This pre-professional degree at USAO features a designated advisor who receives the entrance requirements of medical colleges and who helps students plan their degree program for each semester, regardless of what major they may choose.
While entrance requirements at medical schools can be different, USAO’s pre-med program gives students a firm grounding in the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success.
Pre-medicine students can start their program before selecting a medical college. Although the student may choose any program of study for a major, most choose either biology or chemistry because these provide the best preparation for the Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT).
Why Choose Pre-Medicine at USAO?
- Work with a dedicated advisor to plan your degree.
- Learn from diverse and dynamic instructors who inspire you to succeed.
- Hands-on experience in a variety of laboratory settings.
- Be well-prepared for the Medical College Aptitude Test and medical school.
- Develop exceptional skills in research and analysis.
- Get real-world experience through internships, externships, and other opportunities.
- Develop exceptional skills in research and analysis.
- Pursue original research with opportunities to present and publish.
- Small classes: expect an atmosphere where your professors know your name.
Pre-Med Undergrad Considerations and Prep
Courtesy of USAO Pre-Med Student Abbie McNabb
Med Education Overview
Undergrad: 4 years generally
Med School: 4 years (2 years preclinical, 2 years clinical)
Residency: 3-5 years
Fellowship (optional): 1-3 years
Pre-med undergrad timeline (may vary)
- Year 1-3: Leadership, Shadowing, Clinical Experience, Build relationships for letters of recommendation
- Year 3: MCAT studying (6 months generally), MCAT, personal statement, organizing activities list
- Year 3 summer: Primary Application, Secondaries
- Year 4: Secondaries, Interviews, Admission decisions
Activities
Each category is a MUST but may vary by individual. Remember quality over quantity.
- Clinical experience
- Examples: CNA, EMT, Hospital Volunteer
- Shadowing (50+ hours)
- Leadership
- Multiple types highly recommended
- Examples: Volunteering, Research (REU, Mentored on campus, etc), Clubs, Jobs
- Admissions committees want to see lessons learned (patient care insight, teamwork, cultural awareness, etc)
- They will judge you and your experiences based off the 15 AAMC core comptencies
- Reflect on your activities and prepare anecdotes to match the competencies
- Admissions is holistic so this is as important as GPA and MCAT
Application
The primary application is done once on the AAMC (MD), ADCOMS (DO), or TMDSAS (Texas) platform and then sent to all desired schools
- Primary
- Transcripts
- Personal Statement
- Answer “Why MD/Do? Why not PhD, nurse, PA, CNA, etc?”
- Work and Activities
(15 total allowed)
- Dates, supervisor contacts, and descriptions
- Letters of Rec (professor and nonprofessor)
- MCAT score
- Schools that you’re applying for
- Secondary
- Short essay questions that vary by school
- Answer “Why this school? Why you?”
Tests
- MCAT
- Medical College Admissions Test
- 8 hours long and required by all medical schools
- 4 sections:
- physics and chemistry
(includes ochem) - Bio and biochem
- Psych and sociology
- Critical analysis and reasoning (“CARS”)
- physics and chemistry
- Resources
AAMC (writes the exam) study materials - Anki (free download flashcard service)
- AnKing deck,
- MilesDown deck
- UWorld (paid online
study program)
- CASPER or DUET
- Required by some med schools
- CASPER tests situational judgement with prompts and written answers
- DUET tests how good of a match you are (research priority, community focus, etc)
Costs and Fees
Applying to medical school is an expensive process. The MCAT is $345. A primary application to one school is $175 and each additional school is $46. If you are invited to complete a secondary application, some schools charge $50+ for that as well. The AAMC offers a Financial Assistance Program (FAP) that completely covers the cost of AAMC MCAT study materials, the MCAT, the AAMC Choose Your Medical School Tool (very helpful), 20 primary applications, and all secondaries.
Notes
The track to becoming a medical doctor is long, arduous, and expensive. The classes, applications, and all the hoops along the way are designed to weed out anyone who can’t make the cut or doesn’t want it as badly. That being said, however, it is important to start considering the “Why MD/DO? Why not teacher, artist, PhD, nurse, PA, etc?” questions now. There’s no shame in not having an answer now or in choosing another path along the way, but it is definitely a vital consideration. I wish you the best of luck on your journey!