Pre-Med at Cornell

Are you interested in pursuing a career in medicine? The field of medicine has three main degree tracks - Medical Doctor (MD), a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO),  or medical scientist (MD/PhD). All require you to go to medical school, and all have the same preparatory coursework.

Preparing for Medical School
In 2008 over 500,000 applications were generated for approximately 17,000 first year medical school slots. How can you stand out? Medical schools consider not only academic ability such as grades and MCAT scores but also personal qualities and attributes. Did you demonstrate leadership, an ability to work with others, self-discipline? Did you volunteer to work in your community or spend a summer working with a local physician or at a hospital or in a research laboratory? Medical schools will scrutinize your entire academic record, MCAT scores, personal statement, and letters of recommendation looking for ability, motivation, integrity, and emotional maturity.

Majors
You are not required to be a biology, chemistry, or biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) major at Cornell to go to medical school. However, you must have enough background in these areas to do well on the MCAT and complete the prerequisites for medical school.

Choose a major that interests you, but remember that admissions committees will examine the difficulty of your academic program, evidence of academic achievement beyond regular course work, and evidence of your intellectual growth. The overwhelming majority of Cornell students attending medical school in recent years were BMB majors, and many had a double major in another area. Following this path can really strengthen your application as it allows you to meet the prerequisites required by medical schools and sets you apart from other applicants. If you want to double major, DO NOT DOUBLE MAJOR IN THE SCIENCES! Choose majors such as biology and art or BMB and English. You need to also consider your future if you don’t get into medical school or if, at the end of four years at Cornell, you decide not to apply. Choose your major(s) with alternative careers in mind. There are many health-related careers outside of medicine!

Prerequisites
Students interested in practicing medicine must naturally have a strong background in the physical and biological sciences, but equally important are those courses in the humanities and social sciences. Few schools specifically list humanities and behavioral/social science courses; however, medical schools are looking for students with a well-rounded education, exactly the liberal arts education Cornell offers. There are many interdisciplinary courses offered as part of the Dimensions program. These include things such as women's health, health economics, medical anthropology, and public health.

Specific admission requirements for the 125 allopathic and 18 osteopathic medical schools in the U.S. and the 16 schools in Canada can be found at the Dimensions Resource Center. Most schools require the following:

*Biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics are covered in the MCAT, so you will need more than the minimum classes to fully prepare for the test. Also, keep this in mind when scheduling classes and scheduling the MCAT!

*Many schools are beginning to require biochemistry. As this is an upper level course at Cornell with many prerequisites, you need to know whether or not the schools you are planning to apply to require biochemistry by the end of your sophomore year. 

Cornell Courses
When scheduling courses, keep timelines in mind. For instance, the MCAT is currently offered each year in April and August. Medical schools begin accepting applications in June for admission the following academic year. Thus, you need to complete the overwhelming majority of your premed requirements by the end of your junior year in order to do well on the MCAT and apply to medical schools.

Suggested course timeline, regardless of major:

Advanced Placement and Advanced Standing
If you enter Cornell with AP credit, closely check the requirements of the schools of which you intend to apply. Some schools will not accept AP credit as fulfillment of the course requirements. Others will accept AP credit for calculus or chemistry only if an additional course of advanced study is taken.

Internships and Summer Experiences
You need a realistic, not romanticized, view of what the life of a practicing physician is like today. Internships or summer jobs in health care facilities such as hospitals, clinics, or laboratories will expose you to the more practical side of the health profession and allow you to judge your potential in that profession. In addition, medical schools need to be assured that you are well aware of the exigencies of the health profession and that you are committed to a career as a physician.

If you need help finding an internship, speak with your advisor, visit Career Services, and the Dimensions Resource Center. Also, Dimensions has funds set aside to support student internships and independent research projects.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
All medical schools require the MCAT administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). There are three multiple choice sections to the MCAT: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, and Biological Sciences, and one writing section.

The Physical Sciences and Biological Sciences sections assess knowledge of basic concepts in biology, chemistry, and physics, and generally have a brief informational passage accompanied by a question. The writing section asks you to read two statements and respond in essay format to the statements by exploring the meaning and implications of the statements.

The multiple choice sections are reported on a scale ranging from 1 to 15, with 15 being the highest. The Writing sample is reported on an alphabetic scale from J (lowest) to T (highest). A score of "X" means the sample was not ratable. Two sample scores are below:

How important is the MCAT? Cornell students V and P in the table above took the MCAT on the same date at the same time. Both had a G.P.A. of 3.8 in the sciences and both were BMB majors. Who was admitted to medical school? "P" has embarked on a career as a physician. A total score less than 28 or any single score below 9 may harm your chances of being accepted into a medical school. If this happens, postpone your application; take the MCAT again. Life will not end!

