I. Before You Apply - Self Assessment And Reality Checks

A. Some Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Is this really the profession YOU want? How do you know?
   a. Engage in honest, self-analysis
   b. Ask yourself, why medicine and not some other career?
   c. Seek counsel from an objective confidant
   
2. Do you truly know what the daily life of a physician is like? a. Reality check - Talk with medical doctors
   b. Shadow medical doctors in different specialties and in different health care settings for several months
   c. Find out what are some other things physicians do, e.g. teaching, research, or management
   
3. Are you really aware of what medical school is like?
   a. Visit a medical school
   b. Talk with medical school students
   c. Sit in on medical school classes, observe rotations
   d. Volunteer in a teaching hospital where you can interact with medical students and residents
   
4. Is there a "typical" undergraduate premed experience? If so, what is it?
   a. Talk with junior and senior premeds
   b. Talk with friends who may be attending liberal arts schools
   c. Look up the statistics on the undergraduate major and educational background of current medical students
   
5. Have you deeply considered all the potential costs involved?
   a. Time commitment
   b. Possible personal sacrifices
   c. Discipline, focus, and energy required
   d. Financial realities, economic cost of medical school
   
6. What other careers or professions have you considered?
   a. Why did you reject them?
   b. Would you reconsider if you knew you would not be accepted to medical school on you first try?
   

B. Some Present Realities about Medical Education and Health Care in the U.S.

1. Admissions and training
   a. Record numbers applying to medical school Class of 1994 Statistics: 45,365 individuals submitted 561,593 applications for 16,287 places
   b. Admissions Offices overburdened and overworked
   c. Medical school students dropping out because of inability to pay for medical school (especially those attending private medical schools)
   d. Medical school students deeply in debt after graduation (especially those attending private medical schools)
   e. Rejected candidates looking for other options
   
2. Health care is under scrutiny and in a state of flux
   a. Some evidence that too many physicians are being trained
   b. In metropolitan areas there is competition for work in several specialist areas
   c. There are fewer and fewer solo practice physicians
   

C. What Are Medical Schools Looking For?

1. Strong Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores, usually 30+
   
2. High grades, usually 3.5+
   
3. Glowing letters of recommendation that address both academic and personal qualities
   
4. Significant exposure to clinical medicine
   
5. Good exposure to research (critical if interested in medical research)
   
6. Interesting, unique, creative and self revealing personal statement
   
7. Personal characteristics
   a. Unique
   b. Compassionate
   c. Well-rounded
   d. High energy