III. MEDICINE

The addresses of the medical schools in Texas are:

To prepare for admission to the medical schools in Texas, a student must have at least three or (preferably) four years of college, including the following courses:

Biol 1406, 1407, and two additional courses such as 2420, 3440, and/or 3470,

(Baylor only requires freshman biology.)

Chem 1411, 1412, 3411, 3412.

Phys 1401, 1402 (or 2425, 2426).

Engl 1301, and 1302, or 1374.

Math 2376 or 2413 (choice depends on degree requirements).

Behavioral/social science one course, required by TCOM only.

The courses listed in the preceding paragraph are the minimum requirements, and applicants are in competition with students who have had additional courses in each of those disciplines (suggested electives: Biol 2420, 3440, 3470, 4410, 4405; Chem 2401, 3331, 4411, 4412). The courses should be "meshed" with the requirements of the bachelor degree chosen by the preprofessional student. A minimum of 90 hours are required at all Texas Medical schools except the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine which requires 60 hours.

[Before a student considers taking any course at a junior college, the appropriate professional school should be contacted to determine if the course(s) will be accepted.]

Guidelines for Applying to Texas Medical Schools. Medical schools usually assess six basic factors to judge performance in college and other qualifications for admission. These factors are residency status (preference given to Texas residents), cumulative college GPA, MCAT scores, a completed application form, the evaluation submitted by the Preprofessional Advisory Committee, and a personal interview.

Academic Performance. The GPA is a major factor in evaluating academic performance. Other factors considered are: (a) consistency of grades, (b) performance in required courses, (c) course load per semester, (d) number and rigor of colleges attended, (e) discrepancies between GPA and MCAT scores, and (f) social, economic and/or educational disadvantages.

The medical schools require official transcripts from all colleges attended. The GPA is a composite of all college work at all colleges attended and is calculated by year, overall, and science area courses. Calculations use all grades, even if courses were repeated. Grades are converted to a 4-point system for purposes of GPA calculation.

The Application. Application to medical school is made in the summer prior to the year in which admission is sought. Misspellings, incorrect grammar, improper use of punctuation, and handwritten applications should be avoided. Applications are now done via the internet. You may work on your application in stages until you are satisfied that it is well written and accurate, then send it electronically. Print copies of the completed applications for the Preprofessional Advisory Committee and for your own use for review before interviews, or in case an application is lost. Have passport style photographs taken for the Lamar preprofessional interviews and any supplemental applications requested by medical schools. Dress neatly for the photo. Applications should be filed early in the summer, as this shows motivation on your part and increases your chance for an early interview.

The "personal statement" or narrative section of the application is EXTREMELY important. It should contain a logical, coherent statement that indicates maturity, good judgment, sincerity and a realistic view of a medical career. This is also a good place to indicate motivation about a long-standing commitment, career goals, etc. Any previous experience in working with people, such as in a hospital, clinic or research laboratory, shows an interest in and a knowledge of medicine as a career and should be included. Take advantage of the opportunity and use all of the space wisely.

Application periods vary from school to school but generally extend from mid-April to mid-October. Check the application dates carefully as applications received before the filing period may not be processed. Dates pertaining to application procedures for schools in the United States and Canada can be found online or in the current edition of Medical School Admission Requirements. This book, commonly referred to as the MSAR, is revised annually and contains up-to-date information about the nature of medical education; premedical planning; choosing a medical school; the MCAT, ways of financing a medical education; and other aspects of the application and admission process. Sections are devoted to information for minority students and applicants not admitted to medical school. Two-page descriptive entries are presented for each of the allopathic medical schools (see "Suggested Reading" at the end of this section).

Extracurricular activities are usually judged by the type of activity and the amount of time involved. The effective utilization of your time, as well as involvement in activities which demonstrate leadership and communications skills, is important. Employment is also to be included under this category on some application forms.

Calendar Summary of Application Procedures.

A. Junior (Sophomore) Year

1. Take the spring MCAT.

2. Complete "faculty interview record forms" prior to Preprofessional Advisory Committee interviews, including passport-sized photographs.

• Schedule and complete interviews with Preprofessional Advisory Committee members. (See list on page 2 of this book.)

