CHEMISTRY

So you want to be a doctor?

Page by: Amber N. Cullum, MSSU graduate accepted to Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Last Updated March 27, 2006.

The Cost of Becoming a Physician

Alternatives to Medical School

Undergraduate Course Choices

What do Medical Schools Look For?

Which Medical Schools Are Right For Me?

What’s up with the MCAT?

How do I apply?

Essays, Essays and More Essays!

 How to Prepare for an Interview

Accepted, What Now?

   References  

The Cost of Becoming a Physician and the Reward!

      Becoming a physician is a difficult task and takes many sacrifices. Doctors are no longer making the same amount as they have historically and medical school is an extremely large investment with many students leaving with debt between $100-350,000 with the median debt being $115,000 according to the American Association of Medical Colleges. Follow this link: Stop The Raid on Student Aid to read an article about medical student indebtedness and actions students can take to help make changes in this trend.  According to the article, Medical School Tuition and Young Physician Indebtedness, on average >80% of students leave with debt. The monthly payment to repay this can vary between $500 to greater than $2000 a month.

      Not only is it a big investment financially, but also in time. Medical school lasts for four years, two typically spent in classroom lecture and two spent as clinical education in hospitals working under a preceptor. After passing two board exams, the student is then a physician. Their education is not over yet. They then participate in a residency, internship and/or fellowship. This part of their education can be highly competitive and lasts between 3 to 7 years depending on the desired specialty.  There is also the sacrifice your family must make. Most medical schools state that for a successful marriage during medical school, the spouse of a student must be equally if not more committed to completing school. Often medical school can be challenging for a spouse because they also sacrifice greatly but do not always have the support that a student receives. Many schools offer clubs and activities for spouses so that they also have a social network and support group.

      Even once all of your education is complete, a physician still sacrifices time, money, and psychosocially. Being a physician is not the best career for everyone. Even those who can get through the training don’t necessarily will want to. Before making a decision to become a physician, know your priorities in life and pick a career in which you will be most happy in. Don’t let other people’s expectations or thoughts designate which path you take. Spend a lot of time shadowing physicians and working in a hospital so you may make an informed decision.

      Medicine is also constantly changing. The rules and autonomy of being a physician has changed significantly just in the past few years. Many physicians face frustration battling with insurance companies over how they treat patients. Many schools are encouraging their students to get dual degrees in medicine and administration so that doctors can take back the control from the insurance companies. There is also the constant issue of malpractice suits. While this is a great and highly important safeguard for the American people, it also opens the door for frivolous lawsuits and causes conflict for doctors and hospitals having to pay the high cost of malpractice insurance. There is also the battle of compensation from government aid such as Medicaid and medicare to insurance companies and also the need to supply care to patients who are uninsured. These offer an example of a few of many issues doctors must continually face over the coming years. Many of these issues can be found discussed at the American Medical Association website.

      However, if you do decide to be a physician the field can be extremely rewarding. The AMCAS “Careers in Medicine” website lists the best reasons to be a physician as the following: it gives you an opportunity to serve, gives you respect, action, security, excitement, mobility and flexibility. It also states that the average salary of a physician is $160,000 a year. Despite all of the challenges of becoming and practicing as a physician, many physicians are very satisfied with their choice in careers. Even though the investment is large it is still considered a more profitable investment than if one were to invest the same amount of money and time into the stock market.

Alternatives to Medical School

      There are many alternate health related fields that are competitively profitable monetarily and as rewarding emotionally as being a physician. Make sure to research them and find what is right for you. Different fields such as Physician’s Assistant, CRNA (certified registered nurse anesthetist), Nurse Practitioner, and Anesthesiology Assistant, provide rewarding careers, similar pay, and less schooling than medical school and also do not have the long residencies required. Most are two year programs that put you directly into the work force with little debt and immediate reimbursement. They are well respected and provide autonomy without the need for malpractice insurance. These are exciting new fields that are becoming increasingly popular and in demand. Other fields that one should consider that are similar to medical school but often do not have as long of a residency requirement are Optometry, Podiatry, Dentistry, Veterinary, and Pharmacy. These are very similar to medical school and many of these programs are highly competitive and very intensive but they may give another option for many students who fear the long time required of a residency.

      Other types of healthcare careers are available such as massage, chiropractic, and naturopath.

What Classes Should I take?

