A Resource to Assist You
with Achieving Your Goal
THE PATH TO BECOMING A PHYSICIAN
Undergraduate
Education
(Bachelor’s
degree)
Undergraduate
Medical
Education
(M.D. degree)
Graduate
Medical
Education
(residency)
Continuing
Medical
Education (life
long learning
as a physician
to maintain
licensure)
UNDERGRADUATE TIMELINE
Year
1
Year
2
•Register for and successfully complete pre-medical
coursework
•Get involved on campus, join pre-health organizations
•Volunteer/Shadow/Work in medical field (during breaks)
•Register for and successfully complete pre-medical
coursework
•Get involved on campus, join medical clubs
•Volunteer/Shadow/Work in medical field (during breaks)
•During school year, seek research experience for the
summer break
Source: AAMC, www.aamc.org/students/download/175214/data/timeline.pdf
UNDERGRADUATE TIMELINE
Year
3
Year
4
•Register for and successfully complete pre-medical coursework
•Study for MCAT; register and sit for MCAT in Spring
•Conduct research
•Serve as leader in pre-health organizations
•Identify faculty who will write letters of recommendation
•Research medical schools
•Develop timeline for application (begin in May)
•Volunteer/Shadow /Work in medical field (during breaks)
•Register for and successfully complete pre-medical coursework
•Conduct research
•Serve as leader in pre-health organizations
•Complete application (fall)
•Interview for medical school (fall and spring)
•Graduate
Source: AAMC, www.aamc.org/students/download/175214/data/timeline.pdf
UNDERGRADUATE CURRICULUM
Medical schools do not require a specific major
 Select a major that matches your interests and skills
Strong foundation in sciences
 Each medical school requires different premedical coursework
 Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, English, Humanities, Math, Organic
Chemistry, Physics, Social Sciences
Average GPA of students accepted to medical school in 2013 – 3.69
(Source: AAMC)
Average science GPA of students accepted to medical school in 2013 –
3.63 (Source: AAMC)
MCAT
(MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST)
Assesses science knowledge and strong critical thinking skills
Required by most medical schools
Preparing for the Exam
 Study books
 Prep courses
 Practice exams
Test Administration
 24+ times a year from January through September
 Recommended time to take exam – April of junior year
 Policies about oldest MCAT that will be accepted vary by medical school
Average MCAT of students accepted to medical school in 2013 – 31
(Source: AAMC)
MCAT
(MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST)
MCAT 2015
 Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
 Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
 Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
 Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
MCAT
(MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST)
Current Structure of MCAT
 Physical Sciences – general chemistry and physics
 Verbal Reasoning
 Biological Sciences – biology, organic chemistry
 Scored 1-15
MCAT 2015
 Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
 Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
 Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
 Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
MCAT
(MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST)
BEING COMPETITIVE – IN ADDITION TO
ACADEMICS
Personal Attributes
 Physician/patient relationship – communication skills, compassion,
motivation for medicine
 Team work, leadership – critical thinking, work habits
 Ethical behavior – integrity, professionalism
Extracurricular Activities
 Volunteer at a hospital
 Research experience
 Student organizations
No magic number exists on the number of activities – it’s the quality of the
experience
IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Be cautious about what you post
 Inappropriate pictures and comments
What you post now, may impact you negatively later
 You may be looked up by medical schools and residency programs
Do a search on your name to see what is posted about you
THE APPLICATION TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
 Used by almost all U.S. medical schools except some in Texas
 Items to submit
 Application
 Personal Statement
 Consider topics such as why medicine? motivation/challenges to
pursuing?
 Official Transcripts
 2- 3 Letters of Recommendation
 Science faculty member
 Not a family member
 MCAT scores
THE APPLICATION TO MEDICAL SCHOOL
Know the deadlines
 Application opens in May with submission in June
Secondary/Supplemental Materials
 Know the deadlines
On average, each applicant applies to 14 medical schools
 That’s 48,000 applications for 20,000 spots
SUBMIT APPLICATION MATERIALS EARLY
RECOMMENDATION LETTERS
Ask science faculty and physicians
 Do not ask family
Be courteous: Provide 3-4 weeks notice for a recommendation to be written
Provide a “brag sheet” to the person writing the recommendation
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Commitment, level of accomplishment, initiative, and leadership are most
important.
