Pre-Medicine

Careers

A career in medicine is an outstanding way to serve others. There are many healthcare professions in which you can share your intellect, gifts, compassion, and education to help others, such as the following.

• Combined MD/PhD
• Physician assistants
• Dentistry
• Veterinary medicine
• Osteopathic medicine
• Pharmacy
• Nursing
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Optometry
• Podiatry
• Forensic science
• Chiropractic medicine
• Genetic counseling
• Public health
• Public health
• Medical assistant

Graduate School

Going on to graduate school or medical school with a UMN Morris degree will make a difference. Medical school acceptance rates of UMN Morris graduates are significantly higher than the national average. In recent years, UMN Morris graduates have been accepted at medical schools like:

• Duke University
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• St. Louis University
• Temple University
• University of Chicago
• University of Iowa
• University of Minnesota Duluth
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• University of Nebraska
• University of North Dakota
• University of South Dakota
• Wright State University

Medical School Admission

Admission into medical school is extremely competitive. In addition to good grades and a strong MCAT score, you will need the best possible academic preparation and extracurricular experience. If you attend UMN Morris and earn good grades while gaining the relevant extracurricular experience, you'll have a greater chance of being accepted into medical school. Most UMN Morris graduates with a 3.5 or higher GPA have been accepted to accredited United States Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs and/or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) programs. 

The MCAT Exam and the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) are key to the medical school application process. Be sure to review the material on their websites thoroughly. You are responsible for making sure that your medical school application files are complete.

It's a long road to medical school, and the process begins sooner than you think. Take the following steps throughout your undergraduate career.

1. Freshman Year

   • In the first week of General Chemistry, put your name on the pre-med sign-up list that will be distributed in class.
   • Talk with your adviser about your pre-med plans and confirm that you are registered for the right classes.
   • Attend the freshman pre-med informational meeting mid-fall. You will be notified of the event via email.
   • Start thinking about study away and patient care opportunities to pursue outside of class or during breaks.

2. Sophomore Year

   • Continue to work with your adviser to ensure that you are taking the right courses and getting valuable patient care experience outside of class.

3. Junior Year

   • In the fall semester, register for an MCAT exam date.
   • Attend the junior pre-med informational meeting in the spring semester to learn more about the MCAT and the application process. If you are on the pre-med email list, you will receive an email about this meeting.
   • Form an MCAT study group.
   • Start talking to people about writing letters of recommendation on your behalf.
   • Start thinking about what you are going to write in your personal statement (part of the medical school application).

4. Summer after Junior Year

   • Take the MCAT exam (June is best for most people).
   • In June, open your AMCAS application account, enter your grades and other information immediately, and work on your personal statement.
   • Submit your AMCAS application before the end of June, if at all possible. Be ready to complete and submit secondary applications as they come in.
   • Confirm that your letters of recommendation have been submitted and received by AMCAS.

5. Senior Year

   • Interview at medical schools.
   • Enjoy your acceptance letters!

MCAT Exam

Although it's offered many times throughout the year, plan to take the MCAT by the end of June if possible. You will need to register for this date months in advance. Register at the MCAT website after your desired test date opens. In addition, keep in mind:

• The MCAT is required for all medical schools.
• The MCAT is not offered at UMN Morris.
• Use the MCAT preparation material available in bookstores and at the MCAT website. 
• The MCAT test takes more than six hours.
• The test has four sections:
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• You can take the MCAT more than once if necessary, but all scores will be on your record. Your goal should be to take it just once.
• Your MCAT score will be added to your AMCAS application. Your MCAT score is given considerable weight by admissions committees.

AMCAS Application

The AMCAS is “a non profit, centralized application processing service for applicants to the first-year entering classes at participating United States medical schools.” You need to fill out an online application. AMCAS then transmits copies of the application and your MCAT score to the medical schools you designate. Establish an AMCAS account as soon as it becomes available (early May) and enter your grades right away. This will initiate the grade verification process, which can take several weeks. Then you can work on the other parts of the application over the summer. Many medical schools (including UMN Twin Cities and Duluth) have rolling admissions so it’s good to start early. After reviewing your AMCAS application, a medical school that decides you meet its minimum criteria will send you a secondary application. This and the accompanying letters of recommendation will determine whether or not you get an interview for that school.

Note that Doctor of Osteopathy (D.O.) schools are not serviced by AMCAS. To apply to most DO schools you will use a similar service called AACOMAS.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are sent to AMCAS and, per your instructions, AMCAS distributes them to medical schools, usually to be considered with a secondary application. There are three types of recommendations: individual letters, pre-med committee letters, and pre-med committee packets. UMN Morris does not send committee letters or packets, so you will be sending individual letters.

You should arrange to have three or four letters to be written for you: at least one should come from a science/math professor (a member of the pre-med committee if possible) and at least one from a non-academic recommender (e.g., a supervisor at one of your healthcare-related jobs or experiences or a doctor with whom you have shadowed extensively). Start talking with people in March or April about writing letters for you. Confirm that individual letters have been sent to AMCAS.

Different medical schools have different requirements for letters of recommendation, and these change frequently. You will receive, along with your secondary applications from each school, specific instructions regarding letter requirements. Read these instructions carefully, and work with your letter coordinator to make sure that you are sending the appropriate materials to each school. Confirm directly with each medical school admissions office that all letters and forms have arrived and have been put in your file.

Personal Statement

The personal statement, or essay, is one of the most important things you will ever write. Plan to review and revise many times. Seek feedback from several people. Be specific about events and experiences that influenced your decision to become a physician. Be concrete and organize your thoughts into strong paragraphs.