Medical School Checklist
How Medical Schools Review Applications
Strong grades and MCAT score: "Many schools look for students who demonstrate an ability to handle challenging coursework. It is important for applicants to show that they've done well in upper-level science courses, and 'doing well on the MCAT exam shows that you can handle medical school coursework.'" However, "Outstanding grades and MCAT scores do not guarantee that an applicant will be invited to interview. Just as important are extracurricular activities and life experiences, essays and personal comments in AMCAS, and letters of recommendation."
Personal initiative: "Such initiative may take the form of leadership, creativity, research, community service, motivation, or other life experiences."
Personal qualities: "Schools also look for evidence that an applicant has demonstrated good judgement, compassion, and selflessness—qualities every physician should embody. Applicants can show evidence through their involvement in extracurricular activities, letters of evaluation, and their personal statement."
Motivation: "Each applicant needs to be as sure as possible that this is what they want to do with their life. That motivation can be demonstrated through academic achievement and also through exposure to clinical medicine and community service."
Strong grades are important, especially in pre-requisite coursework. Strong grades demonstrate that you have a thorough understanding of concepts you will face in your health education. Pre-requisites should not be taken as Pass/Fail. Almost every student has a difficult semester, especially at first. Withdrawing from an occasional course will not harm your chances of admission and a W is better than a D, E or F. Consult with your advisor and the financial aid office before withdrawing from a class. Be aware of deadlines for drop/add and course withdrawal. Medical schools will average letter grades in repeated science coursework to determine a science GPA.
Admissions committees also look at trends in your grades, thus a strong finish in upper-level coursework is beneficial. You should aim for an overall GPA of 3.5-3.7/4.
Do not rush the test preparation process! Most students who do well on the MCAT (or other admissions exams) spend between 200 to 300 hours preparing for the exam. Successful test taking is a skill you will need throughout medical school and other professions that require licensing. Talk to your Pre-Health Advisor about possible test preparation materials.
MCAT: Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)
AAMC: Professional Readiness Exam
DAT (Dental School Exam)
OAT (Optometry Exam)
Free practice tests can be found on many sites. Here are some MCAT examples:
Princeton Review Free MCAT Practice Test
Work and activity statements AMCAS Section 5. You may enter up to 15 experiences. Identify 3 of the experiences as most meaningful and why.
Patient interaction experiences in hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation facility or clinical settings show your knowledge of the profession and your demeanor to be a caring practitioner. Socially relevant activities such as work with homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries or with church groups demonstrate a sincere connection to humankind.
Do not engage in volunteer, leadership or mentoring programs simply to pad your resume.
Research, shadowing, summer enrichment programs and the like identify you as a well-rounded applicant.
Undergraduate Research at Buffalo State
Summer Undergraduate Research at Buffalo State
CLIMB UP at University at Buffalo State Summer Program
SUNY Pre-OP for EOP sophomores and juniors
Primary essay for the AMCAS Section 8. 5,300 characters, including spaces.
In the case of medical school, you will write many essays! Your primary essay (AMCAS Section 8) is your most significant chance to speak in your own voice during the initial application process. This is NOT the place to list all your activities, work and experiences. (That is Section 5 of AMCAS.) You should have a compelling rationale for your motivation to attend medical school. You are telling a story that demonstrates the qualities and competencies medical schools seek in their students. You may be reflecting on lessons learned from your experiences. Pick some themes and elaborate. Seek help from the Writing Center, Career and Professional Education or your advisor. Always spellcheck and have an advisor or mentor review your essays! Expect multiple revisions.
You will write different essays for secondary applications to individual schools. Follow their instructions carefully. You may write essays to explain special circumstances or disadvantaged status.
Shemmassian Consulting Analysis of Medical School Personal Statements
Shemmassian Consulting Guide for Medical School Letters of Recommendation
Identify your recommenders: Establish a rapport with faculty, mentors or volunteer supervisors early. Choose recommenders who know you as a person. Ask for letters from those who can write about your specific traits such as your laboratory skills, unique contributions to a class or research project diligence, dependability or compassion in a volunteer setting.
How to ask for a recommendation: Give them plenty of notice! To help your recommender write an effective letter, give them a copy of your transcript (unofficial), your resume and personal statement. In addition to commenting on your academics, ask them to highlight some of the core competencies you possess: thinking and reasoning, intrapersonal competencies, science competencies and interpersonal skills.
Be cognizant of deadlines and allow time for your recommender to write an effective letter.