4 answers
Bethany
Student
Nederland, Texas
1
Question
Asked
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What are the steps to getting into Medical School?
I want to go to Medical School, but I feel like it seems tough to go about getting into it. #medicine #medical-school #surgery
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4 answers
James Garza
Owner, Self-employed at Garza Medical Association
82
Answers
Round Rock, Texas
Updated
James’s Answer
hi bethany. i graduated from medical school in 1993 and have been a family physician for over 20 years.
yes, getting into medical school is difficult. so is getting through medical school. and then residency. heck, being a doctor is difficult too, with potentially life-altering decisions being made every day.
so first and foremost, you really, really need to have an unquenchable desire to be in the medical field. without that, you'll likely burn out early.
i was lucky to have a registered nurse in the family, my mother. i got to hang out at the hospital often. i got to see what she did and what patients went through. i got to speak to doctors and medical residents.
those are all things i would strongly recommend. somehow you need to decide whether this path is for you. i would suggest doing a preceptorship. that's where you shadow a doctor to see what his/her day is like. sometimes that will be strictly in an office, other times it will take you to the hospital or emergency rooms or nursing homes, etc.
alternatively, you could request information interviews with nearby doctors. those are brief visits where you can ask docs about their own experiences in college, medical school, residency, and their chosen specialty. don't forget to also interview other medical professionals like dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, podiatrists, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, etc. you might find those paths more to your liking.
part II. if you decide you really want to be a doctor.
in college you will need to take a set of required pre-medical courses. some of those courses in my day were chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics, calculus, and some others i can't recall. check with your college's health professions advisor for the current list.
in addition to that, there are some recommended courses. i took biochemistry and physiology. but there were several others that i wasn't able to get to, like microbiology and immunology.
no matter which courses you take you'll need above average grades. that means studying. buy yourself a book on how to study. there are many out there and they're proven to help.
next you'll need to do well on the medical college admission test (MCAT). usually that means taking a separate (non-credit) prep course during your junior and/or senior year of college. i think nowadays a lot of people are doing those online. but no matter how many pre-med courses you took and how well you did on them, the MCAT is a bear of a test that you should never overlook.
i'm not going to get into the medical school application or interviews. your health professions advisor will help you with those.
but i do want to point out a couple of things.
1) there are at least 2 applicants for every available medical school position. so, again, it is difficult to get in.
2) you will need to have some non-academic experiences to round out your application.
good luck!
yes, getting into medical school is difficult. so is getting through medical school. and then residency. heck, being a doctor is difficult too, with potentially life-altering decisions being made every day.
so first and foremost, you really, really need to have an unquenchable desire to be in the medical field. without that, you'll likely burn out early.
i was lucky to have a registered nurse in the family, my mother. i got to hang out at the hospital often. i got to see what she did and what patients went through. i got to speak to doctors and medical residents.
those are all things i would strongly recommend. somehow you need to decide whether this path is for you. i would suggest doing a preceptorship. that's where you shadow a doctor to see what his/her day is like. sometimes that will be strictly in an office, other times it will take you to the hospital or emergency rooms or nursing homes, etc.
alternatively, you could request information interviews with nearby doctors. those are brief visits where you can ask docs about their own experiences in college, medical school, residency, and their chosen specialty. don't forget to also interview other medical professionals like dentists, optometrists, pharmacists, podiatrists, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, etc. you might find those paths more to your liking.
part II. if you decide you really want to be a doctor.
in college you will need to take a set of required pre-medical courses. some of those courses in my day were chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics, calculus, and some others i can't recall. check with your college's health professions advisor for the current list.
in addition to that, there are some recommended courses. i took biochemistry and physiology. but there were several others that i wasn't able to get to, like microbiology and immunology.
no matter which courses you take you'll need above average grades. that means studying. buy yourself a book on how to study. there are many out there and they're proven to help.
next you'll need to do well on the medical college admission test (MCAT). usually that means taking a separate (non-credit) prep course during your junior and/or senior year of college. i think nowadays a lot of people are doing those online. but no matter how many pre-med courses you took and how well you did on them, the MCAT is a bear of a test that you should never overlook.
i'm not going to get into the medical school application or interviews. your health professions advisor will help you with those.
but i do want to point out a couple of things.
1) there are at least 2 applicants for every available medical school position. so, again, it is difficult to get in.
2) you will need to have some non-academic experiences to round out your application.
good luck!
Estelle Archer
Gynecologist
1321
Answers
United States
Updated
Estelle’s Answer
Your major is not as important as your undergraduate grades, your MCAT score, your letters of reference, and your personal statements on your medical school application. For now, just focus on finding a college that fits you and your budget and a major that really interests you in college so that you will make great grades and get strong letters of recommendation from professors that recognize your potential.
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. The MCAT is very important in the medical school application.
Good luck!
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. The MCAT is very important in the medical school application.
Good luck!
Richard A.
physician
2150
Answers
Updated
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 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
Kaplan Test Prep
Sold by: Amazon.com Services, Inc
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Rachel Weinheimer
Surgeon
1121
Answers
Amarillo, Texas
Updated
Rachel’s Answer
You will have to complete college with a bachelor’s degree as well as all of the Pre-med requirements (1 year biology, 1 year inorganic chemistry, 1 year organic chemistry + labs, physics, calculus, and biochemistry). GPA should probably be 3.5 or better (preferably >3.8). You will also have to score well on the MCAT. Once accepted to medical school, as long as you pass your classes and perform reasonably well during your four years of medical training, you can apply for a residency.