Med School Application Process

Academic Performance

One of the big questions on the minds of premedical students is the matter of GPA and MCAT scores. You should be working for a GPA of 3.65, although if you can do better, you should, and if you do somewhat poorer, you need not panic. The 3.65 GPA is an average, so basically you improve you chances if you can do better than 3.65. Note also that the AMCAS application asks you to distinguish between science GPA and overall GPA, so high grades in your science courses is a must. The AAMC reports an average GPA of 3.62 (+/-0.28) for matriculants. Within the pool of matriculants, only 25% had a GPA below 3.5, and 50% had a GPA above 3.75.

The MCAT is to medical schools what the ACT or SAT are to college. Most medical schools base their required course prerequisites on the same prerequisites for the MCAT. The MCAT, or Medical College Admissions Test, is a comprehensive test based on the science content found in introductory courses including general chemistry, organic chemistry, general biology, and physics, plus writing and rheortic skills developed in composition courses and other courses in the humanities or social sciences with a strong writing component. To ensure that you have the scores available for medical school applications, you should plan to take the test by the end of June of your junior year. You will get the scores back during the summer and can arrange to have the scores automatically sent to medical schools. Actual dates and application materials can be obtained from the AAMC website (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm).

Many medical schools have an option called the Early Decision Program. In this program, you need to get all your application materials submitted by early August. You will have an interview in August or September, and will be informed of the school's decision on October 1. The catch is that you can apply to only one EDP program, you are required to accept the offer of admission, and you may not submit any general applications to other medical schools until after the October 1 deadline. If you are attracted to a specific medical school, and you have a strong academic record and application, this could be a good choice. If not accepted, you usually get placed in the general applicant pool for that school, but your chance of acceptance is no greater at this point.
https://www.dordt.edu/academics/programs/pre_health/notes.shtml