Preparing for Medical School
Procedures, Comments, Opinions
Fifth Edition
Dr. Kyle S. Knight
Dr. Manuel F. Santiago
Department of Chemistry
UTC
Introduction
Do you really want a career in medicine? You will need to make a life-long commitment to study and learning. You must have interests and high abilities in fundamental science and a genuine concern for people. You should have a set of good attitudes, enjoy challenging problems, and work well under pressure. During your undergraduate work you should take special care to acquire the skills required of any professional in a science-related discipline: to be able to gather and critically analyze data, to use scientific principles to solve new problems, to be able to communicate clearly both orally and in writing, to display critical and creative thinking. You should be comfortable carrying a heavy load of science courses.
The purpose of this booklet is to collect in one place information and opinions that are often not written anywhere else, but are nevertheless important for any student interested in preparing for medical school and in presenting the best possible credentials. Also, realistically, the information presented here can give a clear and early signal to students who may not ultimately qualify.
The competition for admission to medical school is keen. For example, recently there were about 1800 applications for 60 positions at ETSU. On the other hand, UTC is an excellent university to do premedical studies. Our university usually places 8-10 students per year in medical schools.
Residency
In selecting students for admission to UTM and ETSU medical schools, preference is given to Tennessee residents. Non-residents and international students without permanent residency status are not encouraged to apply.
Course Requirements
A student interested in medical school should seek advice from a campus pre-medical advisor within their first academic year. During the meeting with an advisor, the student will have a better understanding of the requirements to be a successful applicant. Medical schools expect a student to have completed the following:
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
This test will evaluate the applicant’s problem solving, critical thinking, writing skills, and knowledge of science concepts/principles. It is a standardized, multiple-choice examination. The exam is composed of four parts: verbal reasoning, physical sciences, writing sample, and biological sciences. The majority of medical schools require an applicant to submit MCAT exam scores. Generally, scores are valid for up to three years. Additional information can be found at the website links listed below along with other information that can be helpful during your preparation for medical school.
- Biology
Eight semester hours of modern concepts of general biology including laboratory are required. Courses in botany do not meet this requirement. An applicant, particularly a non-science major, is strongly encouraged to pursue upper level coursework in the biological sciences beyond the minimum requirement. Such courses might include biochemistry, cell biology, comparative anatomy, embryology, general genetics, histology, immunology, mammalian physiology, microbiology or related courses.
- Physics
Eight semester hours of physics that must include laboratory credit are required. The courses must adequately cover mechanics, heat, light, sound, electricity, and magnetism. Survey courses will not satisfy this requirement.
- English
Six semester hours of freshman English are required. The applicant should have a strong background in the use of both oral and written English. A student who qualifies for advanced placement credit in English will not be required to take additional English courses, although such a student is encouraged to do so.
- Chemistry
Sixteen semester hours of chemistry are required. General chemistry and organic chemistry will satisfy the minimum hours. It is recommended that an applicant take courses in inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry. Each of these courses must be a complete, standard, college-level course utilizing full laboratory facilities. In instances where a student feels uncertain of their preparation in chemistry and wishes to take additional work, biochemistry is recommended.
At a minimum, a student should have 90 semester hours from an accredited college or university. This can be obtained by taking recommended courses such as biochemistry, cell biology, cell physiology, microbiology, embryology, histology, human anatomy, and mammalian physiology. The recommend courses will provide a foundation for success in a medical curriculum.
It is strongly recommended that an applicant obtain direct exposure to the practice of medicine through volunteer experiences or employment opportunities at a health care facility. The applicant should involve themself in extra-curricular activities, on and off campus, to broaden their experience and development.
To be a successful applicant, a student should seek information from various website sources and the schools that the student is interested in applying to for their medical education. The website links below should provide you with the information to start your preparation for admission to a medical school.
