Pre-Med at Butler
While working at Butler to complete your undergraduate degree,
you can also build in a pre-health curriculum designed to fulfill
the prerequisite coursework and build experience to make you the
best possible candidate for a career in the health care
industry.
Establishing a career in the medical field is a noble and
rewarding goal. However, if a medical school is going to
spend the 4+ years training you, you will need to establish a
record in your undergraduate education of academic excellence and
compassionate citizenship. It is not enough to be super smart
and ace all of your classes; you'll need to show that your
compassion and concern for your fellow citizens is equally as
strong. In addition, you'll need to demonstrate your ability
to communicate effectively and in terms others can understand.
Academics: The courses needed to meet the prerequisites
for most medical schools are very straight forward. Because of
this, it is not too difficult to pair the premed curriculum with
any other major on campus. But you must be committed to academic
excellence. A strong GPA (3.8 and higher) coupled with an
outstanding MCAT score (31 or greater) is an important beginning to
your medical school application. And building a strong
academic record begins early in your undergraduate career with
sustained performance in ALL classes, engaging and participating
fully both inside and outside of the classroom. For every 1
hour in the class, you should be spending 2 hours outside the class
learning on your own through reading and homework.
Extra-curricular: Considered by some to be a more
difficult aspect of medical school preparation is building your
resume to demonstrate your interest and commitment to the field of
medicine. Clinical exposure is a must and so shadowing and
volunteerism is an absolute necessity. In addition, showing
that you have the ability to simultaneously perform well
academically and play a leadership role in some organization is
important. There is no specific formula for gaining the
exposure you'll need in order to build your resume. Just ensure
that you pull meaning from any experience and that you are invested
in the lives of people and not just checking off a box.
You'll want to become a well-rounded student-scholar-citizen to
become the best possible candidate.
Check out these links for more info
Four-Year Plan for Pre-Health Students
Medical School
Self Assessment Table
Medical Internships and Scientific Research
Personal Statements
Advising Sheets
Applying to Medical School