What do Med School's Look For?
Health professional schools are interested in candidates with intellectual rigor, maturity, a history of volunteerism, a solid preparation in the science, humanities and social sciences, and "people skills."
Schools preparing health professionals seek individuals who demonstrate compassion and a sincere interest in public service. As maturity, leadership, strong communication skills, and cultural sensitivity to diversity are essential to success in the health professions, you should seek opportunities to volunteer in student associations, in community health-care settings, and in local non-profit organizations. Health professional schools believe that medically-related experiences, especially in patient care delivery, complement an emphasis on academic achievement.
Factors in Admission
Admissions committees try to construct an overall impression of you as a candidate from the various factors they consider. No single factor will guarantee your admission to any school, although some – such as an MCAT score below the cutoff point or being an out-of-state applicant to a school that only accepts in-state students – may prevent you from being considered. In general, your strength in some factors can balance weaknesses in others. You will maximize your opportunities for admission by attending to the following factors:
- GPA: Should meet or exceed the average GPA for each school to which you apply, unless you are particularly strong in another factor to compensate for a lower GPA.
- MCAT scores: Should meet or exceed the average scores for each school to which you apply, unless you are particularly strong in another factor to compensate for lower scores. Regardless of other strengths, you must score higher than official cutoff points, if any, in order to be considered.
- Undergraduate curriculum
- Graduate work, if any
- College attended
- Improvement in grades and grade distribution: Explain these in your Personal Statement
- Difficulties you have overcome: Explain these in your Personal Statement
- Clinical experience
- Research experience (critical to adding a Ph.D. )
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement or essay
- Interview
- Work experience: If applicable, explain how non-health work experiences have contributed to developing skills important to your chosen health profession.
- State of residency
- Writing skills
- Extracurricular activities
- Community volunteerism
For more information on admissions factors, download Pre-Medicine at Wisconsin or pick up a copy in UAS in 70 Bascom.
AAMC’s Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR)
The yearly MSAR provides comprehensive information for pre-med students applying to any of the allopathic medical schools in the United States or Canada. You can order your own copy of the MSAR from AAMC, find one in most libraries, or stop by 70 Bascom and look at our copy.
AACOM’s College Information Booklet
The College Information Booklet offers a brief description of each of AACOM's member colleges including admissions criteria, minimum entrance requirements, supplementary material(s) required, class size or enrollment, application deadlines, and tuition. You can download the booklet or request that one be mailed to you. Other areas of AACOM’s website provide direct links to D.O. programs, information about financing a D.O. degree, and other useful topics.