Information for Pre-medical Students

Information For Premedical Students at Springfield College

There is no checklist of items that are required or are sufficient to gain admission to medical school. Many factors are considered, and the quality of each is examined carefully. This document is intended to answer some of the most frequent questions asked by students considering a career in medicine.

Choice of major

Medical schools do not require any specific major for admission. Springfield College does not have a premedical major, nor do most schools. Although approximately 70 percent of applicants to medical school are from the biological or physical sciences, data from Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) show that there is no significant difference in the acceptance rate to medical school based on major. At Springfield College, majoring in Sports Biology rather than Biology will not improve your chances of being accepted to medical school. MSAR states “Admission committee members know that medical students can develop the essential skills of acquiring, synthesizing, applying, and communicating information through a wide variety of academic disciplines.”

Required courses

The practice of medicine is based on principles of biology, chemistry, physics and an understanding of the scientific method. Medical students are expected to demonstrate mastery of these areas of knowledge through the successful completion of certain core courses regardless of major. Although specific course requirements vary with different schools, in general most require one year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, with appropriate laboratory experiences. These courses should be rigorous and appropriate for students majoring in those subjects. Most schools also require math and English. Check the requirements of the schools to which you intend to apply for specific requirements.

You can complete the preprofessional core courses in any major at Springfield College. Most premedical students continue to choose majors in biological sciences, partly because the core requirements for medical school applicants are already contained within the requirements of the major. Majoring in biology or sports biology therefore has the advantage of allowing you to “kill two birds with one stone.” Over the last decade approximately three-fifths of all applicants to medical schools have been undergraduate biological science majors. The acceptance rate for these majors averages about 50 percent.

Admission factors

The specific factors that each medical school considers when reviewing applicants varies with the school. However, there are certain factors that all schools consider.

• GPA and academic record
• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
• Life experience
• Letter of evaluation and recommendations
• Application, including personal statement
• Interview

These factors all contribute to a picture of the applicant. No one piece of information is sufficient to get you in or ruin your chances, and the weight of each will vary with the school. Obviously the more of these factors that are excellent, the better. However, grades and MCAT are primary to the process.

When to take the MCAT

The MCAT is usually taken in the spring of your junior year. However, if you have finished the core science courses by the end of your sophomore year you might want to take the MCAT in the summer before the junior year.

Summer courses

Core science courses may be taken over the summer at schools whose standards are comparable to Springfield College. However it is preferable to take these courses during the regular school year to demonstrate your ability to perform well while taking a full course load. If you take easier courses at a less demanding school over the summer, medical schools will notice.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses

AP courses that satisfy graduation requirements at Springfield College may be accepted by medical schools as fulfilling admission requirements. Most medical schools require a year of biology with laboratory taken in college. If you use AP credit for introductory courses you should take at least two semesters of advanced biology with labs in college. Some medical schools limit the amount of AP credit that can be used.

Service

Service experiences help demonstrate altruism and a commitment to helping others. These should be meaningful, ongoing or substantial experiences. One day each year at Humanics in Action Day is probably not adequate.

Research

Research experience can be helpful in demonstrating scholarship, initiative, independence and an understanding of the scientific method. Substantial effort in this area is advisable. Schools will want to know what your role was, how independent was the work, did it result in publication or presentation? One semester in which you wrote a paper or washed dishes in the lab is probably not sufficient to qualify as research experience.

Health care experience

Working in a clinical health care setting demonstrates that you have a realistic picture of what is involved in a health career. Contact with sick people is an important aspect of health care experience. Working in the hospital billing office for one summer is probably not an adequate form of health care experience.

Preparing for the Preprofessional Committee letter

Take the initiative to get to know your teachers. You must make the effort to build contacts and develop relationships with faculty. Make yourself known, even if you are in a large class. Introduce yourself to the professor, visit during office hours, ask questions.

The Springfield College Preprofessional Committee provides a composite letter based on recommendations from faculty and staff, the background information you provide on the application form, your personal statement, your transcript, and interviews/discussions with committee members. A student should request a letter from the Preprofessional Committee in the spring semester of his or her junior year.

Affiliation/Articulation Agreements

Springfield College has a number of agreements (currently seven) with medical schools in which outstanding premedical students are identified and may be admitted to special programs. These may include programs for early admission, programs in which their medical education overlaps with their Springfield College education or in which a seat in the incoming medical school class may be reserved for them. New agreements are being constantly formulated or updated, so visit the Springfield College website for details. Go to www.springfieldcollege.edu and follow the links to academics; arts, sciences and professional studies; directory; biology/chemistry department; medical school affiliations.

Resources

There are many resources to learn more about health careers and the medical school application process. Check websites such as the Association of American Medical Colleges at www.aamc.org. Books are available for your examination in Dr. Joe Berger’s office (Hickory 106) on specific medical school requirements, strategies, writing the personal statement and more. Join the Premedical Scholars Club. Dr. Julie Smist is the faculty advisor. Speak to a member of the Preprofessional Committee.

The current members are:

• Dr. Joe Berger, Professor of Biology, Committee Chair
• Dr. Julie Smist, Professor of Chemistry, Premedical Scholars Club Advisor
• Dr. Tony Maniscalco, Professor of Chemistry and Computer Science
• Dr. Chuck Redington, Professor of Biology
• Dr. Peter Polito, Professor of Computer Science and Physics, Chair of the Math/Physics/Computer Science Department
• Dr. Susan Keys, Professor of Biology
• Dr. Frank Torre, Professor of Chemistry, Chair of the Biology/Chemistry Department
• Dr. Mary Healey, Professor of Biology, Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies.