Dr. Tiani's fall pre-med presentation for CPMA.

1. Preparing for a Career in Medicine
and
Other Important Advising Information for Pre-Med
Students
Dr. Domenic J. Tiani
The University of North Carolina Pre-Medical Association

2. So You Want To Attend Medical School
Freshman Year
I. Commitment
II. Choosing a Major:
Q. Must I major in a science (i.e., Biology)?
Q. Do medical schools pay attention to a student’s major when
selecting students for admission?
Q. What should I consider when choosing a major?
III. Think About a Plan B
The University of North Carolina Pre-Medical Association

3. UNC Pre-Med Curriculum
1. Biology: At Least 1 Year
Principles of Biology (Biol 101/101L)
Anatomy and Physiology (Biol 252 ) or Biol 276 + L (These are
our only courses that have labs and require only Biol 101 as the
pre-req, they are not necessarily the best courses to take).
Molecular Biology and Genetics (Biol 202) –Recommended
Cellular and Developmental Biology (Biol 205)
2. Chemistry: At Least 2 Years
General Chemistry (Chem 101/101L and 102/102L) - Inorganic
Organic Chemistry (Chem 261, 262, and 262L)
*Analytical Methods (Chem 241 and 241L) – For UNC Students
3. Physics: At Least 1 Year
General Physics (Phys 104/114 & 105/115 or 116/118 & 117/119
with labs)
4. College Math – Most schools have no requirement.
Statistics – Recommended by some schools
A couple of schools require 1 semester of Calculus (Math 231)

4. UNC Pre-Med Curriculum
5. Additional Classes to Consider (A Very Small List of Possibilities):
These are not required or recommended by medical schools, they are
completely optional.
Bioethics/Medical Ethics (Phil 163, Phil 165)
Biochemistry (Chem 430) – Cross-listed as Biol 430; Recommended
Biology of Blood Diseases (Biol 426)
Cancer Biology (Biol 445)
*Undergraduate Research (Chem 395, Biol 295, Psyc 395)
Any General Business Course
Public Health Classes through The School of Public Health
Visit Medical Websites
Every Medical School has a Different Emphasis

5. Volunteer Work & Undergraduate
Research
Q: Do medical school admissions look at undergraduate
research differently then volunteer work?
Q: How do I become involved in undergraduate work?
Q: How do I become involved in volunteer work?
The Volunteer Services Office of UNC Hospitals (966-4793):
Located first floor of the Hospital.
Registration is during the first week of each semester.
Community Service:
Volunteer opportunities available through the Campus Y (962-2333).
http://campus-y.unc.edu
The University of North Carolina Pre-Medical Association

6. Pre-Med Resources Available at UNC
1. HEALTH PROFESSIONS ADVISING OFFICE
Hanes Hall Room 237
Ms. Resa Anderson – New Full Time Health Professions Adviser
http://prehealthadvising.unc.edu
2. UNC Pre-Med Association (CPMA) and AED
3. UNC Career Services: http://careers.unc.edu/
2nd Floor in Hanes Hall
4. UNC Medical Education Development (MED) Program
http://www.med.unc.edu/oed/med/
For students interested in both medical and dental school.

7. Available Resources
5. The Official MCAT Website:
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/
6. Medical Schools Guide
http://www.medschoolsguide.com/
7. AMCAS Online Manual/Guide:
*This should be your ultimate guide.
http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm
• The Office for Undergraduate Research:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/our/

8. Application Timeline
1. If you are not on a traditional pre-med track (decided on pre-med
late, you are a transfer student, or you have a degree but have
come back to complete your pre-med requirements, you can
simply adjust the dates presented here to fit your schedule. You
may stop by the Health Professions Advising Office and Ms. Resa
Anderson can work with you regarding the timeline.
2. The timeline presented herein is based on the AMCAS application
becoming available in early May (May 2nd or 3rd). You should
check the AMCAS website to find out when it will become
available for that given year.

9. Application Timeline
I. Advance Preparation: Summer Before Jr. Year – Fall Jr. Year (1 year prior to
starting application).
1. Revise and polish your resume. Continue to update your resume each semester.
Keep a journal about all service and clinical experiences as you complete them.
1. Start making a list of medical schools you want to receive your application. Visit
the websites of these schools and pay attention to classes they recommend or other
unique pre-requisites, if any.
1. Start considering prospective letter writers. Be sure you have a strong relationship
with those faculty members who you wish to have write a letter for you. It is never
too soon to ask the if they are willing to write a letter for you.
1. Begin developing a study plan for the MCAT. Begin thinking about a target date
for taking the MCAT in the spring of your junior year or summer after your junior
year.
2. Continue volunteering. You should have some shadowing, but medical schools
want to see clinical experience.
3. Assess gaps in your application.

