Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine
The single most important qualification for admission to allopathic
(regular) medical school is your undergraduate record. The courses
you chose and the grades you earned in them are evidence of your academic
interests and ability. Consequently, give serious thought to your academic
program.
How good of a student must I be?
Admission to medical school definitely requires high academic achievement.
Nationally, about half of entering medical students had a GPA of 3.5
or above. Our experience is that Ripon students with GPA's above 3.6
and competitive MCAT scores usually are accepted, while those with
GPA's below 3.4 usually are not. GPA is, of course, only one of the
criteria considered, but it is the one that most schools look at first,
and it must be high enough for the applicant to survive initial screening.
Course Requirements for Medical School
The specific course requirements for every medical school in the
U.S. and Canada are contained in the Association of American Medical
Colleges publication "Medical School Admission Requirements."
In addition, this publication contains other information about each
medical school: number of applicants, size of class, mean GPA, cost,
selection process, curriculum, etc. Also, there are chapters on preparation
for and application to medical school. These handbooks can be borrowed
from HPAC members. Students should read the handbook carefully and
consider buying a personal copy. An order form is included in the
MCAT registration packet. The specific majors and your
choice of major should be based on your interests and ambitions.
The undergraduate major need not be considered an area which will
be direct preparation for medical studies. It is an opportunity for
you to study an area of interest in-depth. It is true that there
is a large scientific component in the study and practice of medicine,
so it is not surprising that a majority of premeds do have an interest
in science (more than 70 percent major in biological or physical sciences nationally).
As long as you like science and do well in science courses, you
may choose any major you wish. There is no preference given to students
with one major or another. (Some medical schools do adjust GPA's
based on difficulty of the undergraduate courses, however).
Double Majors.
Some students earn majors in two areas. This requires
very careful planning and often involves scheduling problems. A student
considering a double major should carefully consider reasons and motives.
Quite often, the double major is obtained at the expense of some interesting
opportunities for advanced work in one of the areas. That is, the result
is two minimum majors. The extra hours also mean that the opportunity
for other electives is extremely minimal. The double major will not
increase chances for acceptance to medical school. On the other hand,
the double major in two closely related fields can integrate the knowledge
from both, and in some cases serve as a good base for future study
or research.
Quite often a better approach is to elect only one major and concentrate
electives in one or two other areas. Concentrating several electives
in one area outside your major is encouraged because it allows you
both to maintain breadth and include some depth. The difference between
this and the double major is that you elect courses according to your
needs and interests and do not worry about whether someone calls it
a major or not. You should realize that requirements for majors vary
widely from school to school. What one school considers a major might
not even be called a minor at another school. For this reason, graduate
and professional schools care very little about these designations.
They look at courses actually taken, not at whether they are called
a major or not.
Course Planning
Course planning should be done in consultation with your adviser and
HPAC members. Scheduling should balance the science and non-science
courses throughout the four years. All of the premed science requirements
should be completed by the end of the junior year because the MCAT
normally is taken at that time. All premed students should take biology
or chemistry in the freshman year. Which one you elect should be determined
by your interests and intended major. We normally do not recommend
taking both biology and chemistry during your first semester at Ripon.
The MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test)
The MCAT is a standardized exam required of all students applying
for medical school. It is produced by the American College Testing
Program for the AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges). The
scores on the test are among the most important selection criteria.
For this reason, it is necessary to anticipate and prepare for this
exam.
When should I take it?
The MCAT normally is taken in April of the junior year. The test is
given twice a year, in April and August. Students who have not completed
all of the required courses or who miss the April test because of illness,
etc., may take the exam during the summer before their senior year.
The exam also may be repeated in August if the scores obtained earlier
are unsatisfactory.
You must register to take the exam one month prior to the examination
date. These dates are critical and are posted on the bulletin boards
in both the Biology and Chemistry departments. Registration materials
may be obtained from the Career Planning Office. The April exam is
given at Ripon.
When you register for the exam, we ask that you mark the release statement
for your scores. The Ripon HPAC then will receive a copy of your MCAT
scores. These scores are treated in a strictly confidential manner
for compiling statistics and for advising and preparing letters of
recommendation. It is to your advantage to provide us with this information.
What does it cover?
