Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 1

Conventions Used in This Book 2

What You’re Not to Read 2

Foolish Assumptions 3

How This Book is Organized 3

Part I: Planning the Premedical Years 3

Part II: Applying to Medical School 3

Part III: Osteopathic Medical Schools, Dual-Degree Programs, and More 4

Part IV: Nontraditional Applicants, Reapplicants, and Disadvantaged Applicants 5

Part V: You’re In! Getting Ready to Go 5

Part VI: The Part of Tens 5

Icons Used in This Book 6

Where to Go from Here 6

Part I: Planning the Premedical Years 9

Chapter 1: Turning Your Dream of Going to Medical School into a Reality 11

So You Want to Be a Doctor: Thinking about Medicine as a Career 11

Mapping Out College and Participating in Extracurricular Activities 12

Assessing the Medical School Application Process 13

Looking at the timeline13

Taking the MCAT 14

Selecting schools 15

Submitting primary applications 15

Obtaining letters of recommendation 16

Completing secondary applications 16

Interviewing with schools 16

Hearing whether you’re in, out, or waitlisted 17

Considering All Your Options 17

Osteopathic medical schools 18

Dual-degree programs 18

International medical schools 19

Taking Care of Special Situations 19

Nontraditional applicants 20

Reapplicants 20

Minority and disadvantaged applicants and applicants with disabilities 21

Heading to Medical School 21

Confronting the cost 21

Getting off to a good start 22

Chapter 2: Considering a Medical Career 23

Understanding the Pros and Cons of Entering Medicine 23

Evaluating the rewards 24

Assessing the drawbacks and sacrifices 25

Becoming a Physician in a Few Not-So-Easy Steps 25

Starting out: The premedical years 26

Moving closer to your goal: Medical school 26

Preparing to practice medicine: Residency 27

Deciding to go further: Fellowship 28

Finishing at last: Becoming an attending physician 28

Becoming Licensed to Practice Medicine 29

Surveying Practice Types 29

Private solo and group practices 30

Community clinics 30

Academic institutions 30

Practicing as a hospitalist and other options 31

Assessing Your Chances of Acceptance to Medical School 31

Playing the numbers game: Medical school applicants

versus seats in medical schools 32

Gauging grades and test scores: GPA and the MCAT 33

Looking beyond the numbers 34

Deciding Whether Medicine is Right for You 35

Chapter 3: Mapping Out Your College Years 37

Understanding the Role of the Premedical Years 37

Building a foundation for medical school 38

Exploring your interests 38

Choosing an Undergraduate School 39

Recognizing that where you go matters 39

Comparing major research institutions and small liberal arts colleges 40

Finding a school with strong support for premeds 41

Looking at location 42

Selecting a Major 42

Going the traditional route: Science majors 43

Taking a different path: Nonscience majors 43

Planning Your Premedical Course Work 44

The essentials: Familiarizing yourself with the prerequisites for medical school 45

Reading the fi ne print: Policies about AP credit and community college courses 45

