This presentation is courtesy of the Middle Tennessee State University Student National Medical Association GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL

We Want to See You at the White Coat Ceremony! The goal of this presentation is to show you how to: 1. Take the right courses. 2. Prepare and sign up for the MCAT 3. Apply effectively to AMCAS and AACOMAS 4. Make powerful Personal Statements 5. Crack the 2º Application 6. Powerful Interviews

What Courses Should I Take? Courses that will prepare you for the material and work load inherent with medical school. See your advisor to obtain specific course requirements for medical school. Courses that will prepare you for the material and work load inherent with medical school. See your advisor to obtain specific course requirements for medical school. Hard sciences will prepare you for the work load; Biochem, Cell and Molec., Physiology, Embryology, Histology, Medical Chemistry, Human Genetics, Diagnostic Micro., Immun., and others will all prepare you for the material. Hard sciences will prepare you for the work load; Biochem, Cell and Molec., Physiology, Embryology, Histology, Medical Chemistry, Human Genetics, Diagnostic Micro., Immun., and others will all prepare you for the material.

Registering and Studying for the MCAT. First you have to know where to sign-up for it: First you have to know where to sign-up for it: Register for the MCAT at the appropriate time. 2. Make sure you know what subjects are covered in the MCAT. 3. Study, Study, Study: this is where all those hours of Organic, Physics, Biology, and Verbal reasoning will pay off. 4. Many have done well with a Kaplan or Princeton Review class. Others have studied independently. If you sign up for a class, make sure you can balance it and do all the work.

Primary (electronic ) Applications to Medical School Whether you are applying to MD or DO programs, your primary medical school application will be done on a website. Whether you are applying to MD or DO programs, your primary medical school application will be done on a website. MD: MD: DO: DO: Remember every step costs money, for 7 schools it can cost as much as $350. MCAT scores have to be submitted to AACOMAS via the THX system.

Personal Statements Be yourself: honesty is the best policy, it doesn’t take a PhD, DO, or MD to figure out if you are untrue. Be yourself: honesty is the best policy, it doesn’t take a PhD, DO, or MD to figure out if you are untrue. Tell them effectively why you want to go and why you feel you are an excellent candidate. Tell them effectively why you want to go and why you feel you are an excellent candidate. Be passionate- if you want it, they will know! Be passionate- if you want it, they will know! Be unique. What have you done in your life and who are you that sets you apart. Be unique. What have you done in your life and who are you that sets you apart. Revise, Revise, Revise. Get multiple people to read your statement (your advisor, an English professor, family member, friend, professor, etc.). Revise, Revise, Revise. Get multiple people to read your statement (your advisor, an English professor, family member, friend, professor, etc.).

Where Should I Apply? Factors to Keep In Mind When Applying to Medical Schools: 1. Know where you have a realistic chance (residency status, GPA, MCAT, school mission reflects your goals, location, etc.). 2. Pending your competitiveness, do not apply too late or too early to medical school. 3. Keep your support system close by to help you make decisions: family, friends, advisors, pre- professional organizations, professors 4. Apply to many (>5) schools, where you can see yourself going. 5. Money – save up for interviews, flights, hotel stays, etc. It can get expensive.

Secondary Applications Often times you will have to include: Often times you will have to include: 1. Personal Information 2. Letter of recommendation writers’ info, Address, Phone, relationship, etc. 3. Essays: each is different, let experienced people (i.e. they have helped people into Med school) critique a draft of your essay. Then just polish till you have the final product. 4. Be VERY careful, have some white-out! 5. MONEY-» from $ per secondary applicatoin! 6. Your preprofessional interview recommendation must be sent to Medical schools during this time.

Secondary Applications Invitations to fill out secondary application may be sent via . This application will be on the college’s web- site, often through a special link in your e- mail. Others will come in the mail, along with the application itself. Fill it out as soon as you get it; if you are waiting on one, look at the colleges website. There may be a copy of it posted (see example link below)

Interviews This is where your chances of getting into medical school become a reality. A good interview can make all the difference towards acceptance into a medical school. Be prepared!

Decision Letters Rejection: if hundreds or thousands are interviewed, and only are accepted, probability says you may get rejected. Remember if you get rejected by 10 and apply to 11 good schools, you’re going to a good medical school. Rejection: if hundreds or thousands are interviewed, and only are accepted, probability says you may get rejected. Remember if you get rejected by 10 and apply to 11 good schools, you’re going to a good medical school. Acceptance: Let the work begin (next-slide). Acceptance: Let the work begin (next-slide).

Acceptance They usually will want right away: They usually will want right away: 1. Tuition Deposit: ($500-$2000) 2. History/Physical w/ special req.’s 3. Proof of Degree/final transcript 4. Proof of Health and Life Insurance 5. Proof of Immunizations to a HOST of diseases 6. Money for a criminal background check

Why Become A Physician? Not for the mansion, but to help people in a challenging, rewarding field! Not for the mansion, but to help people in a challenging, rewarding field!