How do I apply for medical school?
My career goal is to become a doctor. What are the steps to applying for medical school? #medicine #doctor #college #med-school #career
5 answers
Sheila’s Answer
Hello Bobby: It's awesome that you want to become a doctor. This career path is a long journey but can be quite rewarding. I've listed some steps you could take to pursue a career in medicine by "preparing" to apply to medical school by doing the following:
*Partner with your Advisor
*Attend Career & Health Fairs
*Check On-Campus for Resources and Mentors
*Join Clubs and Activities
*Get Experience in Labs; Volunteer or Shadow
*Research Experience
*Prepare for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
*Request Letters of Evaluation
*Loop in your Parents
*Familiarize Yourself with AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service)
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/10-things-do-prepare-applying-medical-school/
I've researched and there are three phases to applying to medical school.
1) Primary Application
2) Secondary Application
3) Medical School Interview
https://www.kaptest.com/study/mcat/the-3-phases-of-applying-to-medical-school/
I've included a link to AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) that has a very good list of steps you would take when applying to medical school. This is a great site and will become your new BFF
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/applying-medical-school/
Its exciting to hear that you want to become a doctor. This is an awesome field and you could help change patients lives.
Good Luck to You!
Sheila recommends the following next steps:
Richard’s Answer
In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. 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
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Estelle’s Answer
College degree including pre-med requirements and MCAT, then you apply to med schools and interview
4 years of medical school
Residency for 3+ years, depending on the specialty you choose.
Good luck!
Richard’s Answer
In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. 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
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Medical school takes 4 years to complete.
After medical school physicians complete a residency for additional training. These can last 3-6 years and are sometimes followed by an additional year or two of fellowship subspecialty training.