Main description:

The one-stop, comprehensive resource for students considering a career in medicine

In recent years, applying to and getting accepted to medical school in the U.S. has become increasingly difficult. In 2020-2021, only 38% of the 53,370 students who applied to U.S. medical schools were accepted. For the most prestigious medical schools, the acceptance rate was just 1.4-2%. Pre-Medicine: The Complete Guide for Aspiring Doctors by Joel Thomas, Phillip Wagner, Ray Funahashi, and Nitin Agarwal is a comprehensive roadmap that guides aspiring physicians through the rigorous process of preparing for and getting into medical school in the U.S. By bringing together multiple authors with different life experiences and perspectives, this unique book has broad appeal to students from diverse backgrounds.

The text is organized by five sections: The Pre-Med Primer, Succeeding as a Pre-Medical Student, Applying to Medical School, Medical School and Career Insights, and an Appendix. This invaluable resource tackles challenging topics and addresses uncomfortable questions that necessitate engagement with multiple opposing viewpoints and careful data analysis. The first and foremost goal of this book is to get essential information into the hands of individuals that need it to succeed in their pre-med and medical school journey.

Key Features

Authors graduated from U.S. News Top 20 medical schools and/or trained at a Doximity Top 20 residency program
Demystifies the lengthy and confusing medical school application process, providing practical advice and evidence-based strategies for successfully tackling each step, starting in high school
Provides readers with a realistic and honest picture of the daily challenges and rewards that aspiring physicians face-from premed to residency

This is a must-have resource for anyone who is considering a career in medicine. The no-holds-barred insights shared in this book will greatly optimize the chance of medical school applicants gaining admission to their top choice.

Contents:

Section I: The Pre-Med Primer

1. The 30,000-Foot View

2. What Medical Schools Look For

3. The Pre-Med Principles

4. The Types of Pre-Medical Students and Paths to Medical School

5. Building Your Narrative

6. Common Pre-Med Diseases and How to Treat Them

Section II: Succeeding as a Pre-Medical Student

7. Guaranteed Admission Programs and Early Assurance Programs

8. Schools, Majors, and More

9. Timing, Class Structure, and Personal Schedules

10. Obtaining a Solid GPA

11. Extracurriculars

12. Clinical Experiences

13. Shadowing

14. Volunteering

15. Research

16. Gap Years, Employment, Graduate Degrees, and Post-Baccalaureate Fellowships

17. Crushing the MCAT

18. Self-Care and Wellness

19. Finding Mentors

Section III: Applying to Medical School

20. The Big Picture

21. Before You Begin: Application Strength Analysis

22. Before You Begin: Application Cycle Prophylaxis

23. Letters of Recommendation

24. DO, MD, and International Schools

25. Dual-Degree Programs: MD/PhD, MPH, MBA, JD, and Others

26. Medical School Rankings

27. Making Your List: What Schools Do I Apply To?

28. Primary Application: AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS

29. Transcript Review

30. Activities and Meaningful Experiences

31. Personal Statement

32. Altus Suite: CASPer, Snapshot, and Duet

33. Secondary Application

34. Interviews

35. Interview Trail Travel and Attire

36. Wait-List and Update Letters

37. Financial Aid

38. Acceptance and Decisions: What Really Matters When Choosing the One School

39. Before and After Matriculation

40. Plan B and Reapplication

Section IV: Medical School and Career Insights

41. Real Talk on a Medical Career

42. Real Talk on the Medical School Experience

43. Real Talk on Succeeding in Medical School

44. A Peek at the Residency Application Process

45. A Day in the Life in Medicine

46. Nonclinical Careers

47. Stories of Inspiration

Section V: Appendix

Appendix A: Resources

Appendix B: Medical Specialties and Subspecialties