Topics include:
- What does a competitive profile look like?
- Personal statement and resume tips
- Tips for interviewing in virtual environments
- Addressing disruptions in your medical school preparation due to COVID-19
BUILDING A COMPETITIVE MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATION
Want to build a competitive medical school application, specifically one with AUC medical school application in mind? Look no further.
Completing your medical school application can seem like a daunting task, what with the sheer number of items that need to be included in. You might find yourself wondering which of the many items to focus on, or whether the personal statement needs to be amazing. Luckily the AUC medical school application process is an easy and smooth one, thanks to the help from our admissions office.
AUC MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATION PROCESS
THE PERSONAL STATEMENT
This is a very important piece of the AUC medical school application process because this is the first time you have an opportunity to impress the admissions committee. You don't get a second chance to make a first impression, so it is very important that you articulate a number of things, including your reasons and motivation for wanting to go to medical school.
This is the personal statement after all, so be prepared to discuss yourself. Really elaborate on that because this gives you an opportunity to have a voice to the admissions committee. Be open with the personal statement — use this time to reflect on yourself. Students in the past used the personal statement to discuss challenges that they've had in their home country before moving to the United States, and how that motivated them to want to go into medicine.
This is not the time to discuss academic challenges, or to try to explain some of the less than thrilling portions of your application. The main theme of the personal statement is your motivation for wanting to go to medical school. It is okay to brag about yourself.
If you've done something academically and it contributes to your reason for wanting to pursue medicine then include those facts, but you don't want to say “Well, my freshman year I didn't do well in class because I didn't get tutoring…” The personal statement is not the time for that. You'll be able to discuss that in the interview.
Once you have a draft you’re happy with, give it to a professional who’s been there before to look it over. Any advice they give can be immensely helpful, because sometimes you may leave things out. Along the same lines, make sure to check your personal statement thoroughly for grammatical and spelling errors.
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
When evaluating AUC medical school applications, one of the most important things the admissions committee wants to do is make sure they are bringing in qualified students. This is more than just a student’s GPA however, but rather the context for how a student arrived at that number. It’s all a part of the holistic approach taken to the AUC medical student application process.
What does it mean to be a qualified student? For one thing, it means making sure you already took your prerequisite courses. Students need to have a bachelor’s degree with a strong science background, as well as the following courses:
- Biology: 1 year (8 credit hours)
- General Chemistry: 1 year (8 credit hours)
- Organic Chemistry†: 1 year (8 credit hours)
- General Physics*: 1 semester (4 credit hours)
All courses include laboratory
* Statistics or Calculus can be substituted for Physics.
† Biochemistry can be used to substitute for Organic Chemistry.
MCAT REQUIREMENTS
The MCAT exam is an important rite of passage on your journey to medical school. Administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), this standardized, computer-based test measures your grasp of concepts fundamental to the study of medicine. It’s designed to be challenging, comprehensive and, above all, thorough. It’s not an exam that rewards note memorization—it’s designed to assess how well you understand these concepts, and how you can apply them to real-world healthcare scenarios.
The MCAT is a long exam, one that tests potential medical students not only on their academic knowledge, but also their stamina. In many ways it’s similar to running a marathon. Just as you wouldn’t start training for a marathon a week or two before the race, you need to give yourself plenty of time to study the concepts on the test. AUC medical students recommend at least three to four months.
If you aren’t able to take the MCAT, either because you’re an international student or the test isn’t offered in your area, be sure to reach out to the AUC medical school admissions office to find out exactly which test you need to complete your AUC medical school application.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
Among the supporting documents needed for a strong AUC medical school application are letters of recommendation. A minimum of one letter from an individual academic professor who taught you (science preferred, but not required), and one professional letter are required, but more can be useful. A pre-medical advisory committee letter (if applicable) for example, meets the admissions requirement in lieu of the one academic and one professional letters. Additionally, two academic letters may be used itf a professional letter cannot be obtained, and in some cases two professional letters may be used in place of an academic letter.
If you know you want to attend medical school in the future, it’s not a bad idea to talk to a professor or someone else a theat the university ahead of time, to let them start thinking of things to say about you before the letter is needed. Most professors will be honored to provide one, and it also shows how dedicated and forward thinking you are. Since professors and other faculty members tend to be busy people, giving them a deadline is a handy way to make sure they don’t miss the window to submit. These should be people you have a relationship with, who know you. It’s not the best practice to ask a teacher you maybe had one class with and never spoke in. For the professional letter, look for someone who worked with you and knows your worth ethic, like a manager, coworker or supervisor.
Among the other supporting documents needed is the resume. It might seem like a throw-in, or one of the least important aspects when applying to medical school, but it’s pretty important. This is your chance to strengthen your med school application by highlighting any real-world medical experience you might have. Whether that be shadowing a doctor in a clinic, volunteering, or even something as simple as helping the neighbors with their groceries, the important thing is to show you want to help. Even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal to you, the AUC admissions committee might think otherwise.
THE INTERVIEW
The personal interview is the time to take all of the things you haven’t mentioned yet and bring them to light. The AUC medical school admissions committee looks at a lot of information when looking over applications. Whether a student is accepted into the AUC medical school program is about more than just numbers on a page, so use that to your advantage during the personal interview.
This is the right time to talk about the times you struggled academically, because you are also given the time to explain why you struggled, to give the numbers context. It is important to remember this is about how you frame your experiences. These are not flaws in your character, but rather struggles you overcame, showing off your ability to persevere through a variety of circumstances. This is also the time to reiterate why you want to go to medical school. It is something that should be covered in the personal statement, but it’s not a bad idea to go over it again, because words on a page are a lot different than seeing someone sit in front of you, bristling with passion.
Be sure to dress professionally. This is still an interview, after all. Since the interview will be virtual, pick a quiet spot with a stable internet connection. Think of the interview as a commercial, for yourself. You wouldn’t want to advertise an inferior product, right?
Applying for medical school can seem daunting, but using this guide can give you a leg up on the competition.
Have a question about anything not covered here? Send your questions to the Admissions team.