A DKU Student’s Guide for United States Medical School Applicants
What to focus on and when?
Not everyone knows what they want to do by freshman year, but it certainly helps if you do! Attached are some good general questions to consider each year to help prepare you for the journey ahead!
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Do you know what the Medic Mindset club is?
Who are the leaders?
Are you in the WeChat group?
Would you want to get involved with Medic Responders or potentially start shadowing?
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Which DKU majors cover most of my medical school prerequisites?
Am I interested in MD/PhD paths?
Are there any initiatives I can get more involved in through the Pre-medical clubs on campus?
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Which of my clinical hours have been the most impactful?
What experiences have I found most enriching and would want to delve deeper in?
What should my MCAT study plan look like and when should I schedule it around my study abroad semester?
Different schools have different requirements!
Make sure you look at any schools you want to apply to and see if they have any specific requirements that fall outside DKU's offered courses.
(Almost) Universal Medical School Requirements
Calculus (Math 101 or 105)
Physics (Physics 120)
Full Semester Chemistry (Chem 110 +)
Full Semester Biology (Bio 110 +)
Statistics (Stats 101)
Psychology
Sociology
English and Writing Course (Also a Distribution Requirement for DKU)
Suggested Supplemental Courses
Anatomy (Bio 111)
Cellular and Molecular Bio (Bio 201)
Biochemistry (Bio 306)
While everyone’s study plan should be specified, it is also recommended to start studying for the MCAT at least 3-6 months in advance.
General MCAT content guide
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General chemistry, physics, organic chemistry, biochemistry.
Helpful courses may be: CHEM 150, CHEM 201/202, PHYS 121/122, BIOL 305.
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Reading comprehension and reasoning using humanities and social-science passages
Helpful courses may include: ARTHU 101, LIT 214, PHIL 210
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Biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics and physiology
Helpful courses may include: BIOL 305, BIOL 201, BIOL 202
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Psychology, sociology, behavioral biology, research methods and statistics
Helpful courses may include: PSYCH 101, SOCIOL 101, STATS 101
“A few words of advice from an oldie: Keep pushing. This path is tough for a reason, and you’ll get out of it exactly what you put into it. Messing up is inevitable. You’ll fail a quiz, miss a question you should’ve known, or have days where you doubt yourself. Don’t let embarrassment get in your own way…learn from it and move forward. And don’t listen to people who tell you it’s too hard. They’re probably right. It is hard. That’s exactly why you’re doing it…and why they’re not. Never forget what a privilege it is to study medicine, to learn, to serve, and to care for others. Let your work speak louder than your doubts.”