How To Get Into Medical School

The typical Premed Plan

The Traditional Plan

From your premed advising pamphlets, you will probably have made something like this

1^st year

General Chemistry with lab

Calculus

Freshman Writing

Another Class (Foreign language, etc)

2^nd year

Organic Chemistry with lab

Biology with lab

2 other classes max

3^rd year

Physics

Upper division Biology

MCAT studying

4^th year

Any other recommended classes

If you look at these first three years, that is a lot to handle. And do you expect to get A’s with that? There is a small majority who can do well with this plan, but it comes at a great expense, all of their time. If you want a better designed plan that will maximize your potential to do well, read on. There are easier ways that will maximize your ability to do well in all of your classes.

There is more than one way. And the path for you depends on your present situation.

How hard you are you currently working? If you are working constantly to keep up with your extremely tough classes and still not succeeding, you will need to find other alternatives to success. These alternatives described below will allow you to maintain a quality class schedule with quality grades to follow.

How efficient do you feel in the hours you are devoting? The efficient premed uses his/her time wisely to learn the most pertinent information possible. Do you feel your study habits are allowing you to make the best use of your time while you are studying? Do you know which study aids are the best for the class in general and for you personally?

Do you enjoy the classes you are taking? Often premeds make the mistake of not enjoying the class they are taking. Even if one does not enjoy it at first, it is important to develop enthusiasm for the premed classes. This can be developed from enthusiasm of playing the premed game and realizing these classes are a means to an end. At points, one’s success in a class is dependent upon how one can take an enthusiastic angle of learning. If one enjoys the content of the classes he/she is taking, he/she is happy overall and the grades often reflect this enthusiasm.

Do you feel burned out? This often occurs with premeds who take upon too many courses, or who take on a difficult course, or a combination of both. This leads to overall unhappiness and poor grade performance.

4/5/6 years? Would you rather be done in four years being efficient with your coursework? It can be done. As can the five or six year plan. Taking longer than four years is recommended only if taking time off from being burned out and/or to pursue other exciting opportunities.