Things you need to know before entering an American university - Integrated Medical School / 'Pre-Med' Pre-Med Course, etc

Today, I've prepared this post for those who are preparing for medical school admission.

• "Is it enough for our children to aim for medical school just because they are good at math and science?"

• "Medical school places a significant emphasis on English reading comprehension skills."

• "It's advantageous for medical school admission to excel even more than students with a humanities background."

• "If you're good only at math and science, consider deeply before pursuing medical school admission."

  
  

Now, let's get into the main content.

As you prepare for medical school admission, you may have come across these four terms:

1. Combined BA/MD or BS/MD

2. Accelerated Program

3. EAP: Early Assurance Program

4. Pre-Med

If you don't fully understand these terms, it may limit your ability to acquire deeper information about medical school admission. I'll explain these terms to benefit those preparing for medical school admission.

• For high school applicants

These are two options within an integrated 8-year medical program. It's a direct path to medical school that combines your undergraduate and medical studies.

There are two ways to apply for integrated medical programs:

• For high school applicants: If you apply from high school, you need to excel academically. You can typically apply through the Common App for integrated medical programs. Make sure to carefully review the information on the medical school's website.

• Most programs require MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) scores, but some schools offer exemptions. It's crucial to check the admission requirements of the schools you're interested in. Even if the MCAT is waived, schools may have other criteria, and failure to meet them can lead to not completing the program successfully despite admission.

EAP (Early Assurance Program) Combined BA/MD or BS/MD (Integrated Medical Program) - 8 Years

• For undergraduate applicants

Another way to apply for integrated medical programs is as an undergraduate student, known as the Early Assurance Program (EAP).

• For undergraduate applicants (EAP): Typically, students apply during their second year of undergraduate studies, but some schools allow first-year applications. Since schools offering EAP are limited, maintaining a strong GPA during your undergraduate years is crucial.

The MCAT exemption status varies by school, so be sure to verify the requirements with the schools you are interested in.

Generally, integrated medical program applicants will divide into two categories based on whether they choose their major for a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree before applying for medical school. There is no significant advantage or disadvantage between these two paths.

As you can see in the chart, for example, if a student majors in a field at Stevens Institute of Technology and then applies to Rutgers University Medical School, the undergraduate and medical schools are different. On the other hand, if a student graduates from Drexel University and then enters Drexel University College of Medicine, both undergraduate and medical schools are the same. Since the medical school system is organized this way, you can easily find information online.

Accelerated Program :

An Accelerated Program typically shortens the standard 8-year integrated medical program to 6-7 years. Most of these programs reduce the undergraduate phase. However, it's important to carefully consider whether condensing the challenging 8-year medical curriculum into 6-7 years is the right choice for you.

Now, let's focus on the most critical terms.

Pre-Med Course :

One common path to medical school is through a Pre-Med program. If a student wants to enter medical school after enrolling in a college or university, they should seek guidance from advisors within the institution. Each school typically has a medical advisor who can provide information about medical school admission. However, simply having this information doesn't make preparing for medical school easy.

Therefore, some universities offer a structured program called Pre-Med to help students prepare for medical school. It's essential to understand that Pre-Med and EAP (Early Assurance Program) are different.

Even if a student enrolls in a Pre-Med program, they must still choose a major, and completion of Pre-Med doesn't guarantee admission to medical school. About 13 of the top 1-50 universities in the US offer Pre-Med programs, while other schools provide information through advisors. So, even if you attend a school that doesn't offer Pre-Med, you can still prepare for medical school with guidance from your advisor.

Choosing Your Undergraduate Major for Medical School When considering undergraduate majors for medical school, it's important to note that there's no specific advantage to any particular major. Most pre-med students come from various undergraduate programs, so the acceptance rates for these majors can vary significantly. The acceptance rate for philosophy majors, for example, might be higher because fewer students from that major apply to medical school. However, it's crucial to choose your major considering prerequisite courses required for medical school. Your major won't guarantee admission; it's your academic performance and prerequisites that matter most.

I hope this post helps many of you who are preparing for medical school.