Meet The Admissions Experts Dr. Barry S. Rothman

Curious about the life and times of our spectacular admissions consultants? Please enjoy our newest blog series in which we interview the fabulous people who make up the Accepted.com staff. Next up is†¦Dr. Barry S. Rothman, Ph.D. Accepted: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Where and what did you study as an undergrad? Do you hold any graduate degrees? Barry: I was a Biology major for four years  at Haverford College, located just outside of Philadelphia. I loved being able to understand aspects of life at cellular and molecular levels. I then went directly to CalTech in Pasadena, CA, where I spent six years doing neuroscience research as my Ph.D. thesis project. I was drawn to this area because it provided insight into how the brain, learning and memory work at the cellular and molecular levels. Specifically, I studied the molecular underpinnings of circadian rhythms, the  ~24-hr  biological clocks that run many of our physiological processes. Accepted: Whats your favorite non-school/non-work book? Barry: Dune. What an amazing construct,  merging facts about desert life with a powerful imagination about  an alternate world, rife like ours with political problems and addictions. Still seems quite relevant today, given the problems in the Middle-East. Accepted: Can you share three fun facts about yourself? Barry: 1.  Im the grandfather of two beautiful girls, ages 10 and 12, who are half Japanese. They are bicultural and bilingual, ready to become global citizens. My wife and I are so fortunate to have them and their parents (our son and daughter-in-law) living only two miles away. We see them often, and love the time we spend together. Weve done this since they were born. I just came back from spending two weeks in Japan with the four of them. 2.  I love walking, especially starting at my doorstep in San Francisco. Ive walked many of the citys hills, parks and beaches. My longest walk was 12 miles. Walking is a meditative experience for me – it gets my mind off of work while providing great exercise. Walking with friends is OK, but walking by myself provides the alone-time I need. 3.  I love language. I learned Spanish throughout grade school and continued studying it in college. I now speak it at a conversational level.  Ive started learning Japanese, so that I can connect more with my daughter-in-law and granddaughters. The language and culture surrounding it are radically different from the language and culture in the U.S. During my recent trip to Japan I greatly enjoyed striking up conversations with willing  strangers, and hanging out with my daughter-in-laws family in Okinawa. I thought I knew what hot and humid meant  during Philadelphia summers  while  growing up, but the summer in Okinawa went way beyond my Philly experience. Stepping out of the house instantly erased any thought of outdoor exercise. Accepted: How long have you been working for Accepted? Whats your favorite thing about consulting?   Barry: I started with Accepted.com in June of this year, so I presently have only  three months of experience.   I enjoy getting to know my clients and helping them with the challenges they are facing. Applying to medical school is an  undertaking that puts one intimately  in touch with ones own flaws and shortcomings. I like helping my clients navigate these choppy waters. In so doing, Im reminded of my own rites of passage, especially writing my doctoral thesis, which took nine torturous months (quite the gestational period). Despite the pain and suffering, I learned a lot about myself and about writing.   Accepted: Can you talk about the road that led you to becoming an admissions consultant for Accepted? What jobs and experiences led you to this point? Barry: After completing my doctoral studies at CalTech,  I spent the next 10 years learning how to conduct biomedical research, writing journal articles and writing grants, first at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and then at UC San Francisco. This  led to my being hired for a tenure-track Neurobiology position at San Francisco State University, where Ive been working for the past 30 years. At SF State Ive had essentially three careers, each lasting about 10 years. I began by setting up a lab  and  performing neuroscience research with grad students and undergrads. No longer  entirely satisfied with research,  after getting tenure and being promoted to full Professor,  I  Ã‚  shifted into teaching at all levels of the Biology and Physiology  curriculum. Through teaching I came into contact with many pre-med and pre-dental students, and developed my own interest in molecular medicine. This  led to my establishing  post-bac programs  through which these students, many from disadvantaged and/or minority backgrounds,  could receive much more substantial academic and advising  support in exchange for higher tuition. Over the nine years that I  directed these  programs, they expanded to employ a staff of about 10, offer about 30  prerequisite and elective science and math courses, and  enroll about 250 students at any one time. At the end of May I  stepped down from my leadership role to enter semi-retirement. I now teach half-time, advise  SF State  post-bacs and undergrads, and consult  for Accepted.com. I have seamlessly  applied the  detailed  knowledge  of the medical and dental school application processes  I gained  while directing the post-bac programs  to my position as a consultant at Accepted.com.   Accepted: Can you tell us about some of your research and about your interest in health and healthcare? My post-doctoral  research focused on the way peptide neurotransmitters function in the nervous system. There are over 100 such neurotransmitters in the human brain; each has its own special location and role. For example, enkephalins are located in the brain stem and spinal cord, and function to lessen the sensation of pain. They are essentially one of our self-made opiates. As indicated above, I developed an interest in molecular medicine; that is,  understanding disease processes at the DNA, RNA and protein levels.  Through this interest I created a course for Bio majors,  Molecular Pathophysiology, in which we studied  the causes of Alzheimers disease, cystic fibrosis and obesity. As Ive gotten older, Ive had my own dealings with the healthcare system. They have not been very satisfying, as our system is quite flawed. Im amazed at how much work it takes me, a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, to get the  attention and services I need. I shudder to think what happens to patients with little education and resources. In response to our flawed system, I help many friends and family deal with the healthcare system. Accepted: What sorts of applicants do you mostly work with? During my three months with Accepted.com, Ive interacted mainly with pre-meds. Recently, Ive started working with a client who wants to enter a Genetic Counseling program. Due to my extensive experience helping pre-dental post-bacs, I welcome the opportunity to work with pre-dental clients. At SF State I  also worked with pre-vet, -PT, -PA and -optometry students. Accepted: What are your top 3 admissions tips? 1.  Dont rush!  The fastest way to med school is slowly. Dont compromise your grades and/or MCAT score due to being in a hurry. Taking an extra year can provide the space you need to develop into the best applicant you can be. 2.  Seek advice.  Dont be a rugged individualist when it comes to the med school application process – its  very  complex, and  difficult to do on ones own. However, dont rely too much on peer advice, as in many cases its flawed. 3. Develop a balanced lifestyle.  Integrate studying with regular exercise, a good diet and time with friends and family. This will increase the efficiency with which you study. Obsessive studying is inefficient, and often is merely a way to try to cope with anxiety.  Youll  need a balanced lifestyle  as a healthcare provider; better to develop it now. Learn more about Barry and how he can help you get accepted! Related Resources: †¢Ã‚  What You Need to Know About Post-bac Programs  [Podcast] †¢Ã‚  Med School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services †¢Ã‚  How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience Working With A Medical School Consultant