1. GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL
Tips and Advice from a Recent Undergraduate
By Jessica Malin
Spring 2009

2. THE BASICS
General Advice
 Be on top of your game – start planning early!
 Have a true desire to become a doctor – don’t put
yourself through it for any other reason.
 Prepare yourself to work hard – but learn how to balance
with activities you enjoy.
 Understand the realities of getting into medical school –
keep a positive attitude and an open mind!

3. IMPORTANT FACTORS 1
Grades
 Maintaining a  If you are having
competitive GPA is trouble in college:
necessary:  Talk to an advisor
 Most schools have an
 Change your study
average of 3.6-4.0
habits
 GPA is the number one
factor that schools  Consider switching
consider majors and only taking
 If you can’t keep a high necessary pre-
GPA in college, requisites
chances are, medical  Don’t give up or be too
school will be too tough hard on yourself!
to handle

4. IMPORTANT FACTORS 2
Pre-Requisites
 All schools require  Some schools require or
certain undergraduate recommend other
classes: courses, usually:
 1 year of Biology
 1 semester of
 1 year of Inorganic Biochemistry
Chemistry
 1 semester of Genetics
 1 year of Organic
Chemistry  Some breadth in the
 1 year of Physics social sciences or
 1 year of Math (1 humanities
semester each of calculus  Check out school
and statistics)
websites to see their
 1 year of English
individual requirements

5. IMPORTANT FACTORS 3
Medical College Admission Test
 MCAT is equally as  Take at end of junior
important to grades year
 Total score is out of 45:
 Get a study book or
 Physical Sciences: 15 study old class notes
 Verbal Reasoning: 15
 Taking a preparatory
 Biological Sciences: 15
 Writing Sample: J-T
course is helpful
 Kaplan
 Competitive score is
about 30 and above  Princeton Review
 Study A LOT!

6. IMPORTANT FACTORS 4
Medical Experience Volunteer
 Medical schools want  Volunteer hours are
to see that you have basically required to get
been exposed to the into medical school
field:  Search for opportunities
 Work in a hospital or at local hospitals or clinics
clinic  Put time in at nursing
 Shadow a doctor homes or with sick
 Become an EMT children
 Begin gaining  Find something you enjoy
experience as soon as and stick with it!
possible – don’t wait!

7. IMPORTANT FACTORS 5
Activities
 Have other hobbies or  Research is one of the
interests besides getting best activities you can
into medical school
get involved with
 Leadership positions look
very impressive on an  See if your university has
application research programs with
 Don’t join a million clubs local hospitals
and barely get involved –  Dedicate a good amount
pick one or two that you of time, but make sure it’s
enjoy and dedicate your something you’re
time to them! interested in
 Attempt to get published!

8. IMPORTANT FACTORS 6
Recommendations Personal Statement
 Required from three to  Essay defining who
five you are and why you
professors, depending on want to be a doctor
the school
 Required for the
 Also helps to have one primary application
from a volunteer or
research mentor  Be honest and be
yourself
 Ask early, but only ask
those who could write you  Write many drafts
an effective letter  Have 10 people read
 Get to know your and critique it before
professors more than just you submit it
sitting in their class!

9. THE NEXT STEP
Application Time
 Use the American Medical  Research schools to
College Association Service decide which you are
(AMCAS) – this common competitive for and would
application will get sent to like to go to
every school you
indicate, making it easier  Average number to apply
and hassle-free to apply! to is between 14-18
 Use a book like the
 Applications open June 1st – Medical School
begin filling it out as soon as Admissions Requirements
possible the year prior to (MSAR) to help
desired matriculation  Aim for schools around
 Schools have rolling your region – admissions
admissions, so the are very local
earlier, the better!

10. YOU’RE ALMOST THERE..
Secondary Applications
 After the primary application is processed, you will start
to receive secondary ones from individual schools
 Fill these out as soon as possible – there are lots of essays, so
start writing immediately!
 Keep a spreadsheet to organize yourself – write down what
applications you have sent in and what fees you have paid
(remember that this part can get expensive!)
 Don’t get discouraged if you don’t receive a lot at first –
remember that there are thousands of applicants and you
need to be patient!
 Read all instructions: Some schools want it faxed, some want it
online, some want a paper copy. Make sure you know exactly
what you need for each school.

11. THE LAST STEP
Interviews
 When you get an interview,  In order to have a good
you have passed the interview:
 Get informed about the
numbers part of the particular school
admissions process  Read up on current events,
 The interview is a huge health care, and politics
 Know why you want to be a
factor in admissions and the doctor and where you stand on
last chance you have to sell ethical issues
yourself  Be confident and relaxed
 If you don’t know the answer,
 Schools want to see if you be honest
are personable and can  Wear a suit and look
communicate – basically if professional
you have the people skills  BE YOURSELF!
needed to be a doctor!

12. YOU DID IT!
On your way to becoming a doctor..
 Be proud of yourself for  If you are not content
sticking with your goal with your outcome:
and achieving it!
 Try to improve the
 If you have a
choice, consider the weaker parts of your
cost, location, and application and re-apply
opportunities at each next year
specific school  Consider applying to
 Have it narrowed down to DO or international
one school by May 15th schools
 Get excited!  Stay positive!