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Applying to Medical School
Applying to medical school requires a serious commitment. Depending on your background and circumstances, you may need up to two years to meet all the course requirements for medical school and complete the arduous application process. Here is a general overview of the timeline and steps of applying to medical school.
Science and Math Course Requirements
Nearly all medical school requires some college-level prerequisites in biology, chemistry, physics and a smaller percentage require calculus. While some schools lack specific course requirements before applying, these are the exception rather than the rule. The MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) is a good resource that provides a list of prerequisite requirements for all accredited medical schools. In any event, you will need to know the material covered in these courses to succeed on the MCAT.
The Dreaded Standardized Exam: the MCAT
The MCAT is used by nearly all medical schools as an objective measure of how you will handle the academic rigors of medical school, and is an essential part applying to medical school. As such, the test is a test of your analytical abilities rather than a simple regurgitation of science facts. The test is imperfect, but it provides a nearly universal way to evaluate applicants of varying backgrounds.
The test is comprised of four sections and takes about five and a half hours. The sections are physical science (chemistry and physics), verbal reasoning (reading comprehension), writing sample (2 essay questions), and biological science (biology and organic chemistry).
Most applicants take the MCAT late in their junior year of college. This is ideal, as it provides time to retake the exam should you need to improve your score, if necessary. Also, it is advisable to take the exam early and get it out of the way so you can focus on the rest of the application and not worry about studying.
Keep in mind that schools will see both scores should you choose to retake the MCAT, so don’t simply take an exam for “practice”. The test is offered about 20-25 times a year – which is a vast improvement over the old system of twice a year. You can expect to get the official results in about a month after the exam date.
Applying to Medical School: the AMCAS Application
The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is the standardized application used by the majority of medical schools. If you are planning on applying to medical school, then you need to familiarize yourself with the components of this application. There are some schools that have their own application, so be sure to research which application is required for your list of schools. The application is available electronically beginning sometime around the beginning of May each year, and the early decision deadline (which is recommended, by the way) for all AMCAS schools is August 1st.
The application is comprised of: a biographical information, extracurricular activities, the personal statement, academic transcripts, and a listing of relevant coursework. Most schools evaluate applications on a rolling basis, so generally speaking, the earlier you can submit a quality application, the better your chances. When making the trade-off between submitting early, and taking a bit longer and improving your application, choose a quality application over submitting early. In other words, submit the application as early as you are able to complete your best possible application.
Personal Statement for Medical School
The personal statement for medical school personal is part of the application, but is important enough to warrant a detailed discussion. The personal statement is your opportunity to tell your personal story, and add some depth to your personality and motivations to supplement the “numbers” behind the application. There are a ton of books written specifically about the personal statement for medical school, but in general, the statement needs to convey a story that illustrates whether or not you have the interpersonal skills, personality traits, and character to become a successful physician.
Medical School Secondary Application
After you have submitted your application, most schools with send out their medical school secondary application. The process varies by school, and make include essays, requests for other additional information, and the letters of recommendation. The important thing is to convey knowledge and interest in the particular Medical School.
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