2010
12.28

Medical School Admissions Requirements

Unlike the college application process, which many people start one year before they graduate from high school, fulfilling the medical school admissions requirements can take considerably much more time. This process of fulfilling medical school requirements, takes at least two years, on the conservative side. One reason that the medical school application process is so lengthy is because of the extensive and challenging course requirements.
Course requirements

Nearly all medical schools require coursework in biological sciences, chemistry, including organic and inorganic, as well as physics with laboratory work. In addition, many medical school admissions requirements include English and calculus courses. A very small number of schools do not have any requirements, but if you want to apply to as many schools as possible, you should research the schools that you are interested in applying to early in the process so that you can plan your course schedule appropriately. Since these courses can be very demanding, you might consider staggering them so that you do not have to take organic chemistry at the same time that you are taking calculus. The best source for medical school requirements is the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements), which lists the requirements for all accredited medical schools.

The MCAT (Medical School Admissions Requirements)

The MCAT is a standardized test that is used to compare applicants who come from a wide variety of schools. It is not just an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge, but it is also a test that demonstrates your thought process. The MCAT is now an exclusively computer based exam, which allows the test to be given on multiple test dates and allows you to see your results within 30 days, rather than 60 days. And the computer based exam has reduced the test time from eight hours to approximately five and a half hours. For information on test dates and locations, you can visit www.aamc.org, which is the website of AAMC, the test administrator. The test is made up of four sections, including Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, a Writing Sample and Biological Sciences, each with a separate score. Medical schools report the average score of their students, so you should be sure to research them before you begin studying for the test so that you know what scores you need to achieve in order to be competitive at the medical schools that interest you.

Healthcare experience

Health care experience may be an unwritten medical school admissions requirement, particularly for very competitive schools. Medical schools are looking for knowledge of health care issues and a commitment to the field. For many undergraduate students, this might include volunteer work or medical research. Having this experience will also help you articulate your interest in health care and explain why you are interested in becoming a doctor, both in your application essays as well as the in-person interview.

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