I'll be applying to medical school later this year and welcome advice on how to make the application as competitive as possible. Particularly study resources and patient care opportunities in or near Jacksonville, Florida.
Answers
I am a physician, so I've been through it. I will disagree with some of the previous posters. Getting into med school was difficult (and I wasn't smart about it). MCAT and GPA are important. If you don't 'test well', it may be useful to do an MCAT review course. Your GPA is what it is. Hopefully it's in a rigorous discipline rather than fashion merchandising. II'm sure you're aware that med schools all require a background in organic chem, physics, calculus, etc. What you can do NOW is get to know docs and learn what the practice of medicine is all about. If your new friends (the docs) are alumni (or better yet, on the admissions board) of the schools you wish to attend, so much the better. Volunteer at hospitals and schmooze with the staff.
Here's where I differ with many of the above posters. Once I got to med school, I found it to be one of the easiest things I've ever done. I was 34 years old when I started and that made all the difference. My mind was different at 34 than it was when I was 22 (the average age of a new med school student). I graduated second in my class without 'sleepless nights' studying. I DID pay attention during class and was sure I was awake and alert. That allowed me to keep everything (including my brain) organized and on point.
One last point. Once you're into the system, think long and hard about how you want to spend the rest of your life. Before choosing a residency, make sure you talk with practicing docs IN that profession to see if they'd do the same thing today. You'll find that most won't.
Tracy,
Here's a response to your question from a friend who is currently in med school.
I can put you in touch with her directly if you would like. Just let me know.
Chris
If he is applying this year, he probably already knows the info about MCAT and GPA, but I will add it anyway. As far as being competitive for medical school, the MCAT score is what will get him past the first hurdle. My husband (also in medical school) and I used Kaplan study resources, the most popular one, but neither one of us thought it was worth the money. Examcrackers for MCAT is supposed to very good and straight-forward. Secondly, his GPA will come into play. Most state schools use a converter of sorts to level the GPA based on a school's history (or lack thereof) of grade inflation. So where he went to undergraduate and graduate school, if applicable, will be considered. After those 2 things, extra-curriculars, letters of recommendation, and clinical shadowing are considered. Some people do research to improve application. With research, schools want to see that a student can follow through a project, so if he doesn't have that by now, it won't help or hurt him. EVERYONE shadows so it is more of a check that he has done it rather than something that increases his chance of admission. From my standpoint, spending time with physicians is vitally important. One needs to know what medical practice is and not what it appears to be; They are not the same.
He will be entering medical school as a non-traditional student and as a veteran. Those 2 things will be looked at favorably when he gets past the initial threshold (MCAT and GPA).
Some reality checks....
1. Medical school is hard! Everyone knows that on the surface. It will take more than a person ever knew to survive. This is not because the material is so hard, but because of the long hours of isolation when the work never ends.
2. One in 3 medical students will experience clinical depression during medical school. During orientation before school even begins, med school administration will give a lecture on where to go for help and on suicide prevention. This is a reality. (A girl attempted suicide my first year of medical school.)
3. People will say how much money a person will make when finished with medical school. They won't know that the student is scraping by and graduates close to a quarter of a million dollars in debt with interest that builds through years of residency....all so that we can help our communities.
4. You will never feel that you know "enough" and the exams are never ending (and expensive).
5. The dynamic in medicine is changing. People are much more demanding than they once were and the interaction with physician is no different. Keep in mind that this is a service field....sometimes medical students and physicians lose sight of this. :-) 3
So for the good things....
1. Medicine is a call. When you know that God has called you to this field, all of the things listed above can be handled. They certainly don't disappear, but they are manageable.
2. The first time you hold a patient's hand as he/she cries, listen to a chronically ill patient sing to you, or explain what is going on in a way that offers comfort, somehow much of the negativity melts away.
3. You have the opportunity to help another person in a meaningful way every hour of every day of your life. That can mean bringing life into this world, assisting as it continues, or offering comfort as one passes from this world. That's simply awesome.
4. Parts of medicine are just cool (and most people differ in what parts they think are cool ????)
5. Being in medicine opens doors to areas of ministry that are unique. Dr Walker, a missionary to Brazil, has a simple quote that I love, "They won't hear the words of your mouth until they feel the touch of your hand". Serving the physical need through medical intervention can be that very touch.
I hope this was helpful. I don't have any contacts or know of anything specific in the Jacksonville area. Feel free to pass on my email to this gentleman. My husband will be happy to talk to him, as well.
