Pre med at Loras

The preparation for attending medical school is intense and demanding.  However, most students have plenty of time to decide which specific direction they would like to go in.  The first year is a flexible, look-around-and see-what-the-options-are year.  First year students should talk to their science teachers about some ideas about career options.  Dr. Tom Davis, the faculty health professions advisor in the Biology Program, can help you with your questions, course selection and planning for the future.  Also, ‘premed” at Loras doesn’t just mean Family Practice, M.D.  It means many other options are available for students to look into and ask questions about.  For example, many Loras grads have gone into dentistry, optometry, physician’s assistant, physical therapy, pharmacy, podiatry, nursing, nuclear medicine or veterinary medicine.  Click on any of these words above to find out more about each one.  One nice thing is that many of the science courses that you take in the first 2 years (see list below) are prerequisites for each of these health science training programs.  In other words they are universal or common to each training program.

Science Courses at Loras that are pre requisites for medical school and most other health science training programs:

Biology. 115  Principles of Biology
Chemistry 111 – General Chemistry I
Chemistry 112 – General Chemistry II
Biology 250 – Genetics
Biology 420 – Vertebrate Physiology
Biology 410 – Cell and Molecular Biology
Chemistry 233 – Organic Chemistry I
Chemistry 234 – Organic Chemistry II
Physics 110 or 233  Non calculus or calculus-based Physics I
Physics 111 or 234  Non calculus or calculus-based Physics II
Highly recommended: Calculus I, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Human Anatomy

CRITICAL FACTORS FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE

• MCAT – This exam is very difficult.  It is very important to prepare for this exam thoroughly before one takes it.  Loras offers a weekly, 2 hr. review session for those who are planning to take the MCAT.  It starts in December and the group meets once per week for about 12 weeks into March.  These sessions use MCAT practice tests along with science faculty help sessions to make the applicant a better, more relaxed, confident test taker. 
• GPA – Most medical schools like the University of Iowa accept people with GPA over 3.5 or more.  Most osteopathic medical schools, like Des Moines University, accept a minimum of 3.3 GPA.  It is very important to maintain a high GPA  consistently through all your courses.  Some students may receive lower GPAs early in their college careers but these can be improved by getting good grades in the last few years.  Patterns of improvement and/or consistency are looked favorably upon by most medical schools.
• Patient Contact and Shadowing – It is imperative that each student get hands on patient contact in a clinical setting during their college years.  This can be done by volunteering at a local hospital or clinic or being a phlebotomist, Emergency Room Aide, Operating Room Aide or a Certified Nurse’s Aide (CNA).  It is highly recommended that people who are interested in pre med, physician’s assistant or nursing get a CNA certificate early in their college years or even while they are in high school.  These can be obtained through programs at most community colleges or by working in a nursing home.  People who are phlebotomists or CAN gain valuable clinical experience AND get paid well for their work.  It is a great way to not only learn how a hospital works, but also apply some of your recent science information from your college science classes.  Any kind of job shadowing during one’s college career is very important in determining what career path is best for the individual.  A one credit shadowing course is offered at Loras during the junior year to help people get in to talk with and observe several different health care professionals.  Dubuque has two large hospitals plus many smaller private clinics in which many Loras students work part time, on weekends, or on a voluntary basis to gain experience and insights about their futures in health care.  . 
• Major - A major in one of the sciences is not necessary.  A student must pick a major that he/she is motivated and interested in learning about.  The courses above can be taken among the other courses for the major.  However, the Biology or Biology Research major has been the most common here and nationally for those who have applied and been accepted into medical school. 
• Plan B – Each student should plan for several career options.  All applicants are not accepted into medical school.  Early and frequent discussion and planning with a faculty member or Dr. Davis is necessary so that the best options planned and taken advantage of.

An academic timetable for pre med students can be seen here.

Other Important Points:

• The student applicant has the best chance of acceptance at the state’s medical school in which he/she is a resident. 
• The student applicant must show some leadership experience and involvement in campus and off campus activities.
• Participation in community service activities or volunteering are also important. 
• Learning and practicing a foreign language is also an advantage.
• Developing strong skills in science, writing, speaking and quantitative analysis are essential abilities.
• Loras has about 3-10 students apply to medical school (allopathic + osteopathic) each year.   About 60-80% of those applicants get into the medical school of their choice.  Those that do not get in the first year, move to Iowa City or Des Moines and improve their applications by taking a class or two, working as a lab tech, and/or getting more patient contact.  In 2003, seven out of seven Loras grad applicants (100%!) were accepted to medical school!

For more info and answers to questions about pre med at Loras, click here.

Email Dr. Davis at Loras with your questions.