Application
Deadlines for the completed application: November 15 (UTM), December 1 (ETSU), for the following September entering class. Both UTM and ETSU use the AMCAS on-line application service. In the application, the written essay is particularly important. Your written essay should have the following qualities: extremely well-written, no spelling or grammar errors, personal and interesting, within the required length limit. You should be trying to make yourself stand out in some quality way and be unusually attractive to the admissions committee. Avoid the usual “I’m not interested in money...I just want to help people.”
Be sure to present some hospital or medical work (or volunteer) experience on your application.
Recommendations
Besides earning good grades, there are many common sense ways to be impressive and successful. Be on time for classes - you will stand out when you are late. Follow instructions, keep appointments, don't lose materials that your advisor gives you, don't be overly grade and point conscious. Be active in your major department. It is not just grades which go into a recommendation letter.
For Chemistry majors, Dr. Waddell and Dr. Santiago will help in the preparation of the composite faculty reference report (the PreMed Committee Report). Clear instructions are printed below. Follow these instructions carefully.
The student is now required to provide the faculty a Permission Letter. This is intended to protect your privacy, but allows the recommender to emphasize you performance in your letter to highlight your achievements.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING PREMEDICAL EVALUATION FILE:
1. Obtain from your pre-medical advisor three white reference forms.
2. On each of the forms, complete the upper portion, including your signature/date waiving right of access.
3. The white form must then be returned immediately since it will be used to prepare a composite of 3 evaluations from 3 UTC professors.
4. Deliver the Preprofessional Evaluation forms in person to 3 UTC professors who know you reasonably well. They should not all be in one department, nor do they all have to be science instructors. Your advisor will provide this form. See below.
5. Discuss with each of these professors your career plans and ask each to return the completed form to your pre-medical advisor through campus mail in a timely manner. Encourage these faculty members to attach some typed written comments.
6. The composite preprofessional evaluation file will be prepared from these 3 responses. Photocopies of this file can be sent to any medical school to which you are applying.
7. To have your file sent to a medical school, bring to your advisor a stamped & addressed envelope, with no return address. Your file will be sent out promptly in a day or two. Please note that it is a lot easier if you will bring in several envelopes at a time rather than one-by-one over several days or weeks.
8. One or two supporting letters from employers, physicians, clergy, etc are often helpful in your application. These letters must go directly to the medical school and do not involve the above process.
9. Your file will be kept for 5 years and you may request its use up to that time.
PREPROFESSIONAL EVALUATION
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE AT CHATTANOOGA
Name of applicant S.S. Number
Appling to Medical School
Applicant’s wavier of the right of access to confidential statement: I hereby freely and voluntarily waive my right of access to any information contained on this recommendation form and agree that the statement shall remain confidential._______________________________________________________ ______________(Student signature) (Date)
(The evaluator will rank you as Outstanding, Good, Satisfactory, Poor, or No Chance to Observe in the areas below)
GENERAL IMPRESSION
COMPETENCE IN THE LABORATORY
COMPETENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
WRITTEN EXPRESSION
ORAL EXPRESSION
ATTITUDE TOWARD STUDENTS
ATTITUDE TOWARD TEACHERS
SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY
MOTIVATION
MATURITY
Based on the above evaluation, the candidate is: (Evaluator will select one of the five ratings)
Recommended as outstanding
Strongly recommended
Recommended
Recommended with reservations
Not Recommended
MCAT
Prepare carefully for this important exam. Take the MCAT only when you have had more than the minimum courses and are very well-prepared for the science content and for the challenging style of the exam. Practice books are available at bookstores. Reading, writing, and thinking skills are emphasized. To be competitive at UTM and ETSU, you will want to achieve 50th percentile (ca 8) or better in all subjects. Admission to private medical schools usually requires 10-12 scores.
The MCAT exam should be taken in the Spring of the junior year or, at the latest, the Fall of the senior year. Application information and deadlines are available at the UTC Testing Center, 425-4288.