      If you are starting your undergraduate school, there are many things to consider regarding how and when you take your classes. Make sure to speak to your advisor about your decision but also talk to professors in the Biology, Chemistry, and Physics departments. Research the medical schools you may want to apply at and learn their prerequisites. Medical schools require classes heavy in both sciences and the MCAT also tests heavily in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Many of these classes have to be taken in order and can be a big cause for delays in graduation and entry into medical school. So BE AWARE of what is required of you and how often those classes are offered. It is not necessary to have a specific degree to be accepted into medical school but the prerequisites must be completed and favor is often given to science degrees. Follow this link to see the AMCAS Application and Admission Timeline. This website gives advice for each stage of your undergraduate years.

      The good news is that even if you are unsure about a career in medicine, many of the classes required are also required in numerous other graduate programs. It is always good to have back up plans, especially in such a competitive program. Never limit yourself to only one option. Even the most promising applicants can end up not getting into a single school or may find themselves realizing the “school of their dreams” isn’t actually where they want to be. Spend time researching different career options and schools and choose more than one option, find out the requirements for each. Many will be similar so you should be able to find a path that leaves you open to them.

What Do Medical Schools Look For?

      Go to the AMCAS website “Making the Decision” to read about deciding on medical school.  One of the best ways to prepare for getting into medical school is to know what will be required of you when applying. Be realistic when setting your goals. It is true that medical school is highly competitive. If you struggle to pass upper level classes then expect to have troubles getting into and succeeding at medical school. However, just because you struggle in a few classes, it does not mean that you won’t get in or won’t succeed. Realize that your GPA does count as far as getting you an interview when applying, but it does not mean everything! Medical schools look at many things including GPA, MCAT scores, medical experience, extra curricular activities, personal maturity and letters of recommendations when choosing candidates. A few bad grades won’t matter as long as you know how to study, have the aptitude to learn the large amount of material in medical school in a short time and have the desire and emotional maturity to be a physician. Many students remark about how they learned in one week of medical school what took them a whole semester in undergraduate. But with a solid undergraduate education it will also be a lot of review and building on knowledge you are already familiar with. That is also why it is good to know what classes are important to take during undergraduate school even if they are not required. Classes often overlooked include histology, cell biology, anatomy (with dissection) and biochemistry.

      Most schools have a GPA and MCAT cut off for applicants. These range from a minimum GPA of around 3.0 overall and 2.7-3.0 Science GPA. In order to be a competitive applicant one should strive for a solid GPA in both categories. MCAT cut off varies for each school. Most have a cutoff at 20 or 21 but at many schools a 24 or greater is required in order to be competitive. Considering your competitiveness as an applicant is important when deciding which schools to apply to. Remember to always apply as early as possible even if you plan to retake the MCAT. Typically, D.O. schools will accept applicants with lower scores because they tend to look at the entire strength of an applicant. They are known for taking a well rounded applicant with lower scores over an un-experienced or under informed applicant with high MCAT scores. If your score is lower but the rest of your application such as your GPA, Letters of Recommendation, and extra curricular or work experience is strong then you will be more likely to get an interview. The MSAR provides details for what each school requires of their applicants but is a book that must be purchased. Most school websites will post their average scores of previous years.

      Follow these links to learn about which medical schools are right for you.

·        AAMC Member Schools List and websites for all AAMC member schools in US and Canada.

·        AACOM Osteopathic Medical Schools. List and websites for all AACOM member schools in the US.

·        Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service

·        IMED from the ECFMG, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

·        US News & World Report Official Medical School info 2004

·        Medical School Search provides info and websites for schools.

      As a pre-medical student it is important to do well in all of your undergraduate coursework especially the upper level science classes. Medical school admissions will look at what grades you made in Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Genetics, Physics, and any other upper level biology classes such as Anatomy, Histology, or Cell Biology.

      Volunteer, spend time at the hospital, do internships, shadow physicians, study abroad, go on medical mission trips, become active in school groups and activities, get a part time job at the hospital or in a doctor’s office. These all fall under EC’s (extra curricular activities) and are important to show 1) you understand what will be expected of you as a physician, 2) that you have the desire to help others, 3) that you are well rounded and have the maturity to be a leader. These also make it easy to get Letters of Recommendation, which are required by all medical schools.

What are the M.D., D.O., and B.A./M.D degrees?

Which School is Right for Me?

