2 answers
8
Questions
Asked
379 views
What is exactly taught or done in medical college?
Applying for colleges as an undergraduate, wanting to go to medical school afterwards
Login to comment
2 answers
Updated
Doc’s Answer
MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM
In medical school, students primarily learn about the basic sciences of the human body, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, and genetics, during the preclinical phase; followed by clinical rotations where you'll gain hands-on experience with patients in various medical specialties like internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics/ gynecology, learning how to take patient histories, perform physical examinations, and develop essential communication skills while applying their foundational knowledge to diagnose and treat diseases.
MEDICAL SCHOOL PREREQUISITES
The medical school admissions process is very competitive. Admissions committees want to accept applicants who they are confident will succeed in their programs and become successful physicians. To get into medical school, you'll need to meet several requirements, including:
☑️ GPA: A strong GPA is a common requirement, most medical schools won't accept a GPA lower than 3.0. To be competitive, you should aim for a GPA of 3.7 or higher.
☑️ MCAT: The Medical College Admission Test is a standardized exam that assesses your knowledge of scientific, behavioral, and social science concepts. The average MCAT score for accepted applicants for med school is between 510 and 520.
☑️ PRE-MED COURSES: You'll need to complete pre-med courses, including one year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics in college.
☑️ EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: You should include extracurricular activities, such as clinical experience and volunteer work, on your application for med school.
☑️ LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: You'll need to submit letters of recommendation for med school.
IN CONCLUSION
While there is little mystery regarding what it takes to get into medical school, getting into medical school is hard, in fact, that over 60% of applicants fail being accepted into medical school programs they apply to. In other words, most applicants don’t get in anywhere. Therefore, there is little room for error with the admissions process and it’s important that you achieve at the highest levels you’re able, with regard to academics and extracurriculars above.
In medical school, students primarily learn about the basic sciences of the human body, including anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology, and genetics, during the preclinical phase; followed by clinical rotations where you'll gain hands-on experience with patients in various medical specialties like internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics/ gynecology, learning how to take patient histories, perform physical examinations, and develop essential communication skills while applying their foundational knowledge to diagnose and treat diseases.
MEDICAL SCHOOL PREREQUISITES
The medical school admissions process is very competitive. Admissions committees want to accept applicants who they are confident will succeed in their programs and become successful physicians. To get into medical school, you'll need to meet several requirements, including:
☑️ GPA: A strong GPA is a common requirement, most medical schools won't accept a GPA lower than 3.0. To be competitive, you should aim for a GPA of 3.7 or higher.
☑️ MCAT: The Medical College Admission Test is a standardized exam that assesses your knowledge of scientific, behavioral, and social science concepts. The average MCAT score for accepted applicants for med school is between 510 and 520.
☑️ PRE-MED COURSES: You'll need to complete pre-med courses, including one year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics in college.
☑️ EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: You should include extracurricular activities, such as clinical experience and volunteer work, on your application for med school.
☑️ LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: You'll need to submit letters of recommendation for med school.
IN CONCLUSION
While there is little mystery regarding what it takes to get into medical school, getting into medical school is hard, in fact, that over 60% of applicants fail being accepted into medical school programs they apply to. In other words, most applicants don’t get in anywhere. Therefore, there is little room for error with the admissions process and it’s important that you achieve at the highest levels you’re able, with regard to academics and extracurriculars above.
Updated
Shelia’s Answer
A smart move might be to choose a college that offers a biomedical sciences program. This major will expose you to most of the diverse subjects you'll need to tackle in medical school. You'll need to shine in your studies, take up leadership roles and clock in hours at a hospital, clinic or doctor's office. My daughter, for example, worked as a medical scribe during her undergrad degree. You'll also need to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and aim to score 510 or higher. It's a good idea to apply to several medical schools. The application process involves writing a top-notch personal statement, securing letters of recommendation, completing both a primary and secondary application, and acing an interview. Hopefully, you'll get multiple interviews where you'll have the chance to impress and stand out from the crowd.
Once you're accepted into medical school, you'll spend two years learning everything there is to know about the human body and how to diagnose patients (actors). Then, you'll spend the next 2 years on clinical rotations. You'll need to pass Step 1 to start your third year and Step 2 for your fourth year. Passing the medical boards is crucial to kick-start your residency. Here's wishing you all the best on your journey!
Once you're accepted into medical school, you'll spend two years learning everything there is to know about the human body and how to diagnose patients (actors). Then, you'll spend the next 2 years on clinical rotations. You'll need to pass Step 1 to start your third year and Step 2 for your fourth year. Passing the medical boards is crucial to kick-start your residency. Here's wishing you all the best on your journey!