If your gap year between college and medical school has turned into several years, don’t fret — you can still become a physician. But organization is key when planning for your medical school matriculation.
One critical step is making sure you’ve completed the necessary requirements to apply. But don’t discount the value of creating an application timeline and surrounding yourself with strong support.
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— Complete prerequisites: Before you apply to medical school, ensure you have completed the necessary prerequisites. Make a list of all undergraduate institutions you have attended and request transcripts. Review those transcripts and determine which medical school prerequisites you must satisfy.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, you will need one year each of biology, English and physics and two years of chemistry through organic chemistry. You can use the AAMC’s premed coursework checklist to track which courses you’ve taken and which you may still need. And check the AAMC’s application requirements for any changes to prerequisite coursework you may take in the future.
Then be sure to check with the medical schools you’re interested in applying to and confirm the premedical courses they require as well as the specific time frame for which you’ll need to complete the prerequisites.
Schools vary on time frame for course completion. For example, the University of Maryland School of Medicine mandates that applicants complete coursework within five years of applying.
Next, decide when and where to take the classes, depending on the location, your budget and time. Balancing work and family may also factor into where and when you take these courses.
Check your undergraduate institution, as well as your local, state and community colleges for available courses and costs. If you have completed some classes during your undergraduate education, you may want to consider a postbaccalaureate program.
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Carefully examine specific medical school admissions requirements to determine whether online courses are accepted for prerequisites. For example, the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine won’t accept any online prerequisite courses, while the Morehouse School of Medicine only accepts online math courses if they are on your undergraduate transcript.
No matter where you enroll, be sure you set yourself up to excel. Understand how you best learn — visually, auditorily or through writing — by thinking back on the most effective study techniques you used during college. And carve out dedicated time to review the materials.
Your efforts will benefit you when you prepare for the MCAT, as well as when you apply to medical schools, and will show your competency in science and potential ability to succeed.
Note that you can’t undo a poor undergraduate GPA by taking new classes. However, successful completion of postgraduate science classes or a postbaccalaureate program can help augment your science GPA.
— Create an application timeline: Break the admissions process down into steps by developing a timeline.
You may find that you need to break the process down further into multiple timelines, such as one for completing medical school prerequisites, one for preparing for and passing the MCAT and one for completing the various components of your medical school application. Remember, medical school admissions committees evaluate you based on your entire application.
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— Find support: Applying to medical school can be a daunting process, and you may find yourself discouraged or even falling behind. This is where an accountability partner can help you keep going.
This could be another person applying to medical school, a coworker who is trying to accomplish a personal goal, a family member or a friend. It’s important that this individual be able to simultaneously encourage and prod, up to the edge of nagging, when you feel the process is insurmountable.
Coordinate monthly check-ins on what application tasks you have accomplished. Additionally, if your accountability partner is also pursuing a goal, you will bolster teamwork skills as you encourage him or her.
You can also seek support through the premedical office at the institution where you completed or are completing your prerequisite coursework. Or consider attending a medical career fair, where you can connect with medical school programs and other applicants, as well as to identify MCAT prep courses.
Don’t let a gap in your education deter you from your medical school dreams. With persistence and organization, you can successfully apply to medical school.
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Plan Ahead as a Nontraditional Medical School Applicant originally appeared on usnews.com
