Medical School Admission – Important Facts You Should Know

The Medical College Admissions Test, or MCAT, is a computerized exam that plays an important role in medical school admissions decisions. The exam tests knowledge in three substantive areas: the physical sciences, the biological sciences, and verbal reasoning. The exam includes multiple-choice sections testing those subjects, along with two writing sections. This article explains MCAT scoring, including the average MCAT score for leading medical schools.

MCAT Scoring

The multiple-choice sections have reported scores on a 15-point scale. The higher the actual score of the section, the closer the reported score will be to 15 points. Only correct answers are scored; there is no scoring penalty for incorrect or blank answers.

Medical School Admission Test – Writing Section

The exam’s writing sections are each read twice. One human reader and a computerized scoring program reads each writing sample. Therefore, the writing portion of each exam receives four scores – the scores are combined into the ultimate written grade that is reported. The highest grade is a T and the lowest grade is a J.

The MCAT Score

The MCAT score that is reported to the examinee and to the various medical schools is a combination of those multiple-choice scores and the score from writing samples. A score would look something like 30P.

MCAT Scoring Statistics

The Association of American Medical Colleges releases scoring statistics annually. The most recent statistics, released for 2009, report an average score of 25.1. The Association reports writing sample percentages. For 2009, the 75th percentile was a Q, the 50th percentile was an O, and the 25th percentile was an M. The Association also provided averages for each individual subject: physical sciences – 8.3, biological sciences – 8.7, and verbal reasoning – 8.1.

Medical School Admission – Average MCAT Scores

Noteworthy medical colleges have released the following average scores: Boston University – 10.7Q; Georgetown University – 10.3Q; Stanford University – 11.7Q; UCLA – 11Q; UC San Francisco – 11.7Q; University of Illinois – 10.3P; University of Michigan – 11.7Q; and Yale University – 11.7Q. (The numerical portion averages the three multiple-choice section scores.)

Medical School Admission Requirements

The Long And Short Of Medical School Admission Requirements

For those who are aspiring to get into medical schools it is important to know the medical school admission requirements. It is needless to say all those who are preparing themselves to be future medical professionals have to be self motivated and intelligent. The aspiring student must have good grades all through school and college and should have had classes related to the studies of human beings. Good grades are essential to even prepare and be eligible for the medical college admission test (MCAT).

Medical School Admission Requirements  – Appearing for MCAT

The MCAT is a standardised multiple choice test that is administered by the American association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). This is the primary among all medical school admission requirements. This is a test that all medical schools require students to give in order to compare candidates who come from different backgrounds and schools. It is a common denominator for all students no matter what one’s primary education background is. It is important that all students aspiring to take the MCAT should be adequately prepared for it. It requires rigorous studying and should be taken seriously.
To know the number of schools and what one’s options while choosing a college are, constitutes another important aspect of medical school admission requirements. There are 125 medical schools and 19 Osteopathic schools in the US. Every year there are more than 50000 candidates vying for less than 19000 seats in all of these colleges, so as it is evident that competition is severe when one is considering admission into medical school.

The Application Process

An aspiring candidate must be aware of the fact the application for these medical schools should be done in the junior year of college. Filling out proper applications is an important part of medical school admission requirements. One must be aware of the fact that is a centralised application service run by the AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) and the AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine). Most of these colleges now have an e- application facility which allows candidates to fill out their applications over the internet.

Fill Out Your Medical School Application Carefully

However it is important that an aspiring candidate takes out enough time to fill out an application carefully. It requires a candidate to give out all the information about his or her grades at school, give some personal information about your background and write a personal essay. It is important to give the essay writing ample thought before sending it out.

Medical School Application Essay

Essay writing while making an application is another important part of medical school admission requirements. More often than not the essay one sends out is the differentiating factor between one candidate and another and can be the deciding factor. The candidate must make sure that the essay is personal and yet an interesting read. Being honest and sincere while writing this essay is a good way to go about it. Knowing the process of application into a medical school and going about it correctly is an important part of medical school admission requirements.