In 2007, the MCAT will become completely computer based. The new test format will have fewer questions, take less time, and will be scored quicker. There are also several test dates throughout the year, beginning in January and ending in September.

How can you prepare for the MCAT?
The MCAT is physically and mentally rigorous; you will need to prepare for it. You can prepare on your own for the MCAT, through commercial review courses such as the Kaplan and Princeton Review, and/or through Cornell's MCAT review course in the spring. Whatever you choose, the AAMC's MCAT Student Manual is essential for you to thoroughly review. Stop by the Dimensions Resource Center to review it, or check it out at the AAMC web site.

The AAMC has practice tests for a fee. These tests are designed to give you practice with the format of the MCAT but should not be considered "sample tests". The site also lists past topics for the Writing Sample. The Dimensions Resource Center also has the latest Kaplan MCAT review text, as well as biological and physical sciences flashcards.

Cornell will be offering a MCAT review course for interested students in the spring of 2007. This course will take place over several Wednesdays and Saturdays and includes Chemistry review, Biology review, Physics review, writing critique, sample MCAT tests, and test-taking strategies. The course will be available to students at a reduced rate, including a review text and access to real MCAT exams.

How do you apply to take the MCAT?
Register to take the MCAT via the MCAT web-site. The web site also offers test prep materials, sample questions, and recommended and required readings. DO NOT MISS THE DEADLINE! The exam costs $165. If you apply to an AMCAS participating schools, your scores are automatically sent if you request release of your scores at the time of registration for the MCAT.

Many students retake the MCAT. There are many factors to consider before deciding to retake the test. Keep in mind the schools you apply to will see all of your scores and you should be prepared to discuss your reasoning for retaking the exam.

Your Application
Each medical school has its own unique selection criteria, and each entering class will have their own diversity. You will be judged not only on your scholastic achievements, but also on your potential as a physician. You can enter medical school with a less than perfect GPA and MCAT score, but you must have other characteristics that demonstrate your commitment to medicine and humanity.

The primary sources for information when you reach the planning stage for your application is the Dimensions Resource Center.

Timing is important! You should have your application complete and submitted as early as possible. AMCAS begins accepting applications June 1. Most medical schools have rolling admissions, which means applicants are accepted as their applications are received and interviews take place. Therefore, the longer you wait to apply, the fewer slots still exist.

Health Professions Committee at Cornell
Cornell has adopted a Health Professions Committee to assist you in processing your application in a timely manner, writing you a committee letter of recommendation, and uploading your letters of recommendation into VirtualEvals. Please download the Health Professions Committee Guide to review this process. If you are applying during the summer, the following materials are due to the Health Professions Committee by July 1.

• resume
• polished personal statement
• unofficial transcript
• MCAT scores
• request for committee letter and waiver form
• AMCAS ID number
• full name of each school to which you are applying
• (optional) the name and contact information for a fourth member of your HPC, and an alternate if the fourth member is unavailable
• list of evaluators including contact information
• 3 letters of recommendation (directly from the evaluators)

After receiving your completed application packet, the Committee meets to discuss your application and write a Committee letter of recommendation. Your committee letter and individual letters are then uploaded into a centralized service called VirtualEvals, accessible only by the schools to which you are applying. Using this method, your letters only have to be uploaded once, letters don't have to be mailed, and you can rest assured the medical school received all your letters at once!

Primary Medical School Applications
Your primary application will go to one of two centralized application services in the United States. AMCAS is the service used by all allopathic medical schools and AACOMAS is the service used by all osteopathic medical schools. When applying, you submit all of your application information to the on-line AMCAS or AACOMAS database; this includes your transcript, a personal statement, and lists of all your extracurricular activities. You then select which schools you want AMCAS or AACOMAS to send the information to. Of course, there is a fee to use these services and an additional charge for each school.

Secondary Applications
Most schools require a secondary application in addition to the primary AMCAS or AACOMAS application. Once your primary application is received you will be sent the secondary application directly from the school or asked to log in to their website to complete the secondary. Some forms are quite extensive, so prepare yourself! The secondaries include additional essays that are often more school specific, requests for recommendations, and additional information on your courses and activities during your undergraduate years. Again, there is an additional cost with each secondary ranging anywhere from around $35-$100 per school. Many secondaries have a 2-4 week turn around time, as always the sooner the better, and make sure to meet the deadline!

