Every pre-med student's experience is unique. There is not one right or wrong "way" to successfully gain acceptance into medical school. However, there are numerous things that you can do to better prepare and equip yourself for the studying, testing, applying, and interviewing that must be undertaken if you truly desire to become a physician. It is the hope of former Gustavus pre-med students that the advice that follows will be of some help and comfort to you as you strive to make that dream come true...
Please note that, in general, the following advice is geared toward students who are planning to apply to medical school during their senior year.
It is essential that you take control of your education right from the beginning of your college career. This involves learning about the required pre-med courses and planning when and in what combination to take them. It is highly advisable to schedule an appointment with Janice Koppenhaver, Health Professions Coordinator, sometime during the first year. She will help you plan a schedule that will allow you to satisfy the pre-med requirements as well as your own interests. You may also want to consult the Health Professions Advising Guide, which is available in the Career Center.
You do not have to be a science major to apply to medical school. Study what you enjoy. You can fulfill the basic pre-med science requirements while majoring in any subject area. Remember that if you end up going to medical school you will not have the chance to study non-science subjects for awhile, if ever. Medical schools do not favor non-science majors over science majors, or vice versa—they are simply looking for well-rounded applicants. You can be well-rounded in any major you choose.
Work as hard as you can to keep your grade point average high (preferably a 3.5 or better). Aim to start out strong and maintain a high level of achievement and you will not have to undergo the stress of trying to pull up a weak GPA later on. Learn the material well (don't cram) and take it seriously because you will need to know it for the MCAT. The first year will be new and exciting, but maintain your focus and don't be intimidated by other pre-med students. In these two years the competition will literally be cut in half.
It is important to become involved in extracurricular activities during your first two years. These should include both volunteer activities and other activities that interest you, such as sports or clubs. These activities need not be medically oriented. Medical school admissions committees want to see that you have participated in as well as held leadership roles in a few activities (suggestions for activities can be found on another pre-med web page). It is important to show you are committed to these activities by sticking with them for more than one semester. In your medical school interviews you likely will be asked to describe your extracurricular activities and how long you participated in each one. An activity may take up as little as two hours per week--that is just fine. It is the quality and length of commitment that is most important. Don't spread yourself too thin—your grades and newly acquired scientific knowledge are important.
Consider attending Pre-Medical Students' Day at the U of M-Twin Cities. During this event (held each April), you will be able to talk to medical students, tour the medical school facilities, and gain valuable tips from the dean of the medical school. If you are uncertain as to whether medicine is the right career for you, take advantage of opportunities to speak with medical students and physicians about what medicine is really like.
If you are considering doing research at Gustavus, sophomore year is a good time to start. At this point, you will have acquired the necessary basic scientific knowledge to begin work on a project. Do not feel pressured into doing research if it does not really interest you—it will be a waste of your time. You do not have to do research to be a successful applicant. Many students from Gustavus, including science majors, are accepted without having had any research experience.
Many Gustavus pre-med students complete an internship in a medical setting during January Term of their sophomore or junior year. This is an invaluable experience to have on your medical school application. Medical schools want to see that you have taken the initiative to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of medicine and that you have had some firsthand experience in a medical setting. You should begin planning your internship during the fall semester preceding your intended J-Term experience. Start by going to the Career Center and looking through the pre-med internship catalogs to find a site. You are responsible for contacting the site and making all the necessary arrangements for the internship. Be aware that positions in the St. Peter/Twin Cities area are the most popular and fill quickly.
There are many different opinions on how to study for this all-important test. Here are some of them, all from successful applicants:
Submit your AMCAS application as soon as possible after June 15. This will ensure that your application is one of the first to be considered out of the thousands received by the medical schools. This will also allow you to receive and complete your secondary applications during the summer, before school starts in the fall. Secondary apps are very time consuming, so it is preferable to get them done while you still have free time late in the summer. Bottom line: the sooner you submit the AMCAS form, the sooner you will receive final answers from the med schools.
Be sure to double, triple, and quadruple check the information you put on the AMCAS before you send it in. If any discrepancies are found by AMCAS, processing of your application will be delayed by weeks.
Take them seriously. They are very time consuming, and you must take the time to make them look professional. They must be typed on a regular typewriter, so you should have access to a good one and know how to use it. Make copies of the applications and practice typing on these first to make sure your answers will fit the spaces. You may be asked to write an additional personal statement (U of M) and answer questions (UMD). Others may be very simple and take relatively little time to complete (Mayo and Creighton).
All secondary applications have processing fees which can range from $35 - $65. Therefore, you should complete and submit only those applications to schools that you are seriously considering.
Once again, there are many different opinions on how to best prepare for the interview. The following are tips from successful applicants:
Compiled and written by former Pre-Med students Jennifer Viljaste and Neal Buddensiek
