Things You'll Need:
- AAMC Publications
- Calendars
- Grad School Aptitude Tests
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Step 1
Examine your reasons for wanting to become a physician and check that they're absolutely sound. Medical training is a lengthy, arduous process of at least seven years.
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Step 2
Assess your competitiveness. Almost three times as many applicants compete as there are spots available in medical schools, with mean GPAs of 3.5 and MCAT scores of 30.
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Step 3
Consider holding off on applying while you examine other interests or beef up your qualifications. This can involve retaking the MCAT, serving in a community health project or working in a hospital or lab.
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Step 4
Volunteer in a medical setting (a hospital or clinic) to determine your interests and skills. Medical schools won't take seriously an applicant who has no clinical experience.
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Step 5
Begin the application process in the summer one year prior to the fall you plan on entering medical school. This means you should start applying in summer 2000 if you want to be in school by the fall of 2001.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 As a premed myself, I ended up not going into medical school, looking back my advice:
- Don't get discouraged by minor setbacks, poor grades in org chem, mcat. Push on and before you know it, you'll get there.
- Focus on why you want to be a doctor, not just the accolades of having 'Dr.' next to your name.
- Do you really want to help people? Ready to spend years and years in training?
- If you're adventurous, consider military medical school in DC -- it's very competitive to get in, but the career and opportunities to do things are absolutely amazing.
- Try to have fun while you're at it. After spending 10 hours couped up in library, on molecular bio -- go and unwind. This will help help you deal with pressures and challenges of the long haul.
- Don't try to decide your specialty while still an undergrad -- if you know great, otherwise, you'll figure it out once you're in med school
- Get as much active medical related experience as possible -- anything where you'd be able to experience and observe practicing doctors.
- If you're still set on becoming a doctor, and US schools don't share your enthusiasm, take another year, get more medical experience, reapply. I recommend Sachler Medical College in Israel. Many people I know also went to island schools in Caribbean (Dominican, Grenada, Ross U) -- it's a tougher experience than US continental school both emotionally and logistically, but in the end, if you stick with it -- you'll be a doctor.
Hope this helps.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Absolutely, without question, you ought to shadow a physician in his/her clinic, or in the hospital doing rounds. You really should know what you're getting yourself into prior to committing all that time, and the TV shows don't adequately let you know what the life is like. Try to observe "a day in the life", and, with the recognition that it isn't the only option after med school (i.e. if you don't like clinics, you can be a surgeon, an emergency physician, etc) understand that it's not ALL glamor and prestige. It's finding lab values and arguing with insurance companies too!
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Whatever your college major is, be sure that it includes the courses required to sit for the MCAT. If it doesn't, allow time to take those classes on top of your major load.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 As a premed student, one may feel obligated to major in biology or chemistry. It is a misconception that med schools like science majors. Your best bet is to major in what you like; chances are, you will do your best work in that major.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 My daughter was unsure, so she worked as a vet's assistant fixing broken bones of dogs & other pets; also comforted them, drew blood, etc. Summer 2000 she'll work as a surgeon in a rural hospital in Thailand to gain necessary clinical experience.