Pre-Medical

Medical School Overview

So you want to be a doctor, but aren’t sure where to start?  You’ve come to the right place.

Deciding to go to medical school is an extraordinary choice and there is a lot that goes into the preparation for applying to medical school and becoming a competitive applicant.  There are also different paths to becoming a doctor such as MD or DO, US medical schools, Texas medical schools or international programs, or taking multiple gap years.  It is ultimately up to you to choose your path, but hopefully the resources and information provided can help guide you.

To make an appointment with the Pre-Health Career Coach here: https://student.support.uccs.edu/

Sign Up for a CU Medical Student Mentor! 

Getting into medical school is any extremely competitive process! See infograph for info on GPA and MCAT averages.

How long does it take to become a doctor?  The length of most doctoral programs is typically four years plus residency and fellowship. The first 2 years are didactic, and 3rd and 4th years are mostly clinical.  By your 3rd or 4th year you have to choose a specialty for your residency.  Residency is 2-4 years.  To further your specialization, you can obtain a fellowship for another 1-4 years.

If you are unsure about the MD (allopathic) or DO (osteopathic) path, find the MD vs. DO tab on the Exploration page here: Still Exploring

An important aspect to take into account involving all experiences and academics as you prepare for applying to medical school are the 15 core competencies published by the AAMC. See these core competencies here: AAMC Core Competencies

Printable Comprehensive Pre-Med Guide: Guide For the Pre-Med Student PDF

  • Academic Preparation and Research
  • Extracurricular Preparation
  • Application Process
  • Testing Requirements
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Community Resources
  • A. Choosing a Major
    Upon starting your undergrad years, one of the first decisions you are faced with is choosing a major. It is important to choose a major that you both enjoy and can excel in academically. To prepare for medical school, you will be on a Pre-Med Track. The Pre-Med track is not a major or minor, but simply a list of coursework that medical schools require in order to apply to medical school and are also necessary for the MCAT. If your passion lies in a non-science major that you will excel in, by all means major in it, but recognize that science classes will always be a big part of your class schedule.B. Required Coursework
    UCCS Pre-Med Track Academic Information: Pre-Med Coursework

    Check with individual schools you are applying to for verification on required coursework and recommended coursework.

    What if your grades are not competitive?
    You can look into a Post-baccalaureate (Post-Bacc) program to help you retake required coursework, bring up your GPA and help prepare you specifically for getting into med school.
    Learn more about Post-Bacc here: https://students-residents.aamc.org/preparing-medical-school/postbaccalaureate-programs
    Directory of Post-Bacc programs: https://mec.aamc.org/postbac/#/index

    C. Research

    Research can look very good on a medical school application. You should not pursue research just to ‘check a box’ but rather because you are interested in the competency of scientific inquiry. There are a variety of ways to get involved in research but most directly is to reach out to the faculty in your department.

    • Department of Biology: Find research or internship opportunities through their website: https://biology.uccs.edu/research

    • Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry: https://chemistry.uccs.edu/undergraduate/chemistry-and-biochemistry-research

    • Human Physiology and Nutrition: Go to your faculty members directly for research interest. Check their website here for current internship opportunities: https://johnsonbethel.uccs.edu/hpnu-programs

    • UCCS Center for Student Research: https://studentresearch.uccs.edu/

    • CU Anschutz Opportunities for Undergraduate students: https://www.ucdenver.edu/lynxconnect/undergraduate-research/other

    Research and Course Credit:
    In some instances, you can line up academic and/or laboratory research with course credit. Students can enroll in a Research Practicum with a faculty mentor to earn credit for research.  You can also earn credit for your Research or Creative Work and Register for 9499. The course will appear as ‘Undergraduate Research’ on your transcript. Reach out to the UCCS Center for Student Research at: email- CSR@uccs.edu

    Why Research?

    Research, internships, and other special projects can provide the following positive contributions when seeking medical school admission:
    Experiences to list in the Work/Activities section of your med school primary (and sometimes secondary) application(s) for admission. May provide you with insight into future career choices (what you are interested in, what you have found not to be for you, etc) Projects involving teaching experience can prepare you for future patient interaction.
    Demonstrate your sincere interest, working knowledge, and independent learning skills in your field.

