Getting into Medical School: The Premedical Student's Guidebook

by Sanford J. Brown M.D.

Overview

Getting into medical school is difficult, even for students with excellent college undergraduate records. Today, only about one-third of all students who apply to medical college are accepted—a statistic that emphasizes the vital importance of well-focused preparation on the part of medical school candidates. Getting into Medical School, now in its new twelfth edition, has gained a well-earned reputation as a time-proven source of sound advice and information on how medical school candidates can improve their chances for admission.

Written by a medical doctor who is also an experienced student advisor, and updated to reflect today’s medical school environment, this book emphasizes the importance of attaining a good score on the standardized MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). It also guides applicants through the arduous process of preparing the medical school application and advises them on how to make a good impression when invited for that all-important personal interview. The book concludes with a detailed medical school directory that lists up-to-date tuitions and fees, academic requirements, and application and enrollment information for more than 170 accredited medical and osteopathic colleges across the United States. Also included is a list of Web sites that provide helpful information to medical school candidates.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438006901
Publisher:	Barrons Educational Services
Publication date:	01/01/2001
Edition description:	Twelfth Edition
Pages:	432
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction xi

1 Choosing a College, Choosing a Major 1

It's Not Where You Go to School or What You Study 1

The Myth of the Premedical Major 2

Getting A's in the Sciences 3

The Physician As a Scientist 4

Abraham Flexner and His Flexner Report 5

Emphasis on the Sciences 6

What Kind of Doctor Do You Want to Become? 7

Avoid the Extra Science Courses 9

2 The Premed Syndrome 11

The Premedical Mind 11

The Premedical Society and the Premedical Adviser 12

Does Your Adviser Attend the Meetings? 13

Get Acquainted…See What They Write About You 15

The Premedical Student 17

The Premedical Syndrome 19

Failure Is Always a Possibility 20

3 The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) 21

The Most Important Criterion 21

MCAT-a Means for Comparison 22

The Test 24

Registering for MCAT and Test Day 24

The New MCAT 25

How Is It Scored? 26

Preparing for the MCAT 27

Preparatory Courses 28

4 Applying to a Medical School-When, Where, and How 33

Where to Apply? 33

How Many Schools to Apply To? 34

When to Apply 36

How to Apply 37

Early Assurance Programs 40

Early Decision 40

Combined MD/PhD Programs 41

Cost of Applying 42

Meeting the Costs 43

Minority Students 46

Staying In Can Be Harder Than Getting In 48

Women 48

Special Interest Groups 50

What Makes You Different?: Well-rounded vs Lopsided 50

Recommendations 57

AMCAS Letter Service 61

The Interview 63

Sample Personal Statements 69

5 How Medical School Admissions Committees Evaluate Applicants 75

Can the Applicant Make It? 75

Determining the Motivation 77

6 Rejection and Your Alternatives 81

Rejection and Re application 81

Consider Reapplying 82

The Post-baccalaureate 89

Osteopathy 92

Attending an International Medical School 94

7 Amazing Success Stories 101

8 The Future of Medicine 123

Appendixes

Appendix I Mini Multiple Interview Questions 133

Appendix II Internet Advising: Sara's Story 149

Appendix III Summer Programs for the Premed and Taking a Gap Year 193

Appendix IV Director)' of American Medical Schools 214

Appendix V Director)' of U.S. Schools of Osteopathic Medicine 357

Appendix VI Survival Bibliography 395

Index to U.S. Medical Schools 407

Index to U.S. Osteopathic Schools 411