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Select a Major

Select a major or take a hard look at your declared major. Is this something you want to do over the next four (or more) years?

Med schools don’t require a “pre med” or biology major. They do, however, require very specific courses for admission into med school.

Become aware of the courses that are required for you to graduate in a timely way. Clearly understand what courses are needed for entrance into med school.

Make one course list. Include courses required for your major and courses required for admittance for med school.

Review Medical School Web Sites

Go to three medical school web sites and check them out. Are they places that you can see yourself in four years?

For a full list of medical schools, go to www.aamc.org and search member medical schools. You’ll find a list of campuses.

While at the med school sites, print off a list of courses that these medical schools require for admittance.

Make a 4 Year Course Planning Sheet

Compare your declared major required courses and the med school required courses.

Your four year college/university course plan should include a variety of courses that interest you. Make certain you have biology and chemistry courses in your schedule for the first or second semester.

Register for a wide range of courses for Spring Semester. Include a mix of science, mathematics, fine arts, social and behavioral studies, English, and foreign languages.

Visit your Academic or Pre-Med Advisor

Meet with a pre med or academic advisor to discuss your interest in medicine.

Take your course planning sheet, the required coursework for your major, and a list of the required courses for application to med school to your advisor. How do they match up? 

Meet with your advisor at least once every semester to discuss your grades, courses, financial aid, and any concerns that you may have.

Develop a Study Plan

Develop a study plan.

If you spend one hour in a lecture or lab, you should spend at least two hours studying. If you don’t have a two hours studying to one hour in lecture/lab study plan, you are not studying enough. You will not earn the grades you need to be attractive to most med schools.

If your extra curricular activities don’t allow for you to have two hours of study time for each hour in class/lab, rethink your priorities. Choose one activity that you find rewarding.

If you are working or taking care of family members, create a weekly calendar that allows you enough study time and sleep.

Find Pre Med or Science Extracurricular Activities

Look for campus activities/clubs that support pre med, chemistry, or biology students.

If you can’t find the clubs you’re looking for on the web, ask your academic advisor for insight.

Familiarize Yourself with Minorities in Medicine Information

If you are a minority pre-med student, go to the AAMC Minorities in Medicine web information located at:  www.aamc.org/students/minorities/start.htm

Another great source is www.AspiringDocs.org.

Ask your advisor for the names and email addresses of students who have recently graduated from your campus, who are now attending med school.

Volunteer One to Four Hours Per Month in a Multicultural Medical or Health Setting

Start to explore the field of medicine by volunteering or working at least one hour to four hours per month at a hospital, clinic, or nursing home. Do this during your first year in college and continue to do it until you graduate. This small effort will pay off heavily when you are applying for medical school.

Consider looking for volunteering roles within the medical community that will expose you to persons from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Individuals that pay attention to the diversity in their own communities are attractive medical student applicants.

Look at the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

Look at the AAMC web site and search for the Medical College Admissions Test. Become familiar with the topics presented on the test during your first year of college.

Go to this web site and the MCAT exam pages every month.

Challenge yourself by taking the mock MCAT test online at least once per semester throughout your college career. Find a friend on campus with similar goals. Set an MCAT study plan.

Search for “Pre Med”  Summer Opportunities

At the end of your fall semester, do a web search of programs that will be available to “pre meds” and “science focused” undergrads in the summer.

One excellent opportunity is Minnesota’s Future Doctors program. Email jopete@umn.edu for information.

Many programs will require you to apply and have a recommendation letter by the end of February. Do not be the last to apply.

Early summer program applicants always get much more attention from program staff. Feel free to email or call program staff early in the application process to make your name known to them. Staff will remember you fondly if you are interested in their program and ask your questions with professionalism.

Meet with your Academic Advisor

Meet with your academic advisor when you return from winter break. Discuss your Fall semester grades.

If you are not maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher in the sciences, work with your advisor to create a balanced plan that includes time in class/lab, study time, volunteerism, work (if needed), and extra curricular activities.

Apply for Summer Opportunities

Apply for summer employment or volunteer activities in medically related settings. Consider a mix of paid and volunteer opportunities.

OR

Make plans to attend summer school if needed.

Continue to Volunteer Monthly in a Cross Cultural Healthcare Settings

Volunteer at least one to four hours per month in a healthcare setting. This is critical for your medical school application.

Look at hospitals and clinics in your area. Many have volunteer web sites and applications. Complete yours. If they ask you to come in for an orientation, accept that offer and know this time will be extremely rewarding to you as a person and as a potential med school applicant.

Research Scholarship Opportunities for “Pre Meds”

Take one Saturday afternoon to research scholarship opportunities online every semester. Look for funds that help rural, economically disadvantaged, minority, immigrant, and other students pay for college.

The average student receives 1 in every 5 scholarships that he or she applies for. Set time aside to apply for scholarships. It is worth your time and energy.

Look into Early Acceptance Programs at Specific Med Schools

Determine if your campus has a pre-med early acceptance relationship with a med school. Typically, this only occurs if your undergraduate campus has a med school physically connected to it.

The University of Minnesota Twin Cities and University of Minnesota Duluth have early acceptance programs for U of M students.

You may be eligible to attend an undergraduate program designed specifically for pre med students.

Shadow a Doctor

Find one doctor in your community. Ask that doctor for an hour where you will shadow him or her at work.

Make plans to do this activity in February of every year while you are in college.

Shadowing doctors is critically important for med school applications and during the med school interviewing process. You must be able to discuss when and where you have experienced medicine in action.

Finding shadowing opportunities may be a difficult task, but it is critical to your success.

