Twenty Questions: Robert Hinkley, PhD

[DoctorPardi]

Here is the link to the article:
Twenty Questions: Robert Hinkley, PhD

Twenty Questions: Robert Hinkley, PhD
By Student Doctor Network
Posted on June 26, 2007 e
Filed Under Administration Profiles

By Alex Ortega
Medical Student

Dr.Robert Hinkley is the Associate Dean for Admissions at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Miami, Fl. He has worked in medical admissions for 30 years and has been leading the medical admissions office at the University of Miami for 16 years. In addition to his work in admissions, he is a Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy as well as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesia. He received his PhD in Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology from the University of Kansas. Recently SDN sat down with Dr.Hinkley to get his input on the medical school admissions process.

1. What do you think distinguishes the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine from other medical schools?

Miller is one of the busiest medical centers in the country with over 3,000 teaching beds on campus, a tremendous research enterprise with Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (ranked #1 by USN&WR for three years running), the Miami Project to Cure Spinal Cord Paralysis, the Diabetes Research Institute, the Ryder Trauma Center and the Human Genome Institute.

We provide comprehensive training to our students with ample opportunities for early patient contact, clinical responsibilities and leadership within a patient-centered curriculum that emphasizes continuity of care. What else? Well, there’s South Beach 10 minutes away, scuba diving in Key Largo, sailing and fishing on Biscayne Bay, the Everglades, the Heat, Dolphins, Marlins, Panthers, and Hurricane sports. And in the 29 years I’ve been here it’s never snowed!

Check out the new article, and feel free to discuss it here!

[armybound]

I always love these 20 questions reports. Kudos to SDN for asking great questions to people who matter

It's great to see some myths dispelled.

Not bad to see a good word about a master's for those of us in that position as well

[Nikki2002]

all of you should read this!!! great advice!!!!!!!!

[DrZeke]

Originally Posted by Nikki2002

all of you should read this!!! great advice!!!!!!!!

Hmmm...so I should keep sending updates while on the alternate list...good to know

[aggiesarah2007]

If only people on SDN would read this, we would drastically reduce the number of pointless questions. It would also reduce the stress and that is a good thing. I really don't think med schools are out to get anyone, even though it may seem that way sometimes. Thank you so much for doing this inteview SDN!!!!

[cinematographie]

i have a question concerning questions 8 and 9 from the 20. Dr. Hinkley says that "the reason they withdrew is perhaps far more important than the “W” on a transcript," and "A frank explanation of any poor performance is greatly appreciated - and expected, by the admissions committee".

so, my question, which has been answered many times i'm sure, is, where and how do you let them know? i missed a semester because of an illness, but was not granted a medical withdrawal. but i just don't feel like i would address it in my statement. how do i let them know?

also, about the grades. is he expecting us to explain them at an interview, or in the PS. i know to write about it in the PS, but what if that's not the way i want to go in the statement? thanks for the help. =)

[TheRealMD]

Originally Posted by cinematographie

i have a question concerning questions 8 and 9 from the 20. Dr. Hinkley says that "the reason they withdrew is perhaps far more important than the “W” on a transcript," and "A frank explanation of any poor performance is greatly appreciated - and expected, by the admissions committee".

so, my question, which has been answered many times i'm sure, is, where and how do you let them know? i missed a semester because of an illness, but was not granted a medical withdrawal. but i just don't feel like i would address it in my statement. how do i let them know?

also, about the grades. is he expecting us to explain them at an interview, or in the PS. i know to write about it in the PS, but what if that's not the way i want to go in the statement? thanks for the help. =)

Don't most schools have essays that ask for "special circumstances?"

[cinematographie]

Originally Posted by TheRealMD

Don't most schools have essays that ask for "special circumstances?"

i don't know this myself, but that would make some sense. i'll look into it, thanks!

[Team Zissou]

who else here is applying to UM this cycle??Go Canes

[glamqueen]

in the MSAR - it says that Miami is letting in more and more out of staters, but what is the real scoop from the inside? Anyone know anything? Is it worth applying to if you are not a FL resident? I've also heard about an unofficial GPA of a 3.6 to just open your file? Is that true? I'll have it, but just barely (hopefully).

