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How hard is it to get into medical school?

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Sheila’s Answer

Hello Panda: Thank you for your question. I agree with Melisa's response and would like to add my comments.

I have a son who has completed medical school and is currently a resident Pediatrician. In observing him on his journey to become a doctor here are some things he did to help propel him along the way for getting accepted into medical school. While in high school, he was selected to participate in a program called "Medical Explorers" where he shadowed doctors at the local hospital for 2 hours a month in all areas; and participated as a US People to People Student Ambassador traveling abroad. He also scored extremely high on the SAT/ACT. In college, he scored well on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) exam.

Although I have no direct proof, I honestly believe that the gems above (and many others not listed) helped positioned him to get accepted into medical school immediately after college. I'd say you want to make sure that you are highly motivated, dedicated, focused and have a career plan in place; simply because this journey is a long and expensive one. AND, you will gain a lot of debt. It will require a lot of hard work, which involves studying, reading, researching, collaborating, etc. etc. Just set your plan in motion and stick to it. When needed get support from others such as family, friends, church, school counselor, work, etc.

Getting into medical school could become challenging but, it doesn't have to be. Start early with your plan, execute well, and follow through. It won't be easy but, you can do this. I wish you much success on your journey.

Best of luck to you!

~ Sheila

Sheila recommends the following next steps:

Research the medical schools you would like to attend. Find out about their admission criteria, etc. Start early as possible
Aspiring medical students often overlook chatting with their Primary Care Physician. If you have medical insurance under your parent's plan, talk to your Primary Care Physician. They'd love to help answer any questions you may have. Honestly, they will be flattered that you ask. Schedule an appointment and let them know of your interest in the medical field
Rank the medical schools in the order of preference. 1 = highly desired - - 10 = least desired. I suggest that you APPLY TO ALL from highly desired to least desired. You never know where you may get accepted; and you don't want to get "wait listed" because that could take a long time to get accepted
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Vineeth’s Answer

The sheer amount of knowledge required for medicine is difficult, but just getting into school can be even harder. Medical school acceptance rates are extremely low. ... Medical schools want the most academically competitive students. That is what makes admissions so difficult
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Melisa’s Answer

Hello. What a great question. First a disclaimer, I am not in medical school or in a medical field. However, I offer this advice only as a parent of a student currently in a medical school graduate program. From what I've witnessed my daughter experience, she was accepted into her program with hard work, persistence and a great support group, starting in high school. By finding the right course work, experiences and references, you can gain the resources you need to get accepted into medical school. I am sure it is not an easy process and there is so much more to it that others can offer from experience. But, as with anything in life, if you set your goals, set a plan, and work hard to stick with it, you can achieve it! Best wishes for success in your career and educational goals! If you ever want to check out a school in the Chicago area, check out Rosalind Franklin Medical Sciences application process. https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/search/?query=application

Melisa recommends the following next steps:

Research the application process for medical schools that interest you.
Find a mentor in the medical field you can shadow and who can answer questions for you.
Start a spreadsheet of the schools you have interest in, what is required to apply and what you need to work on.
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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. You also need top 10-20%ile on the MCAT
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