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Pre-Medical Advising at Fresno State
There is no “premedical” major at Fresno State. A student is encouraged to choose a program of study that will be both rewarding and challenging. It is also important that a student choose a major where he or she will be successful. It is also wise to choose a program of study that a student enjoys and that offers an alternative to medical school. Generally, the major courses required for a degree in Biology or Chemistry are more compatible with those required by medical schools. The Chemistry Department offers two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA). Although either of these two degrees is acceptable as a premedical major, the Chemistry BA degree is especially designed for pre-professional students such as those planning to apply to medical schools. It should be mentioned, however, that as long as a premedical applicant completes the required pre-professional courses, then any major is acceptable (i.e. History, English, Math, etc.). Whatever your undergraduate major is, make sure that you consult with one of the two premedical advisors in regards to the courses you need to complete before you apply to medical schools. The following faculty members are the designated premedical advisors: Dr. Barbara Mayer (Chemistry Dept., barbaram@csufresno.edu, 278-2237); Dr. Lenore Yousef (Biology Dept., lenorey@csufresno.edu, 278-5364). More information about the U.S. medical schools can be obtained from the American Association of Medical Colleges ( www.aamc.org) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine ( www.aacom.org).
Required Courses
To be considered for admission to medical school, you must (in most cases) have an undergraduate degree by the time you plan
to begin medical school, and certain prerequisite courses in the sciences and math: 1 year of Biology, 2 years Chemistry,
1 year Physics, 2 semesters Mathematics. For specific course requirements and more information about the premedical program,
check the following pages from Fresno State’s Premedical Advisory Board: www.csufresno.edu/csm/programs/premed/ugprep6.html
www.csufresno.edu/csm/programs/premed
Other course requirements may vary among medical schools. Check the web sites of these schools if you are planning to apply; a
complete list can be found at www.aamc.org/medicalschools.htm.
Admission Criteria
Medical schools weigh a multitude of factors about each applicant during the admissions process, but there are several key characteristics all successful applicants share.
- Academic Record: The first is a demonstrated ability to be successful in a classroom setting. A student must have strong academic credentials in order to be a competitive applicant. It is important to not only do well in the courses you take, but also to undertake a rigorous schedule. Success in a health professional curriculum is largely determined by a student’s ability to process large amounts of information in a short period of time. Medical school is, for most students, no harder than an undergraduate curriculum – there is just so much more of it! Without a solid undergraduate academic record, there is no way for an admissions committee to know that you are capable of successfully completing the curriculum you will face in medical school. In recent years, successful medical school applicants have had an average GPA at or above 3.5.
- MCAT: Another important factor in the admissions process is your demonstrated ability to do well on standardized tests. A solid MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) score is critical to your chances of admission. Just as undergraduate grades are a predictor of your performance in medical school classes, the MCAT score is a predictor of your ability to pass board exams. The average MCAT score of a successful applicant has typically been in the high twenties.
- Commitment to Service: A third important, and often overlooked, criterion is an applicant’s demonstrated commitment to service and medical related experience. Practicing medicine is a demanding, service-oriented profession; it is vital that prospective students experience this firsthand before beginning professional school. Appropriate experiences include job shadowing, volunteer work, community service, internships, etc. It is important to have several distinct examples of service work and exposure to the profession. Even if you have known from a very young age that medicine is what you want to study and eventually practice, it is still vital that you seek out experiences that reinforce this belief.
- Extracurricular Activities: Your ability to work well with others is just as important as your academic qualifications. There are a multitude of on- and off-campus organizations available for this purpose. Generally, it is a good idea to be involved on campus outside of the classroom but not at the expense of your grades.
Application Procedure
MCAT: It is typically best for a student to take the MCAT for the first time either in August following the second year of study or in April during the third year. Questions in different parts of MCAT are based on materials covered in the prerequisite courses listed above, so the test should not be attempted until those courses have been completed. Individual circumstances will dictate when a student takes the MCAT; discuss your options with an advisor early in your program of study. More information about the MCAT can be obtained at www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm
AMCAS: The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is a centralized application service, and is the preferred method of application for most US medical schools. Students should submit their AMCAS application online (www.aamc.org/amcas) beginning in May of the year prior to entering medical school. For example, a student wishing to begin medical school in the fall of 2008 should submit an AMCAS application in the summer of 2007.