Medicine

Medical schools that HPU students have been accepted to include:

• Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Creighton University School of Medicine
• Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
• Ohio University

Application to medical schools can be made after satisfactory completion of a minimum of three years of undergraduate study (90-96 credits). However, the majority of students accepted for medical study have already earned a bachelor’s degree.

Any area of concentration may be chosen as a major, provided the requisite foundation in the natural and social sciences and mathematics has been obtained. Additional upper level biology courses are recommended for non-science majors.

Required Courses (for admission to schools of medicine):

It is essential that each student planning to seek admission to a school of medicine be aware of the specific admission requirements for that particular medical school. Requirements vary. Full information is available in the annual publication of the Association of American Medical Colleges, Medical School Admission Requirements.

Below are some of the medical programs that HPU students have shown interest in and any differences in their prerequisites:

Medical University of South Carolina

• Although no prerequisite courses are required, most successful applicants to this medical school complete two semesters of the following courses prior to matriculating: general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics. Other courses that have been shown to be of value are: anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, embryology, genetics and physiology.

 Medical College of Wisconsin

• 4 credits Advanced Biology with lab (Anatomy & Physiology, Microbiology, Neurobiology, etc. will satisfy this requirement)

Miami Medical School

• Recommended classes: Cell & Molecular Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Physiology, Immunology, Computer Science, Neuroscience, Developmental Biology

University of Florida Medical School

• For students who desire additional background in science, courses in genetics, microbiology and physiology might be considered.

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (DO program)

• For success in the medical curriculum, it is strongly recommended but not required that prospective applicants have the following: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Embryology, Histology, Medical Microbiology, Modern Genetics, Physiology

The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) is a standardized multiple-choice test that has been a part of the medical school admissions process for more than 80 years. Each year, more than 85,000 students sit for the exam. Nearly all medical schools in the United States and several in Canada require MCAT scores, and many health professions and graduate programs now accept MCAT scores in lieu of other standardized tests. The MCAT exam tests examinees on the skills and knowledge that medical educators, physicians, medical students, and residents have identified as key prerequisites for success in medical school and practicing medicine. The content is divided into four sections:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

In partnership with its member U.S. medical schools, the AAMC develops and administers the exam multiple times each year from late January through early September at hundreds of test sites throughout the United States and Canada, and in select locations throughout the world.

Plan to take the exam after you have completed the basic-level science courses that the exam covers—biological sciences, physics, organic and inorganic chemistry. Read over the MCAT exam content outlines to be sure you have covered all the topics and skills that are tested on the exam.

In most cases, you should take the exam in the calendar year prior to the year in which you plan to enter medical school. Testing early in the year is a good idea, especially if you think you will need to retake the exam. It also gives admissions committees more time to review your application. However, if you plan to take a summer course that may help you on the MCAT exam, such as a science class, it may be best to take the exam in the later in the summer.

Remember, taking the exam when you are ready is most important.

Some helpful resources:

• Association of American Medical Colleges
• MCAT Guide from the HPU Library