Dr.Med’s Pre-Med Self-Tutorial
Office of Outreach &
Multicultural Affairs (OMA)
College of Medicine
Topics Covered
• Pre-Med/Pre-
Health Advisor
• Academic Timeline
• MCAT
• Extra Curricular
Activities
• Volunteer Work
• Shadowing
• Application Process
& Timeline
I’m Pre-Med, what next?
• See your Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advisor
• Any major is acceptable; study what interests
you
• Certain courses are required (See MSAR)
• MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
• Clinical shadowing/volunteering
• Application Process
Pre-Med/Pre-Health Advisor
The campus Premedical/Prehealth Advisor provides information,
guidance & support to students interested in medicine and at
times even challenge students to consider new options or
reconsider their decisions. He/she can assist with:
•Identifying premed prerequisites.
•Finding tutorial assistance.
•Planning academic schedules to accommodate premed coursework &
objectives along with other academic pursuits.
•Locating volunteer/paid clinical/research experiences.
•Strengthening your med school applications.
•Preparing for standardized tests & interviews.
•Arranging letters of evaluation/recommendation.
•Determining the most appropriate career paths based on individual
assets, liabilities, values, and life goals.
Premedical/Prehealth Advisor, continued
• Premedical students should begin meeting with their campus’
Premedical/Prehealth Advisor (at least in group or informal settings)
their freshman years.
• Meet with the Premedical Advisor once a year to discuss academic
courses, volunteer/clinical/research pursuits, strengths/weaknesses,
MCAT prep, etc.
• 2 years before the proposed entrance into medical school start meeting
with the Premedical Advisor once a semester.
• The Premedical/Prehealth Advisor can begin gathering letters of
recommendation for the student, giving in-depth advice, doing close
analysis of MCAT preparation, and possibly begin a composite letter of
recommendation for the student.
• http://www.prehealth.arizona.edu/getting_aquainted.htm
College Courses Required for
Application to most Medical Schools
• General Biology with labs (2 semesters)
• General Chemistry with labs (2 semesters)
• Physics with labs (2 semesters)
• Organic Chemistry with labs (2 semesters)
• English Composition (2 semesters)
• Math?
• THESE REQUIREMENTS CAN VARY!
CHECK WITH EACH MEDICAL SCHOOL.
The Medical School Admissions
Requirements (MSAR) Guide
• The MSAR is a book published yearly by the Association of
American Medical Colleges (AAMC) that contains
information about the process of applying to medical school
as well as a two-page spread about each medical school in
the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada.
• It is a very helpful tool in researching which schools you may
be interested in applying to, their requirements, and contact
information.
• It generally costs $25 ordered from the AAMC website
(www.aamc.org/students/applying/msar.htm), however it can also be found at
most public libraries or possibly borrowed (in slightly out of
date form) from previous applicants you know.
Academic Timeline
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4
Meet Advisors See Advisors See Pre-med See Pre-med
(at least once) Med Prerequisites advisor each advisor each
(at least once) Semester Semester
-
Complete 1st ?
prerequisites Complete degree Complete degree Submit app. ASAP!
requirements requirements
Complete degree Interview for
requirements Plan Summer Start Med School Medical School
Plan summer Extra Curricular Timeline Alternate plan in
Activities •Plan and Take the the event you must
Extra Curricular •Clubs MCAT reapply.
Activities •Societies •Finish personal
•Clubs •Workshops statement Graduate!
•Societies •Volunteer/shado •Get Letters of
•Workshops w Recommendations
•Start your AMCAS Wait to matriculate
•Volunteer/shado
w Plan Summers application
•Summer School •Prep for
Plan Summers •Volunteer Interviews
•Summer School •Summer
•Volunteer programs-SDMEP Plan Summer
•Summer •Work APPLY!
programs-SDMEP
•Work
A Word about Academia
• Pay attention to grades.
• Get help as soon as you see that you need it.
• Seek out tutorials, professor hours,
preceptors, study groups and university
resources.
• In math and science use:
http://www.tutoring.arizona.edu/
A Word about Academia (cont.)
• Learn how to use your books, student notes
and outlines efficiently at:
http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/workshops.php
• Learn what your Learning Style is here:
http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/workshops.php
• Learn study skills and test taking skills
here: http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/workshops.php
• Learn to how to succeed at college here:
http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/resources.php
A Word about Academia (cont.)
• Get to know your
Professors
• Learn all you can
about the Medical
School Process at:
http://www.aspiringdocs.or
g/
UA ACADEMIC
RESOURCES
• UA Test taking & Study skills-
http://www.ulc.arizona.edu/index.php
• UA Tutoring resources-
http://www.tutoring.arizona.edu/guide_to_
free_tutoring.htm
• UA Math & Science Tutoring
http://www.tutoring.arizona.edu/
MCAT (Medical College
Admission Test)
• 6+ hr computer based
-multiple choice / essay exam
-offered 19 times a year
• Taken 1-1.5 yrs prior to your application year
• Tests your:
• problem solving skills
• critical thinking skills
• writing skills
• knowledge of basic scientific concepts
MCAT Sections
• Writing Sample
• Verbal Reasoning
• humanities, social and natural sciences
• Physical Sciences
• physics and general chemistry
• Biological Sciences
• biology and organic chemistry
MCAT Preparation
• Take prerequisite classes prior to taking MCAT
• Light coarse load during semester of MCAT (12-14
credits)
• Study!
• Review all content areas
• Take practice MCAT exams.
• Learn the style and timing of the exams
• Consider taking a formal Review Course
• Attend one of OMA’s Mock MCAT & Workshop
sessions- www.diversity.medicine.arizona.edu
Notes About the MCAT
• Select a date that will allow for adequate time
to finish course material & study for the
exam, as well as to submit your exam score
for your application cycle – the turnaround
time for exam scores is now approximately 30
days.
• See www.aamc.org/mcat for more
information, as well as the AAMC’s online
MCAT Essentials pdf file
Notes About the MCAT
• DON’T JUST MEMORIZE EVERYTHING
AND EXPECT TO PASS!
• Be aware of how you will be tested:
• Inductive vs. Deductive Reasoning
• Analytical Processing
• Integration of Information
• Reading Comprehension
• Critical Thinking
After all you want to be a Doctor!
Notes about the MCAT
• If your test date is July/Aug/Sept, i.e. .
Medical School Admission Requirements
2008-2009. Washington, D.C.: Association
of American Medical Colleges, 2007.
University of Miami College of Arts &
Sciences Pre-Medical Student
Guidelines 2006-2007. Coral Gables:
Committee on Premedical Studies, 2006.
The End