What requirements are needed to have the best chance at getting into Med school?
#medical-school #premed
4 answers
Estelle’s Answer
Richard’s Answer
Pick a college that suits your personality and a major that interests you. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses.
Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
Try to find opportunities to pursue research.
Volunteer at your local hospital or low-income clinic. Ask physicians, PAs or other clinical providers if you can shadow them.
During college study for and complete the MCAT. Devote an entire summer to studying for the MCAT and consider paying for a prep course if you can afford it.
My son used MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2019-2020: Online + Book + 3 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) Kaplan Test Prep
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It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Hanah’s Answer
Samantha,
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE. Scribe, shadow, and start speaking to physicians. One of the reasons why students don't get into medical school is their lack of clinical experience. How are the schools you are applying to going to know you are ready for the rigors of medical school if you have never shadowed or worked in a clinical setting. Also, how do you know you want to be a physician if you have never experience it. Aside from the schools pre-requisites, start honing in on your passions. This is your chance to try and sell yourself to school in an adult way, why and what you have done, and why you want to be a physician. You may need to cold call physicians and see if you can shadow, most are more than happy to have you, just don't be afraid to ask! I recommend scribing. It will get your foot in the door with great physicians (who would be more than happy to write your LOR) and expose you to a clinical setting you may have never seen before.
Good luck!
Hanah recommends the following next steps: