By Sharon Hori Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Surprisingly, history majors may have the highest acceptance
rates into medical school – even over the typical biology
students.
According to medical school graduates John Zebala, Daniel Jones
and Stephanie Jones, today’s admissions committees do not seek
students who are perfect down to the grade point. In their book,
"Medical School Admissions: The Insider’s Guide," the authors recap
their observations of the application process, and in hindsight,
provide big-brother advice for newcomers on the scene.
Instead of the studious bookworms who are already jumping into
the rigorous science curriculum that’s not expected until after
acceptance, medical schools dig deeper for the more "well-rounded"
species.
That doesn’t mean that all med-student wannabes should switch
tracks to an artsy North Campus route – from a different
perspective, the statistics show that the average medical school
applicants are biology students, since almost every biology major
applies to med school.
But Zebala, Jones and Jones have analyzed the scenario from
almost every point-of-view, since they have already played the game
and lived to tell the tale.
With all joviality aside, the game is not to be taken lightly.
More than 41,000 people will apply to medical schools this year,
accounting for a 50 percent increase in applicants in the last
decade. Only 16,000 applicants will be accepted — the same number
as in 1989.
The competition is fierce, but with the appropriate attitude and
the authors’ supportive advice, undergrads can learn the tricks to
winning every med school’s game of survival-of-the-fittest — even
Darwin would be surprised. And endurance is what counts, since the
average med school will throw one wrench after another, from MCAT
exams to masochistic G.P.A. requirements, to weed out the weaklings
before the real test begins.
The admissions guide, divided into six chapters to correspond
with the six major stressors of the pre-med’s career, tosses a
crystal ball at young readers who are remotely considering medical
school but do not know what to expect. The book gives a thorough
glimpse into the life of a pre-med student from a confident and
straightforward approach — the advice comes minus the
sugar-coating.
Zebala, Jones and Jones give logical tips that provide a
refreshing reminder that the college experience should not be
condensed into a single decimal (as most students prefer, 4.0). The
authors emphasize that the best way to discipline oneself to study
is to socialize and have fun once in a while.
Another interesting outlook: an impressive juggling routine of
multiple ulcer-producing classes may seem majestic at first, but
after churning out blood, sweat and tears for an entire quarter,
the not-so-impressive grades received and the burned-out
"I-hate-school" feeling lingering in your mouth may not reflect the
same glory.
"Medical School Admissions" also provides a handful of tips for
improving your grades as an undergraduate, such as obtaining past
exams, studying in quiet environments and asserting yourself when
fighting for a grade.
"It is unfortunate that stimulating learning experiences must be
perverted into a scramble for grades, but that’s the premedical
reality," they write.
Another harsh reminder is that the MCAT score may be just as
important as the grades achieved throughout four years of
college.
"It’s crucial that your scores be as high as possible, because
at many med schools, only the combination of your grades and your
MCAT scores determines whether you get an interview letter or a
rejection letter. If you’re attending an expensive Ivy League
school, you may slide by with slightly lower MCAT scores, but for
the most part it’s a cold, objective process," they write.
To calm anxious nerves, the authors devote a chapter on how to
prepare for the dreaded MCAT – even suggesting you bring a Snickers
bar to munch on during the third section of the exam to rejuvenate
your energy after nearly six hours of the MCAT.
For punctual and overworked students, the guidebook provides a
generic timeline that all pre-med students should follow. The
process begins at the start of a student’s junior year with a
six-month-in-advance preparation for the MCATs (generally taken in
April), and ends with the final acceptance letters at the end of
the senior year. The book includes a ballpark ranking of the top
medical schools, with UCLA mentioned as one of the top 25.
But the highlight of the book arrives near the end, where a
collection of 50 successful application essays provides readers
with a glimpse at the jewels that the admissions committees keep
their eyes open for. The essays bring back college application
nostalgia, in which applicants must be honest and charming in one
to two 12-font-double-spaced pages.
Reading 50 anonymous application essays is always beneficial —
especially since we know that these intellects already got in. But
perhaps a more helpful tidbit of info would be to at least include
which medical schools they were accepted to.
Did their articulate words get them into Johns Hopkins
University, or are we dealing more along the lines of Tumbleweed
Tech?
Although the authors do refer to particular essays and comment
on their strengths and weaknesses, all of their criticisms are
bunched into "The Essay" chapter, which is revealed before the
reader has actually perused the personal statements. A more
constructive means of delivering their comments on each essay would
be to write them at the end of each essay.
Nevertheless, readers will not feel like they’re being spoon-fed
advice from a professional test-taking company. "Medical School
Admissions" is not an SAT-prep workbook that will teach you new
vocab words or o-chem in 30 minutes. Instead, the book is a breezy
read, which will provide some pointers to separate you from the
other 40,999 people in the game.