10. Application Timeline
II. Junior. Year: November through March (4-5 months prior to
taking MCAT).
1. Preparation for taking MCAT
2. MCAT registration material available online.
3. Register for MCAT. The MCAT is offered 10 different
times so you must decide when you will be ready.
4. You do not want to take the MCAT until you have
completed or are finishing up your pre-med courses, but the
latest you should plan on is mid summer following junior
year to allow enough time for a retake during this application
cycle.
5. Look into how to have official transcripts sent out to schools.
6. Begin asking professors if they can write you a letter of
recommendation.

11. Application Timeline
III. Junior Year: March through September (2 -3 months prior to starting
to fill out AMCAS, or as you start filling out AMCAS).
1. Talk to professors early (March-July) because professors will “book”
up quickly.
2. Make an appointment to talk with the professor personally.
3. Set up letter submission service (AMCAS, Career Services or
Interfolio).
4. Professors should be contacted no later than August.
5. Provide letter writers with your resume, a personal statement as to
why you want to become a doctor, and your AMCAS or Interfolio
letter submission form.

12. Application Timeline
IV. March-April: Spring Junior Year (1-2 months prior to starting
AMCAS application, unless you decide to take a later MCAT).
1. Take MCAT, unless scheduled for May, June, July or August
MCAT date.
2. Finish your spring semester strong.
3. AMCAS applications become available early May and can submit
beginning of June. The AMCAS website will post changes in
availability each year on their website.
1. Visit the AMCAS website and use the resources provided therein.
Read, read, and read. There is a lot of useful and important
information provided on the AMCAS website.
1. Begin writing your personal statement. Proofread, revise, seek
feedback, revise, proofread, and revise.

13. Application Timeline
V. May through August (After Junior Year):
1. Work on your AMCAS application. AMCAS typically becomes
available in early May (May 2nd or 3rd). Check AMCAS website.
2. Make sure your letters of recommendation are being written.
3. Request official transcripts at Registrar’s Office. Remember to
have your AMCAS Transcript Request Form.
4. Continue working on the list of medical schools that will receive
your materials.
5. Set June or early July as your target date for submitting your
AMCAS application.

14. Application Timeline
VI. July through September: Senior Year
1. If you applied in early June you may start to receive secondary
applications.
2. Submit secondary applications as quickly as possible. Pay special
attention to the deadlines.
3. If you did not do well on the MCAT in April or May, you may
retake the MCAT as late as August.
4. Attend an Interview Workshop through Career Services.

15. Application Timeline
VII. September through October: Senior Year
1. Interviews start and will continue through the fall and into
February. The majority will occur from November through
February, but it depends on the school and number of applicants.
Be patient.
2. Continue to work on secondary applications as they arrive. Every
school is different with regards to what is involved in the
secondary application.
3. Do not sit on secondary applications, turn them around as you
receive them.

16. Application Timeline
VIII. November-July:
1. AMCAS must be submitted by Nov. 15th (UNC). In many other
instances, the deadline is November 1st. But remember, many schools
will have completed a large number of interviews before this date and it
takes 4-6 weeks after you submit for your verified application to be
received by the medical schools.
2. Screening of application materials and interviews continue.
1. Acceptance letters will be mailed out typically between March through
April. There will be applicants that can receive notification earlier.
1. Medical Schools typically make final decisions in April.
2. Applicants accepted into a program must accept an offer in early May.
The schools will specify the deadline by which an applicant must notify
them of their decision.
VIII. As accepted applicants make their decisions, there will be movement in
the waiting lists until the a schools class is filled.

17. What If You Are Not Accepted?
1. Nearly all schools will offer some type of post admission advising
for applicants that are not accepted. Take advantage of this and
reflect on the feedback you are given.
2. If only your MCAT score was an issue, devise a new study plan
and take the MCAT again.
1. If your grades are borderline, consider taking additional difficult
undergraduate courses
2. Work on filling your gaps.
3. Work on volunteer and other experiences: Teach for America,
AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, volunteer work at hospitals etc.
4. Persistence will not do it alone.
1. Implement your Plan B.