What is the right major for medical school?
This video helps students answer questions about making the right undergraduate major choice if they plan to apply to medical school.

By: EastIndianaAHEC

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What is the right major for medical school? - Video

February 07, 2014

First, do no harm

Though these exact words are not in the Hippocratic oath, it is what medical students will hear on their first day of medical school and will probably be reminded for the rest of their lives.

Being a doctor in this day and age is not easy. Modern medicine has progressed leaps and bounds, offering treatment that was unthinkable in yesteryears. But with all the advancement, the health profession is under scrutiny like never before.

However, the core of being a doctor remains. To serve, to treat and to make lives better. Every doctor will have his or her own story and their own unique experience. I cannot tell students how to become a doctor, which is something they will have to learn by themselves. But I can certainly share my thoughts with them.

The studying years

Your time in medical school is your formative years. Think of entering medical school as the first step in a long journey, but no less rewarding. The goal is not just to graduate as doctors but also to learn and build on your knowledge. Make no mistake, you will need to put in the hours and studying hard cannot be avoided. But that does not mean you cannot enjoy the student life. Being a student is one of the best times of your life, enjoy it and make use of those years.

A hell called housemanship

Almost all doctors will tell you their housemanship years are the worst of their careers. Worst here is subjective. Though it will be a harsh reality from your student days, and you will be pushed to the limit, but please do not think this as a method to torture young doctors. What you do in these 2 years will define your career as a doctor. So take the chance to learn not only to be a safe doctor, but also how to balance your work and life. It is not hell if you make the best of it.

It is not a race

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New program supports pre-med undergraduates By Shannon O'Brien '15

February 6, 2014

Hamilton students now have the opportunity to secure a spot in a top-notch medical school as 20-year old students. The College has recently joined the Early Assurance Program , which allows pre-med undergraduates to apply to the University of Rochester Medical School as juniors.

The program will allow students to avoid having to study for, pay for and take the dreaded MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) that medical schools require. In this way, the Early Assurance Program gives accepted pre-med students the freedom to study abroad during their junior year as well as explore courses in other disciplines. The program will not function to accelerate students through medical school, as accepted students will continue the normal course of their undergraduate education before entering medical school. Early admittance does not require students to go directly to medical school either. Once accepted through Rochesters Early Assurance Program, students can defer medical school enrollment in order to pursue a fellowship, conduct research or explore other interests. Leslie North, health professions advisor, described the University of Rochester Medical School as unlike most medical schools, as it is very understanding about allowing students to pursue other educational goals.

North explained that Hamilton chose to join the consortium of colleges involved in Rochesters program because it offers students an unusual opportunity at an outstanding school. Other colleges involved in Rochesters Early Assurance include Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Colgate, Haverford, Middlebury, Morehouse, Spelman, Swarthmore, Williams and Xavier. As suggested by this list of liberal arts colleges, Rochester is looking to attract well-rounded students whose GPAs are complemented by a wealth of co-curricular activities.

The standards for entrance into the medical school through Early Assurance are high. There are no back door entrances to medical school, noted North. The mean GPA for those admitted to all US medical schools last year was 3.69, and Rochester is a highly rated medical school. According to North, Rochester is looking for students with excellent grades as well as a history of service to others. Applicants should also have had experiences through internships or summer activities that demonstrate an understanding of the medical profession. Moreover, Rochester values students who have a passion for helping others.

While the expectations for applicants are high, the competition for getting admitted is even higher. Rochesters Medical School limits its class size to 104 students, differing from the national average of 155-160 students per class. The small class size and distinguished reputation of Rochesters Medical School will make acceptance for undergraduate juniors especially selective. The school will admit only seven to eight students total from the group of schools in Rochesters Early Assurance Program.

Although the number of selected applicants is small, North said she would advise students with strong records to consider applying to the Early Assurance Program, especially those who believe the MCAT might present a particular challenge for them. Rachel Sobel 15, a Biochemistry and Womens Studies double major, explained that she sees Early Assurance as a way to decrease the stress, pressure and competition that comes with preparing for and applying to medical school. It will also save pre-med students money. North estimated that students spend up to $4,000 applying to schools and traveling to interviews. The fee to apply to Rochesters medical school is $100, and the school promises to refund students who are not admitted.

While the concept of applying to medical school may seem daunting, students should feel encouraged by the University of Rochesters progressive program that values the integration of real-world experiences with scientific knowledge. Hamiltons participation in the Early Assurance Program reflects the collective commitment to creating a generation of well-rounded, driven and compassionate doctors.

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New program supports pre-med undergraduates