Charting a Course to Medical School: The AMSA Map for Success

Applying to medical school can be a difficult and anxiety-producing process. For minority pre-medical students, there are often additional issues to be considered in the application process. Although factors such as location, curriculum and cost are of key importance to any student selecting a medical school, it is also important to investigate such issues as recruitment and retention of minority students at a particular school under investigation.

It is often extremely important for a minority medical student to have the support of a strong minority affairs office and other minority students at your medical school. Often the number of minority faculty and housestaff at most institutions are scarce, if not non-existent, increasing the importance of these support bases.

It is important to get a feel for these factors in your interview as well as during visits to schools to which you are applying. Many schools sponsor special weekends for accepted minority students which gives you an additional opportunity to address these issues, as well as to interact with minority students already enrolled at the schools. Remember, you are choosing the school, just as it is choosing you.

It is recommended that you seek as many sources as possible to get differing viewpoints and further advice.

For additional information, you may want to contact the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). AAMC publishes a yearly guide entitled "Minority Student Opportunities in the United States." This is an excellent book which lists, by school, numbers of minority students enrolled, minority affairs office contact persons, and summer programs designed for minority pre-medical students.

• Interviewing Tips
• Financial Aid

Interviewing Tips

The interview trip can be a truly informative experience and it is important to approach it with well-defined goals so that you can get the most out of it. When interviewing at a school, try to arrange to stay with a minority medical student. Many schools have systems set up to arrange such a match and allow you to meet with other minority students at the school on the interview day. Also try to set up a meeting with the minority affairs office director/dean and financial aid office.

Financial Aid

Minority students graduate with higher than average debt when compared to the general medical student population. It is important to seek out sources of financial aid to help tackle this problem.

Tips for Applying Contact minority medical students to solicit advice on the selection and application process. Seek out minority physicians in your area through local professional organizations (e.g., National Medical Assoc.). Many will allow you to shadow them to get an early taste of life as a physician. Attend medical school information sessions. Medical school minority affairs offices often send recruiters to campuses. Become linked with national medical student organizations such as AMSA and SNMA (an organization of minority medical students). Look for financial resources early. Medical school can be very expensive. Don't forget there is an AMCAS or AACOMAS fee-waiver available for those needing financial assistance. Take advantage of your interviews to obtain vital information.

Nontraditional Applicants

Applicants with Disabilities