MEDICAL School :
By Denis A. Foretia &
Dr. Awungjia Leke-Tambo
Denis Foretia is a medical student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He received his Bachelors of Science (Hons) in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC).
Dr. Awungjia Leke-Tambo is a Resident Physician in Internal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine- Texas Medical Center in Houston-Texas. She received her Medical Degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia-Pennsylvania and her BA in Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota Morris in Morris- Minnesota.
Becoming a Medical Doctor is a very challenging, rewarding and interesting undertaking that allows one to engage
in one of the most intellectually intriguing professions out there. For one thing, medicine offers a unique
perspective: the art of healing as promulgated by Hippocrates, Galen in the early centuries and more recently by prominent American Physicians such as William Osler in the twentieth century, forms the epicenter of the medical profession. Until the Flexner Report was released in 1912, formal medical training in the United States was dysfunctional at best. In the 19th century, most medical education in the United States was administered through 1 of 3 basic systems: an apprenticeship system, in which students received hands-on instruction from a local practitioner; a proprietary school system, in which groups of students attended a course of lectures from physicians who owned the medical college; or a university system, in which students received some combination of didactic and clinical training at university-affiliated lecture halls and hospitals. In a nutshell, there was no standardization of medical training. In his 1912 Report, Dr. Abraham Flexner concluded that
"If the sick are to reap the full benefit of recent progress in medicine, a more uniformly arduous and expensive medical education is demanded."
The widespread implementation of these recommendations has led to the creation of a strikingly rigorous,
demanding, expensive, and standardized system of medical training in the US today. The privilege of being a
medical doctor is seen in the remarkable depth of trust that exists between patients and physicians. The
diversity in medical specialties offers a formidable array of choices when considering a medical career.
Like all other professional careers, matriculating in a medical school, and a US Accredited institution in particular, requires frank determination, unwavering resilience, a unique desire for excellence and above all, a well thought-out strategy for success. Without these, one's chances of getting accepted into a program are extremely slim. The gate into medicine is still wide open. All you have to do is commit to it.
The Traditional medical degree (M.D) is a four (4) year degree program usually subdivided into two years of basic science studies followed by two years of clinical rotations. In addition to the M.D Degree, students can also complete various Joint degrees such as M.D/PhD, M.D/MBA, M.D/JD, M.D/MPH etc. The length of these Joint Degree programs varies for various Programs but usually range from five (5) years to 7-9 years. The M.D/PhD track is usually best for individuals who, in addition to being clinicians, desire to conduct "bench-research" in a specific field. I must add that an M.D/PhD is not a pre-requisite to become a clinical researcher. The best thing to do is to talk to medical students, medical doctors and other medical practitioners about your plans and seek their counsel.
Please find below additional information that covers various requirements for admission into Medical school. The following are included: [Click on a link to access the appropriate section]
| GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL |
|
Make sure you are familiar with the content of the website of the Association of American Medical
Colleges
http://www.aamc.org.
The vast majority of U.S Medical schools require applicants to have at least a Bachelors degree from
any field of study. Applicants must have completed all pre-medical requirements which usually include
courses in English, Biology, Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, Calculus and some courses in Physics.
Check with the Admission Offices at the schools you are considering making sure you are in compliance
with all requirements. There are many applicants with Advanced degrees (Masters, PhDs etc) and it is
no mistake that securing a place in the 16000 available spots around the country is a very tedious and
competitive process.
How competitive your application is has a lot to do with your undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA).
Most current medical students had an undergraduate GPA of 3.5/ 4.0 or greater. The more competitive your
application, the more likely you are to be accepted at one of the Top programs with the availability of
various scholarships.
The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess problem solving, critical
thinking, and writing skills in addition to the examinee's knowledge of science concepts and principles
prerequisite to the study of medicine. The test is divided into four sections: Verbal Reasoning,
Physical Sciences, Writing Sample, and Biological Sciences. Medical school admission committees consider
the MCAT scores as part of their admission decision process. As of January 2007, this exam will be
exclusively computerized. The MCAT score is reported for three Sections (Verbal Reasoning, Physical
Science, Biological Science), each with a maximum score of 15 for a cumulative score of 45.
To be competitive, you should aim for at least a double digit score on each section
(i.e. at least a 10/15 per section for a combined score of at least 30/45). The National average
hovers around 26/45. Plan to take the MCAT during your junior year of college.
The personal statement is an opportunity for you to communicate your thoughts, aspirations and insight.
It is an avenue for you to "sell yourself" to the admission committee, highlighting your strengths and
outlining strategies to improve on potential weaknesses. It should convey your sense of commitment to
medicine and the impulse behind your drive to make a difference in people's life.