      If you are a high school student there are two main options for you: 1) either go to undergraduate school and receive a bachelor degree or 2) go to an accelerated program. There are BS/MD programs such as UMKC’s 6 Year B.A.M.D program, in the US that take high school students straight from graduation into a six year Bachelor of Science or Arts and Medical Doctor (BA/MD or BS/MD) program. This is an accelerated program combining undergraduate studies and a medical degree (M.D.). The pros are quicker entry into the job market and bypassing an undergraduate institution. The cons are lack of experience and maturity that going the long way provides and a high level of burn out. Very few students know what they want to do with their entire life at such a young age. Many students change their mind about what career to enter during their undergraduate years. Making an extremely expensive long-term commitment very early in this process can be difficult and the large amount of work can cause extensive burn-out.

      You may have heard of two different kinds of medical degrees. The most common is the M.D., Doctor of Medicine. This degree was the first physician degree. There is also the D.O. degree, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. These two degrees are very similar in many ways and as time goes on the differences decrease more and more. Both programs are highly competitive and have comparable licensure testing. Both prepare the student to work as a physician with 2 years of classes and 2 years of clinical training along with applicable residency training.

      M.D. doctors traditionally were taught to treat the disease and not to get personal with the patient. While it depended wholly on the specific physician’s personality, many of these physicians were said to lack “bedside manner” or maintained a “God complex”. Today, however, most medical schools teach the importance of emotional health along with physical health of both their students and their patients. They recognize the importance that the mind and attitude of the patient has on the effectiveness of the treatment. Many of the most competitive schools and residencies are M.D. programs. If you are looking into going into a highly competitive career such as dermatology or neurosurgery, while there are some D.O. programs, it would be wise to try to go to a more competitive M.D. school. Note: There are many factors which determine a specific student’s competitiveness to match for a residency; such as board scores, class rank, research, published works, and letters of recommendation.

      D.O. physicians are taught all of the medicine that M.D. programs teach, but they also are taught to treat the patient holistically. This means to treat the whole patient as well as the disease. They are often taught how to touch the patient in a caring manner and how to communicate effectively with a patient. D.O. programs will strongly emphasize the importance of a healthy mind, body, and spirit. They show the student that the body is connected and that all parts of the body can affect the health of the rest of the body. This is why D.O. schools also teach osteopathic manipulation therapy (OMT) with in depth lessons in musculature and nerves. Manipulation itself can be compared somewhat to chiropractic practices but is more thoroughly expanded on in principle. While all D.O. schools teach this to their students, many doctors do not make this the main part of their practice. Most D.O.’s will tell you that OMT is an extra skill they learn and can use to help treat patients. But many will emphasize that the OMT principles they learned help them daily to diagnose and treat patients. While there are many implications for OMT, many family doctors will use OMT to relieve back pain and treat misalignment as another option to pain medications. The D.O. degree was traditionally used by primary care physicians. Today, more than half of osteopathic students specialize. Students wishing to specialize in orthopedics or sport medicine may want to consider a D.O. degree because of the extra emphasis on the musculoskeletal system.

      When speaking to doctors both MD and DO about which degree is better they will often tell you the same thing. The degree doesn’t matter, the physician does. There are good DO’s and bad DO’s. There are good MD’s and bad MD’s. When deciding which degree to go into, you must consider your own priorities and career objectives. Find the school that fits you best and allows you to best achieve your goals.

      Check out the AACOM site and the AAMC site for further information regarding these degrees.

      Another option available for students is attending a foreign medical school. When looking at one of these schools one must make sure they are accredited and that you will be eligible to work as a physician in the US. Also look at where their students went when they completed their degree. Look at what residencies they went to and where they do their clinical years. Make sure you understand all that will be required of you in order to attend a residency or practice in the US. Many of these schools do not have the same requirements as American medical schools and it is extremely important to find out if the degree will be useful in the US. Some schools even allow some US financial aid in order to attend such as Ross University or the American University of the Caribbean.

      The University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine is also commonly used by American students and is a member of AAMC and has similar requirements as an American M.D. program.

·        Note: If you are looking to do an American residency it may be wise to first try to get into an American medical school. 

      Follow these links to learn about which medical schools are right for you.

·        AAMC Member Schools List and websites for all AAMC member schools in US and Canada.

·        AACOM Osteopathic Medical Schools. List and websites for all AACOM member schools in the US.

·        Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service

·        IMED from the ECFMG, Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

·        US News & World Report Official Medical School info 2004

·        Medical School Search provides info and websites for schools.

