Lecture Outline Understanding Medical Students (Genre #1) Lesson Plan for Wednesday, December 5th

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Medical School Admissions (Pre-med) a. Requirements (vary by institution) i. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) 1. Most medical schools do not accept scores over three years old ii. Under graduate Prerequisites 1. Biology one year 2. Physics one year 3. English one year 4. Chemistry two years (through organic chemistry) b. Application i. GPA/MCAT 1. Mean Total MCAT Scores in 2011: a. Applicants (43,919 participants) 28.2 b. Matriculants (19,230 participants) 31.1 2. Mean GPA in 2011: a. Applicants i. Science Major 3.43 ii. Non-Science Major 3.65 iii. Total 3.53 b. Matriculants i. Science Major 3.61 ii. Non-Science Major 3.74 iii. Total 3.67 ii. Volunteerism/Research 1. While it is not required, medical schools tend to prefer applicants who have some prior understanding/experience in the medical field. iii. Personal Statement 1. iv. Primary Application 1. v. Secondary Application 1. vi. Letters of Recommendation 1. vii. Interview c. Acceptance i. In 2008 the national acceptance rate was 45.6% down from 50.4% in 2003. ii. Top Reasons Applicants Are Rejected: 1. Low GPA 2. Lacking enough extra-curricular activities that show medical experience 3. Not applying to enough medical schools 4. Poor interview or communication skills

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Medical School a. Steps i. The process of becoming a doctor takes roughly 11 16 years to complete. 1. This includes medical school admission requirements (3-4 years), medical school (4-5 years), residency (3-7 years), etc. 2. Over 97% of entering students graduate in four years with an MD degree. 3. Medical schools in the U.S. grade on a pass/fail basis. ii. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) 1. The exam is divided into three parts with each part of the exam being taken at different steps throughout ones medical education (parts 1&2 in medical school, part 3 prior to the completion of residency) 2. A student is required to pass all three parts of the exam with a minimum score in order to become licensed to practice medicine in the U.S. 3. The many schools offer various classes designated to prepare their students for this exam. iii. First and Second Years The first two years of medical school are spent in the classroom where students are expected to learn a great deal of material and will have an extremely heavy course load. 1. Curriculum a. Courses taken in the first two years vary depending upon the institution, but generally consist of some variation of the following: i. First Year Normal Structure and Function of Body Tissues 1. Gross Anatomy 2. Biochemistry 3. Microscopic Anatomy 4. Human Embryology 5. Behavioral Medicine 6. Molecular Biology 7. Human Genetics 8. Medical Neuroscience 9. Medical Ethics and Humanities 10. Physiology 11. Physical Diagnosis ii. Second Year Abnormal Structure and Function 1. Microbiology and Immunology 2. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 3. Introduction to Clinical Medicine and Physical Diagnosis 4. Clinical Correlation 5. Pharmacology 6. Advanced Physical Diagnosis 2. Upon completion of the second year, students must take part one of the USMLE.

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ii. Third and Fourth Year The third and fourth years of medical school are the clinical years where students learn patient care. 1. Third Year Curriculum a. Students must complete eight week rotations throughout various hospital departments, including: i. Internal Medicine ii. Surgery iii. Pediatrics iv. Psychiatry v. Obstetrics/Gynecology vi. Family Medicine 2. Fourth Year Curriculum a. Students must complete longer rotations called Clerkships and are encouraged to select elective rotations in departments of interest as well as these required rotations: i. Internal Medicine ii. Surgery iii. Neurology (often, but not always) b. Upon completion of the fourth year and prior to starting ones residency, students must take part two of the USMLE. c. Time off is given to students in order to apply for residency and to interview for prospective programs. Why Is This Important in Understanding Stereotypes? a. A common complaint one may hear about medical students from a TA is how medical students only care about their grades, not the material in the class. i. It is important for medical students to care about the material, as there is always the possibility of it being brought up once in medical school and onwards. b. This helps to better understand what exactly pre-med and medical students are required to go through and how it could possibly lead to the creation of a stereotype.