Medical School Admission

Your Step By Step Guide To Medical School Admission

Students desiring to pursue a career in medicine can face the most distressing time of their lives for a medical school admission due to lack of procedural knowledge.  With increasing number of medical schools and the complexity of admission procedures, students find it very difficult to cope up with the whole process of getting into a good medical school while meeting all the deadlines.

Where Is It That Students Go Wrong And Break The Link?

The tips given below will help students simply the process of a medical school admission which has always been perceived as a mountain task.

The Requirements For Your Medical School Admission

•    Research
The major complaint received from students is the inability to meet deadlines. This happens because majority of students start thinking about the medical school admission process just before the applications are handed out. It is advised that you carry out your personal research beforehand.  In doing so, you will have already assessed factors that will probably influence your choice and thus makes it easier for you to pick selected schools.

•    Maintaining flexibility in options
You should decide the academic area that you wish to focus on. Medical schools differ in the areas of specialization with some taking up primary care while others consider research as their key areas.  If you are firm with what you want to pursue, then selecting your medical school will be easier.

Getting into medical school is a tough task therefore you cannot rest after a single medical school admission process. You should enquire about the admission requirements of various medical schools. You may also have to consider a medical school admission overseas. So be prepared for it.

•    Submissions
The first thing with submissions is to be consciously aware of the deadline for submissions. A late submission can cost you your seat at a prestigious medical school. Also, enquire about the application fees you have to pay.

There are a number of attachments that you have to submit along with your application. This includes your test scores, letters of recommendations, college transcripts. Make sure you get all these things in place and in time for your medical school admission. Some Medical schools organize special programs to assist with the medical school admission. You should approach them; it will save on time and money.

•    Dealing with interviews
Considering the large number of applicants in the medical school admission, they use the method of screening to cut down the number. If you have been able to clear the preliminary rounds, you will be required to take the secondary application process. This is more like a personal evaluation where perhaps you may have to write an essay or they may consider your extracurricular activities. This will be followed by a personal interview by a committee. The best way to prepare yourself for this is to get some general knowledge, medical school background and a boost of self confidence. Pay special attention to your external appearance.

So, make your medical school admission process one you look forward to and not something you dread. All the best!!!

Getting Into Medical School

What You Need To Know About Getting Into Medical School

Getting into a medical school is the first that that a student will take towards becoming a doctor, so in you your pre-med years, it is important that you gather as much information you can about getting into medical school and work towards it. But before you decide o plunge into action, you must do some honest soul searching and ask yourself why you are keen on pursuing medicine as a career. This is a field where not only education but the profession itself requires a long term commitment that will more often than not impact your personal life.

Getting Into Medical School – A Long Term Commitment

Before getting into medical school ask yourself a million times whether you are committed towards medicine, have a love for learning and most importantly have a desire to help others. It is important that you remember that medicine is essentially about service the sick and the needy and you will be doing it in the best of your capacity for the rest of your professional lives. Once you have no doubt left in your mind about the profession and the long term commitments it will require, you can go ahead with the process of getting into medical school.

Your Grades Are IMPORTANT

Needless to say your grades in your undergraduate years will play an important role. Biology, organic and inorganic chemistry, calculus and biochemistry are the subjects that are usually taken up  by students who want pursue a degree in medicine. A high GPA or grade point average of 3.5 to 4 is a prerequisite for getting into medical school.

Doing well in college goes a long way and builds a strong foundation, so if you have made up your mind to become a doctor, make sure you do not fall behind in your college work. Also joining some extracurricular activities and getting top honours there will be helpful in getting that added advantage when you are keen on getting into medical school.

The Procedure Of Application

The next thing about getting into medical school is making a proper application. Take out enough time, be in a calm and relaxed state of mind when you are ready to fill out the application. You will need to give all the information bout your education, grades in school and college, your personal information and will also be required to write a personal essay that will ask you why you are keen on getting into medical school.

This is where your soul searching will come in handy. You must be honest and sincere in your essay, but also make sure that you do not sound dull and boring. It must be an interesting read. All medical school admission committees lay a lot of stress on these essays, and more often than not are the deciding factor for admission. The next step is appearing for MCAT or the medical college admission test. Study hard for the MCAT and this is the common denominator for all candidates. Getting through MCAT with flying colours is a passport for getting into medical school.