Preparing for Medical School

Preparing for Medical School Sue McPhatter Transfer Center Counselor (23 yrs as premed advisor at UCSD) Make Tues. & Wed. appts. with Sue in the Transfer Center

Today’s Agenda
What is medical school like
Types of medical school
Why go to med school?
Academic preparation
Experiential preparation
What schools look for

Very Important
See premed advisor soon after you transfer to four year college or university.
Premed advisor has admission data for that college’s applicants, and will tell you what you need to do before you apply.
Ask that advisor about reference letters and service they can provide you.

The Medical Degrees
Allopathic (M.D.)
3.4 – 3.7 GPA, strong MCAT scores
Osteopathic (D.O.)
3.0 – 3.5 GPA, good MCAT scores
Podiatry (D.P.M.)
2.7 – 3.0 GPA, average MCAT scores
All require same science course pre-requisites
All require the MCAT & some experience
All can work independently
Continuing education required throughout career

Allopathic Medicine (M.D.)
Historically, the traditional medical degree
Over 125 schools in U.S.
Some acceptable foreign medical schools
Admission can be easier
M.D. accepted world-wide
The best option for international work
Can pursue any specialty training
Can teach in M.D. medical schools
Requires USMLE (three parts)
U.S. Medical Licensing Examination
Tests science and clinical skills

Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
D.O. degree after 4 yrs.
May not be accepted in some foreign countries
Basic sciences & rotations same as M.D., and
Includes osteopathic philosophy & techniques
Holistic, “hands-on” approach with patients
Musculoskeletal manipulation
Other non-surgical, non-drug therapies
Can pursue all medical specialties
Three schools in the West; most back East
Bay area, Pomona, Phoenix area
Similar licensing exam required
2/3 of D.O. grads pursue residency in M.D. setting
They take are req. to take the USMLE also

Podiatry (D.P.M.)
1 st & 2 nd yrs. – sciences, labs, intro to podiatry
3 rd & 4 th yrs. – core rotations, orthopedic & podiatry rotations, and podiatric surgery rotation
2 or 3 yr. Residency required:
2 yr. residency to become podiatric surgeon
Not including. rear foot and ankle
3 yr. residency to become podiatric surgeon
Including rear foot and ankle
Licensing exams required throughout training

Med School Curriculum (M.D.)
1 st & 2 nd yrs (the “healthy” body)
Science lectures & labs
Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, etc.
“ Intro to clinical interviewing”
Some patient contact (more at some schools)
Some schools use “case study” approach
Science electives
General topic electives
Can begin research projects
Take Part One of USMLE (science knowledge)
at end of second year

M.D. curriculum (cont.)
3 rd & 4 th yrs (the “sick” body)
Core rotations in clinics & hospitals (1-2 mos. each)
Surgery, family med, peds, emergency med, psychiatry, ob/gyn, internal med + others
Elective rotations in subspecialties, e.g.
Oncology, orthopedics, dermatology, neurosurgery, etc.
Elective time for research, public health project, experience abroad, study at other med schools
Apply & interview in 4 th yr for internship/residency
Take Part Two of USMLE (Clinical Skills)
At end of 4 th year

After Medical School (M.D.)
One year internship in general medicine
Part Three of USMLE after that year
required for medical license
2 to 5+ yrs residency in specialty area
Can then work as specialist (e.g., Ob/Gyn)
2 to 3+ yrs fellowship for “sub-specialty”
Can then work as sub-specialist
e.g., pediatric oncologist, neurosurgeon, etc.

Length of Specialty Training
For all M.D. & D.O. graduates
3+yrs = pediatrics, internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, general practice medicine
4-5+ yrs. = psychiatry, general surgery, orthopedic surgery, dermatology, radiology, others
6-7+ yrs.= neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, others

Cost of Medical Training
You pay for medical school (4 yrs)
$20K to $60K/year, $30-40K average tuition
Some financial aid available
Students generally borrow significant amount
You are paid for:
Internship year (general medicine)
About $35K to 40K per year
Residency years (specialty)
About $40 to 45K per year
Fellowship years (sub-specialty)
More $$$ than residents make

Why Go To Medical School?
To help others through knowledge of science
Your love of science (esp. biology & chemistry)
You are a problem-solver
You possess intellectual curiosity
You want lifelong learning
You enjoy teaching others
It’s a “calling” and becomes your “identity”
You enjoy being a leader or making decisions
You enjoy being in “authority” position

Personal Characteristics Needed
Maturity & ethical integrity
Motivation and determination to succeed
Interpersonal & communication skills
Demonstrated interest in helping others
Willingness to accept responsibility
Energy , enthusiasm, physical stamina
Compassion , empathy, altruism
Problem-solving skills & good judgment
Awareness of the medical profession
Exposure to various cultures & life problems
“ Cultural competency” stressed
Able to accept constructive feedback & criticism
Ability to lead , teach or influence others

Academic Preparation
1 yr. General biology (not botany)
1 yr. General chemistry
1 yr. Organic chemistry
1 yr. General physics
1 yr. College level math (calculus & statistics)
1 yr. College English composition (120 + 124)
Upper division biology recommended
Biochemistry, physiology, genetics, one U.D. lab
Bachelor’s degree in any major
Breadth in humanities, social sciences, arts
Can do all course prep here at Grossmont
Except upper division science courses

Your Transcripts
AP units can count for required courses
All grades count in GPA, except APs
Original grades of repeated courses count
Comm. College units & grades count
Better to get “W” than to repeat “D” or “F”
Not too many “W” or “CR/NCR” grades
Upward GPA trends look good
Light course loads don’t “look good”
Unless you were working full time or ??

