A recruitment presentation for students interested in pre-med or majors in natural science. Presented in September 2009 by Deb Dotterer, CNS Director of Student Affairs.

1. Welcome to the College of Natural Science R. James KirkpatrickDean

2. CNS is one of 16 discipline-specific colleges at MSU Agriculture & Natural ResourcesArts & Letters Business Communication Arts & Sciences Education Engineering Human Medicine Music NATURAL SCIENCE Nursing Osteopathic Medicine Social Science Veterinary Medicine James Madison College Lyman Briggs College Residential College in Arts and Humanities

3. CNS is Among MSU’s Largest Colleges 4,500 undergraduate students 1,000 graduate students 250 faculty 1,200 entering freshman in 2009 Most CNS students are studying in a biological sciences major

4. CNS majors are in one of three types of departments

5. Physical Sciences - Geological Sciences - Physics & Astronomy - Chemistry

7. Human Biology- Microbiology & Molecular Genetics - Physiology - Plant Biology - Zoology

8. Mathematical Sciences - Mathematics - Statistics & Probability

9. What about pre-med or other health majors?

10. Definition: Students pursuing admission to professional health school are called “preprofessional.”

11. At MSU, preprofessional majors are NOT degree programs. Instead, students select any major which matches their career interests and identify themselves as preprofessional. You must declare a major at MSU before reaching 56 credits.

12. What should your major be?

13. Interests Strengths Opportunities Choose a major based on

14. SCIENCE DEGREE NOT REQUIRED (but it is helpful)

15. You might decide later not to go to a professional health school Only 50% of applicants are accepted to professional health schools! Have a “Plan B”

16. To Get into a Professional Health School… Make Yourself A Competitive Applicant

17. Here’s how to be competitive… The basics… Complete all required pre-admission courses Cumulative GPA > 3.5 Science and math GPA > 3.5 Achieve high scores on admission tests (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, GRE)

18. Keep an eye on your futureat all times… Obtain health care experience related to your field of interest Obtain community service experience Develop strong relationships with your advisors and instructors

19. Two final advantages MSU can give you: Hands-on research experience Leadership experience

20. CNS Leads MSU in Research CNS faculty bring in more external research funding than any other college at MSU

21. Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) A superconducting linear accelerator that will produce isotopes that normally exist only in the most extreme environments in the universe. FRIB will greatly expand the usefulness of isotopes in a broad range of applications from modeling stars to understanding the workings of nanoscale electronic devices.

22. Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) Explores scientifically diverse approaches to converting various plant feedstocks – agricultural residues, wood chips, and nonfood grasses – into liquid transportation fuels.

23. SOAR Telescope Used to detect the presence of elements, carbon and oxygen — considered the building blocks of life – in a number of ancient stars and star systems, data that continue to yield more information on how these elements originated

24. Behavioral Development Professor Kay Holekamp's laboratory focuses on mammalian behavioral development. Her students are currently investigating how social, ecological and hormonal differences change the way hyenas behave and how successfully they reproduce.

25. Experimental Evolution Instead of investigating using the comparative method or by studying fossils, Professor Rich Lenski’s approach is to watch evolution as it happens - in the context of experiments that are replicated and performed under controlled conditions using bacteria.

26. Climate Change Professor Jen Lau researches community ecology and evolutionary biology to explore how plants respond to changes in climate and invasive species. One of her projects looks at how elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations alter the evolution of plant populations. Professor Elena Litchman is studying how climate change will impact aquatic ecosystems, phytoplankton communities in particular. She is determining how various aspects of global change may increase the frequency and severity of Harmful Algal Blooms.

27. Students and Research Goldwater scholarships are national scholarships awarded to students showing promise to develop significant scientific research careers All three of MSU’s 2009 Goldwater Scholars were CNS students All were involved in undergraduate research

28. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum 2009 Grand Prize winner in Science was MaulikDhanda, a Medical Technology major CNS students received 10 of the 12 first prizes in Natural and Physical Sciences

29. Gain leadership experience through student groups

30. Every department offers opportunities for involvement through student groups

31. Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics Students Association Won the 2009 Collegiate Challenge for the Gift of Life-Michigan and recognition from the Michigan Secretary of State Recruited the most organ donors of all colleges in Michigan They have won the award 4 out of 5 years Making a difference while getting experience

32. Charles Drew Science Scholars The Drew program provides academic assistance and support for high-achieving undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds. The program promotes the students’ preparation for postgraduate work and a career in the sciences

33. RISE: Residential Initiative on the Study of the Environment A residential program for students interested in stewardship of our environment.

34. Our point…

35. Create your ownNatural Science learning adventure…

36. Take advantage of MSU’s size, expertise and vast capabilities. Enhance your studies with research and extra-curricular activities

37. Take advantage of MSU’s size, expertise and vast capabilities. Enhance your studies with research and extra-curricular activities College of Natural Science http://naturalscience.msu.edu