Offices of Admission will ask the following questions when reviewing student
resumes/activity lists in an application:
 How much time does the student devote to this activity?
 Is there evidence of leadership—is the student an officer or leader in the
organization/sport?
 Balance is best—do not limit involvement to one type of activity.
 Volunteerism is very important.
OHIO MEDICAL SCHOOLS BY REGION
Northeast Ohio
▪ Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
▪ Northeast Ohio Medical University
Northwest Ohio
▪ University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Central Ohio
▪ Ohio State University College of Medicine
▪ Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Southwest Ohio
▪ University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
▪ Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
AMCAS APPLICATION FEE
Application Fee (2014)
 $160 for first school
 $35 each additional school
Fee Assistance Program
 Assists with MCAT and AMCAS fees
 www.aamc.org/students/applying/fap/benefits
THE INTERVIEW
Preparing for the Interview
 Review your resume so you can quickly recall all of your experiences
 Research the medical school thoroughly
 Practice, do mock interviews
Don’t Forget These Types of Interview Questions
 Be prepared to provide responses about coursework that you performed
poorly in
 Be prepared to ask questions of the interviewers
Dress Professionally
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
Background check is completed on all applicants who are accepted into
medical school
Felonies, misdemeanors, pattern of poor driving
CHOOSING A MEDICAL SCHOOL
Talk to current medical school students
Know the mission – does it align with your career goals?
Geographic location
 Public vs. private – state public medical schools tend to give preference to
applicants from the same state
Demographics – diversity of student body
Residency placement – do graduates of the medical school match in
residency programs of esteem? What percentage of students do not
match in a residency program?
Costs – affordability may be a consideration for determining which medical
school you will attend
COMMON MEDICAL SCHOOL CURRICULUM
Anatomy and Physiology
Biochemistry
Microbiology
Pathology
System-based
 Cardiology, respiratory, renal, etc.
Clerkships and electives – clinical experiences
 Family medicine, pediatrics, etc.
Licensure Exams (these are not courses in medical school, but are
requirements to progress through medical school)
RESIDENCY TRAINING
Specialty
Emergency Medicine
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Obstetrics-Gynecology
Pathology
Psychiatry
General Surgery
Neurological Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology
Urology
Plastic Surgery
Anesthesiology
Dermatology
Neurology
Ophthalmology
Physical Medicine
Diagnostic Radiology
Radiation Oncology
Transitional/Preliminary
Length of Training (Minimum number of years of
postgraduate training for eligibility for board
certification)
3-4 years
3 years
3 years
3 years
4 years
4 years
4 years
5 years
6 years (includes 1 year of general surgery)
5 years (includes 1 year of general surgery)
5 years
5 years (includes 1 year of general surgery)
6 years
3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
3 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
3-4 years
4 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
4 years plus PGY-1 Transitional/Preliminary
1 year
Source: https://residency.wustl.edu/Residencies/Pages/LengthofResidencies.aspx
BEING MORE COMPETITIVE THE NEXT YEAR
If not accepted into medical school, remember 48,000+ applications were
received for 20,000 seats
Consider Master’s program or Post-bacc
 Strengthen GPA
Re-take MCAT
Gain more experience
 Volunteer, shadow
ONLINE RESOURCES
www.uakron.edu/bcas/academic-advising/medical-school.dot - BCAS
academic advising
www.aamc.org/students/aspiring - resources for aspiring doctors
www.aamc.org/students/download/175214/data/timeline.pdf - timeline for
pre-medicine students
www.aamc.org/data/facts - data on applicants to medical school
www.aamc.org/students/applying/requirements/msar/ - medical school
admission requirements
https://members.aamc.org/eweb/upload/Roadmap%20to%20Residency%
202ndEd.pdf – resource about residency process