Bowie State University
Bowie Med
Preparing Students for Careers in Medicine and Health-Related
Fields
Program Guidelines
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Prepared By
Dr. George Acquaah, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences
Dr. Florence Etop, Program Director, Dept. of Natural Sciences
Dr. Eric Bonsu, Program Assistant Director, Dept. of Natural Sciences
Information was obtained from various sources such as the AAMC and AMCAS.
Contact information
Please contact program director or assistant director for specific information. The Dean may be
contacted at 301-860-3320 for general information.
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Mission
The medical profession especially, and the health professions in general, are very attractive to the
youth. Bowie State University does not have a medical school or a premed program as academic
offerings. The goal of this program is to offer a structured and guided program to provide academic
support for students who aspire to pursue medical or health-related professions.
Vision
To become a national leader in
preparing and placing students in
medical and health-related fields
who excel in college and in the
profession.
University Advisory
Committee
Cognizant of the fact a student may
pursue a medical career from
literally any academic background,
the University Advisory Committee
(UAC) comprises of faculty
members from all the four colleges
and a diversity of departments. The UAC plans the activities for the program and oversee their
successful execution.
Program Board of Advisors
The Program Board of Advisors (PBA) comprise of BSU administrators and professionals from the
medical and health-related fields.
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What comprise health-related fields?
The major health-related fields include medicine (allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine), veterinary
medicine, podiatric medicine, chiropractic medicine, dentistry, and optometry. Generally, allopathic
medicine schools (award the MD degree) train doctors to focus on the injured or diseased parts of the
patient, while osteopathic medical schools train doctors to focus on the “whole person,” acknowledging
the primacy of the musculoskeletal
system in human health. DOs tend to emphasize prevention. However, the lines are less distinct these
days, as training is less distinct. The two kinds of doctors are now considered legally and professionally
equivalent. Both training requires four years, followed by additional years, varying according to the area
of specialization.
Path to medical school
There are many paths to medical school, and they don’t all follow the same timeline. Some people
decide to apply to medical school after graduating and working
for several years in a different field. There is no right way to
do it, as it is a very individual decision. The most common path
to medical school is to proceed immediately after completing
the undergraduate program.
A Four-Year Academic Plan
Planning is of the essence, as you prepare for med school or a professional health-related program.
Once in college, develop a plan for completing the required course work, taking the aptitude test,
acquiring extracurricular experience, and applying to schools on time. A four-year plan is as follows:
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FIRST YEAR-CHECKLIST
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FRESHMAN
Meet with your pre-med/pre-health advisor
Begin Basic Science [thick about a major and minor course]
Take study skills classes [Form study groups or use resources on Campus]
Maintain a competitive GPA
Join pre-med club and/or other organizations [Extra curriculum activities]
Seek Volunteer/work experience in a medical field or setting [clinic, ER, hospital: and continue
throughout undergraduate year]
Subscribe to and read science journals and /or news magazines
Review medical school admission requirements
Order or review online AACOM’s [----] medical college Information Book
Talk to upper class pre-med students
Get to know a [-----] Physician [check the website]
SECOND YEAR-CHECKLIST
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SOPHOMORE
Meet with your pre-med/pre-health advisor
Volunteer/work in a medical field or setting [clinic, ER, hospital]
Choose a major and minor course [if you haven’t already done so], write your resume
Maintain a competitive GPA
Start researching schools in which you are interested – a good way to begin is on the web:
www.aamc.org
Research medical school entrance requirements
Start becoming familiar with the MCAT
Order or review online AACOM’s [----] medical college Information Book
Seek summer internship or participate in research [with a faculty member or outside campus]
Become involved in campus/community activities (and continue throughout undergraduate)
Learn more about [-------] medicine {shadow, Classmates, advisor, Internet Research}
THIRD YEAR-CHECKLIST
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JUNIOR
Meet with your pre-med/pre-health advisor
Maintain a competitive GPA
Make a list of interested schools
Volunteer/work in a medical field or setting [clinic, ER, hospital]
Study and Register to take the MCAT
Reality check- What are your chances? GPA________ MCAT______ Activities______
Visit schools in which you are interested and attend Open House, recruitment events.
