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Guide to Becoming a Successful Pre-Med Student |
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A project of the EKU Honors Program,the EKU Caduceus Club, and the EKU Pre-Health Advisory Committee |
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Section 1:
Introduction
Section 2: DO
vs. MD
Section 3: Suggested
EKU Curriculum
Section 4: The
MCAT
Section 5:
AMCAS and AACOMAS
Section 6:
The Personal Statement
Section 7:
Secondary Applications
Section 8:
The Interview
Section 9:
Tips to Remember
Bibliography
Introduction
The process of applying to medical school is very tedious. It requires careful planning strategies
and attention should be paid to every detail. An excessive amount of stress may be encountered if you are
not prepared for the process and don’t know what to expect. As is for anything, being prepared is
the key.
As a student at EKU, your grades are of the utmost importance.
It is also while you are an undergraduate that you will prepare for
and take the MCAT, gain experience in the medical field, become an active
member of the campus and local community and develop great leadership ability.
Letters of recommendation are of equal importance and the bulk of them
will come from EKU faculty and staff, primarily the pre-med committee.
When applying to medical school, there are many steps and the best
way to achieve matriculation is to have a careful and punctuated plan. In this booklet, there is information
regarding all the factors involved in applying to medical school. The purpose
of this booklet is to get you orientated to the application process so there
will be no surprises and you won’t miss any deadlines. The more knowledgeable you are of the
process, the likelier it is you will be a successful pre-med student and gain
acceptance to the medical school of you choice. Good luck in your endeavors!
Return to topics list.
DO vs. MD
You have been attending a physician since you were born,
yet you may be unaware if your doctor was a DO or MD. A DO is a doctor of osteopathic medicine
while an MD is a doctor of allopathic medicine. Both are qualified physicians licensed
to practice medicine and perform surgery all over the United States. There are both differences and similarities
between an MD and DO.
Both doctors are required to complete four years of basic medical education
with many overlapping courses. Course
requirements will vary according to the school you attend, but in all the
same basic classes are required. Afterwards,
a residency must be completed in your field of choice. If a specialty is desired, extra time
as a resident will be necessary and it will vary usually between 2-6 years.
State licensing exams are also very similar and must be passed both
by MDs and DOs. Both practice in accredited and licensed
health care facilities. (Pikeville)
There are a few differences between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. Osteopathic medical schools emphasize
training students to be primary care physicians who focus on preventative
care and practice a “whole person” approach to medicine. The human body is regarded as an integrated
whole instead of individual symptoms and illnesses in the mind of a DO.
Extra training in the musculoskeletal system is given to DOs, giving
them a greater understanding of how one injury or illness might affect another
area of the body.
Although there are a few differences between DO and MD, it is important
to realize that both are qualified physicians.
The choice of attending an allopathic or osteopathic medical school
is solely yours. Either way you
go you will be highly trained as a competent physician.
Return to topics list.
Suggested EKU Curriculum
B.S. in BIOCHEMISTRY
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Freshman Year Hours Semester 1 ASO 100 1 Gen. Ed. (01) 3 MAT 124 4 CHE 111 4 BIO 141 4 TOTAL 16 Semester 2 CHE 112 4 BIO 211 4 Gen. Ed (02) 3 MAT 224 4 Gen. Ed. (18) 1 TOTAL 16 |
Sophomore Year Hours Semester 1 CHE 361 3 CHE 366 1 MAT 225 4 PHY 201 5 Gen. Ed. (09) 3 TOTAL 16 Semester 2 CHE 362 3 CHE 367 1 PHY 202 5 CHE 325 4 Gen. Ed. (05) 3 TOTAL 16 |
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Junior Year Hours Semester 1 CHE 471 3 SPE 301 2 Electives 8 Gen. Ed. (06) 3 UWR TOTAL 16 Semester 2 CHE 472 3 CHE 473 1 BIO 315 or 320 4 CHE 531 3 Gen. Ed. (10) 3 Gen. Ed. (19) 2 TOTAL 16 |
Senior Year Hours Semester 1 CHE 480 1 CHE 473 1 CHE 530 3 CHE 532 1 Restricted Elective 3 Electives* 7 TOTAL 16 Semester
2 CHE 481 1 CHE elective 3 Gen. Ed. (07) 3 Electives 9 TOTAL 16 *Strongly suggested electives include BIO 547, BIO 546,
BIO 331, and BIO 348. |
(Department of Chemistry)
B.S. in BIOLOGY
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Freshman Year Hours Semester 1 ASO 100 1 BIO 131 or BIO 141 4 CHE 111 4 Gen. Ed. (01) 3 Gen. Ed. (17) 1 Gen. Ed. (09) 3 TOTAL 16 Semester 2 BIO 131 or BIO 141 4 CHE 112 5 Gen. Ed. (02) 3 Gen. Ed. (18) 1 Gen. Ed. (10) 3 TOTAL 16 |
Sophomore Year Hours Semester 1 BIO 211 4 MAT 124 4 PSY 201 or 202 3 Gen. Ed. (05) 3 Gen. Ed. (11) 3 TOTAL 17 Semester 2 BIO 315 4 STA 215 or STA 270 3 Gen. Ed. (06) 3 SPE 301 2 Restricted Electives 3 Electives 3 TOTAL 18 |
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Junior Year Hours Semester 1 BIO 316 4 BIO 320 4 CHE 361 4 CHE 366 1 Elective 3 UWR TOTAL 16 Semester 2 BIO 328 or BIO 348 4 CHE 362 4 CHE 367 1 Gen. Ed. (04, 08, or 12) 3 Elective 3 TOTAL 17 |
Senior Year Hours Semester 1 BIO 514 3 BIO Elective 3 PHY 131 5 Gen. Ed. (07) 3 Elective 3 TOTAL 17 Semester 2 BIO 490 1 PHY 132 5 Electives 7 TOTAL 13 |
(Department of Biology)
Return to topics list.
