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Getting Into Medical School
How should I prepare to apply for
medical school?
Your college or university's premedical advisor can help you through
the application process. Medical schools will evaluate you on your
college grades, extracurricular activities, and personal characteristics.
Most also require you to take the Medical
College Admission Test (MCAT), which analyzes your knowledge
of the basic sciences, your reading and writing abilities, and your
problem-solving skills.
You also should consult Medical
School Admission Requirements (MSAR), published by the Association
of American Medical Colleges, which provides the specific admission
requirements of each U.S. and Canadian medical school.
Entrance requirements at most medical schools include completion
of course work in biology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and
English. But keep your undergraduate experience well rounded by
also studying humanities and the social sciences. The ideal physician
understands how society works and can communicate and write well.
Extracurricular experiences also are important. You may want to
volunteer at a local hospital or clinic to gain practical health
care experience.
How do I choose among 129 medical
schools?
It's a process similar to choosing an undergraduate school. Ask
yourself these questions:
- Do I prefer a small or large school?
- Do I like a large class or a small class?
- Am I interested in a career in research, in clinical practice
in academic medicine? While every school offers opportunities
to prepare for careers in all areas, the variety of curricular
experience varies from school to school. Try to select schools
that fit best your career goals.
- Which schools have a learning approach that emphasizes primary
care, patient education, prevention, and preparation for community
practice? What schools have a teaching approach that will work
well for me?
- What kind of financial resources will I need to attend medical
school? What are the costs?
- What types of financial aid are available at the schools I am
considering?
- Are the schools in a location that meets my needs?
- Are the schools connected to a university or are they free-standing
institutions?
When should I be ready to apply to
medical school?
Most people, about 90 percent, apply to medical school at the end
of their junior year in college and begin their medical studies
after graduation. Others finish college and work for several years
before beginning their medical education. Still others participate
in "early admissions" or other collaborative programs
between undergraduate colleges and medical schools, through which
students with a demonstrated level of maturity and academic achievement
can proceed to medical education at an accelerated pace.
How do I apply for medical school?
Thanks to the American Medical
College Application Service (AMCAS), applying to medical school
is not as complicated as you might think. Of the 129 accredited
medical schools in the United States, the vast majority participate
in the AMCAS program. To apply to any of these participating schools,
fill out an application, and send it with one set of your official
transcripts to AMCAS. After the service verifies the information
you provide, it distributes your application to the school(s) you
have selected. For schools not participating in AMCAS, contact the
admissions office directly for application procedures and materials.
Information about preparing for the MCAT exam and test registration
is available online. Your advisor
should be able to help you learn about the AMCAS
process. You must keep on top of appropriate deadlines. Later in
your junior year, ask your advisor to help you set up a schedule
for submitting all of the necessary documents to insure that your
application is fully considered and to eliminate unnecessary stress
and anxiety.
After you have submitted your application, some schools will ask
for additional information such as a secondary application, letters
of recommendation, and your specific interest in their programs.
What will the schools look for and
how do they decide?
The key factors affecting acceptance to medical school include
the following:
- Successful completion of required undergraduate courses
- Grade point average
- Performance on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Extracurricular activities—especially those reflecting
public or health-related service, volunteer work, and other evidence
of your initiative
- Letters of recommendation from undergraduate health professions
advisors and faculty members as well as physicians and other members
of the health professions, community leaders, and other individuals
who have employed you or supervised your volunteer experience
- Interviews with medical school admissions committees. Unlike
colleges, which hold interviews early in the application process,
medical schools arrange them near the end. As they narrow their
selection of candidates, most medical schools invite the most
promising applicants to interview with faculty and other members
of the admissions committee.
The MCAT exam measures your knowledge of subjects within the biological
and physical sciences, including chemistry, which are necessary
prerequisites for the study of the sciences in medical school. It
also tests your ability to read and interpret information and your
communication skills.
The MCAT exam is administered multiple times from late January
through early September. You may take the exam up to three times
in one calendar year, although you may register for only one test
date at a time. Information about preparing for the MCAT exam and
test registration is available online.
Your campus health professions advisor has detailed information
about MCAT schedules and information on medical colleges and medical
careers. Your advisor also can help you evaluate whether your course
mix, grade point average, and MCAT exam scores are competitive for
the medical schools you are considering.
Is getting into medical school as
tough as they say?
No question about it—medical schools are looking for the finest
minds and the most motivated students who have a strong and demonstrated
interest in working with people. It takes a special type of person
to even dream of a career in medicine, and it takes hard work and
commitment to make it to medical school. Today, about one-half of
those who apply are accepted.
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