Gaining acceptance to medical school is an incredibly coveted process, but not one that is a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Adding to the stress, myths and misconceptions about pre-medicine can make it difficult to understand what direction a student should go in. Below are 9 of the most common misconceptions within pre-health fields, and the truths as pre-medical students have experienced them.
Myth #1: You need to be a Biology/Chemistry Major
By: Keree Bhalodia
To begin, pre-medicine is not considered a major. Pre-medicine (or any other pre-health designation) is just that: a designation. You simply declare to your university that you intend to pursue a career in any one of those fields following matriculation. Once you do so, you have free reign to decide what major you would like to declare. Biology and chemistry majors are common choices for pre-med students, who often enjoy those classes (or believe that this major helps for a background on the MCAT), but there is no pressure for you to pursue either of these.
As long as you fulfill the requirements necessary for applying to medical school — taking prerequisite courses (generally english, biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics: see AAMC), sitting for the MCAT, receiving letters of recommendation, etc. — you can do anything. While it may be convenient to synthesize your medical school requirements with your major, taking upper-level courses that you have no interest in will absolutely detract from your medical education and even make you a weaker candidate. In choosing a major, you need to exhibit passion for the subject and show medical schools across the country that you are a fine, well-rounded student.
Myth #2: You must have a 4.0 GPA
By Daniah Chowdhury
Many people feel that the only way to get to a medical school is to get a 4.0 GPA. For this, many people think medical schools are filled with academically gifted people who never sleep and only study from eight in the morning to 11 at night. Although medical schools take your GPA into account when making a decision, extracurriculars are a must if you want to go to medical school. These show medical school admissions officers that you take initiative and care about doing more rather than just studying. Good extracurricular activities can range from doing research, being involved with pre-med organizations on campus, shadowing, volunteering, being a scribe, etc. These extracurricular activities can help you when you write your medical school application essay and when you get into medical school interviews. Admissions officers don’t want a robot that can easily burn out, they want a human. Just showing a stellar GPA and no extracurricular activities can convince medical schools that you may burn out easily and they want a generally well-rounded student. However, do not just go into any extracurricular activity; think about what interests you and if you can make an impact doing that particular activity. Are you going to enjoy this activity or are you merely doing it just to build up your resume?
In addition to extracurriculars, your application essay and the interviews you have for medical schools are very important factors that medical schools take into account. As I have said, medical schools want humans. Take note of funny stories that happened in the lab, mistakes you made that you learned from, different things that you did. Admissions officers love stories, tell them a story (but don’t lie about the story.) Your application essay asks you why you want to be a doctor. Helping people is not a good reason you should put down. You have to think about what you saw and did to create a good idea as to why you want to go into the medical field. You are a compassionate human. Show this to your future medical schools.
As you may know, the MCAT is the exam you must take to apply to medical school. Much like the SAT, it’s an important factor for medical school admissions officers to take into account when making their decision. However, having a stellar GPA and a stellar MCAT with 1-2 extracurriculars that served little to no impact in your 4 years as an undergraduate shows medical schools that you do not take initiative and you have little to no understanding of the medical field. However, having 14 extracurriculars with a low GPA and MCAT score can show that your priorities aren’t balanced. You should have a good amount of extracurriculars that have made an impact on you and show your initiative in addition to doing well in school.
Myth #3: The reputation of your undergraduate school matters
By Keree Bhalodia
Choosing a university where you will spend the next four years comes with incredible pressure. Adding to that by considering the ‘prestige’ of the university can be incredibly destructive to your perspective on the college search.
The most important factors to consider relate to resources and what the university can offer you; rather than hinder your chance of success, your university should have resources and courses that improve your medical school admission chances. Schools like Harvard or Yale sound amazing and succeeding there is certainly possible, but the incredibly competitive atmosphere makes attaining a higher GPA more difficult. On the flip side, however, ensuring that the caliber of classes will prepare you for medical school is equally important.
