How to Get Into Medical School

If you have aspirations of becoming a medical doctor, there are several bits of information that you should know before beginning your journey. There are numerous hurdles that you will have to jump over before entering into this profession, and one big hurdle is getting into medical school.

Depending on where you are at in your education, medical school may either be a mere three or four years away, or a long-term aspiration. Regardless, knowing what you need to do in order to give yourself a competitive edge is imperative. And the sooner you can equip yourself with this knowledge, the better!

Know yourself!

Before you make a firm decision to apply to medical school, you should ask yourself this question: "Why do I want to become a medical doctor?" If your answer to this question has solely to do with the salary, title of "Dr." or your parents' wishes for you, then you are already on the wrong track. Your desire to become a doctor should be so strong that you would do it for free. People who genuinely want to become doctors often have an insatiable thirst for knowledge pertaining to health and the human body. They may routinely look up medical terminology or make serious attempts to "diagnose" the health problems of the people in their lives. If on the other hand, the mere thought of germs, blood or other bodily fluids makes you queasy, this may not be the profession for you!

Know and complete the pre-med curriculum

Desire alone will not get you into medical school. Nor will having good grades in college if you have not successfully completed the courses that are considered essential prerequisites by most medical schools. If math and science are subjects that you either dislike or have extreme difficulty with, it's important to be realistic about the expectations and the work that lies ahead before you set yourself up for disappointment. This doesn't mean give up on your dreams, but at least have a plan for how you're going to overcome any challenges you may encounter.

According to Peterson's (2009), your major in college is not as important to getting into medical school as your taking and doing well in the following classes:

• Biology - 1 year
• Inorganic and organic chemistry - 2 years
• Physics - 1 year
• English - 1 year
• Calculus - 1 year

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) suggests that in addition to the required English, science and math classes, persons interested in medical school take social science classes such as psychology and sociology. These courses help to broaden one's knowledge of human behavior and are very beneficial to the majority of aspiring professionals who will have extensive contact with the public.

Know what the MCAT is and when to take it

The AAMC offers the following description of the MCAT: "The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess the examinee's problem solving, critical thinking, writing skills, and knowledge of science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine." Submitting the scores from the MCAT is considered part of the application process by most medical schools in the United States.

Cornell Career Services (2005) notes that the MCAT can be taken once a student has completed their biology, chemistry (both inorganic and organic) and physics course requirements, and that it's best to take the test while the knowledge of these subjects is still fresh. You may be so excited about applying to medical school that you rush to submit your application as soon as possible, planning to take the MCAT at a later date. However, Cornell Career Services also emphasizes that most medical schools won't even look at your application for admission until they have your MCAT scores.

Know what will set you apart

It is important to keep in mind that each year, thousands of students apply to medical schools across the country and many of them have achieved good grades. While academic excellence is certainly a plus, academics alone will not necessarily set you apart from others who are trying to get into medical school. The AAMC recommends participation in extracurricular activities and, if at all possible, doing volunteer work at a local healthcare facility. Participation in extracurricular activities (especially those that foster teamwork and the development of leadership skills) can help you to become a well-rounded and confident professional, while working at a local healthcare facility can give you practical experience in your chosen field that other applicants may be lacking at the time they apply to medical school.

Know when and how to apply to medical school

The traditional route to applying to medical school typically begins with the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This is described as "a non-profit, centralized application processing service for applicants to the first-year entering classes at participating medical schools" (AAMC, 2009). Most medical schools that offer M.D. programs are referred to as "allopathic" medical schools and utilize AMCAS. Osteopathic medical schools, which focus more on holistic healthcare practices and offer the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, have a separate yet similar service that they use. (Kuther, 2009).

It is recommended that persons interested in medical school apply early, and the majority of applicants apply the summer after their junior year of college. AMCAS begins taking applications in June of each year. You will submit your college transcripts, MCAT scores, and a personal statement - among other things - to AMCAS. You will be notified by the admissions office at your school of choice that you've either been denied admission or that you will have an opportunity to submit what is referred to as a "secondary application". If all goes, well, you will be contacted by the school and invited to interview for a slot in the program (The Princeton Review, 2009).

If you make it to the interview process, you can take pride in knowing that you are just one step away from getting into medical school! This is the final weeding out process and many applicants don't make it this far (The Princeton Review, 2009). Here's your opportunity to put your best foot forward and make an outstanding impression - in person! For more information on the interview process for medical school, check out Medical School Interview by the Princeton Review.

Sources:

AAMC (2009). Getting Into Medical School.

AAMC (2009). AMCAS - The American Medical College Application Service.

Association of American Medical Colleges (2009). About the MCAT Exam.

Cornell Career Services (2005). MCAT Basics.

Kuther, Tara (2009). What's the Difference Between Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine? About.com.

Peterson's (2009). Pre-Med Curriculum: Get Your Science On.

The Princeton Review (2009). Medical School Applications.

The Princeton Review (2009). Medical School Interview.