Most premed students major in one of the sciences (especially biology or chemistry) because the curriculum of a science major satisfiess the requirements of most medical schools. Science courses also provide a strong foundation upon which to build a career in medicine, especially for those interested in medical research. However, keep in mind that a major in science is not required for admission to medical schooll, nor will it necessarily improve the student;s chances of acceptance. As long as the premed requirements are met, a student can major in whatever subject he or she prefers and still be a highly competitive candidate. It is important to realize that medical schools are interested in well-rounded students from a variety of backgrounds, and that independence and individuality are regarded as highly desirable characteristics in potential medical students.

Individual medical schools vary somewhat in their requirements for applicants. However, nearly all insist on the following:

• One year inorganic chemistry for science majors (with lab)
  
• One year general biology for science majors (with lab)
  
• One year general physics (with lab)
  
• One year organic chesmitry (with lab)
  
• One semester of engineering calculus
  
• One year English
  

The following classes offered at UT fulfill general medical school requirements:

Course	Description	Credits
BIO 311	Cellular and Molecular Biology	3
BIO 312	Structure and Function of Organisms	3
CH 301	General Chemistry I	3
CH 302	General Chemistry II	3
CH 310M	Organic Chemistry I	3
CH 310N	Organic Chemistry II	3
CH 210C or CH118K & CH 118L	Organic Chemistry Lab	2
M 408C	Differential & Integral Calculus	4
PHY 302K or 317K, 301, 303K	General Physics I	3
PHY 102M, 117M, 101L, 103M	General Physics I Lab	1
PHYS 302L or 317L, 316, 303L	General Physics II	3
PHY 102N, 117N, 116L, 103N	General Physics II Lab	1
ENG 306	Rhetoric and Composition	3
ENG 316K	Masterworks of Literature	3

*Plus at least two semesters of laboratory experience and six semester hours of upper division biology course work

*Check with the HPO for a more detailed listing of pre-med course work

In addition, UT offers a unique opportunity for exposure to the field of medicine through an educational psychology class (EDP 369K). During this course, you will be doing 60 hours of volunteer work and taking a set of logs about your experiences. In addition, you will be working on group projects. You will also be exposed to topics on medical ethics and current issues facing the field of medicine.

The premed course load is heavy. It can be more evenly distributed by completing course work in the summer sessions. Keep in mind, however that hte course work is extremely intensive in the summer. After an academic year, youmay want to work instead of attending classes - and enjoy a summer of relative relaxation! If you plan to take course work at an institution other than UT, first bring a full catalog description of the course to the Dean's office of your college to make sure that the credit can be accepted by UT as transfer credit. Remember that although trransfer credit will not affect your UT GPA, it will be figured into your GPA on the AMCAS and TMDSAS Application (See Applications).

A student may drop a course for a refund and without academic penalty up until the 12th class day. The grade of "Q" is awarded if the student drops the course after the 12th class day. There is a limit to the number of Q drops that are available to each student. While it may be better to withdraw from a course than accept an unsatisfactory grade, keep in mind that the "Q" earned during the restricted withdrawal will appear on your transcript. Be aware that after half way through the semester, a student must seek intructor approoval to drop a course. An instructor may opt to not approve a Q but offer an F instead. This should be avoided at all costs.

A grade of "X" (incomplete) is awarded by the instructor when the student is doing otherwise acceptable work and is unable to complete the course due to illness or other conditions outside the student's control. The student has one full semester to complete the coursework. If this deadline is not met, the "X" is changed to an "F". Talk to your advisor and consult the UT directory, if you have any further questions. Grades are very important to the premed student.

You should be aware of the following resouces if you need help in your classes:

1. Professors: utilize office hours. Ask questions, get help, and develop a relationship with your instructors and teaching assistants.
   
   
2. Tutors: available through Learning Skills Center. Financial aid recipients receive two hours of tutoring free each week. Most departments also keep lists of available tutors, and you can also check advertisements around campus for private tutoring, turoting services and test prep companies.
   
