Coursework is probably the most important factor in applying for medical school. Commonly accepted coursework includes a one-year minimum requirement in English, calculus, physics with lab, general biology, organic chemistry with lab and general chemistry or inorganic chemistry with lab. These courses are normally offered at most undergraduate colleges. If you plan on doing premedical studies after you get your undergraduate degree, you can seek out a local college to complete any unfulfilled requirements you may have.
GPA is an important factor in medical school admissions. A low GPA may harm your chances of getting accepted because there are almost always several applicants for one spot. Most medical schools have competitive admissions requirements, so keeping your GPA relatively high will definitely help you gain entrance into medical school.
Passing the MCAT is normally a requirement of medical school applications. The MCAT scores give admissions officers an idea of how well you know the material, but do not provide any information about the kind of person you are. The MCAT covers material that should have been covered in your coursework., including biological sciences (biology and organic chemistry), physical sciences (physics and inorganic chemistry), and writing skills. An MCAT prep course offered by several private organizations may help you prepare for the MCAT exam.
A medical school may not explicitly require a bachelor's degree, but having one in one of the biological and physical sciences can only help an application. However, you can usually apply to medical school with virtually any degree as long as your coursework satisfies the admission requirements. The point of getting a degree is to show medical schools that you are passionate about something and that you're willing to spend four years on a topic you love. You need to be able to learn it and build on it.
Research, physician shadowing and volunteer service are optional components of the medical school admissions process. Starting out early and doing a research project as an undergraduate student is going to help. Shadowing a physician will give you an idea of what to expect upon completion of medical school, but shadowing may not necessarily carry much weight on your medical school application. If you choose to include volunteer service on your application, make sure that it is something to which you have devoted significant time and effort.