Get Into Medical School!
A Guide for the Perplexed
Revised
Kenneth V. Iserson, M.D.

ISBN # 1-883620-31-7
493 pages, bibliography, index
©Galen Press, Ltd. 1996 - 2004

CATALOG # 024 $36.95

Extras:
Can You Spot the Errors?
TEN TIPS FOR WRITING EXCELLENT RESUMES
FACTOIDS ABOUT MEDICINE, SPECIALTIES, & RESIDENCY
Get the Facts About a Medical Career
THE PREMED CHECKLIST

A step-by-step guide to preparing for, selecting, and obtaining a medical school position. Numerous figures, detailed charts about medical and osteopathic schools illustrate the medical school selection process. The Must/Want Analysis provides a way to rank both undergraduate and medical schools to meet your individual needs. This unique book provides invaluable practical tips and information about medical school admission, preparation during high school and undergraduate years, the MCAT, applications, interviews, foreign schools, financing medical education, and what to do when you are accepted.

This comprehensive companion answers the following questions:

· Do I want to be a physician? What options does medicine offer?
· How can I prepare during high school? Undergraduate school?
· What are the differences between the M.D. and D.O. schools and special programs
· Which medical schools should I apply to? Should I consider foreign schools?
· What is the MCAT exam? How do I prepare for it?
· How do I complete applications? Prepare a résumé? Write a personal essay?
· How do I prepare for the interview? What questions should I ask? What shouldn't I ask?
· What questions will they ask me? How should I answer?
· What special problems will I encounter if I am a woman? Minority? Physically impaired? Older?
· How do I choose between schools that accept me?
· How do I pay for a medical education?
· After I'm accepted, then what?

REVIEWS

A one-source book for aspiring physicians. It addresses the key issues that make applicants lose sleep. Rich in details, but fun to read. A must for the applicant who wants to know the ropes before getting caught in them.
-Dr. James Tysinger, University of Texas College of Medicine, San Antonio.

One of the best books I have read in 29 years of medical student admissions work.
-Dr. T. John Leppi, Assoc. Dean, Univ. of North Texas Health Sciences Center

The book for premed advisers and advisees! A great book!
-Ursula Bishop, Prehealth Advisor, Cal Poly, San Luis Obisbo, CA

A treasury of useful information for students contemplating a career in medicine and application to medical school.
-Dr. Donald G. Kassebaum, Vice Pres., Assoc. of American Medical Colleges

As a perplexed parent of a student now in the process of choosing a career path, this book answered every question I had about medical school admission and many of the questions I hadn't even thought of yet!
-Esther Berren, Tucson, AZ

ISBN # 1-883620-31-7
493 pages, bibliography, index
©Galen Press, Ltd. 1996 - 2004