3. Counseling and Consultation: the stresses of college and a premed track can be overwhelming. Counseling and consultation provides confidential counseling services to all UTstudents. Services are available through the Counseling and Mental Health Center which is located on the 5th floor of the Student Services Building. The center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00am - 4:30pm. Appointments can be made by phone by calling 471-3515.

If there is one thing most preemed students agree on, it is that nothing can guarantee a person will be admitted into medical school. Every year there are stories of people not admitted with 4.0 GPA's and 13's on their MCAT. Conversely, there are always stories of people who get into medical school with GPA's below 3.0 and MCAT scores below the national average of 8. WHy is this? The fact is that there is a different equation for everyone that gets into medical school. Everyone is unique. Extracurricular activities are what can really separate a person from the rest of the crowd, even if their GPA is average. For the person with good grades and good MCAT scores, it is necessary in today's competitive environment to also have a solid and interesting portfolio that complements your academics. In other words, it is important to "cover all your bases." Make it impossible for any admissions committee not to accept you. This may seem hard to do, but keep in mind that most people have several years to do it.

We are sorry to say, but the days of coming home after school and watching Gilligan's Island, followed by 6 more hours of TV...are over. Basically, any activity (especially organized activities with other people) strengthen your character and your resume. You want to be an interesting applicant. Playing team sports, learning a martial art, playing an instrument, even organizing a naked mountain biking club can be good fun while developing your interests and practicing your social skills. (We're kidding about the mountain biking thing. That would hurt.)

These are important. Medical schools will not accept you if you don't know why you want to be a doctor. Participating in health related activities illustrates your interest in the field and also lets you know what you're getting into. Many premeds are no longer premed after a night spent in an emergency room. They discover that they hate sick people and can't stand the sight of blood.

One way premeds may gain experience in medicine is through research. Many people are scared of research because they believe you have to be a Nobel Prize winner to be involved. This is not the case. Most research positions available to students offer step by step intructions for what you'll be doing.

Perhaps the most popular way of obtaining research experience is with a professor whose class you have had. Many professors at UT are involved with research and look for student help. If you are interested in this, all you need to do is talk directly to your professor. It is also wise to talk to a professor's teaching assistants before you talk to the professor. This will allow you to find out more about the professor and what he or she does. TA's are also helpful because some professors have very good reputations for working well with students while others do not. It is possible to get into medical school without research; many successful applicants never work in a lab outside of class. However, if you find a project you are interested in, it can be an intellectually challenging and rewarding experience.

Many premeds volunteer in local emergency rooms, at hospitals as carriers, or at private practices as general helpers. A typical volunteer program requires a 4 hour commitment per week, and will give you the opportunity to see what really happens in the health field every day. Volunteering is a great way to get started along the premed path; many freshman and sophomores volunteer in the health community in order to gain experience before looking for a paid position later in college. The following is a list of local hospitals with established volunteer departments:

Most professional schools require a standardized test as a criterion for admission (e.g. MCAT, DAT, VAT, GRE). Descriptive information relating to the standardized tests (MCAT, DAT - Dentistry, VCAT - Veterinary, OAT - optometry, GRE - graduate school) is availalbe through the premedical advisors office, GEO 234. Seating is limited, so be sure to pick up and complete test information well before the examination date. This will enable you to secure a preferred testing site so you don't have to drive to a different city to take the test.

The MCAT is offered twice a year: once in April and once in August. The cost of the exam is $170. It is strongly recommended that pre-med students take the MCAT in the spring of their junior year. This allows the student to apply as early as possible to med school and gives him/her the opportunity to retake the exam in August if needed. Most (but not all) American medical, osteopathic, and podiatric schools require the MCAT. Theoretically, the test is designed to be the best possible indicator of how well a student will do with the rigorous medical school curriculum and as a potential physician. While the weight of the MCAT on the application varies by school, most schools view your scores and grades in the same light. Very few medical schools (notably The University of Rochester) do not require the MCAT. In practice, unless you are only applying to these few schools (and they still want to see scores from other standardized test) you will have to take the MCAT.