      The best advice in any case, is to get medical experience. It cannot be said enough!!!! Shadow local physicians, both M.D. and D.O., or volunteer at a hospital. Talk to the schools offering the program of interest and with alumni to find out if this is right for you.  Make sure you understand what a career in medicine and specifically as a physician entails. Make sure the road you choose will fit in with other priorities in your life. What do you want to do as a physician, where do you want to practice? What kind of lifestyle are you looking for? All of these aspects should be considered when choosing a medical school. Remember that medical school is extremely costly and this is a big decision. Once you start it is extremely difficult to repay the loans without the career.

What’s up with the MCAT?

      The MCAT is the Medical Admissions test. Follow this link to view the MCAT Student Manual. This offers information regarding each section and some sample questions. It consists of four sections which test verbal reasoning, physical science, biological science, and writing ability. The scores range from 0-15 for each of the multiple choice sections and a letter score ranging from J (lowest) to T (highest). The test usually costs around $210 and is given once in April and once in August. It is currently widely available as a paper test but there are computer based testing centers available in certain areas and for international students (see separate registration page). The MCAT requires students to pre-register to sit for the exam and has penalty fees for late registration.  See the MCAT registration page for current instructions on registering.

      Fee assistance (FAP) is available for students with great financial need. If approved for the FAP for the MCAT then your fees for many of the school applications later on will also be credited.

      Preparing for the MCAT is essential for achieving a high score. The test is usually given from 8am until 3 pm. Not only will it test your problem solving ability, basic science knowledge, but also your perseverance. Sit down and take a full length, timed practice exam at least once or twice before sitting for the real exam. Spend as much time as possible reviewing and taking practice tests. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!!

      To begin preparation, take as many of the needed classes possible as close to the test as you can. These include basic Biology, Physiology, Molecular Biology, Genetics and at least one semester of Organic Chemistry, 2 semesters of General Chemistry, and 2 semesters of Physics. Review your class notes prior to taking the exam.

      PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE!!!!!!! The absolute best way to score high is to practice. Visit the MCAT homepage to take a practice exam. You will receive at least one free exam when you register. You can take this practice exam from your computer and it will breakdown how well you did not only in each section but specifically within each subject. Once you have determined your strength, forget about them!! FOCUS ON YOUR WEAKNESSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This cannot be said enough. Get an old book and work chemistry or physics problems until you feel comfortable again with the basic concepts. Review those organic concepts and equations. Practice math and simple trig that you can do in your head. The MCAT does NOT allow calculators. It will have certain problems that will require you to do some math in your head. STOP USING POLY SOLVE on your TI86 because you will need to know that wonderful equation for the big test.

How do I apply?

      Applying to medical school is no easy task. There are many road blocks set up in the journey to becoming a doctor in order to weed out those who may not be truly willing to complete the journey. Most medical schools use a central application service. For MD programs AMCAS is used. For DO programs, AACOMAS is used. Texas schools have their own application service: Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.

       The initial applications should be available in June of each year and are due depending on the date of your medical school deadlines but no later than August 1^st for early decision programs.

      APPLY EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Begin writing your essays and have your application ready for submission by the time you receive your MCAT scores. Medical schools usually accept students on a rolling admission. This means that the spots fill up quick and when applying later in the game you are competing against more students for less spots. Often, many qualified applicants do not make it into school because they waited until only a few seats were left to apply.

      When you begin filling out the application you must realize that this will be the very first impression the schools have of you. Many schools will often determine whether or not you receive a secondary application or an interview based off your initial application and personal statement. You must always be professional and to the point. Do not repeat information. Do not dwell on or point out weaknesses. If an explanation of a negative point of your application is necessary, explain it and move on. End on a good point. Explain what happened but most importantly what you did to fix it or change. Always end on a positive point. Most medical schools realize we’re all human and mistakes happen. But the important thing is what you do with mistakes. Did you learn from it, have you since conquered similar situations, etc. See the next article on essays for more specific application advice.

      You will need a copy of your transcript for yourself in order to fill out the application. Be careful to fill out the classes exactly as on the transcript and in the order they request. Your application will not be completed until you receive your MCAT scores. But don’t wait to start filling it out until then!! If you plan on retaking the MCAT in August, you may mark this on your application and most schools will take that into consideration and if your first score was too low will wait to see what your subsequent score will be. However, one should verify this with their specific school.   

