How to get accepted to the medical school of your dreams? Learn how to plan out your path as you prepare a stand-out application.
Planning out your path well ahead of time is recommended to set yourself up for the best chances of getting accepted by the medical school of your dreams. Knowing the prerequisites for medical schools and aiming to excel in those areas can make your medical school application shine.
With Advanced eClinical Training, you can fulfill the prerequisites for clinical education and experience on a schedule that accommodates your lifestyle. Call us today or visit us online to discuss our affordable pre-medical courses with a program director.
Choosing Your Path to Medical School
While some people know in their hearts they want to be a doctor very early in life, others do not realize their calling until a few years into their undergrad studies or sometimes not until after they have received a bachelor’s degree. There is more than one path to medical school to
accommodate the varying needs of those who wish to become doctors.
Two common paths are:
- The traditional and most common path to medical school begins as one enters a four-year college intending to move on to medical school afterward. Courses and extracurricular activities are chosen with this career path in mind.
- A non-traditional path to medical school may take a little longer, depending on which courses you have already taken before deciding to pursue a medical career. You may need additional time to fulfill the prerequisites for medical school.
Whichever option you choose, you need to plan out your path to medical school to minimize delays and increase your chances of admittance.
Academics Are Crucial for a Strong Med School Application
You know that medical school will be challenging and expectations are exceptionally high. The qualities med schools look for in future students require a lengthy commitment to achieve, so you must get serious about your educational and career goals early on:
- Choose your courses wisely. Prereqs for medical school can vary depending on the school, so it is helpful to check your desired schools for specific prerequisites. You will generally be expected to complete science courses like biology, physics, and various chemistry courses. In addition, psychology, English, and calculus courses may be required. Finding out the prereqs as early as possible can help avoid delays on your path to medical school.
- Stay focused on your studies. High grades and test scores are a priority when admissions teams sift through applications. Some medical schools also have minimum standards set for grades and test scores, so you may wish to research the requirements set by the med schools you hope to attend. As soon as you decide medical school is your goal, do your best to keep your grades up as the competition can be stiff. The median undergrad GPA for first-year med school students is approximately 3.75. If your grades for your undergrad science courses are not adequate, you can take some master’s level science courses to help boost your
med school application. - Prepare yourself well for the Medical College Admission Test
(MCAT). Most medical schools require you to submit your MCAT test scores as part of your application, and they look for applicants with top scores. The average score among med school applicants admitted is approximately 512, so it would be best to aim for a score at or above that. The MCAT is a challenging test, so you should spend ample time studying beforehand. Take advantage of free test prep resources offered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, and take plenty of practice tests to evaluate
your readiness for the exam. Consider earning your Medical Terminology Certification in preparation.
Experience Is Key to Proving Your Competency
Taking courses relevant to the medical field is no substitute for actual life experience in a medical environment. Cultivate life and clinical experiences that prove your value as a future doctor:
- Find opportunities for clinical experience. Whether it is volunteer work or paid internships, having hands-on experience gets admissions committees’ attention at medical schools. They want to see that you are competent working in a medical setting.
- Studying or volunteering overseas can help set you apart from other med school applicants. Volunteering your time to help others in less fortunate areas shows an admissions committee the softer, more human side of you. Even if you cannot travel abroad, participating in local community service can also demonstrate caring.
Advanced eClinical Training: The Clinical Education You Need to Support Your Path to Medical School
When you need clinical education to polish your med school application, you can rely on Advanced eClinical Training. Our convenient online courses allow you to work at your own pace, so nothing stands in the way of your medical school goals.
Enroll today to begin your journey to medical school.
