What Grades Do You Need to Get Into Medical School?
Every pre-med student wonders if their grades are good enough to get into medical school. It turns out that the process involves a lot more than grades. The application process begins with taking the right amount of science classes in your undergraduate degree. Next, take the MCAT, order transcripts and obtain letters of recommendation. Finally, apply to medical school.
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Admission Requirements
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Each medical school has its own admission requirements, so you will need to check with the admissions director at the school of your choice. Most schools require certain courses during your undergraduate degree. Some of those basic requirements include one year of biology, one year of physics, one year of English and two years of chemistry. In addition, most medical schools will expect applicants to have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Another source of information for each school's admission prerequisites is published annually in the "Medical School Admission Requirements" (MSAR). This book can be checked out at school libraries.
What is the MCAT Exam?
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The MCAT measures knowledge of basic sciences, problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills. MCAT scores are one of the top three criteria for admission to medical school. The sections of the test are verbal reasoning, physical sciences, writing samples (essay questions) and biological sciences. Each section is timed. The MCAT is given multiple times during the year from January through September.
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What Does It Take to Get Into Medical School?
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Medical schools look for successful completion of undergraduate courses, grade point average, performance on the MCAT, extracurricular involvement, especially in health-related service, letters of recommendation from health professors, members of the health profession or other community leaders and performance during the interview with medical school admissions committees.
Applying to Medical School
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The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) assists first-year applicants. The application is done right over the Internet on the AAMC website. Begin the application by providing basic information such as biographic details, contact information and schools attended. Next, enter your coursework. Provide work experience including extracurricular activities, awards, honors and publications. Include your letters of recommendation. Enter your MCAT scores. Finally, submit your application and monitor its status through the AMCAS application interface.
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References
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