The test is designed to measure your knowledge of the basic sciences
required for medical school admission and to test your ability to solve
problems based on this knowledge. It consists of four sections. You
will receive a numerical score for three sections. These sections include:
- Reading comprehension
- Physical sciences (includes inorganic chemistry
and physics)
- Essay writing
- Biological sciences (includes organic and biology)
Four separate scores are derived from the MCAT, one for each section.
Scoring for all parts but the essay ranges from 1 to 15. An 8 is
normally the average. This score is based on the number of questions
you answer correctly; that means there is no additional penalty for
wrong answers. Therefore, even if you are unsure of the correct answer
to a question, you should make your best guess. The essay is scored
from J to T. A handbook, "MCAT Student Manual: Information for the 1992 MCAT",
gives information about the test and includes an outline of the topics
covered. We urge you to use this outline in preparing for the exam.
These handbooks are available from HPAC members, or you may purchase
your own copy from the AAMC.
Can I study for the test?
The MCATs are designed to test knowledge accumulated over several
years of study and the ability to apply it to problem-solving. Therefore,
last-minute cramming is not very successful. Nevertheless, you can
study successfully for the test, and it is imperative that you do so.
We recommend that you organize a formal review of all the relevant
coursework using the test outline as a study guide. Don't spend time
reviewing topics not on the outline but try to include topics omitted
from your formal coursework. In addition to the MCAT Student Manual,
which contains practice exams, etc., there are other helpful sources.
Some students have chosen to take commercial courses designed for MCAT
preparation. These courses are very expensive and do require some
time to travel from Ripon. Whatever method you use, begin your review
EARLY, and spend some time each week working on it. Include plenty
of practice working objective exam questions. Ripon students take very
few objective exams, and this has been a problem for some. Finally,
the HPAC administers a practice MCAT designed to give you experience
in a testing situation. We urge you to take advantage of it.
Taking the test
The exam is an exhausting experience. It lasts almost eight hours.
Get a good night's sleep and arrive well before the scheduled start.
Dress comfortably and arrive early the morning of the exam. Bring
a photo ID, several sharpened no. 2 pencils, an eraser, two ballpoint
pens with black ink, a watch and a couple of candy bars for the
breaks. Do not bring into the testing room anything that beeps or has
an alarm. Scratch paper is not permitted, and you will not be allowed
to eat, drink or smoke in the testing room.
When taking the exam, budget
your time effectively. Answer the easy questions first, and then
go back and answer the rest. Answer all of the questions. There is
no penalty for guessing. The MCAT is designed for everyone to finish.
You should not have a lot of questions unanswered when time is called.
Calculators or other aids are not allowed. Practice doing order of
magnitude calculations to eliminate most choices. The units on answers
also are helpful. Make sure they are consistent.
During the first
pass through the exam, answer all questions which are definitely
known and guess on those you absolutely do not know. Learn to recognize
questions which you cannot answer and spend no more than 10 seconds
or so on them. Some advocate marking all of these questions by the
same letter answer. Any question which you might want to change later
should not be marked on the first pass. You can use the answer sheet
later to find the questions you need to go over on the second pass.
After spending 30 seconds or so on a question, it should be passed
over for later consideration. If you have spent this much time on
the question, you should have some hope of getting it right. Cross
out any answers which are definitely wrong, so that when you come
back you will not waste time on them again. Make certain you are
answering the question that is asked. This is especially true of
the problem-solving sections. Keep on your toes. Do not read into
a problem something that is not there. We recommend that you practice
the above suggestions while reviewing the test material. It is important
for you to practice with time constraints.
Work out a test-taking strategy for the Verbal
Reasoning section (e.g.,
read first sentence of each paragraph, then skim each question, go
back to passage and then answer questions). On the test day, there
will be nine passages on the Verbal Reasoning section. If, on average,
you spend nine minutes on each passage set, you will be able to finish
the test in the 85-minute time limit.
The Writing Sample is designed to show how well you can consider more
than one side of an issue, how logically you can think and express
your thoughts and how sophisticated your knowledge and understanding
of the world is. The instructions for the Writing Sample direct you
to explain or interpret the meaning of a statement. Next, you are instructed
to describe a situation which appears to contradict the first statement.
Finally, you are asked to establish the decision-making rules that
help you choose between the two alternatives or resolve the differences
inferred between them.
