College Students
do you have a pre-med advisor?
If you are currently in college the most important part of applying to medical school is to be acquainted with your pre-medical or pre-health advisor. You should begin reaching out to your advisor as soon as possible. Be sure to look up information prior to reaching out and be well acquainted with resources your school has already provided. If you have any questions or even if you feel comfortable with the information, send an introduction email to your advisor.
If you are a third or fourth year college student and have not met a pre-health advisor or college counselor, please schedule a meeting with them as soon as possible. If your school does not have pre-health advising, please see the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP) page. They will direct you to your school's advisor if you already have one.
special considerations
This cohort of medical school applicants may be eligible and could consider the following options for medical school admissions or additional experience before applying:
selecting a major | prerequisites
Traditionally students believed a major in a STEM field was necessary to apply to medical school. This is not the case. Students can apply to most American medical schools with any undergraduate degree or field of study as long as pre-requisites have been completed as outlined by the medical school to which students are applying.
Overall, your goal when selecting a major should be to pick something that you are passionate about. It's valuable to know some medical schools do ask, "why did you major in ____?"
The AAMC has curated several lists with pre-requisite coursework per school. Please see the links below.
gpa | academic achievement
It is important to maintain a competitive GPA, but grades will not derail a dream career in medicine. Classes should be prioritized over everything else (clinical experience, shadowing, research, activities, work). Due to life and financial situations, students do not always have the privilege to prioritize school, but high marks should always be the goal when possible.
Students who struggle academically should make an effort to attend office hours, seek out professors, ask peers for help, and most importantly seek out their Academic Resource Center or resources offered at their institution.
A few notes of wisdom for consideration:
Do not take more than two science courses/labs per semester.
Space out general education requirements .
Use "rate my professor" or course evaluations from the school to select professors.
Many institutions allow internships or experiences to count for elective credit.
Use sites like Chegg, or Grammarly to help you complete and understand assignments.
Use technology that takes note for you and creates course outlines.
Take courses at community college if it will help financially.
When possible take a lighter course load. Do not overload on courses.
when to seek help
Students struggling with academics, personal health, finances, or family situations should seek out help immediately. Students are most likely to encounter or discuss problems with faculty or staff, such as professors. Unfortunately, these are not the individuals we should speak with or who can provide assitance. Often, they may not even be aware of resources offered by the university.
Students struggling in any way should consider the following resources:
Dean of Students
Academic Resource Center
Financial Aid Office
College Counselor
Counseling, Health or Wellness Center
Title IX Office
Crisis Hotline: 988 - 988lifeline.org
when academics are impacted
Each situation is different, but students may have options to take courses for incomplete and finish them later for credit, take time off or an academic leave for medical reasons, and access their entire academic record and challenge their grades under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).