University of Georgia

Getting Started

Have you decided to pursue a career in medicine? These resources will answer many of the questions you may have about pursuing a career in medicine and the process of applying to medical school.

Building Your Credentials

To prepare for a career in medicine you will need to build credentials in scholarship, leadership, humanitarian / community service, research and shadowing in the various settings of the profession. Many students do not get into medical school the first time that they apply. The traits that predict success in the profession include, high academic aptitude, hard work, the ability to work well with others, and good judgment.

There is no “best” major for pre-med students nor are there majors that will make students “stand out.” You are encouraged to pursue majors in which you are most interested in.

What do medical schools look for when reviewing applicants?

Medical schools consider the following credentials when evaluating applicants for admission:

  • Academic record (both overall and science GPA)
  • MCAT scores
  • Letters of Evaluation (including faculty and physician letters)
  • Exposure to doctor-patient interaction (“shadowing”)
  • Volunteering, as well as charitable / altruistic endeavors
  • Research experience
  • Leadership abilities
  • Interpersonal communication skills

Note: Medical schools may also require background checks of applicants before matriculation.

Allopathic Medicine vs. Osteopathic Medicine

If you plan to apply to medical school, you have a choice between allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) programs. While there are differences in curriculum and pedagogy, in the state of Georgia both a DO and MD will receive the same medical license and privileges to practice medicine.

Allopathic medicine refers broadly to medical practice. The term allopathy was coined in 19th century by Samuel Hahnemann to designate the usual practice of medicine as opposed to homeopathy. Allopathic medicine is defined as “a method of treating disease with remedies that produce effects different from those caused by the disease itself”.

If you are interested in practicing medicine as a MD, the most authoritative resource is the Association for American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The AAMC is a not-for-profit association representing all 141 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools, nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 51 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers, and 90 academic and scientific societies.

For many pre-med students, the AAMC’s website is the best place to begin learning about the process for becoming a physician.

There are 5 allopathic medical schools in Georgia:

  1. Emory University School of Medicine
  2. Medical College of Georgia
  3. Mercer University School of Medicine
  4. Morehouse University School of Medicine
  5. University of Georgia Medical School

Podiatric Medicine

If you are interested in entering a more specialized field, you could consider podiatric medicine (DPM) which focuses specifically on the lower extremity.

Podiatrists (Doctors of Podiatric Medicine or DPM) are qualified by their education and training to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot, ankle and related structures of the leg, i.e. the lower extremity.

Podiatrists are a vital member of the healthcare team. They are often the first to detect symptoms of diabetes or cardiovascular disease because of the human foot’s interrelation with the rest of the body. DPMs are licensed in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico and practice in a variety of settings.

If you are interested in learning more about podiatric medicine, the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) serves as a valuable resource.

Podiatric medical school prerequisites and the application process, including the MCAT, are similar to M.D. schools. Their centralized application is AACPMAS.

There are no podiatric medical schools in Georgia.

Extracurricular & Leadership Activities

Involvement in extracurricular activities is viewed very favorably by a medical school admissions committee, for if you can maintain a competitive GPA and still have the time and energy to actively participate in extracurricular activities, both your aptitude and motivation must be rather high.

That said, there is no particular benefit in being simply a member who never participates or becomes involved in an organization; instead, if you have been very active, particularly if you have held office or in some other way present evidence of your leadership, you will usually be considered as the most competitive and attractive candidate for medical school.

You do not have to be involved in variety of different organizations or only those that are geared towards careers in healthcare. On the contrary, it is advised that you find a couple of extracurricular activities or student organizations about which you are very passionate and try to get as deeply involved as possible. Consistency and active participation are prized by admissions committees over simply the number of things you are involved in.

Further, your activities do not need to be strictly medical. In fact, a great many successful pre-med students at UGA join social fraternities and sororities, take an active role in various service and religious organizations, play varsity or intramural sports, participate in debating societies, theatrical groups, the band, etc. Others participate in student advisory and leadership roles on campus, such as the Arch Society. It is your participation and interest in these activities that are important, not the specific focus.

