MY CRAZY JOURNEY TO

MEDICAL SCHOOL

Allie Thomas

SO YOU WANT TO GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL WHERE? There are just over 200 medical schools

in the U.S. AAMC Medical School Admission

RequirementsDefinitive resource for every

Medical school in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbeanwww.aamc.org

IN STATE SCHOOLS In state schools are a definite choice

for applicants. Almost everyone applies to their in

state schools and several (like myself) only apply to state schools

BenefitsCheaper tuition! (much cheaper!) without

sacrificing quality, as they receive funding from the state.

More likely to get an interview and be accepted if you are an in state resident!

TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY SCHOOLS In state tuition Tennessee Schools (tuition

$16000-17000/yr) University of Tennessee Memphis East Tennessee State University Johnson City, TN

Private Tennessee Schools Vanderbilt University (very competitive

$32,000/yr) Meharry Medical School ($26,000/yr)

In state tuition Kentucky Schools ($22,000/yr) University of Louisville University of Kentucky

COMPONENTS OF THE APPLICATION All medical schools accept primary

applications through the AMCAS website hosted by the AAMC

Applications available on AMCAS website starting in May or June 1st. FEES! (expect a 130$ fee for just filling out the application and 30$ for each school you are applying to)

APPLY EARLY! Transcripts are sent to AMCAS. (Enter

requests spring of your junior year and make sure they include that semesters grades)

You have to manually enter your courses and grades in for EVERY college course you have ever taken (tedious and it can take a while just sit down with your transcript and do it in one sitting)

COMPONENTS OF THE APPLICATION Grades! Grades! Grades! (3.5 combined

and above is standard for most state schools)

MCAT scoresPrep books of every flavor available If you have the resources, take the MCAT course

which can help raise your score significantlyPRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE!AAMC provides one full length free practice test

with MCAT registrationKaplan website (personally I preferred their

books over McGraw Hill because they had a lot more MCAT like practice questions)

COMPONENTS OF APPLICATION (CONT.) List of all extracurricular activities

Sports, clubs, honors societies, awards, volunteer work (brighter shinier nickel) Above all though – do things you like and are

passionate about. Show initiative. Don’t just be the president of a club for the credentials do it because you like it so you have something to talk about that’s genuine.

VOLUNTEER IN A HOSPITAL (talk to Dr. Robertson volunteer applications at Gateway accepted before school in the fall and spring semesters – contact person Sandy Wooten.) Very important to admissions committees EVERY interviewer asks about clinical experience Comparable experience

EMT Nursing Caregiver for nursing home or chronically ill

COMPONENTS OF APPLICATION (CONT.) Recommend you take MCAT in spring of

Junior yearRegister at AAMC website

COMPONENTS OF APPLICATION (CONT.) Personal Statement

Make it Personal, you don’t have a lot of space

Admissions committee people like an engaging essay, they really do read them!

GRAMMAR! Blurbs on application

Every activity you put on the application, up to 15, you can write a small blurb about.

Use up EVERY word, it will save you space in your personal essay.

GRAMMAR!

SECONDARY APPLICATIONS, THE GAUNTLET HAS BEEN THROWN! Yeah! You got invited for a secondary

MORE FEES! (One of my fees got lost in the mail, ironically to the school I am going to, make sure to send fees in the mail certified)

MORE ESSAYS! Just when you thought you couldn’t write ANY more.

This is when your recommendation letters come in handy. The more competitive the school, the more these letters count!

If you did research with someone – ask them for an recommendation and any teacher you did really well with who knew you a little more Two recommendations from science professor

(minimum) One from non science professor (minimum) Some schools accept additional recommendations

from volunteer groups (Sandy Wooten at gateway if you did that program), employers etc.

INTERVIEW OMG! An interview! After months of applications and

countless hours describing in detail every thing you have ever done in your life…. You get to talk about it IN PERSON!

PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW Buy a suit! Practice! (yes I know again) Conservative dress (no hot pink or flames) Figure out what you want to know about the

school Facilities Financial aid Professors

A tour with current medical students who do not report to admissions committee is usually involved. Wear comfy shoes and come with LOTS of questions.

Studentdoc.com Gives interview example questions from other students

who have already had interviews at your school http://share.studentdoctor.net/interview/

AT THE INTERVIEW Don’t rush (yeah I did that at the first one) Practice responses to common questions so

they are not a surprise Best one I got that I felt I did well on

What is the best thing that has ever happened to you? How do you feel about HMO’s? Politics and general

questions about healthcare policy are part of the interview. Its not what you believe its how thoughtful you are about it. Shows interviewer your ability to analyze a position for both strengths weaknesses, and potential benefits over long term

Glad I didn’t get this one! If you wanted me to tell the adcom one thing about

you to persuade them to admit you, what would it be? One I got that I kind of froze on

What are your three weaknesses and three strengths?

AND NOW WE WAIT…. Some schools take longer than others to

get back to you after the interview Some are quick (under a week for me

from Louisville) – snail mail Some take longer (more than a month

for UK) – snail mail Acceptance requires a deposit

Usually about $100Must give up seats to schools not attending

by May 15th

WHICH ONE TO PICK How did you like the facilities? What were the other med students like? Was the testing schedules and

environments comfortable to you?

WHICH ONE TO PICK Do you want MD/PhD?

More research oriented programs What kind of environment do you thrive

in?Very CompetitiveLaid back

QUESTIONS!