We are excited to start working with you now to help you in choosing courses as you settle into college life. Throughout the year our office sponsors many activities to help you explore your interest in the health professions. There are also several student-run organizations that sponsor talks and meetings related to the health professions. On this page we will focus on preparation for a career as a physician; however the course requirements and application process are similar for dental schools. The 2011-2012 Guide for 1st and 2nd Year Students has more detailed information about preparing for careers in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine; select the link below to access a pdf file of this guide.
2011-2012 Guide for 1st and 2nd Year Students
THE "CORE" PREMEDICAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
For most medical schools, you apply you must have completed the following courses by the time you apply:
• ONE YEAR OF BIOLOGY, WITH LAB
• ONE YEAR OF GENERAL CHEMISTRY, WITH LAB
• ONE YEAR OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, WITH LAB
• ONE YEAR OF PHYSICS, WITH LAB
• ONE YEAR OF ENGLISH (one semester of the Emily Balch Seminar plus one additional writing intensive course that can be completed at any time prior to graduation)
NOTES ON ADDITIONAL PREMEDICAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
SCIENCE: Many medical schools require or strongly recommend one or two additional upper level science courses. A listing of these schools and their requirements can be accessed from the "Professional School Advanced Science Requirements” page the Office of Health Professions Advising website (www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/advanced.html ). We strongly suggest that non-science major premedical students take 1-2 upper level biology courses in addition to the core premedical science requirements, specifically at least one course in biochemistry.
MATH: The math requirement varies from medical school to medical school. Some schools do not require any math; many require one semester of calculus; a few require a course in statistics; and very few require two semesters of calculus. Approximately 35% of the US medical schools have math requirements. You should discuss whether or not to take calculus with your dean and the prehealth advisor. If you are thinking about majoring in a science, calculus may be an important course to take. A listing of medical schools with math requirements can be accessed from the "Professional School Advanced Science Requirements” page the Office of Health Professions Advising website (www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/advanced.html ).
AP and IB credits in the sciences: Because medical schools want to see that you can handle college level science and laboratory work, at a minimum you should take as many college level science courses as are listed in the premedical requirements. If you have AP credits, this often means that you may take upper level science courses instead of introductory courses, but sometimes the science departments will still recommend that students take the Bryn Mawr introductory science courses. If you have AP or IB credit in a science, speak to your dean and to the prehealth advisor about the best choices for your individual situation.
AP and IB credits in math: Although most medical schools will accept AP and IB credits to satisfy the premedical math requirement, some state medical schools do not accept AP or IB credits. If you have AP credit for calculus or statistics, please see your dean and the prehealth advisor for more information about medical schools in your home state.
Miscellaneous other course requirements: Although medical schools have general requirements for course work in the humanities, some state medical schools, however, have very specific course requirements in social sciences and humanities. The Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR), published annually by the AAMC, includes information about course prerequisites. Copies of the MSAR are available in the Resource Room of the Office of Health Professions Advising and on the Prehealth Reserve Shelf in Collier Library. It is important to meet with the prehealth advisor early in your college career to discuss course requirements at medical schools in your home state.
MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST (MCAT)
The MCAT is a standardized test required for admission by all medical schools. The computer-based test is offered several times per year between January and September at testing centers throughout the United States. The MCAT is sponsored by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). The AAMC's MCAT web site provides comprehensive information about the content of the test, study materials, and registration information.
http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm
The MCAT covers topics taught in introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and non-calculus based introductory physics. The MCAT assesses scientific problem solving skills and critical thinking abilities. There are four sections to the test:
Each October the Office of Health Professions Advising holds an MCAT information session at which we review the format of the test and discuss the various study methods. Usually junior and senior premedical students attend the information session, but all students are welcome to attend. Premedical students typically take the MCAT in the late spring or early summer of the year that they are applying to medical school.
Learning about the medical profession
Becoming a physician and practicing medicine requires significant personal sacrifice and commitment. You should definitely explore medicine from as many perspectives as possible to be certain that it is the right career for you. While at Bryn Mawr you can take advantage of opportunities to volunteer in hospitals and clinics, attend seminars by physicians, and participate in “focus groups,” which are informal student-run clubs devoted to exploring specific areas in medicine. You can also take advantage of the externships available through the Career Development Office. These are opportunities for you to “shadow” a Bryn Mawr or Haverford alumna/us who is a health professional during winter or spring break.
Stay informed about campus events related to the health professions
The Prehealth Listserv: Be sure that your name is added to the Prehealth Listserv. Much useful information will be sent out as e-mail over this listserv including announcements about special events on campus, research and internship opportunities, application deadlines, etc. The undergraduate student prehealth club also announces its meetings and activities over the listserv.
To subscribe to the prehealth listserv (and Bryn Mawr college listservs) go to the website: mailman.brynmawr.edu . Choose the subscription page, scroll down to and select Prehealth-1. Complete the subscription form using your Bryn Mawr e-mail address. After you confirm your subscription, your request will be sent to the listserv moderator for final approval. You can unsubscribe from the prehealth listserv at anytime by logging back into the subscription page, and completing a form at the bottom.
Important Information for International Students
While admission to medical, dental, and veterinary school can be challenging for even the best students, international students who are not U. S. permanent residents face additional challenges. It is extremely difficult for a non U.S. citizen who is not a permanent resident to secure a place in medical, dental or veterinary school. Many schools will not accept applications from non-U.S. citizens. The schools that consider applications without reference to citizenship will usually require accepted foreign applicants to pay their tuition up front; sometimes as much as four years’ tuition will need to be paid in advance of starting medical school. The cost of a four year medical education ranges from $150,000 – $250,000. Because non U.S. citizens are not eligible for U. S. government loans and other financial aid, the “up-front payment” requirement can make it very difficult for an international student to pay for medical school--even if she is accepted. In recent years, just 1% of the 18,000 students entering medical school were non U.S. citizens. Information about which U.S. medical schools accept international students can be found in the Medical School Admissions Requirements text; copies are available in the Health Professions Resource Room and the Health Professions Reserve Shelf in Collier Library. International students face very similar challenges in gaining admission to dental and veterinary school.
Note: For admissions purposes most medical schools do not differentiate between U.S. citizens and non-citizens who are permanent residents.
Read an article from the Bryn Mawr College Alumnae Bulletin about young undergraduate alumnae in medicine and their diverse and inspiring glide year experiences.