Choosing Schools

Once you’ve decided on a particular health profession to pursue, you should begin researching possible professional graduate programs as early as your sophomore year. It’s important to consider how your personal goals and characteristics match the professional schools. When considering a school, you should find out: whether they consider out-of-state residents (if it’s in a state of which you’re not a resident); the average GPA and test scores of recently accepted applicants; tuition and special programs/initiatives. Make sure you only apply to the schools you would consider attending! Note: Having a GPA and test score higher than a school’s average does not mean you will be accepted, or even invited for a Student sitting at a computer interview. Many other factors will be considered for admission including health care experience, motivation, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, personal statement, maturity, well-rounded education, commitment to health care, course loads, etc.

For help on researching medical schools, consider purchasing access to the Medical School Admissions Requirements (or MSAR) or see a free preview here.

Some other important issues to keep in mind when selecting professional schools:

Mission Statements

Search the websites of each school. Carefully read the mission statements of the schools. These vary widely and it is important to note how your personal goals and demonstrated academics and activities coincide with the mission statement of the schools you plan to apply to.

Curriculum

Curriculum varies from program to program and school to school. In considering schools to apply to it is important to recognize how you learn best and what type of curriculum best supports your learning style.
Some schools maintain a traditional pattern with the first two years containing basic science courses such as: biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc.). This is followed by two years of clerkships or elective rotations. Many schools are shifting to include student exposure to clinical patient care within the first two years or an introduction of problem based learning.

Patient Exposure

Depending on the location of the medical school, exposure to the types and numbers of patients will vary. It is a remarkably different experience if one is at an urban, inner city facility versus a suburban or rural facility. Keeping in mind how this varies is important to your decision.

Location

What area of the country do you wish to live in? Is it important to live close to your family or support system? Do you want to be in an urban, suburban or rural environment? What are the living situation and cost of living in different areas? Are there work opportunities for your spouse or partner? Also consider the year round climate

of the school location. There are many questions of personal importance to consider when selecting where you will spend the next four years.

Cost

Public or private institution? The cost factors are remarkably different. State public institutions receive state tax funds to reduce the cost of health professions education.

Private schools will cost more. You will need to explore financial aid options along with scholarships.

Grading System

Know how you perform best. Do you require the competitive nature of receiving grades for academic performance and a competitive environment or do you thrive in an atmosphere where grades are “pass or fail?”

Once you select schools of interest, the best way to find out about individual schools is to search the schools’ websites or contact them directly and ask for informational brochures, catalogs, etc. If you have further questions about information not in their printed information, call the schools and ask questions. Consider creating a file folder for each school you select. Carefully review the website and jot down information important to you. Begin a list of questions for each school where the answers cannot be found on the website. This list of questions will be helpful for when you go to an interview.