C’s Don’t Get MD’s
A Pre-Medicine Undergraduate Survival Guide: How To Get In To Med School
Contrary to popular misconceptions, there are only a small amount of things that matter when a board of a fancy medical school reviews your application. I fell for these falsities, my fellow Pre-medicine peers fell for these falsities, and I want you to have a head start and avoid following in our footsteps. This piece is going to walk you through all of the essential credentials you need to build for your resumé.
Before we dive into the things necessary to set you apart, let us address some of the misconceptions commonly thought as fact for pre-med undergraduates:
- . “You must have a degree in a biological science in order to successfully matriculate into medical school!” This is absolutely false. The only science classes that are beneficial to you are the basic Chemistry, Biology, Calculus, and Physics offered as pre-requisites. These classes are where information for the MCAT will be taken from. The courses in which you need for the MCAT are as follows: General Chemistry (1&2), General Biology (1&2), Organic Chemistry (1&2), Psychology/Sociology, Biochemistry, Physics, and Calculus. Of course, you do not have to take all of these courses if you feel comfortable learning the material on your own. As long as you learn the material of these classes, you can major in absolutely anything you want to- art- for example. Just be prepared for the transition into Medical school!
- “If you make a single B in your collegian career you are done!” This is also false. The average GPA of students accepted into med school is 3.5–3.8, leaving you plenty of room for that semester you didn’t study quite hard enough. Your standards for your GPA should depend on the program you are trying to get into. If you are planning on going to Harvard or Johns Hopkins, I would do my best to maintain that 4.0 due to the competitive nature of these schools. If you are perfectly content with getting into any medical school in the U.S., you can slack a little and most likely get in with a 3.5. However, you must remember that medical school is competitive no matter where you go, and your GPA will be a factor that will either get you picked over another applicant, or get you denied under another applicant. Just do your very best, and do not stress over that one B you got three semesters ago.
Now that we have addressed the false requirements of a Pre-med student, let us dive into the three major keys of getting into Med-school: GPA, MCAT, and involvement. If you focus on these three aspects and work hard towards doing so, then you will be wearing scrubs in no time.
- . GPA
Although you do not have to have a 4.0, a high GPA is crucial to setting yourself apart from other students. Medical school is a very competitive process, and someone with a 3.9 is going to get in above a student with a 3.8. Keep this in mind when you go out instead of preparing to ace that exam! The average GPA for a med school student is 3.5 to 3.8, so there is some wiggle room, but not much, especially if you are chasing after a very competitive program. Your overall GPA can slack, but your science GPA is another story. Most medical schools will accept or deny a student solely based off of their science curriculum grades because it is a good indicator of how you will complete the program in medical school. For example, a medical school may look at the B’s in your Biology classes and say, “Hm, if he/she cannot ace Biology 1020, how will he/she succeed in my Harvard A&P class?” yanno? Just do your very best; There is no shame in retaking a class; and there is no shame in making a B. Simply watch your GPA.
2). MCAT
The MCAT is a test designed to test your aptitude towards the sciences affiliated with medicine. Your MCAT score is what will make or break your admissions experience, or whether or not you get into the program. Remember when you were in high school and your teachers stressed everyday about how important the ACT was? Your ACT score was crucial because it decided how much scholarship money you got, how many classes you became exempt from, and how many honors classes you could take. The ACT was pretty important, right? WELL the MCAT is 100% more important. Do not underestimate how difficult the test is and how much you need to prepare for it. This test score is like your GPA for medical school before getting accepted into medical school. Please study, take, and retake this test. It is so important- I cannot stress this enough.
3). Involvement
Med school boards look very closely at where you have volunteered and how long you devoted your time there. It is very beneficial to volunteer at a place that is supporting a cause that is related to the philanthropy of the school you are interested in. Go onto the website of the Medical school of your choice, read up on their philanthropy, and pursue a volunteer project in the field of that interest. This will make you stand out when you are applying to that particular school.
Another thing that is equally important is shadowing experience. You should shadow several different areas of medicine that way you have a general idea of what you are getting yourself into. This shows you have genuine interest and that you are already involved in the healthcare world. You should have at least 200 hours of shadowing and volunteer work to even be considered. To stand out, you should pursue close to 500 hours by the time you begin applying. You can get clinical experience through a lot of things outside a hospital so do not limit yourself. A pharmacy technician, for example, is a good way to have some income as well as be around medical terminology. Be creative with your opportunities.
A medical board is also going to look at your extra curricular activities. Yes, get involved in medical organizations, but also get involved in things unrelated to medicine. Show that you are personable and still have a decent social life. This will show that you are well-rounded, and can balance school work on top of an already busy life. Being involved in social events also show that you have good soft skills, and are good with working with the public.
The more that you do, the better. Follow the three prospects above and you will be an amazing future doctor!
(Sources linked as hyperlinks in captions)