The MCAT
WHAT IS THE MCAT?
The MCAT is the medical college admissions test. It is taken the junior year of your undergraduate career.
WHAT IS ON THE MCAT?
The MCAT is a standardized exam with four sections.
Included are:
·
Verbal Reasoning
·
Physical Sciences (general
chemistry and physics)
·
Biological Sciences
(biology and organic chemistry)
·
Writing sample (two
essay prompts)
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW FOR EACH SECTION?
For the verbal reasoning and the writing sections, reading comprehension
and writing capability are tested. MCAT
review books will serve as a guide to preparing for these sections. For the biological and physical sciences
sections, there is specific material that will be tested on. According to
the “Columbia Review; Intensive Preparation for the MCAT,” the
materials included are:
Biological Sciences
Biology Section:
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Enzymes
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Cellular metabolism
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DNA functions and structure
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Gene expression (DNA
® Protein)
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Microbiology
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Eukaryotic cell
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Specialized eukaryotic
cells and tissues
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The nervous system
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The endocrine system
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The circulatory system
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The immune system
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The digestive system
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The excretory system
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The muscles and skeletal
system
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The respiratory system
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Skin
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The reproductive system
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Development
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Genetics
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Evolution
Organic Chemistry:
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General concepts
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Alkanes
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Alkenes and alkynes
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Conjugated hydrocarbons
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Alcohols and esters
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Carbonyl compounds
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Carbohydrates
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Lipids
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Amino acids and peptides
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Phosphoric acid
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Separation, isolation,
and characterization
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Nomenclature
Physical Sciences
Physics:
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Scalars and vectors
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Statics
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Kinematics
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Dynamics
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Work, energy, and power
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Momentum and impulse
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Circular motion and
gravitation
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Rotational dynamics
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Mechanical properties
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Fluids
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Temperature and heat
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Thermodynamics
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Electrostatics
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Electric potential
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Electromagnetism
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DC circuits
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Wave characteristics
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AC circuits
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Simple harmonic motion
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Sound
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Light and optics
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Atomic and nuclear
structure
General
Chemistry:
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Introductory concepts
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Electronic and atomic
structure
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Periodic table
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Bonding
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Gases and liquids
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Phase equilibria
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Solution chemistry
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Acids and bases
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Buffers
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Thermochemistry
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Kinetics
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Equilibrium
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Electrochemistry
WHEN SHOULD I BEGIN MY REVIEW?
There is a vast amount of material covered on the MCAT. In order to be successful on this exam, you should allow six
months to a year for study time. Since
the MCAT is usually taken in August of your junior year, the summer before
then would be the perfect opportunity to study. Please do not take this exam lightly
and assume you will remember the material. It is crucial that you take the appropriate steps to ensure
you will make a competitive score. If not, you will need to take the exam
again. Medical schools rely heavily
on MCAT scores when making a decision to accept or deny you.
HOW DO I STUDY FOR THIS EXAM?
There are many avenues you can take to study for this exam. There are review courses offered by KAPLAN and the Best Prep
Review by University of Louisville as well as numerous review books. For more information about KAPLAN, go
to http://www.kaptest.com/index.jhtml. For more information on the U of L
course, see Dr. Martin Brock. If you go online and search for “MCAT,”
you will get many hits. Just click on anything that looks interesting or shows potential.
You can purchase a review book online, or AMCAS (see section 5) has
books you can purchase as well as practice exams. Columbia Review; Intensive
Preparation for the MCAT is an excellent resource as well as many others.