Medical College Admission Test The “MCAT”
Test of general biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, verbal reasoning, writing (2 essays)
After 2007, MCAT will be offered all year (all-day exam)
Need average or better scores to be admitted
Take MCAT in Spring of year before you graduate
Apply to med school that summer for following fall
Repeated MCAT scores are not averaged
Many take commercial MCAT prep course

MCAT Scores
Biological, Physical, Verbal sections:
Each section scored 0 – 15; 8 is national mean
Writing section:
Scored “J through T”; “O” is national mean
M.D. requires 10’s or higher
D.O. requires 8-9’s or higher
D.P.M. requires 7-8’s
Multiple MCAT scores are not averaged
Highest scores used for admission

Experiential Preparation
Demonstrated commitment of service to others:
Working, interning, or volunteering to help others
Medically related experience helpful
Hospital, clinic, nursing home, public health clinic
Clinical research through a medical school
Teacher’s aide, asst. or tutor (any school level)
Community agencies (homeless shelter, geriatric)
Leadership on or off campus
Including captain of NCAA team or officer in student org
Volunteer with a physician mentor
Medical mission work, other church work

Scientific Research ??
Research exp. required for M.D./Ph.D. program
Pre-med research experience shows:
Independent interest in science
Dedication & initiative in independent work
Intellectual curiosity
Can help a low GPA applicant
Can be a good source of faculty reference letter
Explore summer research programs
Desire to contribute to scientific knowledge
Find year-long research oppties. after transfer

When to Get Involved?
ASAP!!!! That means NOW!!
Volunteer or work summers & school year
Minimum 6-12 mos. in one location
4 to 6 hours per week
Keep record of your service there
Keep supervisor’s name, address, phone
For reference letter when applying

What Medical Schools Look For
To predict success in 1 st & 2 nd yrs med school:
Total college GPA (from all colleges)
Science GPA ( all math, biology, chemistry, physics grades)
MCAT scores
Rigor of academic experience
Including caliber of bachelor’s degree college
Course load difficulty

To predict success in 3 rd & 4 th yrs. & beyond:
Reference letters (from faculty and others)
Application essays, including life experiences
Answers to specific application questions on:
Challenges and hardships
Diversity of background and experience
Handling of ethical dilemmas
Goals for the future
Interview the applicant to learn:
What is motivating the student
Their interpersonal skills
The sincerity of their goals

Many applicants take one or more years off after college graduation before applying to medical schools

Application Process
MCAT in Spring of junior year, or earlier
Apply June/July to application service
Transcripts, essays, select schools, approx. $1,000
August – November, send supplemental
More essays, photo, reference letters, $500-1,000
September – March, interviews at schools
Costs include plane fare, hotel, business attire, etc.
Rolling admission notification
October 15 through following summer
Average Californian applies to 20-25 schools
May get 5+ interviews, then admitted to 1+ school
May not be admitted and have to reapply the next year
Total application cost may exceed $2500 or $3000

What To Do If You Are Rejected?
Take a deep breath, then
Call the schools and find out why
Assess your chances for reapplication
Assess what you need to improve
Ask yourself how determined you are
Choose best course of action
Should you consider alternate careers?

Maybe You Need More Experience, or ?
Peace Corps, Americorps, or ?
More exposure to health care?
More time helping others ?
Could research experience help ?
Should you repeat some courses ?
Should you repeat the MCAT ?
Do you need stronger reference letters ?
Evidence of maturity & responsibility ?
Post-baccalaureate programs ?

Post-baccalaureate Programs
1 to 2 year programs after B.A./B.S. degree
To show potential to succeed in med school
Can be a Master’s degree or just courses
Some courses are with medical students
MCAT prep included
Research project usually included
Strong programs at:
Georgetown, Boston U., Chicago Medical College, Drexel U.
Some programs for underrepresented applicants
Good admission rates to medical school

Transfer Center has
AAMC’s Guide to Medical School Admission
Includes info on all U.S. M.D. programs
Also, check out the following Web sites:

www.aamc.org (M.D.)
Info on careers, preparing, applying, and M.D. medical education
www.aacom.org (D.O.)
Info on same as above, for osteopathic med
www.aacpm.org (D.P.M.)
Info on same as above, for podiatric med
Also, good info at UCSD’s Career Center site:
http://career.ucsd.edu
then, click on “Medical School Information”

Preparing for Medical School

by simon23

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