�Pre-medical Studies�at�Fresno State

Larry G. Riley, MSc, PhD

Professor – Comparative Endocrinology

Pre-Med Advisor

Biology Department

California State University, Fresno

Science 1, room 212

lriley@csufresno.edu

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Appointments are made with the Biology department @ 278-2001

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

The Journey Towards a Medical Doctor (MD) & Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)�Requirements

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Pathway to Medical Doctor (MD)

www.aamc.org�

**The Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR) is published every year. It is a valuable resource. Access it on the aamc website.**

I strongly encourage you to pay for access when you get close to applying to medical school.

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

PLAN FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL

126 MD-granting accredited US Medical Schools

34 Osteopathic Medical Colleges

17 Canadian Medical Colleges

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California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

The Path

Medical Education Timeline

5 years

Undergraduate study* (Bachelors degree)

4 years

Medical Degree

3-7 years

Internship/Residency

1-3 years

Specialty Fellowship

Board Certification/Licensure

12-19 Years

*Possibly Post Baccalaureate program work to shore up soft GPA (+1 year)

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

What Should I Major In?

1. Whatever interests you the most, BUT...
2. English, philosophy, history, music majors, etc… will take longer to graduate to get all of the pre-req’s, low registration priority science courses, and science GPA is vulnerable.
3. Advantages of Biology or Chemistry major
• Premed pre-req’s are part of the degree requirements
• Better preparation for first year of med school
• Higher priority at getting into impacted first year Chem 1A/1B and Biol 1A/1B.
4. There is no statistical advantage in matriculation rates for non-science majors.

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California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Have A Plan

• Academics - Required Courses
• Bachelor’s Degree
• Extracurricular Activities
• medical experience (Scribe, shadowing, paid)
• Community Service (a long-term commitment)
• MCAT
• Research!!!!!
• Letters of Recommendation (get to know your professors)
• Finances for the Application Process

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Undergraduate Academic Preparation

• 1 year of General Chemistry (1A and 1B). NOT Chem 3A/3B
• 1 year of Organic Chemistry with lab 128 A � & 129A, then 128B and 129B)
• 1 year of General Biology with lab (Biol 1A and 1B). NOT Biol 10
• 1 year of physics with lab (Phys 2A/B; Does not have to be physics for physics majors).
• 1 year of Math
• 1 semester of calculus (Math 75) + statistics (Psych 42 or Math 101) or
• 2 semesters of calculus (Math 75 & 76)

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

AP & Junior College Credit

• This is tricky. More and more medical schools are accepting AP & Community College pre-req credit.
• However, you will be better prepared for our upper level courses if you take all science courses at a 4-year University
• In general, we advise pre-med students to take general chemistry and biology at Fresno State (not a community college) even if they have AP credit for these courses.
• We do not know if students that use AP credit are at a disadvantage when applying to medical school.
• Remember you are competing for a spot, do everything you can to make you the best possible applicant!!!

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California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Courses Required or Recommended by Many Medical Schools�(and really important for the MCAT)

• 1 year of English
• 1 lower division + 1 upper division (lots of reading, critical thinking, and writing; or Philosophy courses
• Behavioral Sciences courses (1-2 courses)
• Psychology, sociology, history, anthropology, etc…
• Dependent upon medical school
• 1 semester of Biochemistry

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Other Courses

• Physiology (Comparative or Human; can help with the MCAT)

• Genetics (can help with the MCAT, req’d by some medical schools)
• Human Anatomy (just before entering; can help with first year med school)
• Cell Biology & Molecular Biology (can help with first year med school)

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California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Required & Recommended Courses Vary Between Medical Schools

Stanford = Irvine =

Upper Division Biology

Statistics

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

!make sure that you have fulfilled the course requirements for the medical schools to which you intend to apply!

Before applying

Contact each medical school you are applying to and/or review the MSAR (purchase on www.aamc.org)

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

www.aamc.org/msar

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Academics Count

• Aim for a minimum 3.6 GPA, for BOTH your overall GPA as well as your BCMP (Biology, chemistry, math and physics) GPAs.
• For allopathic medical schools (DO), the GPA is calculated based on all courses taken, even those for which you applied for grade substitution. GPA scores are a little lower.

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Schools with multiple CSUF acceptances 2015/16-2017/18

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Cont. Schools with multiple CSUF acceptances 2015/16-2017/18

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

2017 Data

30 CSUF students applied, 12 were admitted to at least 1 school: 40% acceptance rate.

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Highest MCAT with acceptance: 522

Lowest MCAT with acceptance: 504

Highest GPA: 4.0

Lowest GPA: 3.52

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Doctor of Osteopathy?

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

What is Osteopathic Medicine?

• Osteopathic physicians use all of the knowledge, skills, tools, and technology available in modern medicine, with the added benefits of a holistic philosophy and a system of hands-on diagnosis and treatment known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
• Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) emphasize helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.
• DOs work in partnership with their patients.
• DOs emphasize helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health promotion and disease prevention.
• They consider the impact that lifestyle and community have on the health of each individual, and they work to erase barriers to good health.

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

What is Osteopathic Medicine? (cont.)

• There are more than 96,000 DOs in the United States
• DOs practice the full scope of medicine in all specialties of the medical field, from pediatrics and geriatrics to sports medicine and trauma surgery.
• DOs receive the same medical training as other physicians, as well as 200 additional hours of OMM training. OMM is a hands-on therapy used to diagnose and treat illness and injury.
• The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) maintains an online national directory of practicing DO’s that you should contact to find a DO to shadow.

www.aacom.org

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

What is Osteopathic Medicine? (cont..)

• Medical Education Timeline

5 years

Undergraduate study (Bachelors degree)

4 years

Osteopathic Medical Degree

3-7 years

Internship/Residency

1-3 years

Specialty Fellowship

Board Certification/Licensure

12-19 Years

Residency Match: 99.61% in 2016

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

What is Osteopathic Medicine? (cont…)

Mean GPA & MCAT of Entering Students

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology

Osteopathic Medical Colleges

www.aacom.org

There are currently 34 colleges of osteopathic medicine, offering instruction at 51 locations in 32 states.

The requirements are the same as applying to MD schools.

California State University, Fresno – Department of Biology