Medical School Application: Conclusion and Frequently Asked Questions

If you are still reading, you must be very serious about going into medicine.  Medicine is a great field- job stability and compensation aside, I derive a great sense of personal satisfaction from connecting with and caring for others.  If I had to do it all over again, I would not change a single thing! 

Here are the major points that I hope I have conveyed above:

• Carefully consider you career choices and select one that is most suitable for you- medicine may not be the right choice for everyone. 

• College offers an once in a life time opportunity to expand your horizon, use it wisely.

• Applying to medical school is a very tedious process.  It is the culmination of all your hard work and careful and early preparation will give you the best chance to succeed.

• Enjoy your life!  Never forget to have fun while you are working hard to reach your goals!



Is it true that the institution you are attending as an undergraduate will be less like to take you as a medical student?

No, each institution usually takes more of their own.

What do you think of Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) and Caribbean medical schools?

Assuming you are an intelligent individual, you will be trained just as well.  However, it is a distinct disadvantage when you apply for residency programs, especially the more competitive specialties.

Does it matter what my major is in college?  I heard that it may increase  your chance of acceptance if you major in non-traditional subjects such as philosophy.  Will it help if I double major?

It doesn't matter what your major is or if you double major in college.  I encourage you to major in a subject that interests you! 

Do you think I should use a professional service to help me with the application process?

Not necessarily- I think most people can do well by themselves.  If you are disorganized, professional application services may be the answer for you.

One of the new majors popular amongst premeds is physiological sciences- a lot of the major requirements seem to be similar to what you'll take in medical school (i.e. anatomy).  Should I major in physiologic sciences?

If you will learn the same things all over again in medical school, then I believe you should major in something else as an undergraduate to broaden your horizon.  I don't think this major will give you a distinct edge in medical school or the application process.

I had a horrible interviewer when I went for my top choice medical school interview, what do you think i should do?

It is possible to ask for a second interview if you feel your interviewer conducted him or herself inappropriately.  You can write or call the admissions office to inquire about it.  However, it is not uncommon for interviewers ask random and seemingly unrelated questions or even to be a little hostile.  Some interviewers want to find out how you think on your feet and how you react to stressful situations.  It is not completely unreasonable since you'll likely encounter these situations many times during your career.