Breaking news: that dream of becoming a doctor isn't as far away as you might think. While most of your classmates are still figuring out what to do after high school, you're already thinking about medical school – and that's exactly the kind of forward thinking that successful doctors are made of. Whether you discovered your calling during a biology lab, while volunteering at a local hospital, or simply through a passion for helping others, understanding your options now can make a huge difference in your journey to medicine.

From traditional pre-med routes to accelerated BS/MD programs, the journey to medical school is as diverse as medicine itself. The best part? You're at the perfect stage to start laying the groundwork, no matter which path you choose to take.

In this guide, we'll explore the various roads that lead to medical school, including what you can do right now to strengthen your future application. Whether you're a freshman just starting to explore medicine or a junior ready to make concrete plans, we'll break down the options, requirements, and insider tips that can help turn your medical dreams into reality.

Your journey to medical school can unfold in three different ways:

1. Combined BA/MD or BS/MD (Accelerated Programs) : Fast-track your medical career with programs that accept students straight from high school. Whether 6, 7, or 8 years long, these programs guarantee your spot in medical school as long as you meet GPA requirements and achieve specified MCAT scores during your undergraduate years.
2. EAP (Early Assurance Program) : Unlike direct BS/MD admissions from high school, these programs let you apply during your first or second year of college. You'll still complete the full 8-year journey to becoming a doctor, but you'll have some college experience under your belt before making the commitment. While both this path and direct high school admission lead to the same destination, many students find this route offers more time to confirm their medical career choice.
3. Traditional Pre-Med : This is the commonly known traditional method of applying to medical school after obtaining a Bachelor's degree. 

 

The following images are lists of Universities Offering Integreated Medical Programs

The universities that offer integrated medical programs may not be the prestigious schools we typically talk about. The top 20 schools don't offer such accelerated programs but if you are dedicated to becoming a doctor, these programs can be an excellent opportunity as traditional pre-med route can become even more competetive. One thing to keep in mind is that state universities often prioritize admitting students from their respective states, so make sure to check before applying.

Pros and Cons of Accelerated/Integrated Medical Programs

The advantage of applying for a 6/7/8 year integrated medical program is the continuity in pursuing the career path set during high school. As these programs offer a conditional admit for incoming undergraduate students, you will be guaranteed a spot in medical school as long as you meet the requirements set by the institution. These programs are often more beneficial for students who wish to become doctors in clinical practice as they tend to be less prestigious than other top medical research schools. 

The downside of these programs is the lack of flexibility. If you wish to change career paths, it will be hard to adjust as you will be committed to the university and the education for that new career path may not be as valuable. In other words, it is very important that you are determined to become a doctor if you wish to apply to these integrated programs.

Regardless of whether you want to pursue medical school via integrated programs, early assurance program or traditional pre-med route, the following factors will be important:

• GPA
  

  • Ideally, a school's GPA distribution for all students should follow a normal distribution. However, since the pandemic, we've noticed a trend in GPA inflation and a polarization is becoming more noticeable in both public and private schools. To stay competitive, it's crucial to maintain a high GPA relative to the class.
    

• Standardized Test
  • For integrated programs, a high standardized test score is optimal and submitting scores is advantageous even if standardized tests are optional.
• Extra Curricular & Essay
  • Essays play a pivotal role in medical school applications, making extracurricular activities critical. As nearly all applicants have perfect GPA and standardized test scores, ECs serve as the distinguishing factor.
  • Referring to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), EC of accepted students at Johns Hopkins Medical School indicate certain trends:
    • Research (97%)
    • Medical Work(90%)
    • Physician Shadowing (84%)
    • Community Service (83%)
  • While it can be challenging to find opportunities as a high school student, any activity that may align with these can be extremely beneficial in strengthening your application to integrated programs.

What major should I choose if going the traditional Pre-Med route?

As the image above shows, there isn't specifically a best major to be accepted into medical schools. Most of the applicants major in biology or other physical sciences but students with other majors are also accepted as long as the prerequisite courses are completed. The above statistics does not represent an advantage or disadvantage between majors but simply shows that many students tend to major in biology or physical science as these majors include pre-requisite courses in their curriculums.

If you have inquiries about integrated medical programs, please contact us at A-One Institute for a more detailed discussion.

Thank you