One last note, I had a veteran in my class. He was Army special forces and saw quite a bit of close combat. He was not able to deal with depression in medical school. He had to repeat a year and could not pass, so he left (with about $100,000 of debt) If there is underlying depression or PTSD, the gentleman that contacted you needs to have that addressed so that he has a coping mechanism in place before he begins medical school. Once he is in medical school, there will be mental health specialists on site that can continue to help, as well.
My wife is a pediatric dentist. I met her taking my sciences for applying to med school. In the end, I chose finance to support her though her degree and residency (two years for pediatric dentistry. We now own a successful practice.
The only course requirements are a four-year degree, which includes year of each of the following courses: calculus, physics, biology, chemistry and organic chemistry. It takes at least two years to complete these courses, because calculus is a prerequisite for physics and you need to take chemistry before organic chemistry. The hardest of the courses are organic chemistry I and II.
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Interestingly, although most applicants were biology majors, other majors had higher acceptance rates. Study something you enjoy, get good grades and focus on the core requirements (admissions boards look at your math and science GPA separately from your overall GPA). Your GPA matters more than your major. Aim for a 3.2 GPA or higher. My wife's degree was in music performance.
You MCAT scores matter too (dentistry uses the DAT). I would recommend a review course. These courses teach you how to take the test. Tips include spending more time on earlier questions and how ruling out answers is just as important as finding the right answer. I went to business school, and the review course help me earn a high score on my GMAT.
By the way, there are two medical schools within a couple of hours of Jacksonville. Florida State has a new medical school that focuses on family medicine. The University of Florida's medical school in Gainesville is well regarded.
My wife is part of the admissions process at Stony Brook University in New York. If you like, I can see if she has additional advice.
Finally, my wife chose dentistry over medicine. The income was better and the hours were more conducive to family life. There is a shortage of dentists in Florida.
Let me know if we can help further. Best of luck with your career!
Mr. Brayboy, I would do your best to have the highest MCAT score you can muster. My wife is a practicing nephrologist. Before medical school she was a nurse for seven years, lots of practical hands on experience as well as volunteering. All of that is good to determine if you want to work in the medical field, and where in the field you'll want to focus. But when it comes to schools, it sure seems the MCAT score was the determining factor. Good luck!
Thanks for your service! I can suggest that you must be sure that doctoring is what you want to do, and that your reasons for wanting it will get you through the decade of preparation, study, testing, sleepless nights of residency and delayed financial gratification! While I'm not in the medical field, I have a daughter in her fourth year of residency and another in her first year at Physician Assistant school. Our PA will be out in two years making a very decent salary in just two years, probably more than our Doctor at that time (who will be in her fellowship). Like our servicemen and women, I appreciate those that are willing to invest the time and effort in becoming doctors. From what I can see, an application to any of the medical fields is highly competitive, so your resume will have to focused, and your essays will need to be memorable and personal. Good luck to you!
Tracy,
I'm a pastor, and we've got a couple of medical students in our church. Let me reach out to them and see if they have any advice. I'll message you with anything they send me.
Chris
Before applying, make sure you know what you're getting into. We have several doctors in the family.. Medical school is long and costly and when you get out malpractice insurance is through the roof. Many doctors are leaving the field as more govt regulations make their cost of doing business more expensive. So, if you truly love the field and can deal with these factors, it may be for you. suggest you take a holistic career evaluation which determines what you do best and like best. Good luck.
Tracy,
My wife is currently a medical student and offered up some advice. Assuming you have the prerequisite courses and MCAT, the most important thing is your personal experience in patient care and demonstrating why you are interested in the medical field. She suggested looking into volunteer opportunities at a hospital or clinic, or shadowing a doctor. This can give you patient access and experiences you can draw on for personal essays and/or interviews, as well as demonstrating a regular commitment over several months to the field.
-Ric
Medical school is very difficult to get accepted. I am being real, not negative. What is your military background? What made you pick medical school?
Are you in the medical corp? Do you have a bachelor's degree? Maybe focus on a medical technician field as a basis for planning medical school. There are no medical schools near Jacksonville, however there are medical technical schools. Good luck and contact me if you want to discuss more.
Do you currently have any medical, healthcare or biology experience? If so, emphasis those experiences extensively. Also build on the qualities of being self-motivated and a team player, along with any positive educational habits you have developed in your service career.
Feel free to PM me with any other questions!
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