Getting into Medical School For Dummies

Learn to: Grasp the step-by-step process and timeline of applying to medical school Understand what medical school admissions committees are really looking for Navigate the MCAT and get ready for test day Create your best medical school application Clear, expert advice on applying to medical school Getting accepted to medical school is a long and rigorous journey, and many students find they need help. If you're one of these students, Getting into Medical School For Dummies is the perfect tool to help you through the process and realize your dream. Written by an industry expert, it gives you a distinct advantage in the competitive medical school admissions process, preparing you for every step and helping you create your best application. Premed 101 — find expert guidance on picking a major, choosing premedical courses, and making the most of your time outside the classroom through extracurricular activities Sort it out — get an overview of the application process, plan for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and put together a list of target schools that are a good fit for you Weigh your options — explore osteopathic medical schools, get familiar with dual-degree programs, and investigate international medical schools Get ready to go — discover the cost of medical school, plan a budget, and get to know the types of financial aid available to medical students Open the book and find: A timeline of the application process Tips for tackling the MCAT Advice on finding the best medical school for you Guidance on putting together your best application What to expect on interview day Considerations for applicants with special circumstances, such as nontraditional applicants and reapplicants Help with starting medical school on the right foot

Introduction 1 Part I: Planning the Premedical Years 9 Chapter 1: Turning Your Dream of Going to Medical School into a Reality 11 Chapter 2: Considering a Medical Career 23 Chapter 3: Mapping Out Your College Years 37 Chapter 4: Making the Most of Extracurricular Activities 51 Part II: Applying to Medical School 65 Chapter 5: Surveying the Application Process 67 Chapter 6: Tackling the MCAT 85 Chapter 7: Choosing Medical Schools 113 Chapter 8: Putting Together Primary Applications 125 Chapter 9: Looking at Letters of Recommendation and Secondary Applications 155 Chapter 10: Acing the Medical School Interview 177 Chapter 11: Hearing Back 207 Part III: Osteopathic Medical Schools, Dual–Degree Programs, and More 217 Chapter 12: Applying to Osteopathic (DO) Medical Schools 219 Chapter 13: Exploring Dual–Degree Programs 233 Chapter 14: Investigating International Medical Schools 249 Part IV: Nontraditional Applicants, Reapplicants, and Disadvantaged Applicants 261 Chapter 15: Doing Things Differently: Nontraditional Applicants 263 Chapter 16: Try, Try Again: Reapplicants 275 Chapter 17: Minority Applicants, Disadvantaged Applicants, and Applicants with Disabilities 287 Part V: You’re In! Getting Ready to Go 295 Chapter 18: Paying for Medical School 297 Chapter 19: Starting Medical School 309 Part VI: The Part of Tens 319 Chapter 20: Ten Things to Know about Medical School 321 Chapter 21: Ten Terms You Won’t Find in Your Medical School Textbooks 327 Index 331

Carleen Eaton, MD, has used her expertise in admissions and test preparation, as well as her experiences as an applicant who received acceptances to top-ranked medical schools, to guide hundreds of applicants successfully through the medical school admissions process. She is the founder of prehealthadvising.com, a medical school admissions consulting firm.