I want to be a doctor? MCATS?

Question

ok i want to be a doctor i always have but i messed up in high school so now i have decided to go to CC first. my friend who just GOT in to MED school advised me to do as he did and do a double major in science. he did biochemistry and chemistry. i dont like chemistry much. i am ok at it but i love biology. so he advised me to major in biology and microbiology. would that help me get a high score on MCATS? he got near perfect score.

Answer 1

While the MCAT is very important, it is not the end-all-say-all for medical school admission.

Here are some helpful tips for building a strong medical school application:

1. Volunteer at a local hospital. Medical schools are placing more and more emphasis on getting clinical experience while studying as an undergraduate. It tells the medical schools that you have spent time in a hospital, have observed doctors working, and that you are sure medicine is the right career for you. It also allows you to portray yourself as a compassionate person and gain a sense of accomplishment by volunteering your time to help others.

2. Do well in your medical school prerequisite classes. Ideally, you want to get an "A" in every class you take. That is not possible for everyone, however. It was not possible for me! Make sure you concentrate the majority of your time and effort on the classes that really matter: biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, math, and physics. While getting an "A" in your history class is nice, it does not mean much when it is sitting next to a "C" in organic on your transcript. On your medical school application, they have a spot for your total GPA and your science GPA. Schools like to see a high science GPA. Doing well in your science classes (aka actually learning the material rather than cramming for exams) will really pay off when you take the MCAT. Schools also look at your performance in specific classes on your transcript. For example, there is a moderate correlation between your performance in organic chemistry classes and your performance in medical school courses. Think about this while studying as an undergraduate. Also, make sure to TAKE ALL OF YOUR MEDICAL SCHOOL PREREQUISITES AT A FOUR YEAR SCHOOL! Community college is fine for general education classes, but medical schools like to see you taking your important classes at a four year school.

3. Start studying early for the MCAT. If you take the April test, start studying November. Spend something like 30 minutes a day studying, and it will pay off in the long run. It is also helpful to take an MCAT prep course, specifically for the full-length simulated practice exams. It is not the material on the MCAT that is difficult. It is the amount of material covered and the length of the exam (about 8 hours). Practice exams let you know what areas you need to devote more time to and get you acclimated to taking an 8 hour exam. I received a 24 on my first practice MCAT and received a 35 on the actual test. Prep courses do help, if you are willing to shell out the dough (took mine through Kaplan).

4. Get to know your professors. Most medical schools require three letters of recommendation from class room professors. The more personal your letters of recommendation are, the better off you will be. The best way to get to know a professor is to undertake a research project or work in their lab. Many schools have honors research programs or job listings for labs. It is also a good idea to enroll in some classes with a smaller number of students. If you actively participate, professors will remember you.

5. Work on your writing skills. Medical school applications require you to complete endless essays. If you can put together an articulate and well-organized essay, you will be a more appealing candidate. While what's in your essay is important, how it is written will also go a long way. When you are writing your essays, head over to your college's English department. Many departments will have a free student writing center. You could also seek the help of an English graduate student or professor.

6. Get involved in activities you are passionate about. Research, volunteering, student organizations, intramural athletics, clubs, etc. You do not need a huge list of activities to impress admissions committees. What you do need are a handful of activities that you really enjoy and are passionate about. Many essays and interview questions will focus on what you enjoy doing outside of school. Having a few activities makes this a lot easier on you.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

Answer 2

It may help, but you can get into medical school with any major as long as you have the prerequisite classes the medical schools require. These classes alone would cover the subject in the MCAT. Besides these classes, which anyone wanting to go to medical school would have to take, the best chance for getting a high score on the MCAT is by taking a prep course for the exam. Not only will this more specifically cover the topics in the exam, but it will also give you good practice for the exam format.

Answer 3

Well as someone who is a senior in college now and going through the medical school admission process now, its not easy.
I went to a community college and got my associates degree before I transferred to a 4 year university and I am so glad I did. First of all CC are a lot easier, so you can get all of your basics knocked out fairly easy (don't get me wrong its still tough, just not as demanding as a 4 year universiry) and quickly and then when you get to a 4 year university you can focus on your upper level classes which for me was nice. Any major will get you into medical school. If you like biology and don't really like chemistry then don't major in chemistry. But honestly check out the degree requirements for EVERY major that semi-interests you. You WILL have to take Organic Chemistry I and II to be eligible to enter medical school and for me I only needed one other class to minor in chemistry and then my major is in biology. I made a decent score on my MCAT (the highest score is a 45, National Average is a 24, I made a 33), I applied to several schools and had very good interviews with many. I was lucky and got into the school of my choice, but realize that they want and look for well rounded individuals. They want someone who is down to earth a good student but ENJOYS LIFE!
Best advice...Study and major in what YOU like, Do your absolute best in ALL of your classes, STUDY for your MCAT NOW!!! (trust me on this, buy a book and start NOW!), Participate in activities that you like and enjoy, Volunteer at a hospital in your spare time (it will allow you to observe what goes on in a hospital and also let you learn how snobby doctors can be lol), Most importantly believe in YOURSELF and don't let ANYTHING or ANYONE stand in the way of your dreams!!!

Good Luck to YOU!!!!

Answer 4

ap bio, yes. But you need 3 quarter general chem, 3 organic chem, 3 bio, 3 physics, and 3 calculus and good english comp. You certaintly have the passion and skills. Yes, you need the MCAT to get in. Nowadays they focus more on your involvement w/ medical (ie volunteering) than GPA alone because premed is hard. You should have a good 4 year major to fall back on and I believe you still need all of med school. MCAT is hard since its cumulative. Study study study and get your mind involved with a lot of science shows. Gamma Epsilon Delta I believe was a good chapter to be involved in. Do try scholarships! -GL-!

Answer 5

First bit of advice: Write like someone with a bit of education. Capitalize your I's. Would YOU want to go to a doctor who writes like you do? (Medical school applications include essays)

Next: Study what you love. Take MCAT prep courses if you feel you need it. If you can't excel in college science courses, you won't survive med school. It's not that it's super hard, but it's a LOT of information presented VERY FAST (sometimes by professors who speak little English).

Community college probably won't prepare you very well for the MCATs or for medical school. You don't need to go to Harvard, but you should go to an accredited four-year college, and you should get A's and B's with moderate effort.

Good luck.

Answer 6

do what you enjoy in college, meeting the rquirements of med school though, better grades are morn important than alot of scineces, they'll teach you all the science you need in med school, so go ahead and major in what you enjoy, doesnt have to be a science