Academic Preparation
Your academic record during your four
undergraduate years is the most important factor in determining
whether you get into medical school. If you do not have at
least a B (3.0) average, you are highly unlikely to be
considered seriously by a medical school. In fact, unless you have
a 3.5 grade point average or better your application won't even be
competitive. Your grades in science courses are usually weighed
more heavily than grades in other disciplines. An A in Art
Appreciation will not balance a C in Organic Chemistry. If
you want to get into medical school, you cannot allow yourself the
luxury of a bad term or two. You must do well from the very
beginning. Since your junior year GPA is usually included in the
Admission Committee's deliberations, it is critical that your
academic performance during this year be excellent. The science GPA
is usually included in any deliberations and will be compared with
your MCAT scores. It will not help to take light loads in the hopes
of keeping your grades high. Medical schools are not impressed by
students who get straight A's while carrying eight hours. They are
looking for students who can handle the pressure of heavy course
loads and still excel. There is no easy way out; you must put your
nose to the proverbial grindstone and be prepared to keep it there.
Most pre-medical students major in either
Biology or Chemistry. Medical schools require considerable
coursework in these fields and you will have a good start on these
majors by the time you have completed the medical school
requirements. This is not to say that you must major in one of
these fields. You may opt for a major in another field as long as
you also take the science requirements (and do well in them). An
applicant who has majored in a non-scientific subject is less
commonly found in medical school, although schools often encourage
students to consider this approach. For example, the 84 students in
the 1987 entering class at Dartmouth Medical School included
students with majors in Biology (20), Chemistry (7), English (5),
Foreign Languages (4), and Psychology (9). The advantages of this
type of major are that you are different and stand out from the
majority of applicants; that you can take advantage of a liberal
arts education; that your overall GPA will probably be higher; and
that you will only have to take those science courses which are
required for medical school and those which interest you. The
disadvantages are that you will have to perform very well in your
science courses to maintain a good science GPA and that you will
probably feel less prepared for the MCAT's (and for your first year
in medical school); you may find that you essentially have a double
major and the heavy loads and scheduling conflicts that includes.
Options available to a non-science major include graduate study in
an area that interests you (should you decide for any reason against
going into medical school).
You can certainly justify a major in any of
the humanities as being good preparation for a career in medicine.
Anything that broadens your understanding of the human condition is
likely to make you a more effective doctor. So if you really want to
major in philosophy, and you can manage to schedule in all of the
required science courses, go ahead. Be prepared to justify your
decision and explain how your choice of major will enhance your
ability to be an effective doctor should the medical school
Admissions Committee ask.
Medical schools differ in their philosophies
of education, specific pre-professional course requirements, and
other qualifications for enrollment. Some generalizations about
medical school admission requirements can be made, however. All
American medical schools recognize the desirability of a broad
education, a good foundation in the natural sciences, and highly
developed communication skills. You must have a solid understanding
of modern concepts in physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics.
For precise information about a specific medical school you should
consult the current issue of Medical School Admission
Requirements. The Association of American Medical Colleges
(AAMC) publishes this handbook each May and you can order it by
writing:
Association of American Medical Colleges
Membership and Publication Orders
2450 M/ Street, NW
Washington, DC 2007-1129
(202) 828-0416
FAX: (202) 828-1123
This handbook currently goes for $15.
It is recommended that you undertake an
independent study in your major. Completing more than the minimum
requirements will strengthen your application to medical school.
You should have completed all of the required premedical courses
before the second semester of your junior year. You should have
completed all the required premedical courses before you take the
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) - normally in April of your
junior year.
