Medical School Admissions Requirements

Medical school admissions requirements are at the center of getting into medical school with each institution requiring you to complete four courses in the basic sciences along with their associated labs. Here are the four courses that can make or break your chances of getting into medical school. These courses are listed in the order in which most premeds will complete them:

• 1 year of general chemistry with associated lab
• 1 year of biology with associated lab
• 1 year of physics with associated lab
• 1 year of organic chemistry with associated lab

To excel in meeting medical school admissions requirements if you happen to get a C in a required course you will need to retake the class for two reasons. College grades of a C will pull down your GPA which is one of the key factors in making a medical college admission decision.

Secondly, some medical school admissions committees will reject your application if you have a grade of C- in a course required for medical school entry because some schools consider this to be equal to a F depending on the grading system used. Medical school admissions requirements make it tough to get admitted, so don't risk your chances by having a bad grade in a required course for medical school. Take the time to correct the problem before you apply to medical school.

Suggested Courses

Once the four requirements for medical school have been satisfied it is important to carefully consider which medical schools you will be applying to. Some schools require additional coursework in areas such as:

• Biochemistry
• English
• Humanities
• Mathematics

The best piece of advice I can offer is to use the Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR) book which is published every two years by the AAMC. This book will become your official resource for the medical school admissions requirements.

Biochemistry: is the study of chemical processes in living organisms. It shows how the collections of inanimate molecules (protein, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acides, and other biomolecules) that constitute living organisms interact to maintain and perpetuate life solely by the physical and chemical laws that govern the nonliving universe.

I highly recommend taking biochemistry and an anesthesiologist made the decision very easy for me when he stated, "It never hurts to see the same material twice, besides once in medical school the course will be very unforgiving, so you might as well see it beforehand".

To be honest, I think a medical school applicant would be putting himself at a disadvantage if you don't take the course before medical school because many of your peers will have already taken this class.

Lastly, after speaking with numerous sources there is going to be a time when medical schools will almost expect that you have already been exposed to biochemistry and they will lecture on the subject as if you had seen the material before, thus if you can take biochemistry: the benefits far outweigh the costs.

English: This course is self-explanatory and does not require a definition. You take this course because medicine involves communication (writing prescriptions, treatment plans, etc). Many schools only suggest this course because you will have gained writing skills simply by being in college. There is no need to be stressed over English coursework, but remember one section of the MCAT is the writing samples.

Humanities: covers ancient and modern languages, literature, history, philosophy, religion, and visual and performing arts. Exposure to the humanities brings diversity to medicine which ultimately deals with patients (people) and having a broad perspective will make you a better doctor.

I was a political science major while in college because I enjoy the subject matter. So never choose a college major based on whether you think it will get you into medical school, instead choose a major you like and find worthy to pursue.

Mathematics: In the words of my high school teacher, "math is the language of science."As you should already know, math plays a significant role in science and medical schools want students who have the ability to solve complex problems. So now more and more schools are requiring that you not only have some statistics but in some cases a full year of calculus.

If you are unsure or have the option to take more advanced math courses in algebra, statistics or calculus I would urge you to take those classes, it will only make you a more competitive applicant. The medical school admissions requirements vary from institution to institution so please consult the MSAR.

Ease your courseload with summer school.

Advice for applying to medical school.

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