Pre-Medical Information

Timeline of Classes

The following courses are suggested when pursuing a Post-Bacc pre-med program at SFSU:

• Math 226 & 227 (Calculus)
• Biology 230 & 240 (with labs)
• Chemistry 115 & 215 (with labs): pre-req is 1 semester Calculus and 1 semester Physics, or 1 year of either
• Organic Chemistry 333 & 335 (with labs): pre-req is Chem 115
• Physics 111 & 121 (with labs)
• Biology 355 (Genetics): pre-req is 1 year Biology and Chemistry 333 (Organic Chemistry I)
• Chemistry 349 (Biochemistry)

If you are a full-time Post-Bacc student, may we suggest the following timeline:

Semester I	Semester II	Summer
Math 226 Phys 111 (with 112 Labs) Bio 230 (with Lab)	Math 227 Phys 121 (with 122 Lab) Bio 240 (with Lab)	Chem 115 (with Lab)
Semester III	Semester IV	Summer
OChem 333 (334 Lab) Genetics	OChem 335 (336 Lab) Chem 215	Chem 216 Lab Biochemistry

This timeline can allow you to work part-time and/or do research or volunteer.  If you are starting during a semester where the above timeline doesn’t work, use it instead as a guide for what classes to take before others.

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Timeline for Pre-Med Preps

• Fall (two years prior to entering medical school)
  • See a pre-medical advisor
  • Obtain a copy of the medical school Admissions Requirements by AAMC (cost ~$30)
  • Research schools
  • Prepare for April/August MCAT (prep courses are ~$1500)
• January/February
  • Register for April or August MCAT on AAMC website.
  • Open a file with a letter forwarding service at your school or online. At SFSU, this service is through the Health Professions Advising Committee, hpac@sfsu.edu
  • Request letters of recommendations
    • At least 2 science and 1 non-science letter, it is also preferred to obtain letters from significant volunteer, research and/or work experiences.
    • Decide on a reasonable deadline with each recommender, usually 10-12 weeks.
    • Request these letters "in person" if possible and provide a cover letter, updated CV, copies of transcripts and postage-paid envelopes to your recommenders.
    • Once letters are received by your service, send prompt thank-you's to your recommenders.
  • Continue to research schools
  • Start drafting your personal statement. Prof. Barry Rothman, a very helpful and informative pre-medical advisor at SFSU, usually conducts a Health Professions Colloquiom class (SCI695) that assists with personal statement writing skills and interviewing techniques.
  • Start drafting responses to potential "secondary application" essay topics.
• April
  • Take the MCAT (~$200)
• May
  • Request official transcripts from all colleges attended be sent to AMCAS (use form from AAMC site) and to all non-AMCAS schools you will be applying to.
  • Finish your personal statement.
  • Fill out AMCAS amd non-AMCAS applications.
• June/July
  • Receive MCAT scores.
  • Submit AMCAS and non-AMCAS applications.
  • • June 1st is the first day you can submit on AMCAS
    • AMCAS then verifies our application for 4-6 weeks before officially transmitting to your indicated schools. You are notified when this occurs.
    • Cost is approximately $30 per school.
    • Request official transcripts from Registrar's Office including spring semester grades.
    • Prepare for the August MCAT (take a 2nd time only if you believe you can significantly improve your score).
• July
  • Start submitting secondary applications as they come in--24-48 hour turnaround time is desirable.
  • Cost ranges from ~$20-$100 per school.
  • Send out letters of recommendation.

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Study Tips for Post-Baccs

• Read chapters covered in lecture before lecture then do corresponding recommended problems right after lecture.

• Understand what you’re going to do in lab before lab (do calculations ahead of time if you can, 3 hours in lab will still go by fast).

• Right after lab, do a brief, preliminary lab report.  You’ll be fresh with what you did and since you usually have a week to hand it in, you can keep coming back to revise it (avoid re-writing graded reports to reclaim lost points, this is a time-saver!).  Also, always hand in typewritten lab reports even if not required to do so, your lab instructor will appreciate it.

• Study in groups for your science classes but not until you are done with the reading and recommended problems yourself.  You can be an effective contributor this way.

• Go to office hours.  If you don’t understand a concept or specific problem fully, it is always preferable to ask your instructor.  Also helpful are AU courses, help sessions, science tutoring facilities, and your fellow classmates (get to know them!).

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My med school application may be weak.  What can I do?

The following are a list of things you can do to strengthen yourself as a med school candidate:

• Volunteer at a hospital, a local clinic or somewhere you can have patient contact.

• Volunteer at a charity organization, to tutor other students, mentor to youth, or in whatever way you feel you can best contribute your community.

• Conduct research at a university or hospital.  Most hospitals have websites recruiting people for lab work or you can read about university faculty and their research on the university website and then approach a faculty member about what he/she does and learn about opportunities (get credit for research too!) they may have available.

• If you want to attend a specific medical school, it is preferable to seek out your research experience there.

• Get involved with campus organizations that fit your interests, be an active contributor, and possibly take on a leadership role if you think you can do a great job and your time permits it.

• Know your instructors.  Med schools want you to obtain letters of rec. from people who have taught you, so do all you can to ensure that they will comment positively on your behalf.

• Take upper-division Biology courses not only for the sake of your education, but to boost that all-important GPA.

• Remember that, if you’re re-taking a course because you received a poor grade the first time, your new grade will not erase the poorer grade (GPA will still include the poorer grade)!  However, you have the opportunity to demonstrate a better understanding of the material in addition to at least helping your GPA.

• Not having a 4.0 GPA doesn’t mean you might not get into medical school.  However, it is important to be 3-point-something and be well-rounded in your interests.  See AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements (must-have book for any pre-med).

• Hire a Medical School Application Consultant to help you edit and refine your application.  There are several different resources available, among which is Judy Colwell judycolwell.com a popular source for consulting in the SF Bay Area.

• Visit AAMC.org to educate yourself about the admissions process.

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