CATALOG # 024 $36.95

Chapter 1: A Medical Career. Should You Become a Physician? Why You May Not Want to Be a Physician. What Are the Steps to Become a Doctor? Basic Rules for Success.
Chapter 2: Medicine's Scope. Jobs. Medicine's Future.
Chapter 3: Specialty Descriptions.
Chapter 4: Osteopathic Medicine: The Other Degree. Why Are There Two Different Degrees? Why Choose a D.O.-granting Medical School? The Osteopathic Curriculum. Impact of an Osteopathic Degree on a Medical Career.
Chapter 5: Preparation In High School. High School Academics. A Taste of Medicine: Volunteer and Work Opportunities. Information about Medicine: Realism versus Reality. Getting into College.
Chapter 6: Undergraduate-Medical Degree Programs. Accelerated Programs. Schools with Combined Undergraduate-M.D. Programs.
Chapter 7: Undergraduate Preparation. "Best" Preparation for Medical School. "Must/Want" Analysis: Undergraduate School. Medical School Requirements. Extracurricular Activities. Interacting with Your Professors. Premedical Advisers. Transferring From a Junior/Community College. Accelerated and Early-Assurance Programs. Early Admission.
Chapter 8: Women In Medicine. Women as Premeds and Applicants. Women in Medical School and Beyond. Marriage, Pregnancy, and Children.
Chapter 9: Minority Applicants. Acceptance Rates. Successful Minority Applicants. Information for Different Minorities. Special Preparation Programs. Applying to Medical School. Once You Get Into Medical School.
Chapter 10: Unconventional Premed Students. Physically Challenged/Disabled Applicants. Older Applicants. Postbaccalaureate Premed Students. Other Unconventional Students.
Chapter 11: The Medical College Admission Test. Description. Preparation. Test-Taking Hints. Test Disruptions. MCAT Scores. Registering for the MCAT. Test Security. How Many Times Should You Take the MCAT?
Chapter 12: Applying To Medical School. Medical School Applications. Bad Options: The Desperate Application.
Chapter 13: Essays, Recommendations, And Secondary Applications. Personal Statements and Essays. Reference Letters. Secondary Applications. Photographs. Assessing Your Chance for Acceptance. Communicating with the Schools.
Chapter 14: Admission Committees And Procedures. The Screening Process. Selection Criteria. A More Perfect Application System? The "Perfect" Applicant.
Chapter 15: Picking The Right Schools. Differences among Medical Schools. Comparison Charts for U.S. and Canadian M.D. and D.O Medical Schools.
Chapter 16: Which Medical Schools? The "Must/Want" Analysis. Playing the Odds: To How Many Schools Should I Apply?
Chapter 17: Foreign Medical Schools. Approved/Nonapproved Schools. Who Should Consider Going to a Foreign School? Who Attends Foreign Schools? Useful Safeguards. Choosing a School. Transferring into U.S. Medical Schools. Clerkships in the United States. Fifth Pathway Programs. Returning to the United States for Residency and Practice. ECFMG Certification. Getting a Residency Position. Obtaining a Medical License.
Chapter 18: Paying For Medical School. Financial Planning/Debt Management. Obtaining Financial Aid. Scholarships with No Payback Obligations. "Scholarships" with Payback Obligations. Loans. Other Funding Sources. Paying It Back.
Chapter 19: Combined-Degree Programs. Combined M.D./D.O.-Ph.D. Combined Medicine-Law. Combined M.D.-Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. Combined Medical-Master's Degrees. Pros and Cons of Combined-Degree Programs. Applying to a Combined-Degree Program.
Chapter 20: Preparing For The Visit. The Interview. Dressing the Part. Packing.
Chapter 21: The Visit. Travel. A Typical Medical School Visit.
Chapter 22: Preparing For The Interview. Before You Go. Basic Interview Rules. Interview Materials.
Chapter 23: The Interview. Why Interview Applicants? The Interview Day. A Typical Interview. Noninterview Visits.
Chapter 24: Your Questions. The List: To Ask Faculty. The List: To Ask Medical Students. Confirm Questionable Points. What Not to Ask. What Not to Do. Steering the Interview. Why Interviews Fail. Evaluation of Applicants. Sell Yourself.
Chapter 25: The Questions-The Answers. Presenting Yourself. Types of Questions. Questions and Answers. Illegal Questions.
Chapter 26: Waiting For, Choosing, And Accepting An Offer. Waiting: The Hardest Part. Early-Decision Programs (EDPs). Acceptance Letters. What Else Do You Need to Do? Have an Alternate Plan. Rejection. Reapplication.
Chapter 27: Getting Ready For Medical School. Prerequisites. Time Management. Other Considerations. Locate Special Resources at School. Getting Organized at School.
Chapter 28: Alternatives To Medical School. Physician Assistant. Advance-Practice Nursing. Dentistry. Podiatric Medicine. Optometry. Naturopathic Medicine. Chiropractic. Forensics. Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Nursing. Other Careers in Medicine. Income. Summary.
Chapter 29: Now You Are A Medical Student.
Chapter 30: So You Want To Go To A Different Medical School? Transferring between Medical Schools. "Away" Electives. Merged Medical Schools. Closed Medical Schools.
Appendix A: Abbreviations And Acronyms.
Appendix B: Contact Information .
Appendix C: Postbaccalaureate Premed Programs.
Appendix D: Medical School-Sponsored Summer Programs.
Appendix E: Medical Schools.
Annotated Bibliography.
Index.