Going above and beyond: Courses that are recommended but not required 46

Studying Abroad 47

Perusing Premedical Post-Baccalaureate Programs 48

Considering formal post-bac programs 49

Taking post-bac courses independently 50

Chapter 4: Making the Most of Extracurricular Activities 51

Understanding the Role of Extracurricular Activities in Admissions 51

Demonstrating familiarity with the medical field 52

Showing that you have a life outside the library 53

Gaining Clinical Experience 53

Volunteering in clinical settings 54

Shadowing physicians 55

Doing international medical missions 56

Delving into Research 57

Deciding whether to do research 57

Doing basic or clinical research.58

Setting up a research experience 59

Giving Back: Taking Part in Community Service 60

Joining Clubs and Organizations 60

Being part of a premedical club 61

Exploring other clubs and interest groups 61

Having Paid Employment as a Premedical Student 62

Fitting It All In 62

Prioritizing and organizing 63

Balancing depth with breadth 64

Part II: Applying to Medical School 65

Chapter 5: Surveying the Application Process 67

Getting Familiar with the Three Major Steps of the Admissions Process 68

First up: The primary application 68

Next in line: The secondary application 69

Time to talk: The interview 69

Timing Your Application 70

Entering medical school immediately after college 70

Taking a gap year 71

Understanding Rolling Admissions 72

Being Conscious of the Application Timeline 73

Junior year of college 75

Senior year of college 78

Considering Early Decision Programs 80

Getting Help from a Premedical Advisor 81

Using your premedical advising office effectively 82

Finding a premedical advisor if your school doesn’t have one 83

Chapter 6: Tackling the MCAT 85

Beginning with a Few MCAT Basics 86

Registering for the test 86

Getting an overview of the test’s length and structure 87

Interpreting your test score 87

Understanding the Importance of the MCAT in Admissions 88

Recognizing why schools stress the MCAT in admissions 88

Discovering how schools use the MCAT in admissions 89

Checking Out What’s on the MCAT 90

Physical Sciences 90

Verbal Reasoning 91

Biological Sciences 92

Trial section 92

Preparing for the MCAT 92

Examining specific prep approaches 93

Choosing study materials 96

Making a study schedule 97

Preparing for the science sections 98

Mastering the Verbal Reasoning section 99

Perfecting your timing 100

Surviving Test Day 101

Walking through the testing experience 101

Dealing with test-day anxiety 102

Considering the option of voiding your exam 103

Retaking the MCAT 104

Deciding whether you should retake the test 105

Timing your next try 106

Preparing the second time around 107

Applying to Medical School Before You Receive Your MCAT Score 107

Waiting for your scores before you send your application 108

Sending your application to your entire list before you have your score 108

Applying to a few schools without your scores and then adding more 109

Looking to 2015: Major Changes Are Coming to the MCAT 110

Familiarizing yourself with the changes 110

Gearing up for the new test 112

Chapter 7: Choosing Medical Schools 113

Researching Schools 113

Using school websites, admissions offices, and other resources 114

Considering a few factors 115

Determining How Many Schools to Include on Your List 121

When to include fewer than 15 schools 121

When to include more than 15 schools 122

Creating a Balanced List: A Mix of Dreams and Practicality 123

Chapter 8: Putting Together Primary Applications 125

Beginning with the Basics of Primary Applications 126

Sorting out application services 126

Breaking down the primary application 127

Timing your applications 128

Planning your strategy 130

Crafting a Strong Personal Statement 131

Being aware of length limits 131

Using the personal statement effectively 132

Tackling the personal statement step by step 133

Sifting through Personal Statement Examples 140

Example 1: Taking an artistic approach 140

Analyzing why Example 1 works 142

Example 2: Showcasing an adventurous applicant 143

Assessing the intriguing elements of Example 2 144

Example 3: Seeing what not to write 145

Dissecting what went wrong in Example 3 147

Completing the Work and Activities Section 147

Choosing activities and deciding which are most meaningful 148

Writing the descriptions 149

Entering Course Work and Understanding GPAs 151

Wading through course work information 152

Getting a handle on GPA calculations 152

Chapter 9: Looking at Letters of Recommendation and Secondary Applications 155

Using a Premedical Committee Letter versus Seeking Individual Letters 156

In a group: Premedical committee letters 156

Singled out: Individual letters 158

Choosing Evaluators and Requesting Letters 159

The key to great letters: Getting to know your potential evaluators 160

It’s time: Deciding when to ask for letters 161

Step by step: Approaching a potential evaluator 162

In all honesty: Handling a less-than-enthusiastic response 164

Discovering the Characteristics of Strong Letters of Recommendation 164

Submitting Your Letters of Recommendation 167

Sending letters to application services 167

Coordinating your letters through your premedical advisor or a letter service 168