  • Extracurricular Preparation:
    Participation in extracurricular activities is an important aspect of a premed’s undergrad years through your involvement in social and community activities, athletics, volunteer work, social impact, clinical experiences, shadowing and employment. Choose experiences that you enjoy and consider the AAMC Core Competencies as a guide. Think of extracurricular activities as absolutely required.A. Social Activities and Athletics
    Involvement in athletics or in undergrad activities/organizations like clubs, student orgs or other interests can give you an opportunity to:
    1. Explore your own personal interests.
    2. Demonstrate to med schools what is important to you (other than just being admitted to med school).
    3. Embrace your college experience by surrounding yourself with activities that mean something to you and are valuable to your well-being. Not only will you feel personally fulfilled, it will be reflected in your application to med school (in the work/activities or essay sections of the application, or in your interview discussion). Prioritize your mental health, self-care, social, physical and emotional well-being by being involved in personal interests too.

    UCCS Student Orgs to consider:
    Pre-Health Society
    Global Medical Brigades

    B. Community and Volunteer Involvement
    As a physician, you will serve the needs of others, and community and volunteer involvement can indicate that you are devoted to that cause. It is also important to show consistency in this area. Even if you do a few hours a week over a few years, that looks better than short term experiences.

    Civic engagement in other settings: tutoring, coaching kids, helping the elderly, are also valued.

    C. Shadowing

    Shadowing is considered observation without direct patient contact. Shadowing consists of following and observing one or a few physicians around as they perform their jobs to gain a “day in the life” perspective. Shadowing is more than just a requirement for admission into medical school. It allows you to get a clear sense of what it’s like to be a practicing doctor.
    In choosing a physician to shadow, it may be best to pick a general practitioner of family medicine or internal medicine for an overall perspective. If you find yourself interested in a particular field, explore it by seeking out physicians that specialize in that or similar fields. If you have a relationship with your own doctor(s), or know any doctors, start by asking them. Use your network- friends and family and you can also ask your teachers, professors, and advisors if they know any doctors that other students have shadowed in the past. It’s also okay to contact hospitals through their volunteer office, or search online for local doctors with specialties that interest you.
    Virtual Shadowing has become acceptable experience for many medical schools since the pandemic. Do not pay for this!

    D.Healthcare and Clinical Experience
    Clinical Experience is clinical interaction with patients. As long as who you are interacting with are patients, then it’s clinical and does not always have to occur in a clinical setting. Clinical experience is with trained professionals, whether in a hospital, surgical center, physician’s office, or similar environment. Clinical experience can be paid employment. Consider clinical experience a key requirement. General Healthcare experience is working on a healthcare team or in a healthcare environment, but not working hands on with patients.

    E. Employment
    Depending upon availability and financial situation, many students choose to hold a job during their undergrad years or during a gap year(s). On-campus jobs are a popular choice for the obvious convenience, and usually consists of work in your undergrad’s various offices and departments, tour guiding, laboratory work, tutoring, or in athletics.
    Jobs that allow you to multi-task and gain transferable skills are great opportunities. For example, employment in a medical or laboratory setting brings you both monetary compensation and valuable clinical/laboratory experience. Other popular choices include working as tutors or as teaching assistants (in the classroom or laboratory). Both allow you to have income, promote your overall academics (review previous and build new knowledge), and allow you to have teaching experience.

    Certifications:
    There are opportunities to take a certification course for positions like EMT, CNA, Medical Assistant, Medical Scribe, Technician and more.
    Examples of Entry Level Healthcare positions and certification requirements:  Entry Level Healthcare

    F. Gap Year(s)

    More students are being accepted into medical school who have taken gap year(s) in order to attain more healthcare experience. If you are unable to balance your coursework with holding a job, you may consider maximizing time during a gap year to become employed in a healthcare setting. Med schools do realize that extracurriculars draw time and energy away from coursework, and do take the quantity and quality of each into consideration when reviewing your application. Your GPA should be a top priority. Even many, quality extracurriculars cannot overshadow a poor GPA and MCAT, and high academic marks can be quickly ignored if you have no volunteer/clinical experience. The key is to strike a balance between academics and extracurriculars with time management and self-care.

    In 2022, only 10% of students applying during their undergraduate year as a Junior or Senior, matriculated into medical school. It is highly advantageous to take a gap year or multiple gap years to gain real world experience and improving your application.

  • Where to Apply 
    For MD applicants: the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).
    The AMCAS Program is a centralized application processing service that is currently available only to applicants to the first-year entering classes at participating U.S. medical schools.
    The AMCAS on-line application usually opens in early June. Normally there is a three to four week delay before the school receives the application from AMCAS due to transcript verification. Students are encouraged to apply EARLY.MD program Directory: explore the MSAR https://mec.aamc.org/msar-ui/#/landing

    For DO applicants:
    The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) is the centralized application service for U.S. osteopathic medical schools.
    DO program Directory: https://choosedo.org/choose-do-explorer-registration/

    For Texas Medical Schools, The Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) is the central organization through which participating member institutions unite to foster the success of aspiring dentists, physicians, and veterinarians.These services are very similar, but not identical.

