The Pre-Med Basics

"All of medicine, not just cadaver dissection, trespasses into sacred spheres. Doctors invade the body in every way imaginable. They see people at their most vulnerable, their most scared, their most private." - When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi

Navigating the requirements for medical school can be confusing and feel isolating, especially if you do not have role models or mentors to help guide you. While every pre-med journey is different, it is important to understand the basics of what is expected of you so that you can build a strong application.

What is a pre-med student?

A pre-med student is a student who is passionate about the medical field and is involved in academic and extracurricular activities to prepare them to become medical students. It is not an undergraduate major but is a term that describes a student’s intentions of applying to medical school and describes their career goals of becoming a medical doctor. It is important to reflect on why you want to be a physician, as this will help motivate you and may be addressed on your application or interview.

What are medical schools looking for in my application?

Every medical school has different requirements and values that they are looking for in potential medical students. The process of applying can be competitive so it is important to be well prepared and properly research medical schools that you are interested in. In this article, I will discuss some of the basics of a medical school application that will be discussed in further detail in future blog posts.

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Prerequisites

While you are not required to have a science-related major to apply to medical school, it is important to take the general course requirements for your application. Keep in mind that these requirements can vary depending on the schools you want to apply to but the general classes you should take are:

• 1 year of biology with lab

• 1 year of general chemistry with lab

• 1 year of organic chemistry with lab

• 1 year of physics with lab

• 1 semester of biochemistry

• 1 year of English

• 1 semester of psychology or sociology

In order to ensure that you are meeting the course requirements for your medical schools of interest, reach out to the academic or pre-professional advisor at your undergraduate college. These advisors can help you organize your course load so that it is manageable for you. Keep in mind that your undergraduate GPA and GPA in these prerequisite courses will be included in your application.

The MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized, multiple choice exam administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) that is designed to assess knowledge covered in your prerequisite courses as well as your critical thinking and problem solving skills. The exam is 7.5 hours long and is divided into four sections:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior

• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Almost all U.S. medical schools require you to submit an MCAT exam score, and you are allowed to retake the exam if you are not satisfied with your first test score. Study methods vary from person to person but make sure you are allocating enough study time to prepare for the exam. Using resources such as prep books and practice tests can help prepare you for the style of questions that will be asked on the MCAT.

Clinical Experience

Clinical experience is valuable for allowing pre-medical students to understand the challenges that a physician experiences in their career. However, shadowing a doctor is different from clinical experience. Shadowing is when you simply observe a physician at work and can be beneficial in learning the day-to-day role of how a doctor interacts with patients. The purpose of clinical experience is to interact with patients directly. This provides insight on how physicians create treatment plans for patients who have different beliefs, life experiences, and health goals. While shadowing is more of a passive experience, entry-level jobs such as an EMT or phlebotomist are better options for gaining clinical experience.

Extracurricular Activities

Physicians are leaders in various aspects: they provide medical opinions for physician assistants and nurse practitioners in clinics, propose and conduct experiments in research, and provide information for patients in their community regarding health concerns. It is important to participate in extracurricular activities that show your leadership skills and help you understand issues relating to your community. Instead of trying to participate in as many clubs and activities as possible, it is more beneficial to devote time to organizations and projects that are meaningful to you. This can include research, participating in a college club, or volunteering at a local food bank.

The Application Process

There are 4 main components to the medical school application process that admissions committees take into account when determining which applicants to select for their programs.

Primary applications: Primary applications are mainly submitted through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). This is where you will submit components of your application such as:

• Your undergraduate GPA

• MCAT score

• Letters of recommendation

• Personal Statement

• Work/Extracurricular Activities

• Medical schools you are applying to

Secondary Applications: Secondary applications are sent out after your primary applications are submitted and verified by the AMCAS. This application is submitted in an essay format and each medical school will give you a set of questions to answer.

This application allows you to:

• Further explain why you want to attend a school

• Share your personal experiences

• Allow for the admissions committee to get to know you better

Some medical schools post their secondary application questions ahead of time on their application page, it is important to research these ahead of time so that you can be prepared and provide quality answers for your application.

Interviews: After reviewing primary and secondary applications, medical schools will invite a certain number of applicants for an interview with members of their admissions committee. Depending on the school, these interviews may be conducted in person or virtually.

Selection Criteria: The selection criteria and review process for every medical school is different. Luckily for prospective students, most medical schools have the competencies and attributes that they are assessing posted on their website. Learning the values of the schools you apply to will help guide you in your interview and application responses and show schools that you are dedicated and understand the goals of their program.

Embracing Your Pre-Med Journey

While it may seem like you have to be the perfect applicant to get accepted into a medical school, the reality is that a strong application is not only defined by academic grades or test scores. You do not need a 4.0 GPA or perfect MCAT score to be a strong applicant and your unique experiences can help you stand out among other pre-med students. No matter how your pre-med journey started, it is important to remember that you have the potential to become a great physician. Identifying as a pre-med student is the first step to a long road of perseverance, but all of your hard work will be worth it when you are wearing a white coat and helping patients improve their lives. Be confident, be yourself, and embrace your pre-med journey!