Preface
From Student Doctor Network WikiWelcome to the first step in becoming a doctor! No profession is more noble and time-honored than that of the physician. However, no program is also harder to get into. Applying to medical school is by far one of the most difficult, time-consuming, and expensive process among all graduate school admissions. This mini book will give you a jump on the competition. It details every step of the application cycle—and what you should do ahead of time to be prepared. Written entirely from personal experience, I can attest that the methods set forth in The Not So Short Introduction will make you stand out amongst your peers.
Unlike other books on applying to medical school, I pull no punches in stating that the admissions process is one of the most frustrating endeavors you will ever undertake. As you will see, medical schools put more weight on things that do not really demonstrate a person’s aptitude for medicine. If you don’t believe me, just wait until you start to apply.
In writing this book, I strove to make it a practical guide for applicants who are lost in the admissions process. I hope that I clearly outlined the steps you need to take to become the best applicant, what to write on your personal statement, how to prepare for an interview, and even how to pay for that expensive medical education. Almost all of the outside resources mentioned are freely available on the Internet. Only Appendix A lists online services that cost money.
Some people who read the Introduction will say that I’m a cynic—that I’ve become so jaded with the admissions process that I try to reduce the whole system into a neat formula. I would say that those critics are correct. However, the fault belongs entirely to the admissions committees themselves. They are the ones who stipulate that handing out lollipops to veterans once a week and calling it “volunteering in a medical establishment” makes a better physician than spending one’s undergraduate years pursuing extracurriculars that are not directly related to medical activities. If you think that there is a trivial difference between the multitude of possible extracurriculars that one can pursue in college, think again. What you do during those four years is the biggest determining factor as to whether or not you will get accepted to medical school.
Assumptions
I assume that the majority of people who read this book are high school or traditional college students. While any pre-med can follow the advice given in this manual, please remember that the advice contained within it was written based on my own experiences—I went from college straight to graduate school and then applied to med school during the last year of my master’s program.
Second, the advice given in this book is meant for people who are applying to allopathic (M.D.-granting) universities.
While I’m sure that much of the material covered in the Introduction can be applied to Osteopathic (D.O.-granting) schools, I am only familiar with the allopathic system. I have included any differences between the application processes that I can think of.
Osteopathic medicine is covered in more depth in the SDN Osteopathic Medicine Wiki.
Here are the chapter summaries:
Chapter 1: What do US med schools want and how can I give it to them?
... tells you everything you need to know to become the Applicant of the Year. This chapter gives an overview of what medical schools are looking for, and just how you can give them what they want. You will get an introduction to memorization, speed reading, talking to professors, and joining the Big Three extracurriculars. With a background in the essentials, you’ll be able to tackle even the most intimidating admissions committees.
Chapter 2: How do I decide where to apply?
... gives you the game plan for applying to the right school that matches your status. It introduces you to the Competitive Score and also explains how to find information about possible universities.
Chapter 3: The Application Process
... explains the application process in gory detail: from filling out the primary application to interviewing. This chapter gives pointers on writing the personal statement, taking pictures for the secondary, and traveling to your interview location.
Chapter 4: What happens after I've sent my applications?
... deals with the aftermath of the application: what you should do if you are accepted, waitlisted or rejected. This chapter gives an overview of what your responsibilities are whether you receive a thin or thick envelope.
Chapter 5: I'm accepted! How do I pay for this?
... provides a closing to the book by giving you information on paying for school. Before you can make lots of money as a physician, you will have to go into immense amounts of debt to finance your education. This final chapter shows you the steps to taking out a loan, getting a scholarship, or going the public service route.
Chapter 6: Helpful info for Non-traditional applicants
... was compiled by a guest author to address some of the concerns commonly expressed by nontraditional applicants and students.
The first time you read this guide you should go through the chapters in the order that they are presented. Later, this book can be used as a reference as you continue your pre-med journey. If you should ever need help, visit the forums on The Student Doctor Network at http://www.studentdoctor.net and post a message. You will find that the users of SDN are very helpful.
If you have any suggestions regarding material that should be added or modified, feel free to write me. I would especially appreciate comments from current medical students to see if their experiences were similar to mine. Also, I am interested in feedback from college freshmen about which bits of this manual need to be expanded. Since this book is released under the Creative Commons License, feel free to write your own chapters or sections. I will welcome contributions from guest authors.
Ryan Aycock raycock@med.miami.edu (copyright 2005-2006 - July 8, 2006)