      Before your application is complete you will be required to submit your transcripts and MCAT scores. When the application is processed it will be sent to each individual school. This can take up 6 to 8 weeks.

      Each school will want at least three letters of recommendation (LOR). Do not wait until you receive your secondary applications to begin compiling your LORs. Many students use Interfolio to submit letters of recommendation (LORs). Because LORs must be kept confidential from the student, this service is a real asset to have. It allows the professor to directly upload a document into your account and/or fax or mail the document directly to interfolio. When you set up to have a document uploaded you will directly receive a letter to sign your waiver of viewing the document. You then can disburse the document to whomever you please as many times as needed without having to request copies from specific professors and without compromising the confidentiality of the document. This is nice to keep you from having to return to the person writing the letter to request more copies to be sent in case of a lost letter (and letters do get lost). Interfolio can be a nice way to have your LOR’s prepared to be sent as soon as you receive your secondary application. However, Interfolio is not a free service and does charge for usage.

      After the application is processed, the schools will then send you either a rejection letter or an invitation to fill out a secondary application. They will generally require subsequent essays and letters of recommendations and also an additional fee. Generally three letters from professors or one from a pre-medical school committee are required as well as one letter from either an MD or DO, depending on the program. If applying to both, it is recommended to get one from each. At MSSU there is not a pre-med committee; this is often an asset for the student. This allows the student to seek the professors that are more informed to them specifically. Most schools prefer at least two of the three professors come from “science” faculty.

      It is costly to apply to medical school. See AMCAS Fees and Refunds and AACOMAS fee schedule. However, it is important to apply to more than one school. Many students apply to at least 6 schools. Consider out of state and in state differences. Most private schools do not differentiate between the two. Most state schools highly favor their in state students. However, this is not always true and it is important to look at the statistics of in state versus out of state students. It is always a good idea to apply to your state schools, especially schools that maintain a good relationship with MSSU.

Essays, Essays and More Essays!

      By the end of applying to medical school you may feel as if you are a professional essay writer!! This is because there are SO many essays required for medical school and every single essay is important.

      There are many essay editing services that charge for editing. However, many of these websites also offer really great free advice. MSSU does not offer any recommendation for paid essay services.

·        Accepted.com’s (Application Advice) Top Ten Medical School Essay Do’s and Don’ts.

·        Admissions Essays has free advice:  Essay Writing Tips

·        Essayedge.com, has free advice: Medical Statements 101

·        The Princeton Review, Essay Tips To Get Started

·        Mom MD, Medical School Admissions Essay Resources

·        WSJ.com, College Journal.com, Medical-School Essay Question Help, provided by essayedge.com.

      It is always important to have other people read and edit your essays. Read them out loud, read them to your friends. Absolutely make sure there are no grammatical or spelling errors.

      Medical schools don’t only want to know what grades you have or what scores you made on your MCAT. They also want to know that you have proper writing skills, a good heart, a true desire to be a physician, and the wisdom needed to succeed. This is your chance to differentiate yourself and really sell yourself. When writing your personal statement you want to explain what motivates you to become a physician. What experiences did you have that helped you come to that decision? What obstacles have you overcome? What life lessons have you learned?

      Medical schools are known to put a lot of weight into the personal statement and secondary essays. Read through the advice from the website links listed above and put your best effort into writing a high quality essay.

 How to Prepare for an Interview

      So you have an interview? Congratulations!!! Interviewing is one of the most important parts of becoming accepted into a medical school. First of all remember that they already like you on paper or they wouldn’t have invited you to interview. This is now your opportunity to seal the deal!

      What to do before you interview???

      Read your applications!!!! Often you will be asked questions regarding statements you made on your application. Don’t just regurgitate this information but be prepared to expand on it.

      Do your research!!!! Go into the interview knowing as much about the school as you can. This will help you cater your interview to what you know they hold important. If they are a school big into community involvement then mention your previous volunteer work and ASK THEM about how students are involved. If they are big into research then cater to that or if they are particularly proud of specific school achievements, mention that. This shows you really are interested in them. It also helps you know if this is the school you want to invest in. Keep in mind that you are interviewing them as well, you may get multiple offers and you want to be best informed as to which school you prefer.

      Stay current. Freshen up on current events and public health issues. One way to do this is to get medical news sent daily by e-mail such as Medpage Today or visit the AMA website to keep up on current issues. There are many news websites you can find daily medical news from. Pick your favorite and stay well informed.

