Summary of the Pre-Professional Education for Medicine

  1. The Undergraduate or Baccalaureate Degree; Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
    Virtually all students currently being accepted by U.S. Medical schools will have completed four years of college and will have one of the above degrees. Approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the accepted applicants will have a degree in science, usually biology, chemistry, or other related areas such as the Materials Science and Engineering major, with a biomaterials emphasis. Other degree choices may be in a liberal arts field, e.g. history, English, psychology, economics, et al. Medical schools do not presently favor one major field relative to another. Students should major in a field that they enjoy and will provide a fulfilling career if they do not gain admittance to a medical school.
  2. The Required Science Courses
    Regardless of the degree and field of study, all applicants for professional training in medicine must have completed the following basic science courses: two years of chemistry, one organic and one inorganic; one year of general physics; and one year of general biology, with Cell Biology either required or highly recommended. One semester of calculus is required by some schools. Biochemistry is highly recommended. The University of Nevada currently requires six credit hours of behavioral sciences of which three must be upper division. Refer to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Handbook for specific medical school requirements.
  3. The Grade Point Average (GPA)
    To be competitive for serious consideration by medical school admissions committees, the GPA at the time of application (i.e., at the conclusion of the undergraduate junior year) must be approximately 3.50 (out of a possible 4.0), that is, the grade record must contain at least 50% A's and 50% B's. C grades are acceptable, but are not recommending. Recent matriculation GPA's are in the 3.6 -3.8 range. It is important to keep in mind that no single course will determine whether a student will be accepted, but rather the overall record.
  4. The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
    This standard examination is given twice a year, in April and August, and consists of four parts: biological sciences (biology, organic chemistry and biochemistry), physical sciences (inorganic chemistry and physics), verbal reasoning and an essay section. It is recommended that, in addition to the science courses normally taken in a pre-medicine curriculum, the student select electives in the humanities and social sciences that emphasize broad reading and writing. Scoring is based on a maximum of 15 points and competitive scores usually average approximately 10. The essay is given a letter designation of J to T with O being recommending. Ideally this examination is taken in the spring semester of the junior year.
  5. The Association of American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS) and The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS)
    These application services receive, verify, and distribute all pertinent information relative to making application to virtually all of the U.S. medical schools. This includes biographical data, academic records, personal statement, etc. These data are forwarded to all participating schools to which the applicant seeks admission, and a fee is charged.
  6. Medical Delivery Experience
    Although not required by medical schools, some evidence of commitment to and experience in medicine is considered valuable, if only to satisfy the student and the admissions committees that the applicant has participated in medical delivery and has a realistic concept of what it is all about. The professional medicine is clearly not for everyone.
  7. Verification for the WWAMI Program (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) and the University of Utah School of Medicine
    Twenty positions in each year's entering class at the University of Washington Medical School are reserved for Idaho applicants and subsidized by the State of Idaho. To be eligible for one of these positions, the applicant must be a resident of Idaho, and this must be verified by the WWAMI office at the University of Idaho. Idaho currently has a contract agreement for eight positions at the University of Utah. Residency verification forms can be obtained through Idaho State University and must be submitted by October 15 of the application year. In these programs the student pays resident rather than non-resident fees.
  8. Letters of Recommendation
    Currently Boise State University does not offer a committee letter of recommendation. We do, however, offer a courtesy service to collect letters of recommendation/evaluation (LOR) for our former and currently enrolled pre-medical students. We use VirtualEvals, a secure, web-based system through which health professions advisors can transmit letters of evaluation to health professions schools. (see www.virtualevals.org for more information). Most allopathic and osteopathic medical schools now subscribe to VirtualEvals. There is a small charge to use this service. Find more information here.
  9. The Medical School Interview
    If the records of the applicant are complete and generally recommending, the applicant is offered an interview by the admissions committee of the medical school. For this purpose, the student travels to the medical school at personal expense and an opportunity is made available for both parties to meet and become acquainted. If this interview is favorable and all supporting documents are supportive of the applicant, a position in the entering class may be offered. WWAMI & University of Utah acceptance is more competitive.
  10. The sequence for pre-professional education in medicine is ideally as follows:
    1. Involvement throughout your college experience in patient care exposure, physician shadowing, volunteer/community service, leadership opportunities, and research.
    2. The selection and successful completion of an undergraduate major with a cumulative GPA of approximately 3.5 or above.
    3. The successful completion of the basic science courses by the end of the junior year.
    4. The successful completion of the MCAT with average scores of approximately 10-11, by the end of the junior year.
    5. Completion of AMCAS and/or AACOMAS application during the summer between the junior and senior years. Applications can be submitted in early June.
    6. Residency verification for WWAMI and for the University of Utah by October 15th of the application year.
    7. Participation in medical delivery/preceptorship by the end of the junior year.
    8. Obtain letters of recommendation by the end of the junior year or beginning of the senior year.
    9. Interview by admissions committee of the medical school during the senior year.
  11. It should be obvious that close liaison must be maintained between student and advisor so that progress can be monitored and the necessary steps completed in an orderly fashion and in the proper sequence. The advisor for pre-medical students is Glenda Hill, HSR 124, (208-426-3832) in the Department of Community and Environmental Health.