For the Writing Sample, learn about argument, and to be persuasive
and effective. Claims must be supported and this can come in the form
of examples, statistics and expert opinion. The essay scorers are
not looking for a simple restatement of the prompt but a well-developed
explanation filled with examples that illustrate the meaning of the
statement. The essay will be judged according to thought, organization,
style and mechanics. Moving from the general to the specific is a
logical pattern of organization, and the reader should have cues to
follow to move from one idea to another -- as, on the other hand, nevertheless,
therefore, instead of, in contrast, etc. The tone should be serious
but not strident. Slang expression should be avoided, and a variety
of vocabulary is desirable. Avoid word repetition, and short sentences
should be balanced with long sentences. Use the active voice.
To prepare for the Physical and Biological Sciences
sections, it is
important that your preparation include both review of content and
development of facility with the problem-solving skills needed to answer
them. The scientific competencies you will be expected to demonstrate
are derived from basic principles and concepts in biology, general
chemistry, organic chemistry and physics. However, the MCAT questions
do not assess simple memorization of facts. The majority of questions
are linked to passages, and your preparation should include practicing
problem-solving skills. You will need facility with interpreting graphs,
tables, diagrams, and figures. You will need to know how and when to
apply concepts. You will be required to evaluate methods, evidence
and conclusions and to asses the consistency of information and validity
of arguments presented in passages.
The Application Process
The AMCAS Process
AMCAS (American Medical College
Application Service) is the single application service used
by all but about 20 American medical schools. AMCAS collects
academic and initial personal information and sends it in standardized
form to all of the schools to which you apply. The medical schools
evaluate this initial information and, if your application appears
to be competitive, request supplemental information, letters of recommendation,
etc. The exact procedure differs from school to school. Consult the "Medical Admissions Requirements" handbook
for specific information.
Completion of the AMCAS application packet is the first step in applying
to an AMCAS medical school. The application procedure is much more
time-consuming than it may appear. You should begin the application
process during the summer prior to your senior year. You may pick up
an AMCAS application packet before you leave at the end of your junior
year from Dr. Light, Chair of HPAC, or the Career Development Office
(Mr. Thomas Vaubel, director). These packets also may be obtained by
writing directly to:
American Medical College Application Service
Association of American Medical Colleges
Suite 3011776 Massachusetts Ave. N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
An official transcript is required from every college that you have
attended. These should be requested from the registrars of each of
the colleges.
Instructions for completion of the AMCAS packet are detailed and
exhaustive. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact an
HPAC member during the summer. We are always glad to help in any
way we can. A video, "The
AMCAS Story," also is available from HPAC which gives detailed
instructions on completing the application.
Part of the AMCAS application is a one-page essay called the "Personal
Comments Section." This page is often frustrating and always
time-consuming. Use this as an opportunity to tell about yourself.
The essay should convince admissions committees that you are the
kind of person suited to the medical profession. It should reflect
your personal life and character. This is often best done by revealing
unique experiences or crucial or trying times which have had an impact
on your life. Indicate some of your talents and accomplishments and
outline your goals and aspirations. Once again, sometimes this can
best be done in the context of specific events or experiences that
led to development of your goals.
It is important to organize your comments carefully and to make
sure your grammar is sound. Check things like consistent verb tense
and comma splices. Use the active voice and the pronoun "I" to
give it a personal flavor. Use short, direct sentences and avoid flowery
language. It is advisable to have the completed essay checked by
someone with good writing ability.
Where should I apply?
Your best chances for admission
are in the publicly supported medical colleges of your home state.
These schools should be the first ones considered in the application
process. In applying to other schools, it is important to consider
the selection criteria and your chances for admission. Totally private
medical schools are not bound by geographical considerations and
may be better choices than public schools from another state. Even
some "private schools," however, receive state
support for their medical schools and, hence, favor state residents.
Discuss these factors with one or more HPAC members and obtain information
from the "Medical School Admissions Requirements" handbook.
When should I apply?
REGULAR PLAN. The AMCAS application is submitted
after June 15 and before the AMCAS deadline (usually Nov. 1 or Nov.
15). It is advantageous to begin the application process early. You
avoid the rush of meeting deadlines by doing this and, if any mix-up
does occur, you have plenty of time to straighten it out. We urge
all students to complete their AMCAS initial packets before school
begins. After the AMCAS applications are submitted, you will receive
supplementary application materials from most schools. Some of
these are time-consuming and rather extensive. They may involve
another essay. Allow yourself sufficient time to meet all deadlines
comfortably.