You need to realize that although the MCAT does require a basic understanding of inorganic and organic chemistry, physic, and biology its main purpose is to test your critical thinking and recommends a 10 or better. The writing sample is scored from the letters J-T (T is the best score) with O as the average score. Most schools prefer to see at least an O from their applicants. Recent exams have displayed an emphasis on interdisciplinary questions, tougher verbal reasoning passages, and organic chemistry. This difference in difficulty of the verbal passages will likely cause the previous verbal curve (recent tests have indicated a top score with 13-15) to revert back to the 1 through 15 scale.

The MCAT will probably continue the trend towards more complicated verbal passages (if you ever need extra practice material, try studying books designed to prepare for the LSAT, another test written by ACT).

Since MCAT plays such an essential role in your application to medical school, it is imperative that you prepare for it. You should take a number of courses in the humanities and social sciences to develop the critical thinking and reasoning skills that are necessary to do well. The best preparation for the writing section is course work in expository writing or composition. Courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences that have strong writing requirements are also beneficial. Other highly recommended courses include either Cell Biology (BIO 320) or Principles of Biochemistry (CH339K and CH 339L), Vertebrate Physiology (BIO 365R and BIO 365S), and possibly Genetics (BIO 325), and Developmental Biology (BIO 349).

The DAT is offered year round on computer at US and foreign testing centers. Good scores on the DAT are required for admission to all US dental schools. The test takes six hours to complete (including lunch) and examines the applicant in the following areas:

1. Knowledge of natural sciences (biology and general and organic chemistry)
2. Reading comprehension (natural and basic sciences)
3. Qualitative Reasoning
4. Perceptual ability (two and three-dimensional problem solving)

Dental schools apply different emphasis to separate parts of the test. Students should take the DAT the year preceding their anticipated matriculation intro dental school in order to ensure that schools will receive the scores early in the application season. The Dental Admission Testing Program fee of $150 includes submission of official scores to five dental schools, a personal copy, and a copy for your pre-medical advisor.

Scores on the DAT are based on the number of questions answered correctly. Since there is no deduction for wrong answers, the student should guess at the questions he/she is not sure about or does not have time to read. Scores range from 1 to 30, and a score of 15 is considered average. Scores are available immediately; official reports will be mailed to the student's chosen schools within 2 to 4 weeks. Scores are kepy permanently on file by the American Dental Association's Division of Educational Measurements. However, most dental schools will not accept the score if it is more than two years old. In preparation for the DAT, students should follow the same guidelines given for the MCAT.

The VCAT is administered three times a year, in October, November, and January. The $68 fee covers one personal score report and reports sent to as many as three veterinary colleges. The three and a half hour test includes five sections (verbal ability, biology, organic/general chemistry, math, and reading comprehension). There is no penalty for guessing, so you should answer every question. Very few vet schools still require the VCAT; most take the GRE, MCAT, or some combination of the three. Make sure you check carefully with your schools of interest to see which tests they require.

When choosing which schools to apply to, start by deciding whether you want to study at an osteopathic or allopathic school, or if you want to apply to both. Also decide whether you would prefer a research-oriented school or a comprehensive school. U.S. News and World Reports annually ranks medical schools in these categories. In addition, other sources such as "REA's Guide to American and Canadien Medical and Dental Schools" and the "Medical School Admission Requirements," published by the AAMC, provide useful information about medical schools. When you decide on schools you are interested in, write or call them to ask for their brochures and catalogs or check the web. This should be done towards the end of the fall semester of your junior year.