Adult students preparing for medical school often present a special problem. They are often in a rush to complete the minimum requirements, apply for medical school, and take the MCAT before completing recommended advanced chemistry and biology courses. The MCAT should not be taken without the best preparation. The minimum courses alone are, in reality, not sufficient preparation for the MCAT and for a favorable consideration by admissions committees. There are no disadvantages to being an adult student applying for medical school. What’s your hurry?
MCAT review courses: We have no opinion on this. Medical schools do not necessarily encourage them because they might give an advantage to students who can afford the expense. Do they help? Maybe. However, such a course alone, without lengthy, rigorous, independent preparation will yield disappointing MCAT results.
Interview
Your goal is to make a good impression. Be prepared - to be yourself, to be communicative, to have good questions if you are asked, to be thoughtful about current issues in the medical field (but do not have "prepared script" answers), to explain any weakness in your record, to know something about the school, to respond thoughtfully to upsetting or unexpected questions. Be prepared - but do not be too prepared. It is our experience that ETSU considers the interview especially important. The interviewing committee may be composed of not only physicians, but also upper-level medical students or any member of the medical school faculty.
Here are some questions that have been asked at medical school interviews:
Why should we admit you over an equally qualified applicant?
What do you do in your spare time?
What will you do if you do not get into medical school?
What do you think your greatest weakness is?
What are your greatest strengths?
UTC PreMedical Society (founded 1995)
Premed students are encouraged to become members of the UTC PreMedical Society. This organization serves many functions: to maintain a bulletin board for communicating information; to manitain a central library of materials; to provide information regarding interviews, MCAT preparation, and hospital work experience; to arrange seminar speakers and coordinate visits to medical schools. Dr. Santiago and Dr. Waddell advise this group.
Conclusion
It is strongly recommended that each premedical student have an acceptable "Plan B". Since the competition is so high for available positions, not all good, qualified, deserving students get into medical school. Have a healthy mind about this. Good science students have many opportunities for rewarding careers in science or other health fields. Pharmacy, dentistry, optometry, PA programs, and graduate work in medical science are just some of the possibilities.
Finally, listed below are the premedical advisors at UTC. It is recommended that these faculty members be consulted often regarding this topic of Preparing for Medical School.
Dr. Kyle S. Knight (Chemistry
Dr. Manuel F. Santiago (Chemistry)
Dr. Tim Gaudin (Biology)
Dr. Margaret Kovach (Biology)
Important Addresses:
UT-Memphis
College of Medicine
62 S. Dunlap, Suite 400
Memphis, Tennessee 38163
Phone: 901-448-5529
Fax: 901-448-7683
Medical Center Plaza
910 Madison Ave. Suite 500
Memphis, Tennessee 38163
Phone:901-448-5559
Fax: 901-448-1740
ETSU College of Medicine
Stanton-Gerber Hall
VA, James H. Quillen College of Medicine
Maple Ave., Bldg. 178, Room C221
Mountain Home, TN 37684
PO Box 70580
Johnson City, TN 37614-1708
(423) 439-2033
Fax (423) 439-2110
Contact MCAT for questions about registration and test administration:
MCAT Program Office
P.O. Box 4056
Iowa City, IA 52243
(319) 337-1357
mcat_reg@act.org
For information about MCAT Testing History (THx) Report System
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/sendscores/testhistory.htm
For policy and research information about the MCAT:
MCAT
Association of American Medical Colleges
2450 N Street, NW
Washington, DC 20037-1127
TEL: (202) 828-0690
mcat@aamc.org
American Medical College Application Service
Assoc. of American Medical Colleges
2450 N Street NW Suite 201
Washington, DC 20037
Electronic applications:
http://www.aamc.org/
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm
Go to the Student Guide to Health Careers
Return to Dr. Knight's home page
Return to Dr. Santiago's home page
Return to the Department of Chemistry
Return to the Department of Biology
Return to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga home page
