2.  Take appropriate medical school prerequisite courses.  Maintain a high GPA, especially in science courses.  Volunteer somehow in the medical field.  Gain some research experience.  Do well on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

3.  Minimum course requirements for most medical schools in the United States include: › One year of general biology with labs › One year of general (inorganic) chemistry with labs › One year of organic chemistry with labs › One year of physics with labs  The course requirements vary from school to school, but these are the generalities that can be made.

4.  Check out these statistics!!  http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/ 2008mcatgpa.htm http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/ 2008mcatgpa.htm

5. http://med.emory.edu/education/MDPHD/prospectiv e.html#programstats

6.  http://www.mcg.edu/som/admit/ http://www.mcg.edu/som/admit/

7.  http://medicine.mercer.edu/Admissions/Prospectiv e%20Students/admissions_dom http://medicine.mercer.edu/Admissions/Prospectiv e%20Students/admissions_dom

8.  http://www.msm.edu/Admissions.htm http://www.msm.edu/Admissions.htm

9.  Volunteering in the medical field will allow you to speak more effectively about why you want to become a physician.  Volunteering can also help you decide what field you enjoy the most and would like to enter.  And IT’S FUN!!

10.  This is just one of the many opportunities there are to get involved.  Each college volunteer session spans 12 weeks during the fall and spring semesters.  Students are required to volunteer one day per week for at least 3-4 hours.  A minimum of 25 hours per semester is required.  Children’s will begin accepting applications for the Fall 2009 Program beginning August 1, 2009.  http://www.choa.org/default.aspx?id=3505 http://www.choa.org/default.aspx?id=3505

11.  Academic research is not required by most medical schools, but it is certainly valued.  Emory: 85% of accepted applicants had research experience  MCG: 71% of accepted applicants had research experience  Mercer: 58% of accepted applicants had research experience  Morehouse: 76% of accepted applicants had research experience

12.  Registration is now open for the January through May 2009 administrations of the MCAT Exam.  Register to take the MCAT at http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/ http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

13.  Let’s hear your ideas!!

14.  Fall of Junior Year- think MCAT, MCAT, MCAT. Begin intense studying.  Early Spring of Junior Year- Register for the MCAT at aamc.org. Be prepared to pay approximately $225.  Spring of Junior Year- take the MCAT. If you are not pleased with your scores then register to take it again while there is still time.  Late Spring of Junior Year- you will need recommendations for your application. Identify and contact potential recommenders.  Summer before Senior Year- retake the MCAT if necessary. Decide where you are applying and complete the AMCAS application. › http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm › Early decision program applications are due August 1 › Regular applications typically stretch through December

15.  Fall of Senior Year- if medical schools like your application, they will send you their own “secondary application”.  The secondary application process will include some essays, so give yourself time to write them, as well as have them read by somebody else.  Get prepared for your interviews.