PRE-MEDICAL ADVISEMENT WORKSHEET 2004-2005

CREDIT HOURS AND GRADE POINT AVERAGE (GPA):

All applicants to OSU-COM and the OU College of Medicine must present a minimum of 90 semester hours from an accredited college or university, and a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0), with a minimum grade of “C” in each required course. However, most students enter medical school after completing a bachelors degree in the major of their choice and the mean GPA for those accepted to the entering 2003 class at OSU-COM was 3.60 and 2004 class at OU was 3.77. For students who seek and receive early admission and have completed at least 109 hours, the possibility exists that UCO will grant a bachelors degree in biology after successful completion of the first year in medical school. This is an option requiring careful supervision by the premedical advisor.

MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (MCAT): The Medical College Admission Test is required of medical school applicants. It is given each year in April and August. It is best to take the MCAT in April and complete required courses before taking the test. Students should take it no later than August of the year in which the application is filed. Thus, students planning to apply to OU and OSU-COM in the summer of 2005 to enter medical school in the fall of 2006 must take the test no later than August 2005. For more information, go to:

http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm

A minimum acceptable MCAT score is 7, but the mean MCAT score for those accepted to the 2004 entering class at OU was 9.97, and the 2003 entering class at OSU-COM was 9.00 on a scale of 1 to 15.

ADVISEMENT AT UCO: Advisement for students planning to enter the health professions is coordinated by Dr. Anne Ewing in the Biology Department. Graduation checks and curriculum planning are coordinated by Ms. Brenda Brent; NUC 1211. Since the premedical advisor will prepare a letter summarizing the Premedical Committee’s evaluation when students apply to medical school, wise students will visit Dr. Ewing regularly enough to be known by her personally and benefit from her knowledge of the application process. However, it is essential that premedical students hold themselves responsible for knowing the requirements and deadlines.

SELECTION OF MAJOR: It should be emphasized that “premedical” is not a major. It simply means that the student is meeting requirements for admission to medical school. Thus, in addition to satisfying these requirements, the student should be working toward a baccalaureate degree in some discipline. There is no recommended major for premedical students. Medical schools encourage a broad general curriculum in the social sciences and humanities in addition to a high level of competence in the physical and biological sciences. Good communication skills are also important. Beyond this, the best advice for students is to select a major in a discipline that will offer satisfying challenges and provide a viable alternative to medical school if they are not admitted.

QUALITY OF CURRICULUM: Premedical students should choose a curriculum that demonstrates a capacity to handle the rigors of medical school. If they choose the easiest curriculum they can manage, it will be obvious to the Admissions Committee that they have been protecting their GPA. It will certainly deprive them of the level of preparation they need for professional school.

PARAMEDICAL EXPERIENCE: Premedical students

should test the depth of their commitment by getting direct exposure to the world of medicine by working or volunteering in hospitals or nursing homes, visiting medical schools, talking with practicing physicians, and keeping informed about new developments in medical education and medical practice.

HEALTH PROFESSIONS CLUB: This organization meets on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month in HOH Atrium. It offers programs of speakers and films, involvement in blood drives, volunteer experiences, visits to medical and dental schools, and assistance in the application process. All prospective applicants are urged to attend and any student may join.

http://biology.ucok.edu/Pre-medweb/medweb/PremedHealhome.html

PREMEDICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Anne L. Ewing, Chairman Riaz Ahmed John F. Barthell Robert O. Bost Brenda L. Brent Olivia L Hanson Jenna J.Hellack

Biology, HOH 200C Biology, HOH 200E Biology, HOH 118 A5 Chemistry, HOH 320E Advising, NUC 1211 Chemistry, HOH 314G Biology, HOH 200

D. Michael Hellwege Luis D. Montes Paul A. Stone Gregory M. Wilson Chemistry, HOH 314B Chemistry, HOH 314E Biology, HOH 200F Biology, HOH 200B

For more information about Physicians and Physician Programs: http:www.aamc.org and http://www.aacom.org

For information from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine contact: Ms. Dotty Killam, Admissions, The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, PO Box 26901, BMSB 357, Oklahoma City, OK 73190. (405) 271-2331 Email: adminmed@ouhsc.edu. OU Site: http://www.medicine.ouhsc.edu/ For information from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine contact: Ms. Bonnie B. Laster, OSU Center for Health Sciences Admissions and Student Recruitment, 1111 West 17th St., Tulsa, OK 74107. 918-561-8421, 1-800-677-1972. Email: bblaster@chs.okstate.edu OSU COM Site: http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/college/index.htm

Revised 10/04