Introduction to the Page

» Powerpoint Presentations
» Premedical Course Selection
» Study Abroad
» MCAT Prep Courses
» The MCAT
» Letters of Recommendation

Powerpoint Presentations

The Medical Sciences Committee provides informational meetings throughout the year for students at all levels of their education and pursuit of a medical career. Below are resources taken from these meetings to help you get an idea of what can be expected in the near future.

These Microsoft Powerpoint presentations are from various meetings throughout the year. Even if you attended the meetings, they are a good reference.

First Year Orientation Meeting (Fall 2007)

Second Year Premed Chat (Fall 2007)

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Premedical Course Selection

The following list of courses is the minimum based on admission requirements of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, but is generally applicable to other health professional schools. The third column represents the number of allopathic medical schools that required each subject for the 2000-2001 entering class. Required courses are similar for dental, veterinary, and other schools in the health professions; check their catalogues and web pages carefully for specific information.

Many medical schools additionally require appropriate upper-division biology courses, often at least another year. We particularly recommend biochemistry, a course that is being required at a growing number of medical schools. If you are not a science major, you should take at least two upper-division biology courses, with laboratory.

Many medical schools require one or two semesters of English for admission; for some schools, writing-intensive courses in other subjects may be acceptable but there is no guarantee that such a course will satisfy the English requirement at a particular medical school. Generally, we have found that ID 1 and one additional English course have been will satisfy English requirements of most medical schools.

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Study Abroad

Pre-medical students who wish to study abroad face challenges in planning but it is a highly valued program and should seriously be considered. Most Study Abroad students go during their junior year. It is usually difficult to take a required science course abroad, so you should consider one of these alternatives:

1. Take physics during the sophomore year (along with Bio 41M and Chem 110a,b). This is not a happy alternative for most students.

2. Take Physics 51a Spring of sophomore year, go abroad Fall of Junior year and return to take Physics 51b Spring of junior year.

3. Take a yearlong physics or organic chemistry course in summer session at an approved school somewhere else. Make sure summer session courses meet the standards of our on-campus courses in these subjects, and are approved by the respective department

4. Delay application to medical school so that you can take physics during your senior year, after returning from abroad, and thus take the MCAT in April of your senior year. There's no harm in delaying application a year or two.

5. Study abroad in the fall semester of your senior year; may not work for majors with fall requirements for seniors.

Many premedical students have successfully traveled abroad while maintaining a difficult curricular and extracurricular load at Pomona. Contact your Premed Liaisons for advice in this area. But keep in mind that it can be done, and studying abroad is a wonderful experience that medical schools appreciate.

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MCAT Prep Courses

The following are links to the two most common MCAT prep courses offered. Many students have been successful without any structured course, and both courses are credible. The two courses do differ in their approach and how often they meet.

• Princeton Review Medical School listings, includes a downloadable sample MCAT
• Stanley Kaplan, not to be outdone by Princeton Review

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The MCAT

Almost all allopathic, osteopathic, and podiatric medical schools require applicants to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test),  now given multiple times  each year at designated testing centers .  See the MCAT page under www.aamc.org for details.  It's important to pre-register several months before each testing date to get the date and location you want, as seats are limited.  Th e exam has four parts: Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Writing Sample, and Biological Science s.  Comparable tests, the Dental Aptitude Test ( DAT ), Optometry Aptitude Test ( OAT ), Pharmacy College Aptitude Test ( PCAT ), and Veterinary Aptitude Test ( VAT ), are required for admission to these other health professional schools.

Pomona students tend to do quite well on the MCAT, as we would expect   -  -most are at or above the 75th percentile nationally.  Aim for double- digit MCAT scores. This means taking seriously the amount of time  you will need to study for the MCAT  . A  llow at least two to three months of concentrated, serious studying before attempting the MCAT, equivalent to the time you  would put in  on a regular science course. You do not need to spend $1000 + on a commercial MCAT-prep course if you have good study habits and good self-discipline. Ask students who have already taken the MCAT how they prepared, and do an honest assessment of your study skills and habits to decide which method is best for you.

We strongly suggest that you take this exam  by June of the year in which you are applying to med school,  as scores  take 30 days to reach admissions offices and many schools will not consider your application until they have the scores.  Note that all of your MCAT scores will be reported to schools; you do not have the option to withhold them-- so take the test only when you are ready.   Practice tests are available.

MCAT Website

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Letters of Recommendation

Most important to do now, before you start into the application process, is to get to know a number of your professors from both inside and outside the sciences, and have them get to know you. You will be asking them for letters of recommendation to go the Medical Sciences Committee for inclusion in the packet of letters the sends out to medical schools on your behalf. Faculty are always willing to write letters for students they know well, but cannot say much about someone who is just a line of scores in a grade-book.

The best letters come from those people who know you well and have been able to form a good impression from your course-work, activities, or research. It is critical for you to identify supportive individuals willing to convey a meaningful and realistic evaluation of your abilities, giving insight into not only your academic abilities, but also your character, leadership qualities, and unique personal gifts for the study and practice medicine.

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