[AnthonyNY]

Originally Posted by cinematographie

i have a question concerning questions 8 and 9 from the 20. Dr. Hinkley says that "the reason they withdrew is perhaps far more important than the “W” on a transcript," and "A frank explanation of any poor performance is greatly appreciated - and expected, by the admissions committee".

so, my question, which has been answered many times i'm sure, is, where and how do you let them know? i missed a semester because of an illness, but was not granted a medical withdrawal. but i just don't feel like i would address it in my statement. how do i let them know?

also, about the grades. is he expecting us to explain them at an interview, or in the PS. i know to write about it in the PS, but what if that's not the way i want to go in the statement? thanks for the help. =)

i wonder if it would be alright to simply attach an extra essay to your app, which is to say that you would mail it to the adcom via snail mail, and ask that it be attached to your app. LORs are attached when they are sent - you could always call in and ask if it would be OK to send an additional letter, stating that you feel it is important to, and want to, discuss openly and candidly the reasons for XYZ, and that you didnt want to include it on your PS. alot of schools i've dealt with, it seems, adopt a policy of "send us anything extra you want attached to your app, within reason" ..

[154241]

I would love to go here... but I am sweating the OOS status a little bit too.

[Old ortho]

Originally Posted by Taylorcraft46

I would love to go here... but I am sweating the OOS status a little bit too.

According to the Miami's web site, the minimum academic requirement for OOS applicants are: GPA 3.6+, MCAT >30. I applied to and was fortunately accepted to Miami for the class of 2011 as an OOS. Miami has a great clinical program, is improving and expanding rapidly, and I am excited and looking forward to my first day there! My guess for the 2007 cycle is that their average OOS matriculants have GPA 3.85, MCAT 32.5. Miami is very transparent in their admission process. They will first invite and accept those with superior records such as GPA 3.9, MCAT 36 and excellent EC's. Those with lower numbers such as GPA 3.8, MCAT 32 and good (but not great) EC's will be invited later and maybe placed on alternate list. One important thing about Miami is it is difficult to get an interview. But once you are invited to an interview, according to Dr. Hinkley, you have between 2/3 to 3/4 probability of being accepted.

You have great stats! Miami has an international medical program and you should apply and good luck!

[154241]

Thanks Old ortho! Congrats and good luck with first year!

[DoctorPardi]

Bump! Everyone check out the new article and let us know what you think .

[Old ortho]

It is a great article. I wish more people see this before they apply to med school.

Both Dr. Hinkley and Miami are wonderful to be associated with. I am lucky, honored and excited to come to Miller as a first year med school in August!

[Nikki2002]

Originally Posted by DrZeke

Hmmm...so I should keep sending updates while on the alternate list...good to know

you should call and speak directly with the dean of admissions or go in for a face-to-face if you can.

[Tired]

I found this part incredibly annoying:

"Meaningful patient contact experiences are essential to the admissions decision. The operative word here is “meaningful”. The total hours spent shadowing or observing are far less important than how important the experiences were to the applicant’s decision to study and practice medicine and what the applicant gleaned from them."

As if the experiences came before the 'applicant's decision to study and practice medicine'. Basically, you have to do this:

1) Decide you want to go to med school.
2) Seek out shadowing opportunities and do them for many hours.
3) Write you P.S. pretending that it was the shadowing that made you want to be a doctor in the first place

[diosa428]

Originally Posted by Tired

I found this part incredibly annoying:

"Meaningful patient contact experiences are essential to the admissions decision. The operative word here is “meaningful”. The total hours spent shadowing or observing are far less important than how important the experiences were to the applicant’s decision to study and practice medicine and what the applicant gleaned from them."

As if the experiences came before the 'applicant's decision to study and practice medicine'. Basically, you have to do this:

1) Decide you want to go to med school.
2) Seek out shadowing opportunities and do them for many hours.
3) Write you P.S. pretending that it was the shadowing that made you want to be a doctor in the first place

I don't really think he's implying that the experiences needed to come before the student's decision to study medicine. I think he's saying that the experiences should have convinced you that medicine is what you want to do. I started thinking about med school as a junior high/high school student, but didn't really confirm this decision until I had a significant amount of medically-related experiences and was sure that this was the career I wanted. I don't think anyone can KNOW that they want to be a doctor until they've had some first hand experience with the medical field, and waiting until you're a third year med student and $150k in debt is not the time to discover that you made the wrong decision. That's why the experiences themselves are important.

[DrZeke]

Originally Posted by Nikki2002

you should call and speak directly with the dean of admissions or go in for a face-to-face if you can.

HAHAHAHA...I tried that....no such luck.

*sigh* I'm going out of my mind with this waitlist stuff...

[Team Zissou]

the info provided in this interview provided a lot of useful information for my interview.. if you have an interview at Miami in the near future please read, i think ull find it very helpful!! Dr. Hinkley is awesome!!!

[greg1184]

Yeah, also the Miller website provides you with some very useful info not only for Miami applicants but applicants in general.

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Ma...1983-3,00.html

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Ma...7735-3,00.html