Questions to Consider
What is medical school like?
What are the types of medical school?
Why go to medical school?
What preparation is necessary?
What experiences should I have?
What does a strong applicant look like?
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Traditional physicians and surgeons who practice medicine, and are concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments including invasive treatments.
Over 125 schools in U.S.• Some acceptable foreign medical schools• Admission can be easier overseas
M.D. accepted world-wide• The best option for international work
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Can pursue any specialty training
Can teach in M.D. medical schools
Requires USMLE (three parts) U.S. Medical Licensing
Examination
Tests science and clinical skills
Do not refer to as “allopathic”…
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Fulfill all the roles of an M.D. within the philosophy of Andrew Taylor Still. Osteopathic physicians use all conventional methods of diagnosis and treatment, but are trained to place additional emphasis on the achievement of normal body mechanics as central to maintaining good health.
D.O. degree after 4 yrs. req. to take the USMLE May not be accepted in some foreign
countries
Basic sciences & rotations same as M.D.
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Includes osteopathic philosophy & techniques Holistic, “hands-on” approach with patients Musculoskeletal manipulation Other non-surgical, non-drug therapies
Can pursue all medical specialties
Most schools in Eastern US
2/3 of D.O. grads pursue residency in M.D. setting
Podiatry, D.P.M. 1st & 2nd years. – sciences, labs, intro to podiatry
3rd & 4th years. – core rotations, orthopedic & podiatry rotations, and podiatric surgery
rotation
2 year residency required to become podiatric surgeon
3 year residency to become podiatric surgeon including rear foot and ankle
Licensing exams required throughout training
Med School Curriculum
Year 1 & 2: The Healthy Body• Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry,
pharmacology, etc.• Intro to clinical interviewing• Some patient contact (more at some schools)• Some schools use a ‘case study’ approach• Science electives• General topic electives• Can begin research projects• Take Part One of USMLE (science knowledge)
Med School Curriculum
Year 3 & 4 “The Sick Body” Core rotations in clinics & hospitals (1-2 mos.
each) Surgery, family, pediatrics, emergency,
psychiatry, OB-GYN, internal medicine, etc. Elective rotations in subspecialties, e.g.
Oncology, orthopedics, dermatology, neurosurgery, etc.
Elective time for research, public health project, experience abroad, study at other med schools
Apply & interview in 4th year for internship/residency
Take Part Two of USMLE (Clinical Skills)
After Medical School One year internship in general medicine
Part Three of USMLE after that year required for medical license
2 to 5+ years residency in specialty area
Can then work as specialist (e.g., OB/GYN)
2 to 3+ years fellowship for “sub-specialty”
Can then work as sub-specialiste.g., pediatric oncologist, neurosurgeon, etc.
Length of Specialty Training
For all M.D. & D.O. graduates:
3+ years: pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine,
emergency medicine, general practice medicine
4-5+ years: psychiatry, general surgery, orthopedic surgery,
dermatology, radiology, others
6-7+ years: neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, others
Cost of Medical Training
You pay for medical school, 4 yrs: $20K to $60K/year, $30-40K average tuition Some financial aid available Students generally borrow significant
amount
You are paid for: Internship year (general medicine)
~ $35K to 40K per year Residency years (specialty)
~ $40 to 45K per year Fellowship years (sub-specialty)
More $$$ than residents make
Why Go To Medical School?
To help others through knowledge of science
Your love of science, especially biology + chemistry)
You are a problem-solver
Your intellectual curiosity
You want lifelong learning
You enjoy teaching others
It is a “calling” and becomes your “identity”
You enjoy being a leader or making decisions
You enjoy being in“authority” position
Personal Characteristics Needed
Maturity & ethical integrity
Motivation and determination to succeed
Interpersonal & communication skills
Demonstrated interest in helping others
Willingness to accept responsibility
Energy, enthusiasm, physical stamina
Compassion, empathy, altruism
Personal Characteristics Needed
Problem-solving skills & good judgment
Awareness of the medical profession
Exposure to various cultures & life problems
“Cultural competency”is stressed
Able to accept constructive feedback & criticism
Ability to lead, teach or influence others
Academic PreparationGeneral Biology: BIOL 110 and BIOL 240W
Microbiology: BIOL 230W
General Chemistry: CHEM 110/112
General Chemistry Laboratory: CHEM 111/113
Organic Chemistry: CHEM 210/212
Organic Chemistry Laboratory: CHEM 213
Biochemistry: CHEM 472 and B M B 402 (MCAT 2015 requirement)
Anatomy BIOL 421
Physiology BIOL 472
Physics: PHYS 250/251
Calculus: MATH 140/141
Statistics: STAT 250 (MCAT 2015 requirement)
Psychology: PSYCH 100
English (3 -6 credits): ENGL 15, 202C
Sociology (3-6 credits): SOC 001 (MCAT 2015 requirement)
Although not required, many in the health professions run their own practices. Business courses (3-6 credits) are strongly encouraged!