Personal Statements/Essays
Your personal statement is your chance to shine; set yourself apart. This is your chance to demonstrate your personal qualities that will make you an excellent physician. Tell a story; do not revisit your resume. Make it informal; give the committee a sense of who you are and why you want to become a physician. Make sure that your statement is clearly written and grammatically correct. Have professors, friends, family, the writing studio, and Career Services read your statement. The Dimensions Resource Center also has books with examples of essays to assist you.

Letters of Recommendation
Request "stellar" letters of recommendation. What is a "stellar" letter? A letter from someone who can attest to your maturity, ability, character, and integrity. Letters from professors and advisors will carry more weight than letters from friends or employers unless the employer can directly address your potential as a physician. Begin your search for those individuals who will be willing to write those letters as soon as you decide you truly want to become a physician. Get to know them and make sure they know you; do not blindly send a request for recommendation to someone….let them know ahead of time so they can prepare and write a stellar letter for you!

When requesting a letter of recommendation, give the recommender the following: copies of your transcript, resume, and personal statement. Also make sure to thank the recommender and when you get into medical school, send them another thank you note updating them on your admission!

Medical School Interviews
The University of Iowa College of Medicine interviewed 640 applicants last year out of 2,493 applicants; 142 are now in their first year of medical school. You are normally chosen for an interview only after your application has been reviewed and prioritized within the rest of the applicant pool (another reason to apply early!). Interviews vary at different medical schools, so come to the Dimensions Resource Center to learn more about the interview process at the school to which you've been extended an interview.

No matter where you interview, you should be prepared to discuss your motivation for medicine, your strengths, and personal experiences that will make you a good physician. Research the school too. Know the focus of the school. For example, do they emphasize research? Prepare yourself by reading up on current medical issues including the business aspects and public policy issues in the healthcare field. Ask questions of the interviewers; this is also your opportunity to decide if this school is what YOU want. To learn about the interview experience from students like yourself, go to the studentdoctor website and click on "interview feedback".

Choosing a medical school
Should you consider such things as geographic location or reputation of the school? Maybe those aren’t quite as important as where do you have the greatest chance of acceptance. There are "state" medical schools and private ones. You will have a better chance applying to the "state" school in your home state, simply because state schools have requirements for admitting residents of that state. Tuition for in-state students at state schools is usually significantly less than tuition for out-of-state students.

Private medical schools may or may not consider state of residence but can be more selective. The cost of tuition usually exceeds out-of-state tuition for "state" schools. But apply to more than one school! Apply to schools that you want to go to and those that you would settle for. You won’t be there forever and all schools can prepare you for the national boards and receiving your M.D.

Many Cornell students participate in summer research at different medical schools and/or have friend and family connections to various medical schools. All of these things also help increase your chances of acceptance. Just like anything else in life, if the medical school knows you or can connect you to something at the school, your chances of getting accepted go up.

The Dimensions Resource Center has several texts comparing medical schools. Stop by 102 West Science to look at these books!

Reapplying
What if you’re not accepted the first time you apply? What are your chances of acceptance if you reapply? Don't worry, your life will not end! The average age of first year medical students is not 22 for a reason. Schools are looking for diversity, maturity, and well-rounded students. How do you become one of next year's medical school class?

Your first step should be to contact the Admissions staff of the school that rejected you or ask the Dimensions coordinator to do so on your behalf. Ask them why you were rejected; what were the weak points of your application? Most admissions departments will discuss your application with you, welcome your questions, and recognize your continuing desire to become a physician. The Admission staff will keep note of your request and the discussion when you re-apply to the same school. They will pay attention to how your application changed and what you did to correct weaknesses. If your MCAT scores are weak, take it again but, this time, be more prepared. You may have to take additional science courses. Most importantly, demonstrate your maintained interest in medicine.

Application Checklist
The following is a general timeline and checklist for your application:

• Fall: Plan for MCAT
• February: Register for a spring MCAT (April or May)
• April & May: Take the MCAT
• May: Arrange for letters of recommendation from faculty before you leave campus. Provide them with evaluation forms, if needed, and dates and addresses for submission.
• June: Submit AMCAS or AACOMAS application.
• July: Submit materials to Health Professions Committee.
• July/August/September: Complete supplementary applications. Be aware of the deadlines for each of your applications! Don't miss these!!