    These application services open online in early May each year to allow applicants to start building applications a month early, and begin accepting submissions on or around June 1st. Deadlines vary between services and also by school and range from October-March. The information you will be asked to provide is very similar, although the way it is organized in different ways.

    READ ALL INSTRUCTION MANUALS AND DIRECTIONS CAREFULLY!

    All Three Application Services will require:
    1. Your MCAT score, Altus Suite scores (CASPer) and others depending on the program
    2. A list of all college classes taken, as well as official transcripts from each college where you have earned credit.
    3. A list and descriptions of your activities since graduating from high school.
    4. A Personal Statement outlining your motivation for pursuing a career as a physician.
    5. Letters of Recommendations.

    Overview:

    US medical schools admit students once a year in the Fall. Applications are submitted 12-15 months before the desired medical school enrollment date. However, the timing depends on when you will complete your degree and the necessary premedical coursework (and successfully take the MCAT). All degrees must be posted to your transcript prior to starting medical school, and the timing is sensitive. While applying early in the cycle has advantages, the best time for you to apply is when your application is the best it can be. Medical schools requirements vary from school to school. Research schools early for specific information on their requirements. Some schools will require all pre-requisites to be completed at the time of application, while others will allow you to apply with credits that still need to be completed. Be sure to check each program’s website early!

    There are 5 main components to the application process:
    1. The Medical Colleges Admission Test (MCAT) and the Altus Suite
    2. Primary Application
    3. Letters of Recommendation
    4. Secondary Applications
    5. Interviews
    Read below for a detail on what is involved in the application process and what each component communicates:

    Primary Application
    What it is: The primary application is a verified record of most of the elements listed below compiled into a centralized application. This application is distributed to each medical school that you designate. What it communicates: Why you’ve chosen medicine as a career, how you prepared for medical school, your experiences, and how people perceive you as a student and future physician.

    Secondary Application
    What it is: An additional school-specific application that supplements your primary application. It helps explain why you’re interested in a particular institution; how your goals, experiences, and plans align with the school’s mission and goals; and how and what you would contribute as a learner at that institution. In other words, it’s an opportunity to answer the question, why this school?
    What it communicates: From the school’s perspective, the secondary application provides an opportunity to probe for more institution-specific information by, for example, evaluating your fit with their mission, assessing your reasons for applying to that particular school, and posing other school-specific questions.

    Here is a great database of post secondary application questions: https://www.prospectivedoctor.com/medical-school-secondary-essay-prompts-database/
    It is a good idea to get started on these early!

    Official Transcripts and Coursework
    What they are: The official record or records from each college or university you attended, the courses you took, and the grades or credit you received. What they communicate: Tells part of the story about how you academically prepared for medical school.
    For example:
    • Did you take upper-level science courses?
    • What were your grade trends and coursework patterns?
    • Do you have experience with writing-intensive courses?
    • Did you challenge yourself with higher-level coursework in and outside your major?
    • Did you formally study another language or take coursework in another language?
    • Do you have a broad liberal arts background?
    • Did you take community college courses or complete coursework at other institutions?
    • Did you take postbaccalaureate or graduate courses?
    • Did you have to overcome academic challenges?

    MCAT Score(s)
    What it is: The Medical College Admission Test is a standardized multiple-choice test designed to assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles.

    What it communicates: The MCAT exam tests the skills and knowledge that medical educators, physicians, medical students, and residents have identified as key prerequisites for success in medical school and beyond. The MCAT exam is one tool that medical school admissions officers use in combination with application materials (e.g., transcripts and personal statements) and interviews to select future medical students.

    Personal Statements From Primary Application and Essay Questions on Secondary Applications
    What they are: The personal statement on the AMCAS application is your opportunity to communicate your motivation for a career in medicine and to distinguish yourself from other applicants. The essay questions on your secondary applications will provide context for the other components of your application and further inform an admissions committee about how you may be a good fit for their institution.
    What they communicate: This is your best opportunity to tell the medical school admissions officers something about yourself that they wouldn’t necessarily learn by looking at the other parts of your application. You may focus on, for example, meaningful experiences, how your interests align with a school’s mission, your desire to serve in a particular community or to work with a particular patient population, or any challenges or obstacles you’ve faced, including distance traveled. Distance traveled is how admissions officers and prehealth advisors refer to those life challenges you’ve faced and conquered.

