: 

 

·         Participants will participate in one hour per week of workshops on admissions procedures, financial planning, study skills, test taking, time management, stress management and interviewing techniques.

 

 

PSEP Class of 2009 at Premier Community HealthCare Group, Inc. in Dade City with Marlene Hart, M.D, medical director (left front) and Kim Schuknecht, C.E.O. (left back).

 

Quotes from past PSEP students:

 

“I participated in PSEP mostly to improve my verbal reasoning skills for the MCAT and after taking the verbal reasoning and test taking skills sections of the program, I have seen an improvement. I am very grateful for this opportunity, especially the test taking skills section which helped me to re-analyze my outlook on the VR section and improve my score.”

 

“PSEP has given me a lot of confidence and clearly clarifies what it means to be a PREMED.”

 

“This program has really helped me learn more about what the medical profession is really about and how there is so much more to it then just knowing how to treat patients.”

 

“As a student from another university, the students, faculty, physicians have all made me feel at home during the PSEP program.  This program has allowed me to gain a lot of insight into the type of physician that I would like to be, and has helped clarify my path into that goal.”