by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

College is the time that most pre-med students have been waiting for: they finally have the time and freedom to dig in and explore the field of medicine. Academically, pre-med coursework is mostly prescribed to meet the prerequisite coursework expected by medical schools. As a result, students look towards their involvement outside of the classroom as a way to confirm their desire to go to medical school. That exposure and reflection is crucial for creating a successful application. Medical schools do expect students to develop core competencies in addition to exploring what it means to become a doctor through experience. Admissions committees look for evidence of: empathy, ethics, compassion, maturity, leadership, and an understanding of a medical career. The experiences a student has in college, and beyond, can show all of these and more.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

In my last blog post, I reviewed the pros and cons of applying to accelerated BS/MD programs. If you’ve decided an accelerated medical program is a good fit for your educational goals, let’s move next to what the programs are looking for from successful applicants.

Many students enter their undergraduate years with their sights set on medicine. We have suggestions for pre-med activities that can positively impact med school applications. In our second and third segments, we’re answering your questions related to college finance and admissions.

by Mary Sue Youn, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor? Maybe you have always been fascinated by medicine, or perhaps this is a more recent but intense interest. As you begin your college search, you may become interested in an accelerated medical program where you apply in high school to be admitted to a seven- or eight-year track to obtain both your Bachelor’s degree and your Doctorate in Medicine. But is this type of program the right fit for you?

by Lauren DiProspero, former admissions officer at Columbia University

It can be daunting to figure out where to apply to medical school. Whether you are a few years from applying or are facing down those decisions for this application cycle, the best way to make an informed choice is to have access to high quality information and data. The only source authorized by every medical school is AMCAS’s Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) and AACOM’s Osteopathic College Information Book (CIB). These guides are subscription based and can be an ideal place to start. Ultimately, this is a long, research-intensive process and each applicant’s medical school list will look different based on their priorities and experiences.

“I want to become a doctor! What do I need to do?”

This is one of the most common questions I hear from students and their families. There is a lot of information and myths about the pre-med path, and it can be challenging to figure out what is important to consider when researching colleges.

Last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation was all about planning for what’s coming down the road. From saving for college to thinking about graduate school after college, Beth Heaton was back in the host chair to tackle it all.

In last week’s episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, Beth Heaton was back in the host chair to talk about an alternative to the standard accelerated medical program and answer more of our listener questions.