B. Summer Between Junior (Sophomore) and Senior (Junior)Years

1. Complete and send applications to medical schools.

2. Retake MCAT, if necessary.

C. Fall of Senior (Junior) Year

1. Interview at medical schools (by invitation).

Suggested Reading

Medical School Catalogs. Write the individual medical schools to obtain copies. If you are applying to medical school, make certain that you have the most recent edition.

The following six books are published by and are available from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). Order forms are provided in MCAT registration packets.

The ordering address is:

Association of American Medical Colleges

Attention: Membership and Publication Orders

One Dupont Circle, NW

Washington, DC 20036

1. Medical School Admission Requirements. This is revised annually and is a must for any serious applicant. #R745/A8 (# = Call number in Lamar Library)

2. Minority Student Opportunities in U.S. Medical Schools (revised annually).   Includes data on recruitment programs, admission policies and procedures, academic assistance programs, and financial aid programs offered by U.S. medical schools for minority students.

3. AAMC Curriculum Directory (revised annually). Provides data on the curriculum of medical schools in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. A two-page description outlining the required and elective instructional program of each school is included.

4. Financial Planning and Management Manual. Of interest to students concerned with financing a medical education. Financial resources information, budgets as a student, budgets as a resident, loan workshops, repaying student loans, and manageable debt levels.

5. Directory of American Medical Education. A listing of medical school administrators and department chairmen in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Enrollment, type of support, clinical facilities, and a brief historical statement are presented in each school entry.

6. MCAT Student Manual. The most recent edition is strongly recommended for those planning to take the test. See "National Preprofessional Exams, (MCAT, DAT)" section in this handbook for more details.

The following is a short list of reading materials that may be useful in preparing to enter medical school. (# = Call Numbers in Lamar Library.)

Bruhn, John J., Romero Caballero, Martha G. Hinkley, and Marcus M. Purvis. A Doctor in the House? The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas.

Coombs, R. H. and J. S. St. John. 1979. Making It in Medical School. Spectrum Publications, New York. This survey of the life of the premed and medical student provides many insights valuable to anyone contemplating medicine. #R745/C933.

Crawford, Jane D. 1985. The Premedical Planning Guide. A complete planning guide written by a health careers advisor. Available from Betz Publishing Co., Inc., P.O. Box 3461, Bethesda, MD 20817.

Jones, Bob E. 1978. The Difference a D.O. Makes. Times-Journal Publishing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A book comparing the allopathic and osteopathic medical professions. (Copies available from: Oklahoma Educational Foundation for Osteopathic Medicine, 1310 Citizens Tower, Oklahoma City, OK 73106.)

Knight, James A. 1981. Doctor-To-Be: Coping with the Trials and Triumphs of Medical School. Appleton-Century Crofts, 292 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

Kozoll, Charles E. Plan for Success: Time Management for the Pre-Med Student. A time management expert outlines ways preprofessional students can plan for achieving short and long term goals. NAAHP, Inc., P.O. Box 5017A, Champaign, IL 61820

Lieberman, D. L. 1968. Pre-Med: The Foundations of a Medical Career. Blakiston Dir., McGraw-Hill. New York. Statistical information is outdated. #R735/L53

Nourse, A. E. 1957. So You Want To Be a Doctor. Harper & Brothers, New York. Do not be misled by the publication date. This small volume is full of valuable philosophical information. Dollars were those of 1950. #R737/N8.

Pestana, Carlos. 1983. The Medical School Applicant, Advice for Premedical Students. Copies can be purchased from the author, P.O. Box 790717, San Antonio, TX 78279.

Peterson, Shailer. 1977. Preparing to Enter Medical School. Sterling Swift Publishing Co., P.O. Box 188, Manchaca, TX 78652.

Shapiro, E. C. and L. M. Lowenstein. 1979. Becoming a Physician, Development of Values and Attitudes in Medicine. Ballinger Publishing Co. This book is concerned more with medical school students than the premedical years. #R745B383.

Zielinski, Randall. 1986. The Medical School Interview. A physician and former student member of an admissions committee tells how to prepare for a medical school interview. NAAHP, Inc., P.O. Box 5017A, Champaign, IL 61820.