Applying to Medical School
Medical programs require various prerequisites for admission and consider a variety of clinical and non-clinical experiences. This typically includes:
- A bachelor's degree
- Specific prerequisite coursework
- Standardized test scores
- Clinical and non-clinical experiences
- Volunteer experiences
- Research (not always)
Become a Physician
Did you know - there are 2 types of medical schools in the United States.
- Allopathic: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
- Osteopathic: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
- MD vs. DO
Both have the similar training and can practice in all 50 states. DO's receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
- MD vs. DO
- Specialties and Sub-specialties
- Other Physicians
What major should you choose? You can major in anything and apply to medical school. Admissions requirements vary from school to school, so you should do your research to make sure you have a plan to meet all of the requirements needed for your schools of interest.
When should I apply to Medical School?
Everyone's timeline is different, but this helpful resource gives recommendations on what should do each year (freshman -> sophomore -> junior -> senior) to help you build your most competitive application possible. Consider taking a gap year if you need to build your clinical experiences or brush up your GPA, or maybe just want to take a break to recharge before entering a rigorous medical education program.
How to Build a Competitive Application
Most programs have a minimum GPA, typically at least 3.0 but many programs have an average GPA of 3.5 or higher for admitted students.
You'll apply through a Centralized Application Service, or CAS. The link below explains how GPAs are calculated:
| Medical School (Allopathic - MD) | AMCAS |
| Medical School (Osteopathic - DO) | AACOMAS |
MCAT Prep
It's best to begin preparing for the MCAT early. Check to see the minimum recommended and average scores of the schools you are considering. AAMC offers free resources to assist students with MCAT prep or consider taking an MCAT prep course. It's also a good idea to connect with other pre-med students through the Pre-Health Club to hear the recommendations of other students further along in their journey toward medical school. AAMC offers a Fee Assistance Program that provides reduced fee waivers for the MCAT. If approved, the primary application fee in AMCAS will also be waived.
Shadow:
- Why Shadow: https://students-residents.aamc.org/aspiring-docs-fact-sheets-get-experience/shadowing-doctor
- Shadow abroad: https://joinatlantis.com/
Get a Certification:
- Become a Medical Assistant: https://online.odu.edu/continuing-education/programs/healthcare/certified-medical-assistant or search for local Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) courses
- Become a Patient Care Technician: Sentara offers a 16-week program which includes 180 hours of hands-on experience https://www.sentara.edu/academics/patient-care-technician
- Become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): Search local Community Colleges or health care institutions for programs in your area, such as Tidewater Community College. You can also check with your local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department to see if they offer EMT training. Some cities, like Virginia Beach, offer free EMT training in exchange for a volunteer time commitment: https://ems.virginiabeach.gov/members/training/emt-academy
Volunteer:
- Hampton Roads/Coastal Virginia Hospitals:
- Sentara, Bon Secours, Chesapeake Regional, and CHKD. are all hospital groups with great volunteer programs, some right down the street from ODU.
- Interested in opportunities on the peninsula? Check out Sentara’s Williamsburg. location or Riverside Hospital in Newport News.
- Live outside of Hampton Roads? Check your local hospital’s website for information about volunteer opportunities and how to apply!
- Volunteer with Hospice:
- Hospice organizations assist patients and their families by providing care to maintain quality of life in times where opportunities for treatment of a disease or illness no longer exist and life expectancy is less than six months.
- Seek out Free Clinics like Chesapeake Care and Park Place Dental Clinic.
- Join the Medical Reserve CorpsLinks to an external site.
- Look for Opportunities with Health-Related Volunteer Organizations. Check out PublicHealth.org‘s page with information about why volunteering is important and how you can benefit, as well as a comprehensive list of volunteer resources to get you started.
- Life Net Health is a local organization focused on regenerative medicine and organ donation.
- The Red Cross is always seeking volunteers.
- Volunteer Hampton Roads and VolunteerMatch.com connect volunteers to opportunities and charitable organizations in the local area.
Research
Research experience, either as an undergraduate or during a gap year can be a great way to hone your analytical skills and can help to strengthen your medical school application: https://www.ama-assn.org/medical-students/preparing-medical-school/how-research-experience-can-strengthen-your-medical
As a R1 research institution, there are many opportunities on campus to gain research experience as an undergraduate. Look up faculty in the College of Sciences, Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing, and Joint School of Public Health and reach out to professor(s) whose research matches your interests.
Leadership
Join a club or organization and volunteer for a leadership position
- Pre-Health Club
- Alpha Epsilon Delta
- Global Medical Brigades
- Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
- Minority Association of Pre-Med Students (MAPS)
- Operation Smile
- Public Health Students Association
Unique Life Experiences
- Multilingual
- Study Abroad or travel outside of the US
- Peace Corps
- Military Experience
- Work full time
Early Assurance Program
EVMS offers outstanding and qualified ODU undergraduate students the opportunity to gain early assurance of acceptance into the School of Medicine before beginning their final year of college.
Common Prerequisites / Pre-Med Guide
| Common Prerequisite Courses | Course Numbers | |
| General Biology I & II w/ labs | BIOL 121N/122N | BIOL 123N/124N |
| General/Inorganic Chemistry I & II w/ labs | CHEM 121N/122N | CHEM 123N/124N |
| Organic Chemistry I & II w/labs | CHEM 211/212 | CHEM 213/214 |
| Biochemistry | CHEM 441 | |
| College or University Physics I & II w labs | PHYS 111N or PHYS 231N | PHYS 112N or PHYS 232N |
| Statistics | STAT 130M | |
| Behavioral Science courses |
PSYC 201S SOC 201S |