DO I REALLY WANT TO BE A DOCTOR? Only you can decide if being a doctor is what you truly want to do. One way to explore your interest is to volunteer at a local hospital or dental office. Another way is to read information about professional schools and medicine/dentistry as a career. Be sure to join one of the campus prehealth organizations. The following paragraphs contain basic information to get you started in determining if medicine or dentistry is right for you. The average profile of a student accepted into medical school in 1997 is: - 3.6 (B+) GPA {This is the most important factor)
- 30 total score on the MCAT
- supportive letters of evaluation from professors (3 letters, at least 1 from a science professor)
- well-rounded interests and participation outside the classroom
- exposure to hospital environment or research experience can also be valuable
- good interviewing and communication skills
Admission to medical and dental school is extremely competitive. Schools will examine your grade point average for both science and non-science courses. These grades and MCAT scores tend to make the first cuts from the applicant pool, so it is important to develop good study habits in your first year. Once invited to interview, selection is based on overall characteristics including motivation, experience and communication skills. Dental schools are currently accepting students who average a 3.35 GPR and 18 on the academic section of the DAT and 17 on the perceptual ability. Back to Top The minimum entrance requirements for both medical and dental school are as follows, each of which must be completed with a grade of "C" or better: - 2 semesters of English
- 1 semester of Calculus
- 2 semesters of Introductory Biology with lab
- 2 semesters of upper-level Biology
- 2 semesters of Inorganic Chemistry with lab
- 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with lab
- One semester of biochemistry
- 2 semesters of Physics with lab
Some medical schools require additional courses in calculus, comparative morphology, and quantitative analysis; others do not accept AP credits for prerequisite course work. Always check with the medical schools in which you are interested before you begin your undergraduate program. Back to Top Over the years, rumors have oscillated between medical/dental schools wanting science majors and their preference for liberal arts majors. The truth is medical/dental schools have no preference for what your major is as long as you do well and meet the basic entrance requirements. We suggest that you choose a major that leads to what you would select as an alternative career for these reasons: you generally do best at what you enjoy the most; this is another way to determine whether medicine is the right choice; and an alternative career provides good insurance if you should happen to change direction or postpone entry. If your chosen major does not include the prerequisite courses in its curriculum, you must complete the above mentioned required courses either as science credit hours or elective credit hours. Since many higher level courses build upon each other, freshman biology and chemistry are good choices for your first year. Do not overload yourself. The MCAT is an all-day test that contains three sections, each graded on a 15-point scale, and two essays. Subjects tested are reading comprehension, biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, and physics. Dental students take the half-day DAT which covers reading comprehension, biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, quantitative reasoning and perceptual ability. There is no physics section on the DAT. Both the MCAT and the DAT are offered during the Fall and Spring. The latest you should plan to take these tests is in the spring of your Junior year of college, so that you can apply (and interview) early. **Never Take the MCAT or DAT for Practice Back to Top Of all those accepted to medical school, at least 98% will have attained a bachelors degree before they enter. The disadvantages of not staying four years and earning a bachelor's degree are that you miss out on the best parts of college (the social interactions and unrelated courses that provide depth and lifelong memories) and, again, you have no insurance should something go awry. It is rare that a student will have competitive enough grades, MCAT scores, extracurricular activities, and maturity to be admitted to medical school with only 90 credit hours and to dental school with only 60 credit hours. We strongly recommend that you take your time. Go slowly and strive for good grades and for becoming a well-rounded individual. If you need a challenge, check out the Honors course offerings or take advantage of the incredible range of extracurricular activities and research projects offered. Medical schools are much more impressed with this type of record. Both medical and dental schools require four years of study. The first two years are spent in concentrated learning of anatomy and basic sciences. The third and fourth years involve clinical rotations and patient care. Afterwards, depending on your specialization, you could be in residency an additional two to seven years. Take it one step at a time. Learn as much as you can about medicine, dentistry, and other health-related fields by reading, watching public-TV specials, and interviewing doctors and dentists. Volunteer weekends or apply to work next summer in a hospital or clinic. Develop your study habits and increase your reading efficiency. Be active in pre-health profession clubs. Finally, decide to make the commitment, then go for it! Back to Top
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Pre-Health Information and Links
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