When all application materials have been received,
the selection process will begin. Some schools begin inviting promising
candidates for interviews immediately, and some begin admitting
immediately. Others wait until after the final deadline before
any admitting is done. Schools generally will have filled their
classes and responded to all applicants by June 1.
EARLY DECISION PLAN (EDP). Some schools have an Early Decision Plan.
Under this option, the student applies to only one school before Aug.
1 and is notified by Oct. 1 of the decision. If accepted, you have
an obligation to attend that school. If you are rejected, you still
have one month or so to apply to other schools. The advantages of
the EDP are (1) early notification relieves mental strain; (2) save
money; (3) rejected students normally are reconsidered automatically
by the EDP school as a regular applicant; and (4) you are considered
in a smaller applicant pool. The disadvantages are that you can apply
to only one school and, if you are rejected, your other applications
are considered at a fairly late date. Before applying under EDP, you
should make certain that the EDP school is the one you most want
to attend and you should possess credentials which make it likely
that you will be accepted. Most schools accept only a small number
of EDP applicants and these are usually outstanding candidates. This
is not always the case. Medical College of Wisconsin, for example,
encourages Wisconsin residents to apply EDP, and sometimes admits
EDP students with lower credentials than would be admitted during
their regular admission process.
Selection Factors
The most important selection factors are undergraduate grades, MCAT
scores and place of legal residence. If the initial selection is successful,
other considerations include personality, character, career objectives,
health, letters of recommendation, difficulty of course work, race
and gender. More information about selection factors can be found in
Medical School Admissions Requirements.
Grades
The importance of grades was discussed earlier, but it cannot be overemphasized.
Many medical schools look at math and science grades separately and
also may look at the junior year GPA separately. With an average GPA
of 3.5 for admitted students, however, you really cannot afford a bad
semester.
MCAT Scores
Second to grades in importance are the MCAT scores. The
mean scores nationally are about 8, and successful applicants usually
are above the average. Those who have at least some scores of 10 or higher
have a much better chance for favorable consideration than those who
do not.
Legal Residence
State supported medical schools take 90 percent or more of
their students from the legal residents of that state. Hence, your
best chance for admission is at the state supported school in your
home state. Even many private medical schools receive state support
and, hence, must take a large number of students from that state. The
AAMC book "Medical
School Admissions Requirements" gives the statistics for resident
vs. non-resident students and should be consulted for specific information.
Activities and Experience
In Chapter 2, we indicated that activities
outside the classroom are a vital part of your overall education.
Medical schools are looking for well-rounded students rather than
students who do nothing but study. While it is vital to maintain
good grades, and grades ought not be sacrificed by too many extra-curricular
activities, medical schools are most interested in students who
can do both. Those who have developed outside interests and have
shown leadership ability and civic interest while maintaining a
high GPA present impressive credentials.
Most medical schools also
are interested in determining something about your commitment to
the profession. Often this is demonstrated by work experience or
volunteer work in a health-care facility or in a civic or people
oriented activity or service. What do you do with your free time?
How do you spend your vacations? Answers to these questions give
an indication of your commitment to others, to your community
and to a profession.
Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation, or more correctly,
letters of evaluation, are important in evaluating medical school
applicants, especially when these letters are written by those
with whom you have had a close association. Medical schools differ
widely on the number and kind of letters they desire. Most will
ask for a letter from the "premed committee."
The HPAC will coordinate letters of evaluation and supply a committee
letter for all students applying to medical, dental, veterinary
and other professional schools in the health area. The following
procedure has been adopted:
- Request letters of evaluation from at
least three people following the specific requests of the school
to which you are applying. Two of the evaluators must be from outside
the HPAC. Use the form provided by the school. If no form is provided,
you may use copies of the standard Ripon form to give to your evaluators.
The form is available from the HPAC Chair, Dr. Douglas Light, Biology.
Evaluators may use the forms or provide a regular letter on college
letterhead at their discretion.
- Letters of evaluation should be returned to HPAC, not sent directly
to the school.
- After the letters are returned, HPAC will write a composite letter
of evaluation. This letter will be based on the letters received,
HPAC knowledge of the applicant and, in many cases, an interview.