Your Transcripts
AP units can count for required courses
All grades count in GPA, except APs
Original grades of repeated courses count
No B-, C, D or F grades. Isolated instances only.
Better to get “W” than to repeat “D” or “F”
Not too many “W” or “CR/NCR” grades
Upward GPA trends look good
Light course loads do not look good; <12 credits
Medical College Admission Test
Test of general biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, verbal reasoning, writing
As of January 2015, MCAT will change into an area-based test
Need average or better scores to be admitted – top 33%
Repeated MCAT scores are not averaged
Many take commercial MCAT prep course
Medical College Admission Test
MCAT2015 has new components that should be addressed by your academic preparation:
Sociology – freshman level course will suffice
Biochemistry – CHEM 472 is necessary
Statistics – STAT 250 or equivalent is suggested
Medical College Admission Test
4 Sections, 4 scores:
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
What it tests:
Combine knowledge of foundational concepts in the biological and biochemical sciences with your scientific inquiry, reasoning, and research and statistics skills to solve problems that demonstrate readiness for medical school.
Biological & Biochemical
Foundations of Living Systems
Exam content in this section typically taught in:• Introductory biology• Introductory general chemistry• Introductory organic chemistry• First semester biochemistry
Chemical & Physical
Foundations of Biological Systems
What it tests:
Combine your knowledge of foundational concepts in the chemical and physical sciences with your scientific inquiry, reasoning, and research and statistics skills to solve problems that demonstrate readiness for medical school.
Chemical & Physical Foundations of
Biological Systems
Exam content in this section typically taught in:• Introductory biology• Introductory general chemistry• Introductory organic chemistry• Introductory physics• First semester biochemistry
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
What it tests:
Knowledge and use of the concepts in psychology, sociology, biology, research methods, and statistics that provide a solid foundation for learning in medical school about the behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health and health outcomes.
Psychological, Social, & Biological
Foundations of Behavior
Exam content in this section typically taught in:• Introductory psychology• Introductory sociology• Introductory biology
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
What it tests:
This section asks you to critically analyze, evaluate, and apply information presented in a passage.
Comprehension
Evaluation
Application
Incorporation of Information
Critical Analysis & Reasoning Skills
*Specific knowledge of these disciplines is not required for this section
Passages from humanities & social sciences*:• Ethics• Philosophy
• Cross-cultural studies• Population health
Experiential Preparation
Demonstrated commitment of service to others:Working, interning, or volunteering to help othersMedically related experience highly suggestedHospital, clinic, nursing home, public health clinicClinical research through a medical schoolTeacher’s aide or tutor (any school level)Community agencies (homeless shelter, geriatric)Leadership on or off campus – sports, SGA, etc.Medical mission work, other church workEmergency Medical Technician
Experiential Preparation
One or two highly involved experiences are far more important than a laundry list of ‘hit-and-run’ experiences where you barely played a
part!!!
Keep record of your service hours
Keep supervisor’s name, address, phone for reference letter when applying
START YESTERDAY!!!
Scientific Research
Research exp. required for M.D./Ph.D. program
Pre-med research experience shows:Independent interest in science
Dedication & initiative in independent work
Intellectual curiosity
Can be a good source of faculty reference letter
Summer research programs
Desire to contribute to scientific knowledge
Length and breadth most important
Scientific Research
Research does not/should not:
…Take time from a higher GPA
…Be a replacement for people-contact experiences
…Make up for deficiencies in MCAT or GPA
What are Admissions Committees Looking For?
THEY WANT YOU SUCEED IN MEDICAL SCHOOL
They don’t want to waste their time or YOURS
To predict success in 1st & 2nd years of medical school:
Total college GPA (from all colleges) Science GPA:
all math, biology, chemistry, and physics grades MCAT scores Rigor of academic experience
Including caliber of bachelor’s degree institution Course load difficulty
What are Admissions Committees Looking For?