    Experiences, Publications, or Poster Presentations
    What they are: An opportunity to highlight your extracurricular activities, including medically related experiences and exposure, employment, volunteer work, internships, and research. What they communicate: The impact you made while engaging in the activity and the personal growth and transformation you experienced as a result of your participation.

    Letters of Evaluation or Recommendation
    What they are: Confidential letters sent directly to the application service (or medical school) by individuals (or your undergraduate institution’s committee) on your behalf. What they communicate: Your personal qualities, characteristics, competencies, and capabilities as a future physician from the perspective of someone who knows you.

    Biographical Information
    What it is: Your family structure, parent or guardian education and career information, citizenship, language proficiency, self-identified race and ethnicity, legal residence, and criminal convictions. What it communicates: Your biographical information gives admissions committees more context about your background, access to resources and services, and family structure. For example, you may include the education level of your parents or whether you are the first in your family to attend college.

    Possible Review of Social Media and Internet Search
    What it is: This is the public commentary, discourse, and images you post on social media sites, message boards, and blogs.
    What it communicates: Increasingly, admissions officers may view these sites to learn more about your opinions, biases, social behaviors, and judgments. This can be both positive and negative. Note: Be sure you know what’s available about yourself (or about someone else with your name or a similar name).

    Interview
    What it is: An in-person (or sometimes video) meeting between you and one or more individuals representing a medical school.
    What it communicates: If you are invited to interview, it means that the school is interested in finding out about you and whether you would be a good fit there. It is an opportunity for the school to see how you present yourself, how you communicate, and how you engage with other current and future members of the school’s community. It is also your opportunity to assess how you feel about the medical school and its environment and to ask additional questions.

    Financial Information
    What it is: This is a snapshot of your ability to finance or pay for your education. Note: Your ability to afford medical school will not factor into the admissions decision. What it communicates: Medical schools make different use of financial information. Some may use it either to help distribute need-based aid and scholarship funds or to develop a financial package to help you finance your education.

    More Information on Paying for Medical School and Fee Assistance Opportunities: https://students-residents.aamc.org/financial-aid-resources/financial-aid-resources


    Criminal History Search
    What it is: A search and report of your criminal history. The report is used to ascertain the ability of conditionally accepted applicants to become licensed physicians, to enhance the safety and well-being of patients, and to ensure the public’s continuing trust in the medical profession. The AAMC recommends that all U.S. medical schools obtain a national background check on applicants upon their conditional acceptance to medical school. What it communicates: This confirms your integrity and whether you have been forthcoming and truthful about your criminal history on your application or during your interviews. It also communicates to medical schools your potential ability to become a licensed physician. Some medical schools may require an additional form asking you to disclose any other information.

  • MCAT
    The MCAT is administered in January, and March through September. Taking the exam by spring will enable you to apply earlier. September is the last MCAT accepted by many schools for the following Fall’s entering class.The MCAT is divided into four multiple choice sections:
    • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
    • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems
    • Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior
    • Critical Analysis and Reasoning SkillsLearn how to register for the MCAT here:
    https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/register-mcat-exam

    For free MCAT resources:
    Free MCAT Prep

    The Altus Suite/CASPer Exam
    Medical schools incorporate a variety of tools in their assessment in order to gather a holistic view of their applicants, to make sure they are not only academically capable but also possess the characteristics of someone who will likely succeed on the job. One such tool that is used by a few medical schools is CASPer, which is a situational judgement test designed to assess how an individual will behave in certain situations.

    CASPer assesses for 10 characteristics: Collaboration, Communication, Empathy, Equity, Ethics, Motivation, Problem Solving, Professionalism, Resilience, and Self Awareness. It is a 60-90 minute virtually proctored assessment, made up of 12 sections. Each section contains a video-based or word-based scenario and three open-ended questions. Test takers have five minutes to type their responses to all three questions.
    Further information is on the CASPer Website.

    The AAMC PREview™ professional readiness exam, formerly the AAMC Situational Judgment Test assesses pre-professional Competencies based on AAMC Pre-Professional Competencies.
    This is a new exam and not required by all medical programs. Read more here: https://students-residents.aamc.org/aamc-preview/5-things-know-about-aamc-preview-exam
    Unlike CASPer Test, students will receive a test score for PREview exam.
    Check the Testing Calendar and more on registration here: https://students-residents.aamc.org/aamc-preview/aamc-preview-eligibility-and-registration.