       Often ethical and current issues are brought up during the interview. Think of how they affect you and what you would do to change or help them. Be ready to answer general ethical questions. Many times there is no correct answer, they just want to see you pick a stance and defend it or to show both sides of an issue. Often they will try to get you to change your standpoint but they want to see that you will stick with it and intelligently defend it! There are always two sides to every controversy and they want you to understand both sides. Often they will ask you to explain the pros and cons of an ethical issue; this is show that you understand both sides of the story.

      Practice makes perfect!!!! Memorizing answers is not a good idea because you may sound too rehearsed or they may not fit the questions asked. However, you should have a good idea of what your answers will be to the most frequently asked questions. Practice saying these out loud to yourself and friends/family. Tell all of your friends and family to ask you questions, especially the ones that make you uncomfortable.

      Get help!!! There are many resources out there to help you prepare for interviews.

      Career Services offers interview preparations specific to your career. They also offer mock interviews which are helpful to identify problem areas and strengths of the student during an actual interview setting.

      Online services:

·        SDN Interviews. This offers anonymous student feedback specific to the school. They also post specific questions asked and hotel and flight information. This is for Medical, Dental, and Pharmacy schools.

·        Essay Edge offers paid essay editing services. But they also offer FREE Interview and Essay advice. Interview 101 is a great source for learning to answer every question you will be asked in a typical interview. This is also offered for various graduate programs.

·        About.com has a number of websites that help prepare for interviews. I have not personally researched them all.

      RELAX!!! Very hard to do, but very important. Remember that at this point they have already decided that they like you on paper. Most osteopathic schools and many allopathic schools do not use the interview as a way to weed people out but as a way to verify the student is everything their application leads them to believe. They wouldn’t have asked you there if they didn’t want you to come to their school. Some schools vary on this but you can find specific percentages of interviewed students who were accepted at US News and World Report Medical School Rankings.

      Ask Questions!!!!! This link is for AAMC’s article the 31 questions I wish I had asked. Remember you are interviewing them as well. Ask lots of questions when touring the facilities and remember to have a number of good specific questions to ask your interviewers. This is extremely important because it shows that you are interested in the school and they will almost always ask for questions at the end of the interview and a good question will really go a long way to impress them! There are exceptions when students limited to short interview times are requested to hold questions for the tour. Be flexible, go prepared to ask questions but remember to respect any requests the school has for you.

      What to do after you interview???

      Thank your interviewers!!! Write thank you letters to your interviewers. This shows that you not only remember who they are, but also are appreciative of the time they spent with you.

      If they gave you e-mail addresses or all of your correspondence has been through e-mail, then this is acceptable.

      In the least, send a general thank you letter to the admission department. This will often be put in your file and reflects on your professionalism. But it is also just polite to send a thank you letter.

      Follow up, ask questions!!! Still have questions? Just ask! Many of the people may leave you with business cards or you can get contact information from the website or admissions. E-mail and call them. Not only does it answer your question, it also shows your continued interest in the school and keeps your name fresh in their minds. However, do not ever harass a school or call them excessively when unwarranted.

      Call and Check Your Status!!! If you haven’t heard back from them, call and check your application status. This is important because most schools will give you some answer soon after the interview or will tell you when they will make a decision. If you haven’t heard anything past when they told you then call them and make sure they haven’t misplaced your application. Med schools are notorious for losing things and if you don’t call them they may have no idea you were not notified and will assume you weren’t interested. It is very important to follow up.

      It is acceptable to inquire!! At any point during the application process you should inquire if you have not received recent correspondence. If you send your application, call and make sure they have received it. If you have sent a payment, call and make sure they have received it. Don’t repeatedly call or disrespect time limits they have given you, but it is important to make sure they have received everything you have sent them.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information

      Each school will inform you of their specific financial aid policies and any specific scholarships available. However, it is important to know options available to you. Many times you will be asked during an interview how you intend to pay for school.

      Loans

·        Federal Loans

¨      Perkins Loan

¨      Stafford Loan

·        Private Loans

      Service Awards: most scholarships available to medical schools include some commitment to service.

·        Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

¨      United States Air Force

¨      United States Army

¨      United States Navy

·        The National Health Services Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program

·        Indian Health Service Program (IHS)

·        Scholarship Loan Program for Missouri Residents “PRIMO”

Accepted, What Now?