To predict success in 3rd & 4th years & beyond:Reference letters (from faculty and others)
Application essays, including life experiences
Answers to specific application questions on:Challenges and hardships
Diversity of background and experience
Handling of ethical dilemmas
Goals for the future
Interview the applicant to learn:What is motivating the student
Their interpersonal skills
The sincerity of their goals
Many applicants take one or more years off after
college graduation before applying to medical
schools
This is becoming the preferred route – apply
once, apply right
The Screening Process
Medical School Admission Committees WILL NOT read every applicant’s personal statement and the rest of the application.
Every school has to screen its applications to reduce the number they actually have to read.
Once the screening process is done, then they start reading the applications.
Grades Matter
I am a wonderful, amazing person who… Rescued children from burning houses Built 50 houses with my bare hands by myself for
50 different families Volunteered in the ER Holds leadership positions in 10 different
organizations
“It doesn’t matter that I have a 2.9 GPA and a 25 MCAT score, right???”
WRONG! Grades matter.
Don’t bank on being the outlier case.
It’s stressful to take that risk (both financially and emotionally).
No one will see how wonderful you are unless your numbers get by the screening.
Grades Matter
What criteria are used to screen applicants?
GPA
(Grade Point Average)
MCAT (Medical School Admissions Test)
Fact and figures can be found at: https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/
Table 19: MCAT scores and GPA’s for Applicants and Matriculants to US
Medical Schools by Race and Ethnicity, 2009
What To Do If You Are Rejected?
Take a deep breath, then
Call the schools and find out why
Assess your chances for reapplication
Assess what you need to improve
Ask yourself how determined you are
Choose best course of action
Should you consider alternate careers?
Maybe You Need More Experience, or ?
Peace Corps, Americorps, or ?
More exposure to health care?
More time helping others ?
Could research experience help ?
Should you repeat some courses ?
Should you repeat the MCAT ?
Do you need stronger reference letters ?
Evidence of maturity & responsibility ?
Post-baccalaureate programs ?
Post-baccalaureate Programs
1 to 2 year programs after B.A./B.S. degree
To show potential to succeed in med school
Can be a Master’s degree or just courses
Some courses are with medical students
MCAT prep included
Research project usually included
Strong programs at: Georgetown, Boston U., Chicago Medical College, Drexel U.
Some programs for underrepresented applicants
Good admission rates to medical school
Gather Information & Utilize Resources
Rule #1: Decide to devote a significant time commitment to preparing for medical school.
Rule #2: Research national medical school acceptance data based upon GPA and MCAT scores.
Rule #3: Seek advice from those well-versed in the medical school application process.
Rule #4: Get to know your pre-med office!
Gather Information & Utilize Resources
Confer with premed advisors, mentors, and upperclassmen who can support you through the application process.
Attend a medical school recruitment fair to learn from representatives about their schools. AAMC Calender: http://www.aamc.org/calendar/careerfairs
Gather Information & Utilize Resources
Register with AspiringDocs for information, guidance, and inspiration about preparation for medical school and medical careers. http://www.AspiringDocs.org
Read “Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors” which assists premedical and medial students in their planning for the financial aspects of the medical education. http://www.aamc.org/md2
Helpful Links
To start your journey to medical school, you should visit the American Association of Medical Colleges and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Here you will find free guides to medical programs, statistics on application rates and acceptances, and information on the many medical career opportunities. AACOMAS is the application service for D.O. medical programs.
Resources for students interested in M.D.
Association of American Medical Colleges StudentsAssociation of American Medical Colleges "Road to Medicine" bookletThe Student Doctor Network (sdn - The Student Doctor Network contains forums for students in all areas of medicine)
Helpful Links
Resources for students interested in D.O.
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA - includes D.O. search feature; helpful for shadowing contacts)What is Osteopathic Medicine (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine)About Osteopathic Medicine (America Osteopathic Association)
The Osteopathic Medical Student Website (Student Osteopathic Medical Association)Frequently Asked Questions (AACOM)Osteopathic Medical College Information Book (AACOM)The Student Doctor Network (sdn - The Student Doctor Network contains forums for students in all areas of medicine)
Gather Information & Utilize Resources
The MSAR aka Your Best Friend The Medical School Admissions Requirements
(MSAR) profiles every medical school in the US and Canada.
Check the MSAR before applying to get a sense of what a school’s numbers are, their requirements, and their curricula.
For example, more and more schools require biochemistry, and same require two semesters of calculus.