Take the required courses needed in undergraduate school. In general, most medical schools look for the same requirements as Harvard: a year of biology with a lab, two years of lab chemistry, a year of physics, calculus (I and II) and writing. These courses will give you the solid scientific foundation needed to make sure that you are ready for the coursework in medical school.
Excel in your undergraduate classes. Medical schools look for high GPAs in all courses and especially those in your field. A high GPA will make it far more likely to get into a medical school, as well as make sure you are prepared to succeed there.
Study for and take the MCATs. For many schools, the MCATs are one of the most important factors in determining whether or not you will receive an interview to medical school. Many students take preparatory courses to ensure that they are prepared because without a good score, it will be very difficult to be admitted.
Prepare to apply for medical school by going through your undergraduate institution's nomination process. Each school will have a different process, but it will often include collecting letters of recommendations and interviewing with faculty members. Your university will have a designated pre-medical adviser to coordinate this process.
Apply to medical school through the AMCAS system. This system manages your application and submits it to individual schools. Because all schools use the same system, it is vital to apply as early as possible so that medical schools will have time to interview and admit you.
Do well in medical school and pass your boards. In general, those students who are admitted to medical school tend to do well if they work hard. With lots of studying and time spent learning in hospitals, a medical student learns how to become a good doctor.
Apply for a residency to become a specialist. Someone who wants to become a surgeon will go into a surgical residency, while someone who wants to become a general practitioner will go into family or internal medicine. To apply, students submit applications and then interview for programs. They then rank the programs that they would like to attend and that list is matched with the residency program's list of top candidates. Once the residency is complete, the candidate will be a surgeon or specialist.