Congratulations! You’ve been accepted!!!! Now you have to relax and enjoy your last year before you begin an extremely tedious career path! Make sure you know when all of your fees are due. Most schools require an acceptance fee and a matriculation fee. If accepted to multiple schools, make a list of pros and cons and make the most informed decision possible. Contact students from the schools and talk to them about what their school is like. Figure out what your priorities are in a school. Is it independence, systems based learning, or do you need a stricter more traditional coursework? Do you want to stay in the same location all four years or would you like to travel or move elsewhere for your clinical rotations? Where do the students typically do their residencies? There are many things to consider when deciding which school is right for you and only you can decide!!

Once accepted you will receive information regarding a health physical and vaccinations. Make sure to get your hepatitis B vaccinations early. These vaccines are required before school begins and can take 6 months to complete.

The school should send you financial aid applications and you will also need to fill out a FAFSA application just like undergraduate school. Scholarships may also be available for your specific school, make sure to talk to your financial aid office to find out which scholarships you are eligible for. Many students participate in Military Scholarships or other service obligation scholarships (see above category).

But most importantly RELAX!! You’re in!!!!!!!

REFERENCES

       Stop the Raid on Financial Aid. AMSA.  http://www.amsa.org, http://www.amsa.org/meded/studentdebt.cfm, January 03, 2006.

       Medical School Tuition and Young Physician Indebtedness. Jolly P, 03/03/2004. http://www.aamc.org, https://services.aamc.org/Publications/showfile.cfm?file=version21.pdf&prd_id=102&prv_id=113&pdf_id=21, January 12, 2006.

       American Association of Physician Assistants. Homepage. http://www.aapa.org, January 3, 2006.

       Questions and Answers: A Career in Nurse Anesthesia. 09/03/06. American Association of Nurse Anesthetist. http://www.aana.org, http://www.aana.com/crna/careerqna.asp, January 3, 2006.

       CRNA homepage. American Association of Nurse Anesthetist http://www.aana.org, http://www.aana.com/crna/become.asp, January 3, 2006.

       What is A Nurse Practitioner? ACNP. http://www.nurse.org, http://www.nurse.org/acnp/facts/whatis.shtml. January 3, 2006.

       American Academy of Anesthesiology Assistants. http://www.anesthetist.org/. January 3, 2006.

       Optometry A Career Guide. Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry. http://www.opted.org, http://www.opted.org/pdf/optCareerGuide.pdf#search='Optometry', January 3, 2006.

       American Podiatric Medical Association. http://www.apma.org/, http://www.apma.org/s_apma/index.asp, January 3, 2006.

       American Dental Association. http://www.ada.org. January 3, 2006.

       Academies & Interest Groups. American Pharmacists Association. http://www.aphanet.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home, http://www.aphanet.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Academies_and_Interest_Groups&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=5&ContentID=1488. January 3, 2006.

       How much does medical school cost and can I afford it? AAMC. http://www.aamc.org, http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/financial.htm, January 3, 2006.

       The 6 Year B.A.M.D. Program. The University of Missouri – Kansas City’s School of Medicine. http://www.umkc.edu, http://www.umkc.edu/admissions/general/med.htm, January 3, 2006.

       Schools offering combined BS/MD, http://aamc.org, http://services.aamc.org/currdir/section3/degree2.cfm?data=yes&program=bsmd, February 15, 2006.

       Doctor Clip Art. http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Ridge/3501/medical.htm, January 3, 2006.

       Careers in Medicine. AMCAS. http://www.aamc.org, http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/careers.htm, January 12, 2006.

       American Massage Therapy Association, http://www.amtamassage.org/, January 12, 2006.

       American Chiropractic Association, http://www.amerchiro.org/, January 12, 2006.

       Schools of Natural Healing Arts, Natural Healers. http://www.naturalhealers.com,  http://www.naturalhealers.com/?goto=y&ot=naturopath, January 12, 2006.

       Making the Decision. AMCAS. http://www.aamc.org, http://www.aamc.org/students/considering/decision.htm, January 12, 2006.

       Medical School Admission Requirements. AAMC. http://www.aamc.org, https://services.aamc.org/Publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.displayForm&prd_id=127&prv_id=144&cfid=1&cftoken=868161AF-3F8C-4704-AC2776E7759FB24C, January 12, 2006.

       University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine homepage.