making your other college courses less
demanding, and thereby enhance your chances of
securing higher grades in all your courses. This
approach can help strengthen your science
course average, which is one of the factors in
the medical school selection process.
Mastering good study habits and computer
literacy are essential elements that should be
achieved in high school, since they will have a
significant impact on your success in college.
Set up regular hours for study, learn how to
read quickly and effectively, and learn how to
take lecture notes and develop test-taking
skills. Good achievement in your academic stud-
ies, especially in science, should be a major
challenge of your high school education.
During high school you should participate in a
variety of extracurricular activities,
including athletics and science clubs,
especially premedical groups such as the Future
Physician Club or Medical Explorer Post of the
Boy Scouts of America. While in high
school you should acquire a good ability to
communicate--both orally and in writing.
Seek help if there is a serious problem in
these areas. Your summers should be spent
profitably and should involve activities that
bring you into active contact with people.
Working in a hospital or laboratory may also
provide some useful experience, but such
activities are probably best deferred until the
college years.
Take the appropriate college entrance
examination required by the colleges you plan
to apply to--either SAT I or the ACT (American
College Testing program). If your scores
are in the upper percentiles, you should feel
encouraged about your potential success.
EVALUATING A COLLEGE
__________________________________________
It is essential to get as detailed an
assessment as possible of any prospective institution
you are seriously considering attending. To do
this is a comprehensive matter. It is impor-
tant to obtain data from reliable sources (such
as upper-level students) and record your
information for comparative purposes on a chart
such as the one shown in Form 2.1. A
separate copy of this form should be prepared
for each college.
Bottom Line
· Since you will have to spend four
years attending college, you should seek an
institution (a) where you will feel
comfortable, (b) that you can afford, and (c)
whose program can help you succeed in your
future career.
· Prioritize the factors you identified
by an asterisk and then compare evaluations
from several schools to facilitate finalizing
your decision.
· Colleges vary as to the level of high
school performance and SAT scores appli-
cants need in order to be seriously considered
for acceptance.
· Colleges vary in their reaction to
initial academic weakness and subsequent
improvement in one's performance as time goes
on. Some favor consistent per-
formers, while others will acknowledge the
determination of students who come
from behind.
· During an interview, if granted, seek
to determine the school's admissions policy
in regard to issues that concern
you.
SELECTING A COLLEGE
____________________________________________
There is a wide choice of colleges open to the
high school graduate whose ultimate goal
is medical school. Students should make their
choice from one of the liberal arts col-
leges or universities accredited by one of the
six regional accrediting agencies. This
helps ensure that the school has met at least
the minimum educational standards for
institutions of higher learning. You should
determine your personal preference either for
a small school, with its opportunities for more
personalized instruction and closer inter-
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