  • Letters of Recommendation:
    All three Application services have a letter of recommendation service that allow you to submit your letters through them and have them distributed to all schools to which you have applied. However, application services do not share letters: Be sure to plan ahead regarding where to have your letters sent. Applicants who plan to apply only to AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TDMSAS affiliated medical schools most should take advantage of the Letter Service provided by those systems.If applying to both MD and DO schools, or including TMDSAS schools, unaffiliated schools, or an international program, it is easiest to subscribe to a service like Interfolio.com which allows you to collect all your letters in one place and have them sent to each application service.Requirements for letters vary between schools, so research schools early and know what you need. Most schools require 3 or 4 letters.
    Academic Letters: Letter writer who can speak to your academic ability and/or intellectual curiosity.
    Science Professor (Only from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Math)
    Non-Science Professor
    2nd Science Professor (Requirements vary by school)
    Mentoring Letters: Letter writer who can speak to your commitment to service, leadership ability, growth as an individual, interpersonal and/or teamwork skills.Patient Exposure, Community Service (Direct Supervisor or Volunteer Coordinator), Research Supervisor, or other Supervisor (a professional mentor, or work or internship supervisor)Establish Relationships
    Get to know your Professors early! Tell professors at the beginning of the semester that you would like them to keep an eye on your performance in class. It will give them a longer observational window. Visit their offices regularly.
    At the end of the semester, if you do well, ask them if they would be willing to write you an excellent letter of recommendation when you are ready to apply.
    A key to a good letter is the establishment of a relationship between student and professor based on shared academic interests.
    1. Ask thoughtful questions
    2. Delve deeper into concepts presented in lectures
    3. Share your academic and career goals
    4. Ask for recommendations for additional reading
    5. Inquire about their areas of interest and research

    Requesting Letters of Recommendation
    1. Ask if potential writers if they feel capable of writing a supportive letter. If anyone is hesitant, you should probably try someone else.
    2. Get business cards with your recommenders’ contact information.
    3. Ask if recommenders would welcome any written background material. You could include a brief biographical sketch or resume, your interests and activities, career goals, and motivation toward your intended profession. You could also include a snapshot, a copy of a paper or assignment from their class, or transcript.
    4. Always give recommenders ample time. One month at a minimum. Follow up to make sure that your letters have been sent.
    5. Send thank you notes.

    Letters of Rec within AMCAS
    You will have to fill out that section with the name/title of who is writing your individual letters and where you want them sent (which Med schools you are applying to.)
    Here is the entire process with FAQs https://students-residents.aamc.org/how-apply-medical-school-amcas/section-6-amcas-application-letters-evaluation
    Another website with specific info that could help https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/blog/medical-school-letter-of-recommendation
    Basically, the Letters of Rec do not go to you, they will go directly to AMCAS who sends it out to the schools you choose.

  • Community Shadowing, Volunteering, Clinical Hours Resources:
    For a list of locations that take volunteers and/or shadowing, clinical hours or internships, check out the Community Connections Page here: Community Connections
    UCHealth Volunteer Update and Steps:
    How to apply for volunteering with UCHealth?
    1) Navigate to www.uchealth.org
    2) Click on “Volunteers”, right side, bottom of screen
    3) Next page click on “Memorial Hospital-Colorado Springs”
    4) Click on red button “Apply Online” for online application
    5) Complete and submit by clicking on “Continue”
    6) You will receive an email of “Receipt of Application Received”Additional Requirements (sent by email after application received)
    • Complete an online Power Point Orientation
    • Complete and print Orientation Packet and Quizzes (last 18 pages of Power Point)
    • Employee Health immunization record verification and Health/Drug Screen (includes TB Test, flu shot (mandatory during flu season) and drug screening for volunteers 18 years of age and up.*NOTE: You will receive an email confirmation, an online orientation, orientation packet and quizzes to print and return to Volunteer Services office.
    UCHealth Learning Link Career Observation program
    This career observation program provides unique insight into the actual daily routines of healthcare providers across a wide continuum.Two sessions are offered during the fall and winter semester of each academic year and each session runs for 6 weeks. During this time, students who are interested in pursuing a career in healthcare will shadow departments and/or providers in their selected area of interest for a total of 40 hours.Who can apply: Current college students with a class standing of sophomore or higher, maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 or greater.
    Check here for more info on applying: https://www.uchealth.org/give-to-uchealth/volunteer/