The Committee will send the composite letter, along with the letters
from the evaluators, to the applicant's schools.
- Please try to give HPAC about one month to complete this process.
It takes some time for evaluators to write letters, and it takes
some time for HPAC to put everything together.
- Provide HPAC with a list of the schools to which you are applying,
the evaluators for each school and the application deadlines.
The Interview
Many medical schools interview the most promising candidates
for admission. This interview usually is conducted by one or more
members of the Admissions Committee and is an important part of
the admission process at most schools. It is an opportunity for
you to present yourself as an individual. It is an opportunity
to present your interests, ambitions, philosophy and nature. It
allows you to meet with people at the school and to show yourself
in a way that no paper application can ever do.
You should prepare
for the interview, and this will take some work. Read the catalog
and other information about the school and its curriculum, special
programs, student living quarters, etc. If you do not have a catalog,
write and request one. It might be helpful to tour the school before
the interview. Your knowledge about the school and its program
demonstrates an interest in the school and creates a favorable
impression. Try to find out something about the interview. Is it
one-to-one, a group interview, a student interview, etc.? If you
know the identity of the interviewer, use references such as the
medical school catalog or American Men and Women of Science to
learn about his/her medical specialty and research interests.
Arrive
on time for the interview and dress appropriately. Appearance is
important in the medical profession. Remember the interviewer's name,
and speak and act in a formal manner. During the interview, speak
confidently and clearly and maintain good eye contact. Answer each
question as clearly and directly as you can. Most important of all,
be yourself. Say what you believe. Do not try to convince the interviewer
you're something you are not.
Most of the interview is likely to concentrate
on your life, goals and ambitions. You should review your own history
in preparation for the interview. Reread what you wrote in the AMCAS
essay. Review your college transcript. Be prepared for questions
about any research or other work you may have done. Make sure the
personal details of your life are clear and can be discussed easily.
This is your chance to show what kind of individual you are, to demonstrate
your drive, ambition and ideals. Keep your poise if you are chided
or tested for stress; this is often a part of an interview. Be prepared
to ask some questions. Remember to thank the interviewer when you
are done.
The interview probably will deal in some way with
your motivation for studying medicine. You may be asked questions
about various situations calling for judgment or about ethical questions
currently undergoing national debate. You need to demonstrate mature
thought and judgment in responding to these kinds of probes. You
also are likely to encounter questions on issues which are presently
in the news which are health-related. Regular reading of a newspaper
or of a weekly news magazine (Time, etc.), is invaluable in keeping
up with important issues. You will be expected to have some awareness
of what is going on in the world and to be able to discuss some
of the issues intelligently.
Osteopathy
Osteopathic medicine is an alternate medical profession which today
is nearly the same as allopathic medicine as practiced by an M.D. While
osteopathic physicians use all accepted methods of treatment, they
believe that the proper functioning of the musculoskeletal system is
integral to the maintenance of an individual's overall health. The
osteopath may use manipulation to correct such disorders (similar to
a chiropractor) or may prescribe surgery, diet or medicine. There
are 16 specialties in osteopathy, although most physicians are
in general family practice. There are 15 colleges of osteopathic
medicine in the United States. The academic program which leads to
the D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree takes four years. The D.O. is
now licensed in all 50 states and has privileges in most states
identical with those of the M.D.
The requirements for admission to the schools of osteopathy are about
the same as for allopathic (regular) medical schools. The MCAT also
is required. Application is made through the American
Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, Application Service (AACOMAS) in
a manner similar to the AMCAS procedure. AACOMAS application packs
generally are available from Dr. Scamehorn, or write AACOMAS, 4720
Montgomery Lane, Suite 609, Washington, D.C. 20014.
We would urge all students to learn more about osteopathy. It is usually
a little easier to be accepted at schools of osteopathic medicine than
at allopathic medical schools, but the shift in career goals is very
slight. Several publications may be consulted for more information
including the brochure "Osteopathic Medical Education" (available
from Dr. Scamehorn), "The Difference a D.O. Makes" (available
from Dr. Stevens), "The Education of Osteopathic Physicians" ($5.00
from AACOM), and "Osteopathic Medicine: An American Reformation" ($3.95
from American Osteopathic Association, 212 East Ohio, Chicago, IL
60611).
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