Finally, it must be emphasized, that no amount of involvement in extracurricular activities can substitute for a good academic record and strong MCAT scores.

A list of Pre-Health campus organizations can be found here.

Course Requirements

Each year, the AAMC publishes the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) index, which details admissions requirements and data for every accredited medical school in the US and Canada.

Although requirements do vary from program to program, medical schools generally require the following courses:

  • One year of inorganic/general chemistry with lab (CHEM 1211/L and 1212/L)
  • One year of organic chemistry with lab (CHEM 2211/L and 2212/L)
  • One year of biology with lab (BIOL 1107/L and 1108/L)
  • One year of physics with lab (PHYS 1111/L and 1112/L or PHYS 1211/L and 1212/L)
  • One semester of biochemistry (BCMB 3100 or BCMB 4010 & 4020)
    • Biochemistry is increasingly being listed as a medical school admissions requirement. However, all students are highly encouraged to this course regardless as the content is heavily represented on the MCAT.
  • One year of English (ENGL 1101 and ENGL 1102)
  • One semester of statistics (STAT 2000 or BIOS 2010)
    • Not all medical schools require statistics, but Medical College of Georgia does.
    • PSYC 3990 is not deemed equivalent to statistics by the Math Department; therefore, will not satisfy the statistics requirement for Medical College of Georgia.

Additionally, some schools require courses in Calculus, Psychology, English, and the Humanities. Please be mindful of the requirements of the schools you are interested in applying to!

Suggested courses pre-MCAT can be found here.

Shadowing & Volunteering

As a prospective medical student, you are expected to spend time shadowing a physician. Specifically, this means hands-off observation only. You should not engage in any activity that could be construed as the practice of medicine if you are not licensed and trained to provide such care. You can find the AAMC’s shadowing FAQ here.

The purpose of shadowing is to learn the nuances of patient-care that may not be apparent from what is shown on television or in books. Outside of interacting with and treating patients, physicians have a lot of responsibilities that may include running a business, teaching, or doing research. It is important that you understand the realities of being a physician, so be sure to ask questions and engage with the physician you are shadowing as much as possible. (If you are shadowing a surgeon, try to see more than just what happens in the OR!)

Most medical schools do not require a specific number of shadowing or observation hours; however, competitive applicants usually have around 100 hours. You should aim for getting a variety of experiences with physicians in various fields to gain a better understanding of the breadth of the medical profession. While you should try to shadow specialties that you are interested in, you are not required to have shadowing experiences in any specific specialties. Shadowing opportunities can sometimes be hard to find, so you are encouraged to take advantage of any shadowing experiences.

Ideally, you should build a good relationship with at least one M.D. or D.O., as you will want to request a letter of recommendation once you begin the application process.

Research

Each year, the number of medical school applicants who have significant medical or laboratory research experience grows. In fact, many medical schools expect students to have some experience with research and over 70% of medical school matriculants have participated in research. You can find the AAMC’s research FAQ here.

While research experience is not a pre-requisite for most medical schools, working in a lab setting will help make you a more competitive applicant and will also help you to determine if a career in medicine or medical research is right for you. In addition, research is a hands-on learning experience which can develop a number of skills that are vital for a career in healthcare such as critital thinking, communication, adaptability, patience, resilience, and teamwork. (To learn more about the skillsets that medical schools value, please review the AAMC’s Core Competencies here.)

Since research settings are smaller than the average UGA lecture class, you will also have the opportunity to build a solid relationship with a faculty member who can then write you a strong letter of recommendation.

If you are interested in pursing an MD/PhD program, you will be expected to have significant research experience as you must demonstrate your desire to become a physician scientist. You should begin seeking out research opportunities as soon as you know that you want to pursue a dual-degree program.

Undergraduate research has numerous benefits even for those students who do not wish to pursue research as a career. However, if you have no interest in research, it may be a better use of your time to engage in activities that you are more passionate about, such as clinical or community volunteering.