LIST OF FIGURES

1.1: Typical Premed Activities.
1.2: Applicants to and Acceptance Ratios for U.S. (M.D.) Medical Schools.
1.3: Number of Schools and First-Year Positions at U.S. and Canadian Medical Schools, 2003.
1.4: Change in Number and Percentage of M.D. Physician Specialists, 2000, 2010, and 2020.
1.5: Average Weekly Work Hours of Different Specialists.
2.1: Characteristics Associated with Entering a Primary Care Specialty.
2.2: American Board of Medical Specialties (M.D.)-Approved Specialty Boards, Certifications, and Special Qualification Categories.
2.3: American Osteopathic Association (D.O.)-Approved Specialty Boards, Certifications, and Special Qualification Categories.
2.4: M.D. and D.O. Physicians in Practice by Specialty.
2.5: States with the Most Physicians Per Capita.
3.1: Length of Postgraduate Training for M.D. Physicians.
3.2: Length of Postgraduate Training for Osteopathic (D.O.) Physicians.
3.3: Is This Specialty For You?
3.4: Effect of Lifestyle, Income, Work Hours, and Years of Training on Specialty Selection.
4.1: Average Osteopathic Curriculum: Basic Sciences (Preclinical).
4.2: Average Osteopathic Curriculum: Clinical Years.
4.3: Countries That Allow Unrestricted Medical Licensure of D.O.'s.
4.4: Osteopathic Specialties, Programs, and Number of Positions.
4.5: Osteopathic Graduates in ACGME-Approved Programs.
7.1: Average Annual Undergraduate School Tuition.
7.2: "Must/Want" Analysi: Undergraduate School.
7.3: Undergraduate School "Must/Want" Analysis-Example A.
7.4: Undergraduate School "Must/Want" Analysis-Example B.
7.5: Usefulness of Premed Courses as Medical School Preparation.
8.1: Students Accepted into M.D.-granting U.S. Medical Schools, by Gender.
8.2: Women Enrolled in Osteopathic Medical Schools.
8.3: Percentage of Women in First-Year Class at Selected Medical Schools.
8.4: Percentage of Women Residents and Fellows in Selected Specialties.
8.5: Women's Representation in Selected Specialties.
8.6: Women M.D. Faculty in Various Specialties.
8.7: Model Family Leave Policy for Medical Schools.
8.8: Women Physicians' Complications during Pregnancy.
9.1: Average MCAT Scores and GPAs of Accepted Applicants by Race/Ethnicity.
9.2: Attributes of Students Who Were Not Accepted by Medical Schools.
9.3: Undergraduate Schools that Produced the Most Black Medical School Applicants (2002).
9.4: Undergraduate Schools that Produced the Most Native American Medical School Applicants (2002).
9.5: Undergraduate Schools that Produced the Most Mainland Puerto Rican Medical School Applicants (2002).
9.6: Undergraduate Schools that Produced the Most Mexican-American Medical School Applicants (2002).
9.7: Undergraduate Schools that Produced the Most "Other Hispanic" Medical School Applicants (2002).
9.8: Undergraduate Schools that Produced the Most Asian-American/Pacific Islander Medical School Applicants (2002).
9.9: Criteria for Selecting a Medical School.
10.1: MCAT Scores by Examinee's Age.
10.2: Acceptance Rates for Medical School Applicants by Age.
11.1: Typical MCAT Schedule.
11.2: Percentages Correlating to MCAT Raw and Scaled Scores.
11.3: Average MCAT Scores of Applicants and Matriculants.
11.4: Percent of MCAT Retakers Changing Their Scores.
12.1: Application Record.
13.1: Personal Statement/Essay Writer's Checklist.
13.2: Rating Sheet for Medical School Applicants.
13.3: Elements of a Reference Letter.
13.4: Request for Reference Letter.
14.1: Applicant Selection Process.
14.2: Positive and Negative Personal Attributes in Medical School Applicants.
14.3: The "Imperfect" (Real) Medical School Matriculant.
14.4: The "Perfect" Medical School Matriculant.
15.1: Length of Required Third- and Fourth-Year Rotations.
15.2: Median Annual Medical School Tuition and Fees.
15.3: Average Percentage of Full-Time Medical School Faculty in Various Areas.
15.4: Medical School Admission Requirements-Courses.
15.5: Medical School Admission Requirements-Other.
15.6: Medical School Specifics.
15.7: Medical School Applicant Statistics.
15.8: Medical School Application Information.
16.1: "Must/Want" Analysis for Medical School.
16.2: "Must/Want" Analysis-Example A.
16.3: "Must/Want" Analysis-Example B.
16.4: U.S. News & World Report 2003 Rankings.
17.1: Recent Pass Rates for USMLE.
17.2: Percentage of All Entering Medical Students Who Graduate.
17.3: IMGs Practicing Medicine in Various Specialties.
17.4: Requirements to Practice Medicine, Do Postgraduate Training, or Be a Clinical Research Fellow in the United States (Patient Contact).
17.5: Types of Applicants Filling PGY-1 and Advanced Positions in Specialties through NRMP Match.
17.6: Graduate Education Requirements for Licensure.
18.1: Personal Budget for One Year of Medical School.
18.2: How Far Will My Paycheck Go?
18.3: Physician's Median Annual Income after Expenses and before Taxes.
18.4: Influence of Indebtedness as It Relates to Medical Students' Career Choices.
19.1: Schools Offering Formal Combined-Degree Programs.
20.1: Packing a Suitcase.
21.1: Air Travel Made Easier.
21.2: Medical Schools: Interviews and Visits.
22.1: Interview Notes.
23.1: Typical Interview from the Interviewer's Viewpoint.
23.2: Elements in the Communication Process.
24.1: Guidelines for Effective Listening.
24.2: Factors Influencing an Interviewer's Behavior.
24.3: Warning Signs for Interviewers.
24.4: Key Personality Traits Interviewers Seek.
24.5: Interviewer's Rating Form.
25.1: Illegal Questions-Sex Discrimination.
25.2: Other Questions-Legal and Illegal Forms.
27.1: Life Activities in Medical School (Example).
27.2: Prioritized Life Activities in Medical School (Example).
28.1: Health Care-Related Careers.
28.2: The Freddy Kruger Principle: No Pain, No Gain.

©Galen Press, Ltd., 1996-2004

Extras:
Can You Spot the Errors?
TEN TIPS FOR WRITING EXCELLENT RESUMES
FACTOIDS ABOUT MEDICINE, SPECIALTIES, & RESIDENCY
Get the Facts About a Medical Career
THE PREMED CHECKLIST