Waiving your right to see your letters 169

Grasping the Basics of Secondary Applications 170

Knowing what to expect from secondaries 170

Surveying the screening process 171

Perusing common secondary prompts 171

Knowing that timing is everything 173

Managing secondaries 174

Chapter 10: Acing the Medical School Interview 177

Looking at the Interview’s Role in the Admissions Process 178

Becoming Acquainted with Interview Formats 179

One-on-one and panel interviews 180

Open fi le, closed fi le, and semi-closed fi le interviews 180

The multiple mini-interview 181

Examining the Elements of a Strong Interview 184

Getting Ready for a Traditional Interview 185

Taking a few basic steps 185

Tackling common interview questions 186

Crafting your responses 187

Doing a mock interview 190

Going a Little Further to Prepare for an MMI 191

Taking a few additional steps 192

Checking out examples of MMI stations 193

Dealing with Logistics 194

Scheduling your interview 194

Getting there 195

Staying in a hotel or with a student host 195

Choosing Your Interview Attire 196

Men’s attire 197

Women’s attire 197

Walking Through a Typical Interview Day Schedule 198

Attending orientation 199

Touring the campus 199

Taking time for lunch 200

Undertaking interviews (finally!) 200

Sending Thank-You Letters 201

Deciding who should get a letter 202

Debating how to deliver the message 202

Compiling a letter 203

Chapter 11: Hearing Back 207

You Did It! Celebrating Acceptances 207

Managing multiple acceptances 208

Going on second look visits 209

Choosing a school 209

Oh No! Suffering Rejections 210

Noting common reasons for rejection 210

Taking the next steps 211

What Now? Working Your Way off Waitlists 212

Distinguishing types of waitlists 212

Knowing what to do if you’re waitlisted 213

Part III: Osteopathic Medical Schools, Dual-Degree Programs, and More 217

Chapter 12: Applying to Osteopathic (DO) Medical Schools 219

Understanding What Being an Osteopathic Physician Means 220

Perusing the principles and philosophy of osteopathic medicine 220

Comparing and contrasting allopathic and osteopathic medical educations 221

Exploring osteopathic medicine 221

Getting a license as an osteopathic physician and matching into a residency 222

Making the Decision to Apply to DO Schools 224

Determining whether osteopathic medicine is right for you 224

Becoming a strong DO applicant 225

Undertaking Applications for Osteopathic Medical Schools 226

Getting an overview of the AACOMAS application 227

Creating a compelling personal statement for DO schools 228

Completing the work, volunteer, and extracurricular activities sections 231

Mastering the interview at osteopathic schools 231

Chapter 13: Exploring Dual-Degree Programs 233

Considering a Baccalaureate-MD Program 234

Examining the mechanics of a bacc-MD program 234

Recognizing the advantages 235

Determining the drawbacks 236

Applying to Baccalaureate-MD Programs 237

Discovering how to be a strong contender for bacc-MD programs 237

Surveying the bacc-MD application process 238

Handling supplemental essay questions 239

Interviewing for bacc-MD programs 239

Getting to Know MD-PhD Programs 240

Describing MD-PhD programs 241

Carefully considering MD-PhD programs 242

Navigating the MD-PhD Admissions Process 243

Figuring out whether you’re a competitive MD-PhD applicant244

Going through the application process for MD-PhD programs 244

Gearing up for additional application essays 245

Interviewing for MD-PhD programs 246

Eyeing Other Types of Dual-Degree Programs 248

Chapter 14: Investigating International Medical Schools 249

Considering Reasons to Apply Internationally 250

Selecting International Schools 251

Researching international schools 251

Asking the right questions 253

Contemplating Caribbean Medical Schools 253

Courting Canadian Medical Schools 255

Mulling Medical Schools in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Australia 256

Noting Financial Considerations for International Medical Students 257

Tackling Licensure Guidelines and Residency Training for IMGs 258

Understanding licensure challenges for IMGs 258

Landing a residency 259

Part IV: Nontraditional Applicants, Reapplicants, and Disadvantaged Applicants 261

Chapter 15: Doing Things Differently: Nontraditional Applicants. 263

Getting an Overview of Nontraditional Applicants 263

Completing or Updating Premedical Course Work 265

Doing the prerequisite course work required for medical school 265

Updating your academic experiences 266

Undertaking the Application Process 267

Telling your story in the personal statement 267

Using the work and activities section effectively 268

Lining up letters of recommendation 269

Looking at interview tips for the nontraditional applicant 270

Considering Challenges Facing Nontraditional Applicants 271

Returning to school 271

Facing stereotypes 272

Lacking a peer group as a medical student 273

Balancing family life with medical school 274

Chapter 16: Try, Try Again: Reapplicants 275

Timing Your Next Application 275

Reapplying immediately 276

Waiting a year or more 277

Improving the Numbers: Applicants with Low GPAs 277

Considering post-baccalaureate programs with undergraduate-level course work 279

Surveying special master’s programs 279

Taking classes independently 280

Taking Action When the MCAT is the Issue 281

Facing the problem 281

Retaking the MCAT 282

Adding to Your Clinical, Research, and Other Experiences 282

Revisiting Your School Options 283

Applying to a broader range of schools 284

Considering osteopathic or international schools 284

Revising Your Personal Statement 285

Updating Your Letters of Recommendation 286

Chapter 17: Minority Applicants, Disadvantaged Applicants, and Applicants with Disabilities 287

Defining Underrepresented Minorities in Medicine 288

Designating Yourself as Socioeconomically Disadvantaged 288

Surveying Resources for Minority and Disadvantaged Applicants 290

Examining enrichment programs 291

Finding financial resources 292

Applying with a Disability 293

Obtaining accommodations for the MCAT 293

Disclosing a disability 294

Part V: You’re In! Getting Ready to Go 295

Chapter 18: Paying for Medical School 297

Confronting the Cost of Medical School 297

Understanding the cost of attendance 298

Putting together a budget 299

Determining your eligibility for aid 301

Exploring Types of Aid 302

Institutional aid 303

Federal Direct Loans303

Other federal loans 305

Private loans 305

Service-based scholarships 306

Applying for Financial Aid 307

Working during Medical School 308

Chapter 19: Starting Medical School 309

Enjoying the Summer Before: A Time of Relaxation and Preparation 309

Nailing Down Logistics and More 311

Housing 311

Transportation 312

Other considerations 313

Getting Off to a Good Start 314

Staying organized 314

Building a support system 315

Redefining Success as You Progress through Medical School 317

Part VI: The Part of Tens 319

Chapter 20: Ten Things to Know about Medical School 321

Your School Wants You to Succeed 321

It’s Difficult 322

It’s Fun 322

You Start at the Bottom of the Hierarchy 323

Eat and Sleep When You Can 324

Nurses Can Make Your Life Easier — or Harder 324

You Change Your Mind about Your Specialty Many Times 325

Sometimes You Wonder Why You Went 325

You Can Be a Medical Student and Still Have a Life 326

It Goes By Quickly 326

Chapter 21: Ten Terms You Won’t Find in Your Medical School Textbooks 327

Zebra 327

Gunner 328

Scut 328

Hit 328

GI Rounds 329

White Cloud 329

Black Cloud 329

404 Error 329

Benign Rotation 330

Malignant Rotation 330

Index 331