Myth #3 - I have to Major in Science

Many people that if they wish to be admitted into medical school, they have to major in the sciences. As a result, many feel that biology, chemistry, and physics are the only options. This is just not true. You can go into any major and not have to worry about being at any disadvantage among other science-majoring applicants.

There are some that believe that being a non-science major will actually make you stand out. This is only partially true. Being a non-science major will not increase your chances at getting into medical school. Having said that, if a History and a Biology major are equally matched in every aspect, the edge might go to the History major. The student body thrives on diversity - if that's the case, why take another Biology major when they already make up more than half the class in medical school?

So are there any benefits of being a science major? Well the first advantage is being better prepared for your MCATs. The second is you will have more of a base for medical school than other non-science applicants. If you're becoming a biology major for these two reasons - stop. There is no point in entering a major for the next 3 to 4 years of your life if it will make you miserable. You can fully prepare for the MCAT without being a science major and perform just as well as your peers who are science majors.

Do what you're interested in - chances are you'll be asked "Why did you major in X." The honest answers are usually the best - especially if you have a deep interest in your major.

Tip #3 - What courses do I need for the MCAT?

So what courses do you need for the MCATs?

There are 4 sections in the MCATS - though they are currently in the process of revising it so there will be a few more sections.

The sections are:

1) Physical Science - Chemistry and Physics

2) Biological Science - Organic Chemistry and Biology

3) Verbal

4) Writing

The verbal and writing are probably the only two sections that don't require any coursework. Writing and verbal just need practice. For verbal, try reading a newspaper everyday. For writing, just practice.

For the physical science portion of the exam, you will need to take General Chemistry I and II and General Physics I and II. You do NOT need anything beyond this. Having said that, some universities' General Physics courses do not cover everything that the MCATs require - such as buoyancy and fluid motion. You do not need to take a course covering this - just study in in your MCAT review book.

For the biological science, you do not need anything more than General Biology I and II and Organic Chemistry I. Many students take Organic Chemistry II for the MCATs. This might be useful but only rarely. You can get by with no problem without taking Organic Chemistry II. There is already very little organic chemistry on the MCATs and you will learn almost nothing from an Organic Chemistry II course that you could not pick up from your MCAT review books for the actual exam.

This is all you need. What other courses will help you prepare for the MCATs? Personally, I believe Basic Cell Biology and Molecular Biology are extremely useful courses for the MCATs. Other than that, it's based on luck of the draw. You may get a passage from an Inorganic Chemistry course. Even if you just relax! All the information you will need will be provided in the passage if its outside the realm of General Science courses. Though the more classes you take, the more information you will comfortable with and therefore the less opportunities there are for unseen material on the MCAT.

Myth #2- 4.0 GPA 35+ MCATs = Top Tier Medical School

There are two myths I often hear surrounding top tier medical schools.

1. If you have a 4.0GPA and a 35+ on your MCATs, then you are pretty much guaranteed a spot at a top tier medical school.
2. The only way to get into a top tier medical school is if you have a 4.0 GPA and a 35+ MCAT

Neither are true. 

In response to the first myth, a 4.0/35+ is definitely a powerful score to bring to the table. However, there are plenty of people with 3.8+ and 40 MCAT scores getting rejected. Why? Because grades aren't everything. Scores are only a portion of the total number of things medical schools look at. Not only do they want someone who is well-rounded but they also want someone who is a good fit for their school. While a 4.0/35+ might offset some scarcity in your extracurriculars, it is by no means a free-pass.

The second myth is also just a myth. There are a number of students who get into top tier medical schools with less than a 4.0 GPA and a 35+ MCAT. Again, medical schools look at more than just your GPA and MCAT scores. While some schools definitely place higher emphasis on your MCATs (e.g. UMass), there is more to your application than your academic scores. Research, clubs, internships, volunteering, community service, etc. are all things which could tip the scale in your favor.

This is not to say that getting into a top tier medical school is easy with a high GPA/MCAT or that a higher GPA/MCAT won't put you in a better position than someone else. Just remember: GPA/MCAT scores provide only a boost to your medical school applications. They are very important - but they aren't everything.

Tip #2 - I got rejected. How will I know what went wrong?

So you got rejected from a medical school...now what? Whether you got rejected from a medical school pre- or post-interview, there is something you should always do. Ask the medical school why you got rejected!

If you got rejected from a school, and would like to receive comments on your application (which you should want to do), then you should try to get some feedback. How do you go about doing this?


1. Go to the medical school's website or call the admissions office to see whether they offer any type of academic counseling. If they do, then great! Try to speak with an academic counselor and talk with him/her to get some feedback on your application and how you can make it better.

2. If the school does not offer any academic counseling, then call the admissions office and just ask them if they provide application feedback. If they do, then just give them your name and prepare to write down the important points. If they don't, then simply say thank you and hang up. 

*Application feedback varies widely among medical schools. Some will give you feedback once you are rejected, some once the entire cycle is over, and others none at all.

Myth #1 - Medical School = Eternal Debt

A lot of people are put off into pursuing medical school simply because they believe they cannot afford it; this belief is only partially accurate.

The amount you pay for medical school really can vary tremendously on whether you can obtain in- or out-of-state tuition. For in-state tuition, you can pay as little as $13,000 - $20,000 for your medical school tuition. Unfortunately most medical schools aren't so generous in their in-state discount. On average, you can expect to pay (per per) anywhere from 30K to 40K if you're in-state and 40K to 50K if you're out-of-state. To make matters worse, this doesn't account for anything other than your tuition. You still have other costs of living, such as rent, a car, groceries/food, etc. For the average medical school graduate, you should expect to be in the hole by 100K to 200K. 

So if I don't have 100K, I shouldn't even bother, right? Wrong. You may not have the money, but through scholarships and loans (e.g. financial aid - FAFSA), you will be able to cover your expenses. You may not be able to pay off your loans within 5 years of graduating from medical school, but that's ok! After you complete your residency, you can potentially be making 200K fairly easily. Over the next 10 years, that would be $2,000,000. Paying off loans worth 100K to 200K with interest is definitely doable if you play your cards right. By that, I mean pay off your loans in large sums as opposed of choosing the lowest payments. The faster you pay off your loans, the less you pay in interest.

I realize that I've greatly simplified the financial burdens and salary opportunities. But in the end, it's totally manageable. The debt you accrue from medical school is not to be taken lightly. On the other hand, you should dismiss this idea that paying back loans for medical school is near impossible. 

Tip #1 - I got a C, should I retake the class?

...I got a C in a class. What do I do now?

A lot of students assume that receiving anything below an A in class, especially in a science or math course, means that your medical career is over. I had one friend describe it to me as: "For every B you get, there are 10 other students with an A." While this may be true, there is no reason to worry about getting a B or a C. If you got a D or an F, then you should almost definitely retake the course and make sure you find out what went wrong and how you can improve it the second time around.

Getting a C on your transcript isn't the end of the world. In the event that you do get a grade you're dissatisfied with, there is no universal answer on whether to retake the course or not. In other words, it's really up to you and your situation. One C is not going to ruin your chances on getting into medical school. If your GPA is already high and you don't really have the leg room to retake the course, then don't worry about it. If on the other hand, your GPA isn't all that great and you believe you can retake the course and get an A, then go for it. Nothing is worse than retaking a course and getting a poorer grade.

Rest easy, a C is not the end of the world. I know someone who got a C in organic chemistry and still received a number of acceptances into medical school. Worst case scenario is that you'll have to prepare to answer the question "why did you get a C in so-and-so" during your interviews.