For example, choosing to attend Baylor University has personally been one of the greatest decisions I could have made. Though the university isn’t absolutely well-known, touring the university allowed me to see the dedication towards pre-medical students. I was afforded the chance of research my freshman year (not necessary but something I was passionate for), I can communicate with my professors directly (and had supplemental instruction outside of class), and my pre-medical advisors are extremely accessible to make sure I’m on track. The medium-sized nature of school meant I could develop connections without being drowned out, and I even had the chance to stay at a pre-health dorm where I could study and grow alongside other pre-meds, while learning surgical laparoscopy.
I’m speaking on this as personal experience to show you what I value in a university, but this may be incredibly different from you. Definitely consider personal aspects as well: how close to home will you be? What is the social atmosphere like? Does it feel like home?,
It’s a difficult choice, but remember – just because the name sounds fancy doesn’t mean it’s the best environment for you.
Myth #4: College professors hate you
By: Daniah Chowdhury
All throughout high school I would hear horror stories of how college professors would not care about me and that I have to be independent in order to succeed in college. Going into college I thought it was going to be the scariest thing I would have to experience in my life. I go to a relatively small college where the largest amount of students I had in a class was around 50. This made it easier for professors to know who we were. But I didn’t want to be known as the girl with the glasses who sits at the front and does well on the exams, I wanted my professors to know my name. Attendance isn’t a mandatory thing in college unlike high school; it’s up to you if you want to go to class and learn the material, your professor is simply a guide in the right direction. If you want your professor to notice you, you have to take it up a notch. For general chemistry, I would always stay after to complain about a homework question that was correct but the website tells me I’m wrong or even to simply ask how my professor’s morning went. I would go to office hours when I could to talk about specific topics I struggled with and even managed to help him with his research. Professors want you to pass and if you don’t do well on an exam, you can always go to them to ask to review certain things or even to get a head start on what’s going on. In addition, if you want to feel focused during class and have an easier way to communicate with your professor, I would suggest sitting in the front of the class and asking questions when whatever you’re doing seems difficult. College professors don’t want to bite you, they’re there to help you. Your professors will be writing your medical school recommendation letters, so remember to have a good rapport with them. If you are starting college this fall 2020, email your professors in the beginning of August and introduce yourself. Make sure they understand that you want to do well in their class.
Myth #5: You won’t have a life as a pre-med
By: Nicolette Ramirez
The rumor that you will have absolutely no life as a pre-med is completely false. Actually, if you manage your time properly, you will have a lot of time to explore other extracurriculars or even just have fun with your friends. Adjusting to the college experience is incredibly difficult at first and takes time to get the hang of. Don’t freak out if the college experience seems overwhelming at first or you feel like your adjustment period is taking longer than you would expect; with hard work and self-care (!!!), things will fall into place.
Also, when applying to postgraduate schools (just like undergrad!), extracurriculars are seen as favorable. Showing an institution that you can handle a heavy workload and have time to enrich yourself in non-academic and academic activities will really improve your chances of acceptance. These outside activities don’t always have to be academic, either. Being an active member of a mentorship program or club/varsity sports is equally as important as being a part of your school’s debate club or a pre-health club. Reach out to your student life center and go to club fairs throughout the year to find some activities you’re interested in!
Myth #6: Every pre-med is trying to obtain an M.D.
By: Nicolette Ramirez
The field of medicine has thousands of roles, and as important as doctors are, medicine and healthcare should be seen as a team effort. While most of the pre-requisites for the various careers are similar, not everyone will have the same path after they graduate with their Bachelor’s. I highly suggest asking your classmates and professors about the path they took/are taking and the kinds of medical positions that may fit your desires, passions, and abilities (we should all try to be realistic in our career goals). Find which career is best for you.
P.S. Don’t feel discouraged if you feel like everyone you talk to is going for an MD. There are pros and cons to every career and you shouldn’t focus on what everyone around you is doing. Find the career that best fits your needs and passions. Also, I promise that at least 20% of people who say they’re going for an MD their freshman year of college will change their mind by their senior year. Have an open mind and don’t feel pressured to stay in one lane if you find a better fit.
Myth #7: You have to go to medical school right after you graduate
By: Rexhina Ago
During my time in pre-med, there were multiple students who wanted to start medical school immediately after finishing their pre-medical career. If you are one of those students, you have to be exceptionally prepared by the end of your Junior year in college.
Let me initially explain the timeline of a pre-medical student who wants to start medical school immediately after college. After your three years as an undergrad, you must start your medical school application in May/June of your Junior year. As medical school applications roughly take about a year to be processed, including your interview, you need to start getting involved in extracurriculars in your freshman year or even earlier if possible.
Opportunities in which you could be involved in your freshman year could be shadowing physicians, working as a front desk in a clinic, volunteering, working for your college, or getting involved in clubs offered at your university.
If you are one of your students, that is amazing. However, if you are not, that is even
better. Let me list some of the reasons which make having a “gap year” better. During your gap year, you will be able to enrich your resume in more ways than in college while being stressed with classes and homework. Making efforts to focus mostly on your homework and some extracurricular activities would be more beneficial than trying to “juggle” school work and multiple activities. What I would recommend would be focusing mostly on classes as well as participating in medicine-related opportunities such as shadowing physicians, participating in your medical association club at your campus, and volunteering about once or twice a week. When you have graduated, you will have some external medical experience and more time to study for the MCAT.
Myth #8: You must know your exact career
By: Keree Bhalodia
Medical school and residency, for freshmen undergraduates, is a long time away. Having an exact plan for what you want to do, besides the fact that plans almost always change, is absolutely not a necessity to continue down the path of pre-medicine. The important aspect about declaring the designation, however, is truly having a reason and a passion for choosing to do so. For some people, that means having an exact focus where they can spend their energy and know exactly how to tailor their approach. For others, that means knowing that medicine is a noble profession with great sacrifice, and willing to make those without being sure where your place is. Medicine is all-encompassing and it takes many, many people for the entire system to run efficiently. It’s not illogical to want to play a role, without exactly knowing what that role is.
Sometimes, pre-med requirements can be taxing and it is incredibly easy to lose focus on why you’re putting the time, effort and sacrifice for a profession. This is a case where I’d personally argue having exposure to medicine through shadowing and/or volunteering becomes vital. Keeping your effort on remembering there are people who always need help means you know your work will pay off, even if your career isn’t set in stone. Putting yourself out there, into the real world of medicine, shows you what the field is like first-hand and what you can expect to be doing in your upcoming years. Especially with the COVID-19 pandemic, it may not be possible for you to find these sorts of opportunities. This is when networking and reaching out to resources becomes incredibly important. Reach out to all sorts of medical professionals in all sorts of specialties; ask them honest questions about their field that may guide you towards exploring a speciality.
Learning about medicine and the fields that it holds should be fun, interesting and exciting! Don’t bring unnecessary pressure on trying to nail a specialty, but consider what you like and what you don’t. For pre-meds, medical rotations come your 3rd and 4th year of medical school, when these sorts of decisions become more final. As long as you know that a career in healthcare is what you want and are willing to work for, exposure to medicine will bring the rest.
Myth #9: Any minor you have must be science-related
By: Kshama Patel and Yuktha Shanavas
It’s a common belief that any major or minor you declare must be focused on science so you can be competitive for medical school. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. You have the freedom to pick whatever you want and are passionate about. For example, I’m majoring in Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor certificate in cross sector leadership. The fellow pre-med writer on the section is majoring in Biomedical Sciences and minoring in infection control. Both of us have a minor in a subject that isn’t hard science. However, they represent the topics we’re passionate about and in our medical school applications the schools will be able to see that. In fact, having a diverse minor would be a great interview question for them to ask and for you to expand on what you care about. Along with that, the diverse minors adds an element of uniqueness that will help you stand out from the thousands of other applicants that have only a hard science background. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, college is the time to explore what interests you in addition to medicine and having a minor is the perfect way to represent that.
Medical Wonders 