Medical School
From Unofficial Guide to Engineering
Contents |
Introduction
Many students decide that, for one reason or another, they want to receive an engineering degree AND go on to medical school. The great news is that many students are very successful at accomplishing both.
Although the majority of pre-med engineering students major in bioengineering, there are students from all other engineering disciplines that pursue medical school as well. For all engineering majors, being pre-med requires careful planning so that all of the requirements for graduation and medical school are met. Sometimes, meeting all the requirements may require taking extra units each semester or taking summer school.
Entrance Requirements
Most medical schools require the following prerequisites for admission:
- 2 semesters of biology with lab (usually satisfied with Bio 1A/1B)
- 4 semesters of chemistry with lab (usually satisfied with Chem 1A/3A/3B and MCB 100 or 102)
- 2 semesters of physics with lab (usually satisfied with Physics 7A/7B or 8A/8B)
- 2 semesters of calculus/math (usually satisfied with Math 1A/1B or Math 53/54)
- 2 semesters of English/writing composition (usually satisfied with R1A/R1B)
Some medical schools will have additional requirements including statistics or additional humanities classes. Refer to the Medical School Admissions Record (MSAR) for detailed requirements for each medical school. The MSAR can be purchased from http://www.aamc.org or can be referenced at the Career Center.
Preparing for the MCAT
1. When should I take the MCAT? For students who plan to enter medical school immediately after graduation (assuming an 8-semester plan), students should take the exam no later than April of their junior year. The exam is currently offered twice a year (April and August), so it is also possible to take the exam during the summer after sophomore year. The best time to take the exam depends on the individual, but questions to consider include “Will I be able to take a lighter course load if I want to take the exam in April?” Due to the fact that many medical schools offer admission on a rolling basis, it is highly recommended that you do not take the MCAT during the August after your junior year if you plan to matriculate immediately after graduation.
2. Where should I take the MCAT? There are numerous testing centers in the Bay Area. It is recommended that you sign up early for the MCAT (http://www.aamc.org) to get your preferred testing location. In the past, the April MCAT has taken place on the UC Berkeley campus on Cal Day. Due to the crowds and noise on Cal Day, it is recommended to not take the April MCAT on the UC Berkeley campus. Other nearby testing locations include the Oakland Convention Center.
3. Do I need to take a prep class for the MCAT? The decision of whether or not to take a prep class depends on the individual. Due to the cost of the prep classes ($1300-$1400), some students choose not to take the class. However, self studying requires a high level of self motivation. The advantages of prep classes include a complete set of study materials and full length practice exams. Students commonly take prep classes from Princeton Review, Kaplan, and Berkeley Review.
4. What classes should you have taken prior to taking the MCAT? It is recommended that you have taken Biology 1A, Chem 1A/3A/3B, and Physics 7A/7B or 8A/8B prior to taking the MCAT exam. Biology 1B (Plant Biology, Evolution, and Ecology) is not covered on the exam. Some students also advise taking a course in biochemistry (MCB 100 or 102) and physiology or anatomy prior to the exam.
Applying to Medical School
1. Can I use AP credit to satisfy the prerequisites to medical school? In general, it is a better idea to take all prerequisites at the college level, even if you received college credit from the AP exam, because college level courses give are more in-depth and comprehensive. Policies regarding AP credit vary between medical schools, so if you decide not to re-take a prerequisite class, be sure to check with each school that you apply to for their policy. The main exception that may apply to engineers is that you can use Math 53 and 54 to satisfy the math requirement. It is not recommended to pass out of Chem 1A, Physics 7A, and/or Biology 1A/1B.
2. When looking at GPAs, do medical schools take into consideration that engineering is difficult? While schools do take note of what you major in, medical schools will not add extra points to your GPA or application for being an engineer. Keeping your GPA up (3.4+) is extremely important.
3. When looking at GPAs, do medical schools take into consideration that UC Berkeley is a difficult school (there is not much grade inflation)? While schools do take note of where you graduate from, medical schools will not add extra points to your GPA or application for being an engineer. Keeping your GPA up (3.4+) is extremely important.
4. When and how to get letters of recommendation? Open a letter file (http://career.berkeley.edu/Letter/Letter.stm) at the Career Center as soon as possible. Using the letter service will save you a lot of time and effort. Letter of recommendation forms and guidelines can also be found at this website. Ask for recommendations soon after you complete a class or activity so that you are fresh in the letter writer’s mind. Try to get letters from professors from who you both received a good grade from AND knows you well. Try to avoid letters that will simply say “John Doe is an exceptional student who received an A in my class.” Most schools require at least 3 letters and will allow up to 3 more additional letters. Try to get at least two letters from science faculty and one letter from a humanities faculty member. The additional letters may come from other sources such as employers, volunteer supervisors, research mentors, etc.
5. Do medical schools require research experience? Medical schools do not require research, but if you have been substantially involved in research (or any other extracurricular activity such as volunteering), you will strengthen your application. Some medical institutions are well-known research institutions (http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/med/brief/mdrrank_brief.php) and therefore are more likely to interview and accept you with research experience.
6. What is the application process like? The application process consists of three main parts: the primary application, the secondary application, and interviews.
The primary application is available online beginning May 1 of every year. The previous year’s primary application can be found at the Career Center at any time. The earliest day you may submit your primary is on June 1. Although the deadline for the primary application submission can run into October, it is highly recommended that you submit the primary application by Independence Day.
Some secondary applications require screening and only select individuals will be invited to complete a secondary. All UC medical schools screen their applicants prior to the secondary application. In contrast, many private schools automatically send secondaries to all applicants. Secondaries are generally sent out 4-8 weeks after the primary application is received and this can be anywhere from mid-July to late in the year. Secondaries should be completed as soon as possible, preferably by late September.
Interviews are usually conducted between October and March of your senior year. Some schools assign you to a set date to interview while others allow you to choose a date. It is to your advantage to choose the earliest interview date possible.
Decisions on admission can be made as early at October 15 for rolling decision schools and as late as end of March for non-rolling decision schools.
Interviewing at Medical Schools
1. What do they ask you at interviews? Most schools just want to get a sense of who you are. Common questions include: What do you like to do for fun? What is your family like? Tell me more about your research. Tell me more about this volunteer experience. The more difficult questions that you may encounter include: In this ethical situation, what would you do? What do you think is the biggest problem in healthcare today? Be familiar with common ethical issues such as physician-assisted suicide and stem cell research. Also be familiar with the idea of socialized medicine. The best way to succeed at an interview is just to relax and be yourself.
2. How do you prepare for interviews? The Career Center offers to tape you during a practice interview. The Student Doctor Network (http://www.studentdoctor.net) offers sample questions from each medical school. Practice answering questions in front of a friend or mirror.
Links
Association of American Medical Colleges: http://www.aamc.org/
UC Berkeley Career Center FAQ: http://career.berkeley.edu/Health/MedFAQ.stm
UC Berkeley Career Center Medical School Statistics:
http://career.berkeley.edu/MedStats/MedStats.stm
Student Doctor Network: http://www.studentdoctor.net/
