The first leg of your college journey is complete and you’re on your way for the second year. This is a time when students build on the foundations of biology and medical science you learned the first year. There is probably a variety of thoughts and fears going through your head, but you can learn what’s next and plan accordingly.
Stress Relief Information about Medical School
Areas of Study
If you’re not sure about your undergraduate degree it’s actually not as big of a deal as you might think. Most medical schools accept any applicant who has met their medical prerequisites. Generally this applies to all science majors. However, many institutions are starting to accept various art degrees as well. In either case, the most common areas of study to expect this year are biology and chemistry. Most students choose these or some variation as their major.
What Your GPA Should Look Like
A medical School considers a wide variety of variables when selecting an applicant to attend their institution, chief among them is your GPA. Your grades don’t have to be perfect to be accepted, but it would be wise to set a standard for yourself. This will allow you to focus on maintaining or exceeding a specific goal. Most medical schools like to see GPAs of 3.5 or greater. This shows discipline and commitment, especially while attaining a degree in science.
Electives
Science degrees can be very stressful, especially if you want to maintain a good GPA for medical school. However, there are merits to diversifying your portfolio. Since the only qualifications to get into a medical school are achieving your pre-requisites and scoring well on the MCATs, this leaves you with an opportunity to take exciting electives. You can set yourself apart on medical school applications and interviews by stating your love for playing the piano or how you learned Spanish during your pre-medical college years. You’re only starting your second year so there’s plenty of time to adjust your course load and strengthen your GPA.
How These Tips Help You Get into Medical School
The old medical school dynamic has changed drastically over the last decade. Now is the time to diversify. While it is necessary to excel in the areas required by most medical schools and maintain a good GPA, it’s also important to find other things you’re passionate about. That passion for the arts or for science will shine through in your interview and make you look unique. This is a great time to showcase your individuality and experiment with different courses.