Pre Med Undergrad Archives

Check out this collection of tips and advice for pre med undergrad students looking to improve their chances of getting into medical school…from pre-med core curriculum and basic med school requirements, to tips for getting an A in Organic Chemistry. Is it possible to overcome failing freshman grades, and what GPA and MCAT score will get you into med school? We’ve got you covered.

Choosing a pre-med major

We’ll give you solid advice on how to choose a pre-med major, and whether a pre med double major is a good idea, plus how to deal with the stress pre-meds face. And we’ll give you the lowdown on the best extracurriculars for pre-meds, and the best way for pre-meds to find undergraduate research opportunities.

Tips for being a well-rounded med school applicant

Most pre-meds start with so many questions unanswered, but our goal is to bring you up to speed in a hurry! It’s important to be a well-rounded medical school applicant, and we’ll spell out how to do that. How many shadowing hours are needed? And how many volunteer hours in a medical setting? And what about working as a medical scribe? If you haven’t considered these topics yet, it’s time to start plotting your pre-med undergrad path.

How to get accepted to medical school

Dive in and educate yourself today. Hopefully you’re a freshman and have plenty of time to learn (1) how to approach the admissions committees at the med schools you dream of attending, (2) how to put together your AMCAS application, and (3) how to prepare for your med school interview. But even if you’re further along in the process, we’ll get you prepared so you’ll be the right medical school candidate at the med schools you’re targeting.

What GPA/MCAT combo will get me admission to medical school?
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What GPA/MCAT combo will get me admission to medical school?

Pre Med Undergrad

What GPA/MCAT combo will get me admission to medical school?

By Marci Judd|2022-02-17T16:57:02-07:00June 15th, 2020|Pre Med Undergrad|

A GPA MCAT combo of 3.7/32 will give you a 75% chance of at least one acceptance. But there's a lot of anecdotal evidence that with lower numbers on both fronts (a 3.6/30) you could still get through with great ECs, LORs, and an excellent personal interview!

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Passing Organic Chemistry—with an A or close to it!
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Passing Organic Chemistry—with an A or close to it!

Pre Med Undergrad

Passing Organic Chemistry—with an A or close to it!

By Bryce Johnson|2022-02-17T11:32:04-07:00June 4th, 2020|Pre Med Undergrad|

Participate in class. One of your best resources is your professor, so use her/him when you're in class to clarify concepts. Also make use of your TA when needed. You need to understand each concept before moving on.

What if I get a C in a pre-med class?
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What if I get a C in a pre-med class?

Pre Med Undergrad

What if I get a C in a pre-med class?

By Marci Judd|2020-06-17T15:33:46-06:00May 28th, 2020|Pre Med Undergrad|

If I get a C in a pre-med class, will it keep me out of medical school? Most likely not. That said, you and I both know that you need to have a ridiculously high GPA to be accepted to most U.S. medical schools. If you have more than a couple of C’s in your [...]

Pre-med major: what’s the best?
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Pre-med major: what’s the best?

Pre Med Undergrad

Pre-med major: what’s the best?

By Bryce Johnson|2019-02-12T16:42:10-07:00February 1st, 2019|Pre Med Undergrad|

If you’re looking for a fast track to graduation, a degree in the sciences will likely allow you to count your pre-med classes towards your major requirements.

Medical scribe good choice for clinical experience?
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Medical scribe good choice for clinical experience?

Pre Med Undergrad

Medical scribe good choice for clinical experience?

By Brooks Johnson|2019-01-18T14:35:15-07:00December 8th, 2018|Pre Med Undergrad|

Is being a medical scribe good clinical experience for pre-meds? What's a medical scribe? A medical scribe is an assistant who accompanies physicians (often in the Emergency Department, but sometimes in other settings), keeping notes on interactions with, evaluation of, and diagnosis and treatment of patients. It's like paid shadowing, but the responsibilities are much [...]

Double major worth it? Advice for premeds
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Double major worth it? Advice for premeds

Pre Med Undergrad

Double major worth it? Advice for premeds

By Marci Judd|2018-09-22T16:17:59-06:00September 16th, 2018|Pre Med Undergrad|

Is a double major worth it....specifically is it worth all the extra time, grueling effort and stress? There's no easy answer that fits every situation. But here are some considerations when deciding your premed path. Will a double major impact your sGPA? A double major in say, biochemistry/genetics, or chemistry/engineering, or biology/physics, will set you [...]

How to be a well rounded medical school applicant: think outside the box!
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How to be a well rounded medical school applicant: think outside the box!

Pre Med Undergrad

How to be a well rounded medical school applicant: think outside the box!

By Marci Judd|2019-06-24T15:29:14-06:00August 5th, 2018|Pre Med Undergrad|

Creating a winning med school application If only the adcoms could sit down with med school applicants a year or two before their first meeting and whisper sweet nothings in their ear, this is what they'd say: "Step out!" "Be different!" "You're more than two little numbers!" Because that's how you show you're a well [...]

Shadowing hours, other ECs for med school
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Shadowing hours, other ECs for med school

Pre Med Undergrad

Shadowing hours, other ECs for med school

By Marci Judd|2022-02-17T16:10:35-07:00June 1st, 2018|Pre Med Undergrad|

Shadowing hours, research hours, clinical hours and volunteer hours are not just the icing on the cake, but part of the main course you are serving up to the adcoms when you submit your med school application. Yes, your GPA and MCAT score are the first thing they see, and either or both can exclude [...]

Med school requirements: your “core” curriculum
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Med school requirements: your “core” curriculum

Pre Med Undergrad

Med school requirements: your “core” curriculum

By Marci Judd|2019-04-01T16:08:49-06:00May 1st, 2018|Pre Med Undergrad|

Medical school is a 4-year journey of learning and experiences that prepares you for the rigors of a career as a physician. In this journey, your med school requirements are not your enemy, but your friend! From biochemistry to anatomy, you’ll study and be tested on the scientific foundations of medical treatments and ailments. While you [...]

Will disastrous freshman grades keep me from medical school?
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Will disastrous freshman grades keep me from medical school?

Pre Med Undergrad

Will disastrous freshman grades keep me from medical school?

By Marci Judd|2019-04-01T16:27:00-06:00February 6th, 2018|Pre Med Undergrad|

This is a common question for premeds: If I do poorly in my first year of undergrad—even getting disastrous freshman grades—should I throw in the towel on medical school, or is there still hope? Don’t throw in the towel This is one of those situations where you might find a smidgeon of understanding and mercy [...]

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