How to Get into Medical School
Getting into medical school requires effort, careful planning, and the ability to rise to one of the biggest challenges you’ll ever face.
Up next in How to Get into Graduate School (5 videos)
Whether you're interested in law school, medical school, business school, or some other graduate program, this Howcast video series is for you.
You Will Need
- Education
- Discipline
- MCAT preparation materials
- Volunteer experience
Steps
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Step 1
Major in pre-medicine
Major in pre-medicine if it’s offered at your school. If not, enroll in the prerequisite courses.
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Some schools recommend psychology, cell biology, genetics, and additional writing courses.
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Step 2
Do well in your courses
Do well in all your courses, particularly in the premedical courses. Medical schools look at grades closely.
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Some schools require a 3.5 grade point average in order to apply. Doing well in your major tells a prospective school that you’re committed to the study of medicine.
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Step 3
Do research
Participate in research with your professor. Co-authorship on medical research will rank you higher in the application process.
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Step 4
Do well on the MCATs
Do well on the MCATs. Practice, get tutoring, and purchase prep software or an MCAT prep book.
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Step 5
Volunteer at a hospital or clinic
Volunteer at a hospital or local clinic. This will help you decide if it is what you really want, and schools will see it as commitment.
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Step 6
Choose the right school
Be sure you choose the right school. Apply to several -- a few long shots, several competitive, and a few back-ups in case your first choices say no.
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Did you know? Harvard Medical School’s class of 2008 had students from 34 states and 13 different countries.