Curriculum is another important consideration in choosing a school. Many schools now offer systems based training (as opposed to the traditional lecture/memorize/regurgitate format). Systems based training focus on a major organ system, then discusses the relevant chemistry, genetics, pathology, etc. Some schools may also offer clinical training earlier in the program than the traditional third year. Research your options carefully, and choose a program that appeals to you.

Many premeds, when asked "So where do you want to go to school?" will reply, "Anywhere that will take me!" While the competitive climate encourages such desperation, there will likely be several schools in the scoring/GPA range that you can target as realistic possibilities. Among these, it is very useful to determine which factors are likely to make the medical school experience more enjoyable and rewarding for you. Also, when you land an interview your research will have already been done. You'll be ahead of the game.

Marion, Robert, M.D. The Intern Blues: The Pricate Ordeals of Three Young Doctors. New York: William Morrow and Company, Inc., 1989.

Dr. Robert Marion, ten years out of his own internship and supervising a small group of interns at a major New York medical center asks three of them to keep a diary of their internship year. This very candid and exciting testimony will either heighten your desire to become a doctor, or send you running to find another profession. A must read for all prospective medical students, family, and loved ones.

Weeder, Richard S., M.D. Surgeon: The View From Behind the Mask. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1988.

Richard Weeder, a surgeon, son, and brother of surgeons, introduced to the OR by his father at seven, never considered another career. In this book he describes the triumphs and the trials that are inherent in the life of a surgeon. Dr. Weeder carefully illustrates the delicate balance between compassion and detachment, science and art, self-confidence, insecurity, and many other dichotomies that characterize the life of a surgeon through sharing cases with the reader. Ultimately he describes the events that led him to leave surgery and the life that his father had chosen for him so many years earlier.

Becoming a Doctor

	A successful Ph.D. in Anthropology decides to go to medical school when he is in his forties. This is a candid account of his experiences as a medical student and resident.
	Most memorable are his experiences delivering infants and being part of the joy of this miracle. Other experiences, however, outweigh his enthusiasm and he ends back in academe. It is a strong statement in support of the philosophy "You never know until you try!" Read it. It's important to get a well-rounded view of medicine especially the not-so-glamorous parts.

Moyers, Bill. Healing and the Mind.

A collection of interviews with health care professionals regarding the importance in viewing the human organism as a creature influenced by outside stimuli as well as internal forces. The health care workers interviewd are taking unique steps in their approach to health care and preserving, not only life, but the quality of life. The second half of the book deals with Chinese medicine and the practice of T'ai Chi as regarding health and disease. Interviews with Chinese physicians emphasize the Eastern philosophy deals with the human organism as a whhole, body, mid, and spirit, as well as an integral part of the world around it. This tends to conflict the Western, technology driven philosophy of health care. These interviews are extremely inspirational and encouraging. They deal with new fields such as psychoneuoimmunology and aspects of health care traditionally left to social workers and public health workers.

Werner, David. Where There is No Doctor: A Village Health Care Handbook. Palo Alto: The Hesperian Foundation, 1992.

This is a very inspiring book about how to help people who have limited access to health care to take care of themselves and to improve their quality of life. Targeting economically deprived populations, the book covers areas such as education, home cures and popular beliefs, sicknesses that are often confused, how to examine a sick person, how to take care of a sick person, healing without medicines, right and wrong use of modern medicines, antibiotics: what they are and how to use them, how to measure and give medicines, intructions and precautions for injections, first aid, nutrition, prevention of illness, very common illnesses, serious illnesses that require special medical attention, skin problems, the eyes, the teeth, gums and mouth, the urinary system and genitals, information for mothers and midwives, family plannin, diseases of children, diseases of the elderly, and what to include in the first aid medicine kit.

Special sections treat HIV and Drug and Alcohol Addiction. Additional information discloses resources for teaching materials and how to teach people who can't read or write. The philosophy of the book is "Medical knowledge should not be the guarded secret of a select few, but should be freely shared by everyone." Also available in many foreign languages.