Medical School Admissions:
How to Succeed
April Troy, MPH
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Class of 2007
So How Long Am I Going to
Be in School?
Medical School: 4+ years
– Some students take time off to do research, to do an
MPH, MBA, JD, or PhD (more on this later)
Residency: 3+ years
– 3yrs: Internal Medicine, Family Practice, Pediatrics,
Emergency Medicine
– 4yrs: OB/GYN, Neurology, Psychiatry, Med-Peds, PM&R
Anesthesiology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Pathology,
Radiation Oncology
– 5yrs: General Surgery, Radiology, Orthopedics, ENT
– 6 yrs: Urology
– 7yrs: Neurosurgery
What Comes Next?
Fellowship:
– Medicine, Pediatrics or Surgery
Private Practice
Academic Medicine
Research
Government (FDA, VA, CDC)
Advocacy/Public Health
What Do I Need to Do to Get In?
BE ORIGINAL!!!
Consider a minor or second major
Get to know your faculty
Research
Volunteer Activities
Extra-curricular Activities
Clinical Exposure
Travel
Be Original
Freshmen/Sophomores
– Figure out what you’re passionate about
– DO IT!
Has to be more than going out on the
weekends!
– Consider a second major or minor
Juniors
– Figure it out fast!
– Start TODAY!
Volunteerism
Find something you love to do and create
a volunteer activity from it
Choose something you’ll be excited to talk
about during interviews
Choose something you will actually learn
from… not just something to put on an
application.
Research
Find something you’re interested in
studying
Be able to speak intelligently about your
research in interviews
– Be an active learner in the research process
Letters of Recommendation
Get to know your faculty
– Good letters of recommendation should speak
to your intelligence AND who you are as a
person… poor ones only mention that you
were the student in the 5th row
– If a recommender hesitates when you ask,
ask someone else instead.
Ask for letters EARLY not at the HPEC
deadline
Extra-curriculars
It’s important to be involved on campus
More importantly, take leadership
positions
– Shows that you are dedicated/committed
– Shows that you are organized
Choose activities that get you involved
with other people, not just things you do
on your own
Clinical Exposure
Basically a requirement for admission
If your parents are doctors, do something
outside of their fields
Do things that are interesting to you, so
that you’ll be excited when you talk about
them during interviews
“Why do I want to be a doctor?”
Have a solid answer
Make this the basis of your personal
statement
Be able to expand on your answer in your
interviews
Back up your answer with
clinical/shadowing experiences
“I want to help people” and “I like science”
are not good enough!
Academics
Are Important!
– 3.5 GPA
– BCPM GPA most important
MCAT
– 27-30 (higher for top schools)
– Take it early if you can (January or April if
possible)
– Verbal score is VERY important
Personal Statement
Why do you want to be a doctor?
What experiences in your life and in
college have led you to becoming a
doctor?
Have multiple people proofread your
personal statement
A personal statement will not get you into
a medical school, but can keep you out
Interview
Pre-interview:
– Be nice to the admissions staff in any contact
before the actual interview day
– If you have to change your interview day, do
so ONCE
– Plan your travel schedule so that you have
enough time and do not have to leave early
Interview Day
Be confident but not cocky
Be nice to EVERYONE that day
Make your answers thorough, but do not ramble
Be prepared to talk about everything you have
included in your AMCAS application
Have questions prepared for the interviewers
about their school
Some interviewers don’t read your application
ahead of time – so be able to “tell me a little
about yourself”
Now I’m In: How Do I Choose?
First two years of med school are the same at
most places
Think about what your clinical experiences will
be like
– Where will they be?
– How much will you get to do?
– What kinds of patients will you see?
Go back a second time and make sure you like
the people who will be your classmates and the
city/town the school is in!
– You need to be HAPPY to do well
What Happens During Med School
First Year: Basic Sciences
Second Year: Diseases, Drugs, etc.
USMLE Step 1
Third Year: Basic Clerkships
Fourth Year: Advanced Clerkships,
Electives
USMLE Step 2 CK and CS
Taking Time off
PhD: 3+ Years
MPH: 1 year
JD: 3 years
MBA: 1 year
Research year
– Many fellowships available for medical
students
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please feel free
to email me at puscavagea2@yahoo.com