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).

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.

Check out these statistics!! http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/

2008/2008mcatgpa.htm

http://med.emory.edu/education/MDPHD/prospective.html#programstats

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

http://medicine.mercer.edu/Admissions/Prospective%20Students/admissions_dom

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

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!!

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

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

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/

Let’s hear your ideas!!

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› Early decision program applications are due August 1› Regular applications typically stretch through December

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.