It takes a special person to become a doctor. It requires a combination of drive and skills that may not be necessary for every possession (although it obviously helps across the board). Simply “becoming” a doctor is an extremely difficult task, let alone succeeding as one. Unlike most careers, where it is at least possible to learn a role on the job, being a doctor requires a medical degree, which can only come from an approved medical institution.

If you want to be a doctor, you have start by attending one of these institutions. There is simply no way around that. Unfortunately, admittance is often easier said than done. Here is a list of some of the factors that go into being admitted to medical school:

1) Undergraduate grades. While there are many important factors, this may be the single most important factor. A 2.15 GPA may get you a college diploma, but would almost certainly disqualify you from the vast majority of medical schools. Beyond just a solid GPA, actual coursework is a factor as well. The type of college degree may or may not be important depending on who you are applying to, but a more difficult load always looks better on a transcript than a series of PE classes. Loading up on science and math classes is a good idea for any potential medical student as well.

2) MCAT. Think of this standardized test as the SAT/ACT for medicals schools…only vastly more important. Loosely representative of the knowledge base you will need to have to be successful in medical school from day 1, this exam has a great amount of weight placed on it by admissions offices for medical school. One does not necessarily need to absolutely nail it to get into a quality program, but it does typically combine with the undergraduate transcript on a sliding scale to form the overall academic profile (i.e. better transcript can get away a lesser MCAT score, worse transcript needs a better MCAT score).

3) Extra-curricular activities. Believe it or not, medical school admissions offices care about what you do with your free time. They are looking for people who are passionate about their lives and/or represent a productive member of their community. Participating in team activities or being active in community service activities are great ways to stand out in a positive manner to admissions officers.

4) Interview. Interview skills are also important. This makes sense as bedside manner is one aspect of being a doctor (at least for most doctors). Most medical schools require an interview before admittance. Once you have gotten to this step, you have a good chance of getting in. Showing interpersonal communication skills by nailing the interview is a good way to ensure your seat in that school’s medical class.

Other options: Should you feel you are lacking in some of these areas, not all is lost. While American medical schools may be a long shot, there are other options. For example, there are medical schools in the Caribbean (i.e. American University of Antigua – http://www.auamed.org) that operate on a U.S. curriculum and have shown success at placing graduates back into the United States. These schools often have differing standards (i.e. no MCAT) compared to typical American medical schools.

Author Bio: by Felix Chesterfield For more information: Caribbean Med Schools

Category: Education
Keywords: medical school requirements, caribbean med schools, med university