Pre-med? What Your Homeschooler Should Expect

Medicine is a popular intended career choice for students entering college. Medical careers are considered “recession-proof,” so that’s part of the appeal. Students are also drawn to the opportunity to be well compensated in a career where they can help people.

Medical school admissions are highly competitive. According to US News, the average acceptance rate among the top 10 ranked medical schools was only 2.5%. The average overall acceptance rate for medical schools is around 6%.

If your homeschooler is considering premedical studies, starting your research in high school and discussing the following considerations makes sense.

High school matters
Homeschoolers who aspire to med school need to start their preparation in high school. That preparation should include strong core academics, preferably on the most competitive path, high ACT or SAT scores, and STEM emphasis, including quality lab sciences. Students aiming at selective schools should all three core sciences – biology, chemistry, and physics during high school.  At least two of these are preferred at a higher level (like AP or dual enrollment). The reason for a solid foundation is not just to get into college but to enter college prepared to achieve top grades. Homeschoolers should note that even college work taken during high school through concurrent or dual enrollment options will typically be reported during graduate and professional school applications. College grades, no matter the age they were earned, matter.

Premed students have major choices
Pre-med isn’t a standard college major. Premedical students can major in any subject as long as they take the need science and other core classes to be prepared for medical studies.

While biology is the most popular premed major, there are many choices available. Many people are surprised to find out there are students who major in political science, classics, or computer science and then go on to medical school. Sometimes, students with unconventional majors can actually stand out from the pile of applicants when it comes to med school admissions.

Medical schools want applicants who have developed their critical thinking and writing skills. The MCAT test for medical school admissions includes some emphasis on writing skills and discussing science and medicine concerns in the context of society and culture.  Students can prepare for this emphasis by taking social and behavioral sciences courses such as psychology. The medical school admissions test also requires students to read passages about humanities and be able to answer critical reasoning questions. Students with a well-rounded education and have developed their writing skills can have an advantage on the MCAT.

Interviewing is also a key aspect of medical school admissions. So, students should develop their social and communication skills throughout college.

“Weeder” classes
You may have heard of the idea of “weeder” classes. Courses such as Introduction to Biology or Chemistry often function as a way to clear out students who may aspire to medical school. Organic chemistry is known to be a particularly difficult class.  Many students’ path to medical school comes to a screeching halt as they struggle to pass these courses during freshman year. So, arm your premed homeschooler with the best high school preparation you can give them so they are ready to succeed. It is important to realize that most students in these “weeder” classes will have done well in AP level science and math in high school. Even if your student is highly capable, they will be at a disadvantage if they do have that background.

Grades and Service Matter
Med school admissions are incredibly competitive. Students pursuing med school need to have top grades in college, period.  Medical school applicants are evaluated on several factors, including grades, MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, interviews and extracurriculars, volunteer experience, and proven medical experience. Students interested in medicine are increasingly expected to devote time to learning about the career through patient care volunteer experiences, medical shadowing, and internships. Still, overall grades and grades in math-science courses remain the biggest determinants of which students will be selected for medical school interviews. As students enter freshman year, grades should be a crucial area of focus. Students should carefully evaluate non-academic commitments (sports, work, etc.) to make sure classes they keep their medical school options open by maintaining a strong GPA.

Develop your college list carefully
Some students assume they must attend an Ivy League or other high-prestige college for undergraduate in order to be competitive for med school. This is not at all the case. More important considerations include GPA, MCAT scores, service experience, and purpose for attending med school. A low GPA from a highly-ranked college will not position a student well for med school admissions. Liberal arts colleges and public universities can offer excellent preparation for med school.

Applicants are well advised to consider the full range of undergraduate options with consideration of opportunities and costs. Some colleges offer better support for undergraduate services and internships and more intensive support for medical school admissions. GPA is key, so make sure you don’t attend a college with grade deflation or such difficult standards to allow for strong grades and time to develop yourself outside the classroom.