The ultimate decision to pursue a medical career will be made near the end of the premedical student's undergraduate education.
Pre-Medicine is not an academic major, nor is it a definite career decision. The ultimate decision to pursue a medical career will be made near the end of the premedical student’s undergraduate education. This decision will require the mature personal assessment of academic abilities, the benefit of some health career experience, and the ability to articulate well-developed career goals. The pathway to this decision is a difficult one. However, the Mercer University premedical student draws upon the personal foundation of a liberal education in making this decision. Since 1986, 68 percent of all Mercer University students who have applied to medical schools, including schools of dental medicine, osteopathic medicine, and veterinary medicine, were matriculated. This exceeds the national average of about 42 percent, according to the 1999 Medical School Admission Requirements of the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Undergraduate Academic Program
Medical schools look for individuals from diverse backgrounds with a variety of skills and interests. However, the most important skill with respect to medical training is the ability to use critical thinking to solve problems. Undergraduate students develop this skill through practice in science courses, the foundation of the premedical student’s curriculum. Specific course requirements in biology, chemistry and physics are listed below. Many medical schools also recommend courses in mathematics, and competency in mathematics is required to begin the science sequences at Mercer University. Due to the fundamental importance of mathematics to success in the sciences, preparation to begin study at or above the precalculus level should be viewed as prerequisite to even considering the premedical curriculum.
The successful premedical student should also strive to complete a breadth of studies. The development of communication skills – writing, critical reading and oral communication – in the context of not only natural science courses, but also humanities and social science courses, will be of particular importance. This developmental process begins at Mercer University in the First Year Seminar and Scientific Inquiry courses. It is recommended that students select additional courses that emphasize reading, discussion and written response to further develop their communication skills. The Great Books Program is one option for completing the general education requirements that also provides the premedical student with excellent opportunities to achieve a breadth of studies and to sharpen communication skills.
There are no requirements or limitations on academic major areas of study for premedical students. The Mercer University faculty, including the Pre-Medicine Advisor, strongly recommend that the premedical student’s academic major choice be based solely upon personal enthusiasm for the area of study. The successful premedical student must demonstrate a superior level of motivation, spurring exceptional academic progress. Therefore, the academic major should interest the premedical student sufficiently to catalyze this motivation. Medical schools look for students with academic records that reflect their commitment to life-long learning. At Mercer University, the highly motivated premedical student might demonstrate their learning commitment through independent study or independent research in the major area, as well as through the Honors Program in the College of Liberal Arts or the Stetson School of Business and Economics.
Allied Health Sciences
The Allied Health Sciences are another avenue for those students who wish to pursue a career in a healthcare related field. These careers typically require significantly less post-graduate training that the more traditional doctoral programs. Professional programs in the allied health sciences include Anesthesi-ology & Patient Monitoring Systems, Ophthalmic Technology, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Radio-logic Technology, and Respiratory Therapy. Admission to some of these programs requires the completion of a bachelor's degree, while others are transfer programs leading to a bachelor's degree. These programs have varying course requirements that typically include chemistry, physics and biology. Depending on the program, course requirements might also include specific additional courses in biology and/or psychology, as well as general requirements of some number of completed hours in the arts and humanities. Therefore, every Pre-Allied Health student is strongly advised to acquaint themselves with the admissions requirements for the professional programs to which they are most likely to apply.
Courses
Biology
Introduction to Biology (BIO210, BIO220) – Required
Biochemistry (BIO465 or CHM465) – Recommended
Chemistry
General Chemistry (CHM111, CHM112) – Required
Organic Chemistry (CHM221, CHM222) – Required
Mathematics
Precalculus (MAT133) – Required (course, credit, or placement)
Calculus (MAT191, MAT191L, MAT192 & MAT192L) – Recommended
Physics
Introductory Physics (PHY141, PHY141L, PHY142 & PHY142L) or
General Physics (PHY161, PHY161L, PHY162 & PHY162L) – Required (one sequence)
Medical School Qualification Criteria
In deciding to apply to medical school, the premedical student should consider the criteria used by medical schools to select students. The most important include:
Academic qualifications – The ability to learn independently will be assessed by looking at academic ability measures such as grade point averages (overall and in mathematics and science courses) and Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores. Generally, the competitive applicant will require a grade point average above 3.3 on the traditional four-point scale.
Motivation – As noted above, motivation toward learning will be assessed by looking for independent study, research or Honors Program courses. Importantly, medical schools will also expect that applicants gain some experience in a health career area. Volunteer and/or work experiences related to medicine, along with additional personal research, will help the pre-medical student build a general understanding of the physician’s profession and demonstrate motivation toward a medical career.
Communication skills – Communication skills will be assessed through the MCAT, through written statements accompanying the medical school application, and through personal interviews with medical school faculty members.
Personal qualities – Medical schools look for evidence of desirable personal traits, especially integrity, responsibility, leadership ability and a desire to work with people. These traits will be assessed by an examination of an applicant’s extra-curricular activities. Additionally, these qualities should be addressed in letters of recommendation sent to the medical schools by an applicant’s personal contacts and by the Mercer University Health Vocations Advisement Committee (HVAC). Obviously, personal traits will also be evident in personal interviews with medical school faculty members.
Pre-medical Support at Mercer University
In addition to the academic opportunities described above, Mercer University also provides the pre-medical student with other support structures:
MERPMed – The Mercer University premedical student organization (MERPMed) arranges lectures by locally and nationally known medical professionals and medical observational experiences for premedical students. This group is entirely student run, giving ownership of the premedical program to the premedical students.
Health Vocations Advisement Committee (HVAC) – This group of committed faculty members from the departments of Biology, Biomedical & Environmental Engineering, Chemistry, and Physics and a career specialist from the Division of Student Affairs evaluates the qualifications of medical school applicants and provides these evaluations to medical schools at the applicants’ request. HVAC is chaired by the Pre-Medicine Advisor. This committee also reviews the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application forms completed by Mercer University students, providing constructive feedback.
Mercer University School of Medicine Internships – These internships are one semester observational experiences coordinated by the School of Medicine at the Medical Center of Central Georgia (MCCG). Premedical students register for these experiences and receive credit for their participation. Applications are submitted to the Office of Career Services.