Order or review online AACOM’s [----] medical college Information Book
Apply to medical schools [late spring , early summer]
Continue to be involve in pre-health organization, research and community service activities
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 Look for leadership opportunities
 Consider taking valuable electives: Biochemistry______ Genetics_____ Communication____
Microbiology____ Ethics_____ Foreign Language______
SPRING SEMESTER
 Ask for letters of recommendation
 Begin your letter of recommendation Service (LRS) file
 Begin work on your personal statement
FOURTH YEAR-CHECKLIST
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SENIOR
Meet with your pre-med/pre-health advisor
Maintain a competitive GPA
Re-Take the MCAT, if necessary
Checkout your graduation requirements
Complete AACOMAS applications [Begin the summer prior to senior year]
Request official transcripts of all college work attempted
Continue to be involve in pre-health organization, research and community service activities
Confirm that schools have receive your application
Confirm that schools have received your application
Complete secondary applications and submit letters in timely manner
Prepare for interview at medical schools [Make a plan to ensure you do not miss classes,
assignments, etc.]
Complete FAFSA financial aid application
Consider what you will do this summer [accept or not accept]
Accept offer
Write thank-you notes to references and medical school admission offers
Thank your pre-med/pre-health for his/her assistance
General Habits of Successful Students
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Attitude of excellence: “Excellence is not a skill. It is an
attitude.” (Ralph Marston). Strive for excellence in all
you. It does not mean you don’t make mistakes. Learn
from mistakes and press on.
Time management: Plan and use your time wisely.
Prioritize and put first things first. You may have to
sacrifice to keep your program on track. Medical school
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is not cake-walk! But, make time to rest and smell the roses.
Good study habits: The coursework is very heavy. Don’t be a loaner when it comes to studies.
Team up with peers who will help you succeed.
Personal responsibility: It is your future; seize the day! Don’t pass the blame on to anyone; if it
has to happen it depends on you.
Increasing Your Chance of Admission into Medical School
The medical school curriculum is very demanding and challenging. You must be smart to pursue a
medical career. The most common indicator of academic smartness is the GPA. Because all GPAs are not
equal, the equalizer in the medical school application requirement is the MCAT. These two scores are
expected to be high, in order for the applicant to be competitive. So, what can a student do to improve
these scores? Here are some suggestions:-
Work hard in school to get A’s, mostly, in your courses
Prepare and score high on the MCAT
Choose a favorable major
Apply to a variety of schools - low, moderate, and high prestige schools
What Academic Major is Advantageous?
There is a perception that one’s chances of gaining admission to medical school are increased by
majoring in the sciences. The truth is that you may pursue a medical career from any academic
background! In fact, some students deliberately pursue the humanities, which arguably, are less
technical and afford students the opportunity to earn high GPAs. The Association of American Medical
Colleges (AAMC), the organization that oversees the college applications to medical schools in the US,
published the following results from a 1998 study of acceptance rates by academic major:
All majors
37%
Biology
35%
Chemistry
39%
Physics
42%
Biochemistry
43%
English
46%
History
49%
Philosophy
50%
Of course, more students with science backgrounds vs. humanities (14:1) apply to medical programs.
But the point is that, proportionally, students who pursue the humanities enter medical school at a
higher rate than those who pursue the sciences.
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The importance of individuality
The stereotypical applicant to medical school is one with a high GPA (near 4.0/4.0), high MCAT scores
(11s or better), research experience, volunteer at a hospital, and other accolades. And applicant pool
will often be dominated by such credentials, to the extent that they become not the outstanding but
rather the average! The challenge is how to distinguish yourself from the crowd, not by conforming to
the norm. Medical school deans look to assemble a cohort of diverse and vibrant group of students, with
a variety of experiences, skills and backgrounds, beyond being smart!
Be yourself – your best self, that is! Instead of conforming to some perceived standard, work to
distinguish yourself from the crowd. Strive to get your achievements to be qualified – the first, the only,
the top, the highest, etc.
Pre-med Checklist
To get into medical school, you must complete certain required courses and other recommended ones.
These will include courses in the sciences as well as the humanities. Pay attention to the labs that go
with the required science courses! You will also be required to have extracurricular experiences.
SCIENCE COURSES
Required Courses
1.
2.
3.
4.
Recommended Courses
Biology/Zoology
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physics
Labs
Semester Hours
X
X
X
X
8-12
8
8
8
Labs
Semester Hours
a. Biochemistry
b. Genetics
NON-SCIENCE COURSES
Required Courses
Recommended Courses
College English
6-8
a. Behavioral
b. Humanities
c. Math/Statistics
Additional Course Work
Anatomy/Physiology
English Literature
Microbiology
Medical Terminology
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English Composition
Biostatistics
Extracurricular Activities
 Volunteer/work in a medical field or setting [clinic, ER, hospital]
 Seek summer internship or participate in research [with a faculty member or outside campus]
 Join pre-med club and/or other organizations
Activities
 Become involved in campus/community activities (and continue throughout undergraduate)
Important Dates to Know
It is important to note that medical school applications are processed by a centralized national
administrative entity. Exceptions will not be made for you, if you are tardy!
If you follow the most common path of proceeding to medical school right after graduating from college
with your first degree, the following is a good guideline to follow:
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Take the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) (April)
Apply to Medical Schools that you are interested in attending (May)
Request letters of recommendation from your college professors (May)
Retake the MCAT if you didn't do well (August)
Preparing for the Scholastic Exam
All applicants to medical school must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Visit the MCAT
website for latest information. This test is the “equalizer” since it is no respecter of the undergraduate
school one attended. The exam assesses several skills and knowledge in the following areas:
a. Physical sciences
b. Biological sciences
c. Verbal reasoning
d. Physical and biological sciences cognitive skills
e. Verbal reasoning cognitive skills
The exam is upgraded periodically. For example, the recent additions are questions about biochemistry
and testing on knowledge of introductory psychology and sociology concepts. Another new emphasis is
the inclusion of questions that test knowledge of introductory biology concepts that provide the
foundation for learning about the behavioral and socio-cultural determinants of health. Also, the latest
MCAT tests critical analysis and reasoning skills by asking students to analyze and evaluate passages
from a wide range of social sciences and humanities disciplines, including cultural studies, population
health, ethics, and philosophy. Students who have interest in Dentistry will take the Dental Admission
Test (DAT).
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One may prepare for the standardized test by
purchasing books and other study materials and
studying on his or her own. There are other
commercial prepping services (e.g., Kaplan) that
provide online as well as face-to-face tutorials for a
fee. You may need 3-6 months of intense
preparation to earn a high score.
So what is a good MCAT score? The test score is
reported in different formats. Commonly, there is
composite score that is then broken down into
three sections – verbal, biological sciences, and
physical sciences. The maximum composite score is
45 (the lowest is 3). So, a score may be 11-13-10
for a composite of 33. The writing section is scored
from “j” (lowest) to “T” (highest). The rule of thumb, if there is any at all, is that either your GPA or
MCAT score must be high to get into medical school. If your score is less than 30, your GPA must be
high. A score of 30 and GPA of 3.5 (or better) is needed to have a great chance or getting into med
school. Top medical schools require 35 or better score. In 2012, the mean score was 25.2 (50th
percentile); with SD = 6.4, a score of 31.6 (1SD of the mean) was equal to 84th percentile, while a score
of 38 (2SD) = 99th percentile (a very exclusive club to belong to!!). For writing sample in 2012, M = 25th
percentile, O = 50th percentile, and Q = 75 percentile.
However, getting into medical school takes into account all kinds of factors! A person with a graduate
degree and other pertinent experiences may get by with a modest MCAT score. BUT, to be on the safe
side, work hard to earn a high GPA and a high MCAT score, so you can be competitive! Also, the
undergraduate institution you attended counts.
Personal Statement
The personal statement is an essay and hence all the rules of essay writing must be followed – have a
topic, subject or theme, organize your thoughts succinctly into clear points, easy to read and
comprehend, have a great introduction and a great ending, use proper grammar and check your spelling
and punctuations, be creative, etc. Have someone look over for you. Note that this cannot be rushed!
Complete and look it over, modify, etc., until it is “perfect.” Read the instructions and keep them.
Two questions need to be answered: “Why do you want to pursue a career in medicine?” ”Why should
we give you a spot in our program?” Remember that thousands of applicants have addressed these
questions before. So, avoid generic statements like “I love children” “I love to help sick people,” etc. Be
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creative without going overboard. Stories or experiences you narrate should be relevant to why you
yearn to pursue a career in medicine. Did you have an “aha moment” that changed your perspectives on
your professional aspiration?
Use the personal statement as an opportunity to “market yourself.” Do no repeat items in your resume.
It is not the time to for listing your accomplishments. Rather, tell the reader about your life experiences
that make you come across as bright, empathetic and communicative. Share challenges and adversities
and show how you learned from them to become a better person. Stay clear of overly controversial
issues, for you never know who’d reading your personal statement! Use the opportunity to explain
some of the academic challenges you may have experienced or weaknesses in your resume. Don’t make
excuses, but show how you overcame the challenges or you are better off because of them.
Medical School Interviews
Applicants to med school are required to present themselves for an interview. An invitation to an
interview is an indication that the institution is satisfied with your basic academic preparation and
credentials. However, there is more to a doctor than being smart. The interview allows the institution to
find out about your personality – level of maturity, interpersonal skills, empathy, communication skills,
etc. The interview can sink an otherwise superior applicant who comes along as corky, rude, unpolished,
etc. It is important not to put on airs. Just be yourself!
Even though one cannot predict the exact questions that may be
asked, it is wise to prepare for the interview with anticipated
questions (e.g., your hobbies, how you handle stress, why you want
to be a doctor, your views on certain issues, ethics, employment
history, tell them about yourself, strengths and weakness etc.). Give
succinct answers to questions. Note that your responses should
have a bearing on your desire to pursue a medical career. You may
not know answers to each question, but you may be able to respond
intelligently. Remember, it is important for a doctor to think on his
feet! Don’t be afraid to ask for clarification if a question is not clear.
All interviews are won in the beginning – first impression! Dress
appropriately (business attire is recommended). Be careful of
excessive makeup and accessories. Take your time when answering
questions. Prepare some questions for your interviewers. Avoid
questions for which it is expected that you should be able to have
answers for on your own.
Send a thank you card each of the interviewers, unless the institutional custom prohibits such. The
message should be brief. You may take the opportunity to add new significant information or show how
your qualities deserve consideration.
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Acceptance to medical school usually occurs in February. If you received offers to more than one school,
you’ll need some time to make you final choice. Consequently, acceptance to medical school occurs
after the traditional February Acceptance Day event.
Selecting a Medical School to Attend
Just like applying to college in general, medical schools vary in visibility or
prestige. Some are private, others are public. Some have reputation for
certain disciplines of medicine. Then, of course, is the cost of attending
the program! Note that there about 19 osteopathic and 125 allopathic
med schools in the nations (numbers will vary). The location of the
medical school is very important for several reasons. The fees vary for
state school. Out-of-state fees are higher than in-state fees. Do you want
to be close to home? How about climate and urban life? These and other
factors associated with location can impact your success. The location will
impact the kind of clinical experiences you are exposed to.
Of course is it prestigious to attend an Ivy League college. Sometimes, the
training and experience is superior at certain institutions than others.
Some institutions have a reputation for certain medical disciplines. But, it is most important to attend an
accredited program! In the final analysis, the school notwithstanding, all students must take the same
qualifying exam, and upon passing, all graduate as “doctors.”
Teaching philosophies vary – traditional (lecture-intensive) vs integrated or problem-based. Either way,
you are responsible for learning the material! Some programs assign letter grades; others assign
pass/fail grades. More important, do you prefer and allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) program? Ivy
League and education from prestigious schools comes with a high price tag! A state school is not as
prestigious as others but might offer sizeable scholarship.
How many schools to apply to
In addition to the centralized processing through the AMCAS, you will be required to complete specific
forms for the individual schools to which you apply (called the “secondary applications’). This is work.
Also, you will need to pay a fee for each secondary application!
The conventional wisdom is to apply to schools you have a good chance of getting into, based on your
GPA and MCAT score. But, do not eliminate yourself prematurely! As indicated elsewhere, many factors
are taken into account by the medical school admission committee for the institution. If your GPA and
MCAT scores are average, do not waste time and money applying to top 10 schools! However, if your
scores are descent, apply the rule of thumb of 25% of your choices being your dream schools (very
competitive), 50% being good programs you have a good chance to get into (moderately competitive),
and the other 25% for schools third tier schools that are less competitive.
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If your GPA and scores are great, you may apply to fewer schools, six to eight. However, it is not
uncommon to apply to 10-15 schools. Some schools have early commitment admission programs,
whereby applicants are may apply to a school and commit to (refrain from pursuing other options) once
an offer of admission has been extended.
What to do After an Unsuccessful Application to Med School
It at first you try and do not succeed, try and try again! This adage is very true of trying to get into a
medical school program. It is a very competitive program to get into, so don’t get too hard on yourself if
you don’t get in on the first try. Many students have to try more than once to succeed. The general
advice is to work hard to have a high GPA and a high MCAT score. At least one of these two critical
admission criteria must be very high, to make up for a not so high value in the other.
First determine what went wrong. Did you not study hard? Did you not study the proper material? Was
one section of the test more challenging than others? Did you mess up on the test day?
Because your BS/BA GPA is set, the only way to improve upon this academic benchmark is to pursue
another academic program, a post-baccalaureate degree. If you prepped for the MCAT on your own, you
might consider prepping with a commercial company such as Kaplan or Princeton Review.
Funding for medical school
There are several ways to finance a medical school education.
a) Scholarships – Available in a variety of forms – high academic
performance, minority status, field of study, etc. The institution
may have such scholarships. They may also be available from
the community – corporations, churches, etc.
b) Grants and awards – Provided by individuals or entities (e.g.,
Alumni, Foundations) for specific purposes (e.g., to sponsor a
student to work in missionary service).
c) National service – If you are willing serve your country for a
couple of years, you may qualify for such support.
d) Employer support – Some employers participate in “loan
forgiveness” programs, whereby a doctor’s student’s loan is
exchanged for service.
e) Personal financing - You can pay for your educations or apply
for a loan form the government or bank.
Overseas or Offshore Medical Schools
Acceptance into medical and other health-related fields is highly competitive. Matters are complicated
further by the fact that the American Medical Association (AMA) monitors the application and
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acceptance process through a centralized system. There are not enough vacancies or schools in America
to accommodate all qualified applicants. Some students are compelled to abandon their dreams of a
medical career, after being unsuccessful at gaining entrance into
American medical schools. A way of keeping medical dreams alive
may be, for some, starting their medical careers overseas.
There are a number of medical schools in the Caribbean, Asia,
British Isles, and Europe. Xavier School of Medicine has an offshore
program in Aruba. Some overseas medical programs are respected
more than others; some of them don’t require the MCAT for
admission; tuition is usually less than for medical schools in
America; the application process has a shorter turnaround. That
said, the perception is that overseas programs are less reputable
than those in America. To practice in America upon graduation, one must be processed through the
Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, or ECFMG (charged with ensuring that
physicians who have graduated from foreign medical schools are qualified to pursue a medical license in
the US). Before one may apply to take the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), the ECFMG
must approve. Their stamp of approval is also needed for one to enter a residency program that's
accredited by the American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
Important organizations to know
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is one organization an applicant to medical
school cannot do without! Regardless of the number of medical schools to which you apply, you’d be
required to submit just one online application to AMCAS. Most medical schools use this organization as
the primary application portal. This centralized application service is available to only first-year entering
applicants. Other applicants (e.g., transfer students) may contact the medical schools of their choice
directly.
Another organization to consult is the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The
organization gathers information about medical schools and has other helpful resources. A
prospective applicant may find information at websites of national medical student
associations, a major one being the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), which has
a pre-med version.
Medical and health-related student clubs at BSU
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