“How to get into Medical School”
In 12 easy steps.
Stephen Symes MD, FACP
Assistant Dean for Diversity and Multicultural
Affairs
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
YOU NEED TO HAVE A PLAN
UM-JMH Medical Campus
Application Statistics 2010
Applicants
Secondary Apps
Interviewed
Acceptances
Enrolled
5,282
3,042
450
200*
150
#1 Good Grades really help!

Science GPA above 3.5 (Chance of being accepted)
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
100% 3.80
90%
3.70
80%
3.60
70%
3.50
60%
3.40
50%
3.30
40%
3.20
30%
3.10
20%
3.00
Fulfillment of all required pre-requisite courses.
 At the most competitive University possible.

Highly Competitive = 15 Points
Competitive = 3 Points
Most Competitive = 30 Points
Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges, 2009
#2 MCAT Scores are important

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Begin to prepare for MCAT’s as a freshman
Ideal scores above 30 ideal 10, 10, 10,
You should have above an 8 in each section
Verbal Reasoning is most important of
scores
Plan to take MCAT’s after Biology,
Chemistry and Physics Courses are
Complete
Leave enough time to take them again.
Nobody is ever satisfied with their scores!!!!
Academic Statistics 2009
Cumulative GPA
3.74
Science GPA
3.66
MCAT
31.4
#3 APPLY EARLY

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Submit your AMCAS Application as early as
possible. It will be reviewed early.
Return your Secondary Application with 7 days.
Request your Letters of Recommendation early!!
Medical Schools begin to book Interviews in
September
After January, you will likely be on an Alternate
List.
More people will be accepted on May 15th then
any other day.
#4 Carefully select who will write
your Letters of Recommendation
Make sure the Professor knows you well
and will write a favorable letter.
 Two letters from faculty, one letter from
your clinical experiences.
 The letter should be able to demonstrate
that the person writing can adequately
judge you as a person.

#5 Be a Leader
Make an effort to be a leader.
 Be an officer in organizations you belong
to.
 Strive to be a captain or co-captain in
sports.
 Be familiar with the traits of a good
leader.
 Be ready to give examples of times when
you have had to step forward and take
control of a bad situation.

#6 Exposure to Health Care
Spend enough time volunteering in health
care to be able to assure the medical
school that you understand what it means
to be a physician.
 Shadow physicians
 Volunteer in hospitals/doctor’s offices
 Pay attention to the challenges of being a
health care provider.

#7 Everyone has Life Experiences

Show examples of how you:
Overcame adversity
 Had to work hard to achieve a goal
 Helped others in need

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Be able to describe the road that has
brought you to the front door of the
medical school
#8 Write a Meaningful Personal
Statement
After reading the statement, the evaluator
should know a great deal about you and
what values you believe to be important.
 NO spelling of grammar errors. Show
your Statement to others for corrections
and suggestions.
 DO NOT Plagiarize
 Make the Statement interesting and well
organized.

File Evaluation Generates Points
Life Experiences: (1-15) x3 Reviews = 45
 Pt. Care Experiences: (1-20) x3 Rev.
= 60
 Letters of Rec: (5-15) x3 Reviewers = 45
 Life Adversity (0-10 points)
= 10
______________________________
 Quality of Acad. Institution: (3-30)
= 30
 Science GPA (3-45 points)
= 45
 MCAT Score (3-45 points)
= 45

Maximum Points for an Applicant = 280
#9 Dress to Impress for the
Interview
Wear very professional, conservative and
tasteful attire.
 Make sure you can walk ½ mile in the
shoes you select.
 It will be cold inside and very hot outside.
 Minimal jewelry
 Professional looking (very conservative)
hair and nails

#10 Anticipate the Questions for
your Interview
Know why you want to attend this
specific medical school.
 Traditional questions
 Behavioral questions
 Thought provoking questions
 Controversial questions
 PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

#11 Know about the School you
have applied to.
Understand their strengths and
weaknesses
 Be familiar with the:

Curriculum
 Clinical Experiences
 Research Opportunities
 Community Outreach

Our Mission
Deliver high-caliber, compassionate health
care
 Advance patient care through applied
research
 Educate the next generation of medical
leaders
 Contribute to a healthier world

Our Values
Excellence
Compassion
Discovery
Collaboration
Leadership
Integrity
#12 Be on time, polite and courteous
to everyone on admissions day.

When you are wearing your dark interview
suite, or professional business dress, everyone
will know you are here for an interview.

Ask questions of the students you will meet
with. They will be judging your interest and
enthusiasm.
Uinversity of Miami – Miller School
of Medicine
Dan Barry, Ph.D., M.D.