Start Spending at Least Two Hours a Week with MCAT

Start taking a hard look at the MCAT exams and frequently asked questions provided at the www.aamc.org web site. The AAMC provides technically current, up to date information on the test.

You may consider looking at the Kaplan Review and Princeton Review books and CDs offered on line. However, keep in mind that all MCAT information comes directly from the AAMC web site. The AAMC must be your primary source for MCAT test information.

Give yourself one to three hours a week to study the MCAT questions found on free tests at the AAMC web site.

Update Your Academic Plan with Your Advisor

Discuss your grades and coursework from year one. Discuss the benefits and pitfalls of your summer experience.

Discuss your current course load, financial concerns, and extra curricular activities.

Participate in Pre Med Activities

Take time to attend one pre med or health-related presentation or club meeting each month.

Continue to Volunteer Monthly, Exploring Diversity in Your Community

Continue participation in volunteer/paid medically related activities

Maintain Excellent Grades

Your GPA is important. Make certain you are studying enough and understand the material presented in every class.

Start making appointments with professors that you particularly enjoy. You will eventually need letters of recommendation for summer activities, scholarships, and med school. You will need these relationships.

Spend a ½ day at the AAMC Web Site

Review the American Association of Medical Colleges “Applying to Med School” area.

Create a study plan which includes two or more hours of MCAT study prep each week.  

Review the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) and familiarize yourself with the med school process.

Do a web search on the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS)

Shadow and Meet with a Doctor in Your Home Town

Take one hour to meet with a doctor in your community or your hometown. Ask him or her to discuss a community health concern. Get insight on his or her road through med school.

Talk about the different areas of medicine, and what is required to serve in those areas.

Look for Paid, Summer Internship or Research Opportunities in the Medical Profession or Bioscience Field

Get moving on your search for summer opportunities.

Do your homework on various organizations that offer paid opportunities locally, statewide, nationally, or internationally.

Tour a Hospital

Check out local hospital web sites and look for opportunities to tour the full facility.

Start taking these tours at least once per year at different locations.

Update Your Course Schedule with your Advisor

Meet with your academic or pre med advisor to discuss your coursework, pre med goals, volunteering and work activities.

Update your course schedule if needed to ensure that you are meeting all major coursework requirements and pre med course requirements.

Apply for Summer Opportunities in Medicine

Apply for summer experiences that will add to your pre med resume of experiences. These may include, but not be limited to:

·         Working in a lab as a technician

·         Working in a hospital, clinic or nursing home

·         Working in a cross cultural clinic or service organization related to healthcare

·         Participating in a summer pre med program

Develop Your Leadership Skills

As your advisor for assistance in developing your leadership skills on campus. Make a point of bringing a healthcare speaker onto campus, developing health-related opportunities for your fellow students, or leading a major community health service event.

Attend Student Healthcare “Pre Med” Conferences

Look for student-focused conferences related to healthcare.

If the conferences you’ve identified are expensive or are located out-of-state, ask your student senate or academic advisor if there are funds to cover your travel expenses. You may be pleasantly surprised about what funds are available to students.

Volunteer Monthly

Change your volunteering or working activities, if needed. Start to look for volunteering activities, within medicine, that allow you to have contact with doctors, patients, and other health care workers.

These opportunities will give you excellent insight as you develop your personal statement for med school applications. Having a well rounded view of medicine is necessary to your application.

Study for the MCAT Twice a Week

Pick up books, CDs and free/paid online information, which will prepare you to take the MCAT. Remember that the AAMC is the source for all information on the test.

All other organizations provide MCAT prep and materials as a profit making business. Be wary of how you are spending your time and money.

You need to start studying now, a minimum of four hours per week for the MCAT.

Review the AAMC Web Site for Any Changes in Pre Med and Med School Pathways

Review the AAMC web site. Make certain you are aware of all updates related to MSAR, MCAT, and AMCAS.

Review Your Three to Six “Choice” Med Schools by Visiting them Online.

Consider Taking a “Road Trip” to One or More of These Med Schools During Winter Break

Go to three med school web sites and look at the admissions requirements, data regarding the types of applicants that have been accepted to the program, and any changes that the med school may have made related to the admissions process.

Make appointments with med school leaders, faculty, med students, or admissions leaders at med schools. You will have a much better understanding of the types of med school environments that you are attracted to, after having visited more than one location.

Know Your Standing with Your Academic Advisor and a Trusted Professor

Discuss your third year plans with your academic advisor and a trusted instructor or professor.

Make certain you are comfortable with this advisor and professor. You will need letters of recommendation for medical school applications. You must create relationships with individuals who will give you excellent letters of recommendation. Do not wait to form these important relationships. 

Enhance Your MCAT Study Plan

Set a study plan for the MCAT that includes six to ten hours of study time per week throughout this academic year.

Select a “study friend” on campus and make a commitment to meet, study, gather information, and meet with professors who can help you.

Consider attending an MCAT study prep program. These programs are expensive. ½ of med students find them very useful; others felt they were not necessary. Again, look to the AAMC for updated tests and information on the exam.

Register for a Late Spring MCAT

Study regularly; but, remember to take care of yourself.

Maintain an Excellent GPA

Keep your grades up. Consistent studying – done on a daily basis – is the key to excellent grades. 

Continue Your Volunteering or Find Paid Work in Medicine

Continue participation in volunteer/paid medically related activities

Meet with Your Advisor to Ensure that You are On Track to Graduate

Schedule for completion of school-specific requirements for advisor/committee evaluation

Look for Paid Summer Experiences in Medicine

Select a new summer opportunity that will broaden your understanding of the medical profession.

Consider working in a hospital setting, doing unique research, or serving a specific population with healthcare concerns.