How to succeed in the pre-med track
Emanuel Arias
DO in Medicine Candidate at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
The path to becoming a physician has the reputation of being one of the most difficult academic feats to pursue. And with good reason. There are many difficult courses and standardized exams students must take (not to mention the immense financial burden) just to be considered an applicant to a medical school. Despite the difficulties, however, I believe anyone reading this can become a physician. That doesn't mean everyone should either. Therefore, step one to succeeding in this journey is deciding if this career is really for you. I had a difficult time answering that question myself. Hopefully, this article aids in your decision while adding value to your path to medical school.
For starters, let's crush the myth that doctors are somehow superior to any other healthcare worker because of their title or "smarts". Although an MD/DO is a huge achievement, it doesn't make you better or smarter than anyone else. The degree simply means that you are highly skilled and trained in identifying and treating a vast array of disease processes. From my point of view, there are just three things an individual needs to practice to achieve the degree:
It does not take supernatural intelligence or special genetics to become a physician. I truly believe that to succeed at a high level in anything, the aforementioned three attributes must be present. Thus, I say "Anyone can become a doctor".
Furthermore, physicians do deserve credit (like anyone else would) for their tireless hard work throughout the years. Medical doctors incur hundreds of thousands of USD in debt, and it is only rising, as shown graphically below by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC).
Contrary to common belief, physicians also work very long hours (an average of 50-59 in 2021) and are disproportionately affected by suicide and depression. According to The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, each year 300-400 physicians die by suicide and medical students are subject to having 15%-30% higher rates of depression than the general population.
If you made it this far, you're probably wondering what this has to do with the journey to medical school and how this data is supposed to encourage you to pursue the career. I used to think the same thing. However, now I understand that this is the first and most important step in your journey. At the time of writing this article, I met about half a dozen individuals who had entered medical school or residency training only to quit several months in because they did not understand the difficulties and responsibilities that come with the MD/DO. What's more, is that these were all highly capable professionals who earned generous scholarships and achieved high test scores. You don't want to find yourself in their shoes because it is a very expensive mistake. Expose yourself to the good, the bad, and the ugly now, so that there aren't any surprises later.
Now that step one is complete, let's get into all the academic requirements to be considered a competitive applicant to most medical schools. There are a huge number of courses you will be expected to take throughout college before you apply. That leads us to the common misconception that you have to major in Biology or some other science-based field. You are only required to have a minimum of a bachelor's degree to apply to medical school. Personally, when I was in college (2018-2021) a biology degree covered most of the required courses for medical school which was why I chose to major in it. However, many students decide to major in something a bit less demanding or something that catches their interest more. It is not a bad idea if you're worried about a low GPA or too high of a workload. If you do choose something other than Biology, just know you will have to go out of your way to take the required courses for medical school. They vary greatly, so I attached the link to a list by the AAMC below.
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In addition, all medical schools expect you to have at least ten experiences that are meaningful to you and that you believe have served as an aid to your decision to pursue medicine or have prepared you to do so. Do not be afraid to include hobbies or non-medically related experiences. Admissions committees love to see character development and want to see that you can have something to escape to when school gets overwhelming. Of the ten experiences, you should have at least one shadowing and one clinical experience. Shadowing and clinical exposure are the most important of the ten experiences. So much so that many applicants will take a gap year (delay applications a year after graduation) to make sure they have the opportunity to complete both. The other eight can consist of things like research, hobbies, a job, volunteering, and leadership opportunities. One mistake that many applicants make is focusing so much on their grades and MCAT scores that they neglect to establish a well-rounded experience list. A poor activities section will set you up for failure at most institutions despite your scores.
Speaking of the MCAT, what is it anyway? For starters, it stands for Medical College Admission Test and as of 2023, it consists of general chemistry, organic chemistry, general biology, biochemistry, physics, psychology, and sociology. The MCAT will probably be the hardest test you will have taken up to that point and will run you several hundred dollars and about 8 hours of your day to take. There are scholarships available to cover exam expenses such as the AAMC Fee Assistance Program. Still, I will include the link to another resource I am familiar with below as well.
I would highly recommend taking adequate time to study for this exam and try not to take it more than once. Most students struggle on this exam, myself included, so make sure you're strategic in the way you approach it. Unfortunately, I cannot speak too much about how to study for the MCAT because I scored close to the average (even after multiple attempts). However, I do want to urge you to never be ashamed of your score. The MCAT is a very difficult exam, but it most definitely does not define you as a person or a student. Furthermore, there is zero correlation between an MCAT score and how good of a doctor you will be, so do not let anyone tell you otherwise.
Once you have crushed the MCAT and graduated as a well-rounded scholar from your respected institution, it's time you focus on the application. Other than the MCAT, the most important aspect of your application is your personal statement. Think of the personal statement as an opportunity to tell your story. Explain to admission committee members why you want to be a physician and what drives you. This lends itself to the perfect opportunity to let the admissions committee know who you are besides the scores and letter grades you worked so hard for. The length varies between the MD and DO applications, but you will be expected to fill in about 5,300 characters of space. Here are two great resources that I used to write my personal statement.
Finally, by this time you have accomplished much and are prepared to submit your application to your medical schools of choice. But before you do, I want to share with you some important things you should consider before clicking submit. The first is to apply smart. Many schools receive tens of thousands of applicants and the reality is that just about 5% of applicants on average get accepted. That is why I recommend applying to schools you have the best chance of getting accepted to. Look into what percent of accepted and interviewed applicants are out of state and Hispanic for example (my own case). Second, research the area and the values of the school. It is important that you apply to schools that you believe align with your values and goals and in which you can foresee yourself being happy attending. Medical schools will think of you in the same way during interviews. Third, make it an absolute priority to apply early! I know several students who have had exceptional applications only to receive one or no interviews because they made the error of applying late in the cycle. Recall that medical school seats are first come first serve. Lastly, be sure to apply to at least 20 schools. I understand there is a large financial burden that comes with applications, so if it is out of your budget then make the exception. However, if you can earn a grant or can afford to spend several thousand dollars on applications, I think you should.
In conclusion, I am hopeful that this article is of use to you and your journey to becoming a world-class medical student. Remember that you are capable and smart. You have what it takes to succeed as a pre-med, even if it looks a little different than someone else's journey. Stay the course, and I assure you that you will succeed. Congratulations on choosing such a beautiful and rewarding career, and I genuinely wish you the best of luck.
"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein