By identifying the medical schools you are interested in first, you can properly prepare for their admissions requirements. Because acceptance into medical school is extremely competitive, you will want to target at least six medical schools with similar requirements to which you can apply. Research each school identifying the necessary preparation required. Prepare yourself by learning the admissions requirements and acceptance rates of the schools you are considering. You will need to take the Medical College Admissions Test ( MCAT), prepare a personal statement for each application and prepare for an admissions interview.
According to Mommd.com, a website committed to helping women get into the medical field, not all medical schools require bachelor degrees. However, 99 percent of students accepted have one. The majority of medical schools require at least one year of biology, one year of physics, one year of English and two years of chemistry, including organic chemistry. Many colleges and universities have majors that are pre-med. These majors are designed specifically to incorporate course work that will aid in admission to medical school.
Preparing for admission to medical school extends beyond coursework. Applicants are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test ( MCAT) and submit their scores along with their undergraduate grade point averages ( GPA). Schools generally use a formula based on the GPA and MCAT in order to determine admission. Study guides, online and face-to-face courses are available to assist applicants in studying for the test. Unlike the SAT and ACT tests, which you may have taken, the MCAT tests knowledge of specific subjects including biology, chemistry and physics. It also assesses communication and critical thinking skills, including an essay segment.
A successful admissions interview is critical to gaining acceptance to medical school. If you are chosen to be interviewed, the admissions committee has determined that you have the academic strength to be successful in medical school. The interview is a means of discovering the candidate's interpersonal and communication strengths. According to Ivyleagueadmission.com, it can be weighted as high as 35 percent of the admissions criteria. Interview questions cover topics such as clinical experience, motivation, personality, knowledge of the field and balance.
Medical school applications may ask for a personal statement that addresses a question specific to that school. For example, " Why are you interested in attending the Medical College of Georgia?" Your statement needs to stand out from the hundreds of other statements the committee will be reading. Consider the following when writing your statement: find an angle, be specific, tell a story, be meticulous and avoid cliches.