The University of Kentucky bookstore has a good selection of review materials
as well. Just do a little research
and you will find the right review materials for you. A warning though—make sure the materials you choose have
been reviewed. Many people have
books out there, but some are much better than others are. If you are unsure, contact AMCAS. They will be able to tell you which review
materials are the best.
HOW DO I REGISTER TO TAKE THE MCAT?
There are two ways to register for the exam.
You can do it online or request a paper application. It is a little easier to register online,
but be warned. There have been
students (even here at EKU) whose application was not transmitted properly.
It is fine to register online, but you should call and check (in 3-5
days after submission) to make sure your application was received by their
server. To register online, go
to http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/registration.htm. This site is also a great information
resource. There are many things
included here a pre-med student should be aware of. I suggest you check it out.
If you wish to submit a paper copy, your advisor should
have one or you can contact MCAT at: MCAT Program Office, PO Box 4056,
Iowa City, IA 52243 (319-337-1357). If you have any questions regarding your
application, don’t hesitate to call them. It is always better to ask questions and be sure than not to
ask and be mistaken. There is
a fee for taking the MCAT. You
will be told what the amount is and how to pay it in your application materials.
It is recommended that you take the MCAT in August of your junior year,
so if you are not satisfied with your scores you can retake the exam in April
while the application cycle continues.
Return to topics list.
AMCAS AND AACOMAS
WHAT IS AMCAS?
AMCAS stands for American Medical College Application Service. They are the central clearinghouse for
applications to medical school. A
student wishing to apply to an allopathic medical school must first apply
through AMCAS. AMCAS will then
in turn distribute the student’s application materials to schools the
student designates they wish to apply to.
The school will then contact the student and send them a secondary
application if they wish to consider them as an applicant (see section 9 for
secondary applications)
WHAT IS AACOMAS?
AACOMAS stands for American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic
Medicine Application Service performing the same function as AMCAS only for
osteopathic schools.
WHEN TO I NEED TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?
AMCAS and AACOMAS usually begin accepting applications around June
1st. Applications should be submitted the summer
BEFORE your senior year because the application cycle can last for an entire
year. You should have taken the
MCAT at least once by this time, as it will ask you for your scores. If you have not, there will be a place
to indicate when you are scheduled to take it. However, it is recommended that you take the MCAT in August
of your junior year so if you are not satisfied with your scores you will
have a chance to improve them before submitting an application to AMCAS or
AACOMAS. You should make sure
you have your application materials AT LEAST one-month prior to the date they begin accepting applications. These applications are very time consuming
and require a lot of information. You should also know that the earlier you submit your application
the better your chances are of getting into medical school.
HOW DO I SUBMIT AN APPLICATION?
The procedure for submitting an application is somewhat like that for
the MCAT. You must first download
the application from the website http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm. Once you
have loaded it on your hard drive (don’t worry there is an automatic
‘uninstall’ program that comes with it), you can begin to fill
out the application. Be careful
and pay attention to every detail! You
will then have to options of submitting the application. You can do it electronically, or submit
it on a disk through the mail. The
same warning applies here as it did for the MCAT. Students at EKU have had unsuccessful submissions via email
and nearly did not get into medical school for this reason. It is imperative that you call them a
few days after submission to confirm they received your application—EVEN
IF YOU GET AN E-MAIL TELLING YOU THEY GOT IT. If you do not call to check
on your application and you find out a few months later they did not receive
it, it is your fault and only yours. Unfortunately, if this happens the only thing you can do is
resubmit it and hope it isn’t too late. So don’t forget!
WHAT WILL BE ASKED OF ME ON THE APPLICATION?
First you will have to give a lot of personal information that you
would for any application. You
will need to have a current transcript available to transfer information to
your application. You can purchase
one in the Jones building, or ask your advisor to get the information for
you. AMCAS will also ask you to have EKU send
them a transcript—there is a form included in your application materials
you take to EKU. They must fill it out and send it because AMCAS will not
accept transcripts unless they come directly from EKU, not you. If you have transferred from another institution,
you will need to have a current transcript from there, too, as well as have
them send AMCAS a transcript. A
personal statement is also required for the application (see section 6 for
personal statement).
Return to topics list.
The Personal Statement
WHAT IS A PERSONAL STATEMENT?
The personal statement is a very important part of applying to medical
school. It is here where you will have the opportunity
to introduce yourself to the admissions committee and present information
about yourself not included in the application. Insight into your personality, background,
and experiences should be shown through your personal statement.
Your personal statement should also convey professionalism and the
ability to face the challenge of medical school
(Dunkin 1999).
It is important to recognize that the committee will
likely have read your personal statement before your interview. You should not place anything in its contents
that you find uncomfortable to talk about or anything false. Do not try to make yourself sound better
by including false information, or experiences that are negative unless they
can be turned into something positive, as the things in your statement are
likely topics of conversation during your interview. Make sure to include things that make you look good and show
what kind of person you are, and at the same time would lead to stimulating
conversation. It is OK to brag
on yourself because you want to stand out in comparison to other applicants,
but it should be done in the appropriate manner so you don’t seem egotistical.
