Dr. Iserson's book GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL! A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED
It is that time of year when I get repeatedly asked (by the best medical
school applicants), "Which medical school should I attend?" This year, the
question has arisen more often than in the past.
The temptation, of course, is to simply give the student a direct answer;
that may not be in their best interest.
Often, the question is motivated about misperceptions about their future
ability to get into residency programs in a particular part of the country
or in a particular specialty. To clarify matters, residency programs do not
have geographic constraints on the physicians they take, unlike many medical
schools. They look for people who can do the job, will be compatible with
the entire team, and will cause them no problems. Just as MCAT governs who
gets medical school interviews in many cases, USMLE/COMLEX scores are big
determinants in who gets interviewed for these positions.
As for which is the "best" medical school, that decision relies on the
individual weighing quite a few factors, and determining which are important
to him or her. After doing this, they can assess each school and decide
which one better fulfills their needs. (I put a list of the factors and the
format for decisionmaking, called the "Must-Want Analysis," in my book, GET
INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL! A GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED-www.galenpress.com.) Except in
rare circumstances, applicants should not base this decision on outside
perceptions or rankings of medical schools-which often stem from their
research dollars rather than student performance.
Recent questions applicants have asked me (from students all over the U.S.)
have stemmed from not only misperceptions of the residency application
process, but also a lack of information about funding/scholarships, not
appreciating the importance of a good support system during medical school,
and erroneous idea that medical school matriculants really know how their
career will progress-they don't. (For accurate, current information about
what goes on in medical schools and residencies, including the application
process, you may want to see ISERSON'S GETTING INTO A RESIDENCY: A GUIDE FOR
MEDICAL STUDENTS. 6th Edition, that came out two weeks ago. It also contains
a "Must-Want Analysis," but to select among residency programs.)
The bottom line, that I repeatedly tell applicants and medical students, is
that a graduate from any U.S./Canadian medical school (M.D. or D.O.) can
have any type of medical career they desire; it does depend on which medical
school they attend. Unlike undergraduate school where students are often
spoon-fed information, medical school depends on what effort you put into it
and the opportunities you make for yourself. Medicine is a calling, a
career, and a situation requiring lifelong learning. Therefore, the answer
boils down to: Where will you feel most comfortable? Which one can you
afford? And, for many applicants, at which one were you accepted?
Best wishes, Ken Iserson, M.D.
Kenneth V. Iserson, M.D., MBA
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Director, Arizona Bioethics Program
University of Arizona College of Medicine
1501 N. Campbell Ave., PO Box 24-5057
Tucson, AZ 85724
(520) 626-2398 TEL.
(520) 626-2480 FAX
How To 'Get Into Medical School! A Guide for the Perplexed'
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Ken Iverson is indeed a modern day Maimonides for the premedical student! I
have recommended his Guide to the Perplexed from the moment I first saw it years
ago. It even covers such information as to how to properly pack a bag for
traveling to interviews! I never recommended any the many other "how to" guides.
Going to professional school interviews is an art in itself. The long road to
applying to medical school is itself time-consuming and for most costly,
financially and otherwise. The medical school phase is itself costly and
time-consuming. Getting into medical school is worth the additional expense of
doing the job properly, and should be considered part of the cost of
admission--to medical school, that is.
Too many students consider it a hit and run proposition: arrive at the last
minute, leave as soon
after as possible. I always believed it should be at least a three day affair:
arrive the MORNING of the day before and spend it at the medical school speaking
with medical students about the interview, the curriculum, teaching, housing,
costs, local transportation, the inner and external school environment, what
they do for fun, anything else of concern to the applicant. Arrive early the
next day well prepared for what to expect. If it seems warranted, stay over
another night and revisit to resolve other questions which may have arisen and
to
confirm impressions of the day before.
The benefits are many. In choosing a medical school the VERY LAST item on the
checklist should be "prestige." Happy campers do best, and students who end up
at or near the top of the class are most likely to be those who get the
residency they seek.
Daniel Marien
I have used Dr. Iserson's book GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL! A GUIDE FOR THE
PERPLEXED for several years. If you do not own it - get it; it is a great
resource! Also, I was pleased to hear from Dr. Iserson that he is in the process
of updating this book.
Ken, thank you for your wise counsel.
Marivern Easton
Health Professions Advisor
Honors College
University of Missouri-Columbia
Education - the entire pipeline