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The medical school application process could be considered a "test
of perseverance." It is a yearlong
marathon and includes three main components:
- The AMCAS application (and secondary applications where required
by individual medical schools)
- The MCAT
- The interview
Also required in the application process are letters of recommendation,
transcripts and your checkbook.
Recommended AAMC Publications
These publications may be obtained from the Chair of the Health Professions
Advisory Committee (Dr. Douglas Light, Department of Biology). Information
concerning AAMC publications and the medical school application process
may be obtained from the AAMC's
Academic Medicine Web site.
- Medical School Admission Requirements
- MCAT Student Manual
- MCAT Practice Tests
Application Expenses
- The MCAT test fee is around $150 (there is a fee reduction to $55
if you can show that you are destitute).
- AMCAS application fees are around $50 per school. Keep in mind
that, up to a point, the more applications you submit, the greater
the chance of acceptance. According to the journal JAMA, the average
number of submitted applications in 1991 was 10.6.
- There also may be supplementary application fees to individual
medical schools (often paid with secondary applications)
- Interview expenses (e.g., travel, lodging, food, etc.)
Academic Preparation
Minimum Course Requirements:
- One year of biology (with lab)
- One year of general chemistry (with lab)
- One year of organic chemistry (with lab)
- One year of physics (with lab)
- Part or all of one year's study of math (calculus encouraged but
not usually required)
- Part or all of one year's study of English
Other helpful courses include (but are not limited to):
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Cell Physiology
- Comparative Animal Physiology
- Developmental Biology
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Philosophy
- Ethics
- Economics
- Public Speaking
Other helpful preparation includes:
- Doing something that demonstrates leadership, initiative and stamina
(e. g., become involved with a student organization, athletic team,
etc.)
- Demonstrating a consistent commitment to a helping lifestyle (e.g., volunteer in a hospital, clinic, nursing home)
- Conducting an internship with a physician
- Staying abreast of current world politics (e.g., you should consistently
read a newspaper or news magasine and/or watch news programs)
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