Ask the Doctor

If you have any questions related to being a premed or what it takes to get into medical school, this is the place to be.

Don't be shy or hold anything back, you have to remember it's your future that is on the line. From my time as president of the premed society at Northwestern University I have answered a lot of questions and I can definitely share my responses. But to get things started here's some topics you might be considering:

• Pros and cons of summer school
• Postponing or retaking the MCAT
• Writing for personal statement and secondaries
• What are good upper-level science courses

This forum will be what you make it, but I am more than willing to answer any and all questions you may have. Remember, the goal is to get admitted to medical school and this begins with leaving no question unanswered.

Is DoctorPremed a university or institution of higher learning?

No. DoctorPremed is an educational website to help you understand what it means to be a premedical student and have success in the medical school admissions process.

This is not a college/university so there are no courses or registration requirements.

Do I need to major in the sciences?

No. You can major in whatever you want. The only criteria is that you meet all of the requirements for medical school. But in whatever your course of study the goal remains the same: do well and excell academically. One beneficial aspect about having a non-science major such as mine in political science, is there is less chance for burnout because you can always switch to a different topic when studying.

Overall, major in what you find fascinating, interesting, and truly enjoy. You'll do better, look forward to your classes, and learn a lot more. And as one physician states, at any rate you'll have the rest of your life to devote to science.

Should I retake the MCAT?

The MCAT is a test which you want to take once and only once. If you go into the exam thinking you can retake it if you score badly, this can be very detrimental to your medical future. While some schools may only consider your most recent score, all scores will be present on the score report. If your test date is approaching and you do not feel comfortable with your level of preparation, it is much better to postpone the exam. I did this myself and don't regret it at all, I actually had a very high score.

But if you should become ill during the exam or have some significant factor which would explain the necessity of retaking the MCAT then go ahead and plan on another go at the MCAT. On the otherhand, if you did poorly you will need to assess what went wrong and make corrections before retaking the MCAT. Speak with a trusted advisor(s) who knows your situation and they can give you specific advice.

How many letters of recommendation?

You will need at a minimum three letters of recommendation. At least two should come from individuals who have instructed you in the sciences. It is a very good idea to get a letter from an instructor in your major course of study.

After these letters of recommendation, you may think about getting a letter from someone who you've done research, volunteered, clinical experience, or any significant extracurricular activity. Also, it does not hurt to have a physician write on your behalf.

Most institutions which use committee/composite letters have a maximum number of recommenders which you can submit and it is upto you to know this value, otherwise they'll take the letters in the order they were received which could put you at a disadvantage. It is essential that you ask your recommender to write a Strong letter otherwise it will not help your candidacy for medical school!

What do I put in my personal statement?

The personal statement is your chance to "sell" yourself to the medical schools and show you are more than just numbers and a listing of activities. When writing you want the admission officer to want to meet you in person i.e. get to the interview.

When writing two questions must be answered: why medicine and why you. Medical schools want to know why you want to become a physician and what makes you uniquely qualified for them to invest into your medical training. It is a juggling act, you need to stand out against everyone else, but you can't be over the top either.

Take your time in writing, write multiple drafts, have several people read and most importantly this is not the place to write about things which can already be found in other parts of your application (no biographies or resumes in prose).

Have a Question You Want Answered?

Ask your question and I'll be sure to give you a response.

Enter Your Title

Ask Your Question! [ ? ]

Close Help Entering your questionis easy to do. Just type!... Your question will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(ex. City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

What Other Visitors Have Asked

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...