"The Experience"



Pre-Med Curriculum: Get Your Science On

Author: petersons, Category: Getting Started for College

You might be surprised to know that you can be a “pre-med” student without actually being enrolled in a pre-med program. You can also major in just about anything as long as you take enough courses to build a strong biological sciences background. Whether you major in Music and take a lot of science electives, or get your degree in Biology, the courses you take serve not only as prerequisites for medical school, but help build the foundation you need to get through your first year. However, the reality is that to be competitive when it comes time to apply, you should pursue a degree in the natural sciences.

Science major or not, plan on taking at least a year’s worth of coursework in the following, with lab work included in each of the science subjects:

* biology or zoology
* inorganic and organic chemistry (two years)
* physics
* English
* Calculus or other advanced math course

It’s not necessarily required (although it is for many majors), but you should toss in at least one Statistics class for good measure as well. Ultimately, your science coursework will comprise your science GPA and medical schools will carefully consider this when they make their decisions.

Smoothing the edges
Med schools look for well-rounded students, so taking courses in the humanities and social sciences works to your advantage, as does participation in leadership and extracurricular activities, volunteering in a hospital or other clinical setting, and getting as much clinical background as possible. Some schools offer a specific pre-med track, and many of these sorts of things are built into their programs so your preparation for med school, or rather, applying to med school, is as thorough as possible.

Most med schools have very specific requirements of what courses you need to take (science and non-science alike) and of what you need to accomplish to be considered for admission. If you know where you want to apply, you should be familiar with what you need to do early on so you can get on the right track and stay there. However, if you’re not sure of where you want to apply or of specific requirements, then give every aspect of your undergraduate preparation your full attention: grades, scores, activities, volunteering, shadowing, clinical exposure, etc… The reality is that your entire undergraduate experience as a pre-med student is all about your push to medical school.

Apart from doing great in all your courses and building an impressive student resume, you’ll also need to focus on preparing for your MCAT. When crunch time arrives, your GPA and MCAT scores get looked at first and, combined with your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and resume,  will determine if you get an interview. If you make it that far, then it’s up to you to demonstrate your personality and character and convince the medical school they should admit you.

Pre-med by the numbers
Knowing how high your GPA should be and what your scores on the MCAT need to look like isn’t something you should wait to find out until med school is almost upon you. Your GPA and your test scores are a telling compilation of your dedication to your undergraduate coursework and preparation, and you should be striving to achieve high numbers from the get-go, rather than scrambling to get them up at the last minute.  Again, know what YOUR med school is looking for and strive for that — or better.

Depending on where you look, you may find several different references to how the “average” pre-med student measured up at application time. However, the Association of American Medical Colleges keeps the most up-to-date information.

Life does go on
Getting into medical school obviously takes a lot of work and dedication, but it’s not impossible. You will need to stay focused on your goals and learn to say “no” to the Friday nights out a bit more often than your English Lit roommate, but it doesn’t mean you have to give up having fun altogether. Know your limits, and keep your nose to the grindstone as much as possible. However, take a breather now and then, too.  You may earn stellar grades by studying twelve hours a day, but you’ll also make few friends, get a sore back from hunching over your books,  and wonder why you no one seems to know your name except your professors. You can get into medical school and have a life on your way there.

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