Talk about the experiences that have shaped your personality and modified your outlook of life.
Above all, be candid about yourself. It is called a "personal statement" because members of admission
committee want to know more about you. Make sure you have someone read your drafts and give you feedback.
It is absolutely important that there be no grammatical errors or rambling in your statement.
Reading sample personal statements should be of great help to you.
You must submit at least three (3) letters of recommendation to the various programs you are applying to.
These letters should be written by professors, health professionals or supervisors that are well
vested with your work and capabilities. It is advisable to have someone you are very familiar with and
who can write you a strong letter rather than some "big-shot, Head of Department" who does not even
remember your last name. The key to having a good letter is getting the recommenders very early in the
application process and scheduling the necessary interviews to update them on the various activities
you have been engaged in, in the last couple of months. Most medical schools require that the Letters
be sent directly from the Office of Health Professions (if your campus has one) or directly from the
recommenders. Make sure you are aware of how the process works in your school. Have your letters ready
on time and meet with the necessary individuals to arrange for submission to the various programs.
There are 125 Accredited U.S medical schools offering a total of approximately 16,000 positions for the
approximately 30,000 applicants annually. Your choice of where to apply should take into consideration the
reputation of the program, the availability of scholarships, the percentage of out-of-state residents
accepted annually, the size of the incoming class, the availability of research opportunities and the
percentage of underrepresented minorities in the incoming class. No matter how competitive your
application is, you should apply to at least six (6) programs. With the very competitive nature of
medical school, applying to many schools only increases your chances of being accepted at a great program
with a full tuition scholarship and opportunities for research and publication. Plan ahead of time and
talk with the Career Counseling staff at your institution. Ideally, you should have your completed
application submitted to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) as early as
September for the regular admission program. Only 117 US medical schools participate in the AMCAS
Application process. So make sure your schools participate in the program well before completed
applications are due.
Your completed application (undergraduate transcripts, MCAT scores, letters of recommendations, application
fees, personal statement, and AMCAS application) should be sent to AMCAS as soon as possible, usually
before November 15th of the year prior to your anticipated matriculation date. So, if you intend to start
medical school in August 2008, you should submit your completed AMCAS application by November 15th, 2007.
Most schools will complete a primary screen of all applicants and request that a selected group of applicants
complete a Supplemental application. This supplemental application is usually an opportunity for you to
write on a particular medically related topic or for you to write more about yourself and personal philosophy.
After the supplemental application is received and reviewed by Admission Committee members, a decision is
made to either invite you for an Interview or Not.
Most, if not all, US medical schools require you to meet with at least a member of the Admission Committee
for a formal interview. This is a BIG deal. If you don't yet have a closet of "professional" clothing, you
may want to seriously start thinking about it. The interview gives you an opportunity to market your
strengths, an opportunity for you to see the campus, its infrastructure, key players and the general
atmosphere. It gives the Admission Committee an opportunity to gauge your personality, preferences and
personal perspective on general and medically related issues. The key to the interview is being prepared,
self-confident and candid. Though it may be very difficult to relax at the onset of the interview, you
will find it worthwhile to have at least a couple of mock interviews before your first Official interview.
Know your material cold. Know all the important names that have to be known. Be ready to discuss the
details of your research or other activities you have been a part of. Always give your opinion if asked
rather than saying you have not thought about a particular topic or do not have an opinion.
Be an active listener and make eye contact. Though Cameroonians are always late to an occasion,
this is one of those occasions you don't want to be a Cameroonian (i.e. you don't want to be late)!
Do not forget to send Thank You Notes to all your interviewers.
A final decision on whether to Admit, Wait-List or Reject will be made after your interview and you will
be duly notified. The interview process is very expensive as you have to travel to all of these programs
which are usually scattered in several states. Plan your finances accordingly.
Once accepted into a program, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
to be considered for various Federal and State grants. You should contact the Financial Aid offices of
various programs to inquire about available aid. Many programs have various scholarships in the form of
tuition coverage, books, as well as stipends. Most of these scholarships are dependent on continued
enrollment in the program and maintenance of a good academic status during your medical school years.
There are many programs with minority scholarships, but most programs consider GPA, MCAT scores,
leadership potential and financial need in the determination of what scholarships to award members of
the incoming freshman medical school class. Again, a strong application will only serve you well.
With or without scholarships, the availability of highly lucrative careers as a physician makes the
potential debt accumulated throughout medical school much less of a problem. Thus, being in debt should
not prevent you from pursuing your passion.