Answering some of the following questions may give you
some ideas of what should be included.
These questions were examples in a booklet written by Dunkin and Dunkin.
(Dunkin 1999)
·
What influenced your
decision to pursue a career in medicine? Was it personal experiences with
illness of yourself or a family member, shadowing/volunteering in a medical
facility, etc.
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What personal characteristics
do you have that you feel would make you a good student in medical school
and ultimately a good physician?
·
What type of activities
have you been in while at EKU? (do not include High School activities) Did they affect your leadership ability,
responsibility, decision making, or ideas on service to the community?
·
How did you find a
balance of studying, being active on campus, community service, work, and
spending time with family/friends?
·
What can you contribute
to the field of medicine?
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Have you received any
award while in college? (such as academic, service, showcasing talent, etc.)
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Have you been involved
in any research projects?
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What is unique about
your background? (only child, large family, hard family situations, rural
area, etc.)
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What about you reflects
good character and ethical nature?
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How have you made a
difference in your community?
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Have you had first
hand experience with a serious illness?
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In what areas have
you done volunteering?
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Have you shadowed a
physician, and if so what did you like/dislike?
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Have you traveled?
Where to?
·
What do you do to relieve
stress, relax, and enjoy yourself?
·
Is there a special
event of experience in your life the committee might find unique and interesting?
The personal statement is also an opportunity for you
to explain any negative issues in your life history or application, such as
low grades, low MCAT scores, lack of volunteering experience, troublesome
situations, etc. This is not
a place to make excuses, but you can tell them why you had difficulty in a
particular area, what you learned from it, and how you improved. For example, if you had low grades the
first few semesters but they increased as your classes got progressively harder,
this can show maturity on many levels and that you improved as a student.
It is negative things such as this you want to include and reflect
upon.
Proper spelling and grammar are expected of you. If you have problems in these areas, or
feel you are not the most skilled writer, make a rough draft and take it to
your advisor or another professor for review. I would not suggest submitting a personal statement without
the input of faculty who know what should/should not be included even if you
are the most skilled writer. Sometimes
it can be hard to catch your own mistakes.
Make sure you are completely comfortable with your personal
statement before submission. This
is your time to shine and you should be proud of your statement.
Do not get discouraged if you have to make many drafts before getting
the final product, because it is normal.
If you have any questions or are unsure about discussing a particular
item in your statement, go to your advisor or consult a resource focused on
the personal statement. There are many good ones out there.
Dr. Martin Brock has one if you have trouble locating one yourself.
Return to topics list.
Secondary Applications
WHAT IS A SECONDARY APPLICATION?
After you submit an application to AMCAS/AACOMAS, they
will distribute your information to the schools that you requested. The individual schools will then have
the option of sending you secondary application materials.
WHEN SHOULD I RECEIVE A SECONDARY APPLICATION?
Don’t be alarmed if it takes a few weeks. The processing of the applications take
a while. If it has been 6 weeks
and you still have not heard from the school, it would be in your best interest
to call them and inquire. Applications
have been known to get lost in the mail. It has happened to EKU students before.
WHEN DO I SUBMIT THE APPLICATION?
Like with AMCAS/AACOMAS, it is very important to get
your application materials in quickly.
The earlier you submit your materials the better your chances are for
getting an interview (see section 10 on interviews). Medical school classes can reach capacity quickly and if you
submit your application late in the cycle then your interview may be late
and the class could be full. As
soon as you get your materials begin working on them and make sure you know
the deadlines for each school and when they begin accepting applications.
WHAT WILL THEY ASK ME?
Secondary applications will ask some of the same personal information
as AMCAS/AACOMAS. They may also
ask you essay questions in addition to the personal statement they have already
received. Applications will vary
from school to school. All schools,
however, will require letters of recommendation.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION?
A good letter of recommendation reflects your strengths both as a person
and a student. Therefore, it
is necessary to get evaluations that can show both. EKU has a pre-med committee comprised of faculty/staff that
will conduct an interview with you and then send a letter of evaluation to
the requested schools. You should
schedule an interview with them before you send your secondary applications. If the university you attend has a committee
such as this, it is expected to receive an evaluation from them. Most schools know EKU has this committee
(KY schools do at least) and will expect an evaluation from them.
Contact your advisor to schedule and interview with the committee.
You need to begin now to develop strong professional relationships with faculty/staff at EKU. Your professors should serve as mentors, and are a great information resource. Since these are the people who will be submitting at least one of your letters of recommendation, you need to get to know them and let them get t