VIII. Concluding Remarks

A person reading the preceding sections of these guidelines may conclude that only geniuses survive the program in premedicine to matriculate into medical school and that they must work most of their waking hours. This is, of course, a great exaggeration, for many students with only a little better than average ability are admitted to medical school. However, such students are hard-working, disciplined, and very goal-oriented, and they have made strong academic records. Students in the academically gifted category will obviously not have to work as hard to maintain a competitive record and will have more time for extracurricular activities. The intensity of the competition and the stress sometimes encountered should not be minimized, but successful students who complete a premedical program at UGA and are admitted to medical school usually look back on the four years spent in Athens as among the happiest and most satisfying of their life. Mature students understand that attainment of such a goal is realized not only by hard work but by good judgment and a proper ordering of priorities. Such students do not miss out on the football games and other social activities, but they do their work first and “play” (responsibly and carefully) later. Successful students will make many friends and will have an enjoyable experience as an undergraduate, but they have the added satisfaction of having made a record that will form the basis of future success. As a person matures it becomes increasingly obvious that real happiness and true satisfaction come in large part from the esteem of peers, which is earned by hard work, high ideals and good judgment. True satisfaction is not achieved by self-indulgence.

Occasionally a student is encountered with a strong academic record and competitive scores on the MCAT who has been rejected for admission by several medical schools, including all those where he/she would enjoy preferential consideration. Does this mean that medical admissions committees are capricious and arbitrary in their selection? Not likely! As a group, medical admissions committees take their enormous responsibility very seriously. Most committees spend hundreds of hours selecting each class. It would be difficult to find more dedicated or intellectually honest groups. However, one must recognize that admissions committees look for the person who will make the best physician. This is not always the same person who would make the best scientist and not necessarily the person who is the “best” student. If applicants were admitted to medical school only on the basis of GPA and MCAT scores, there would be no need for an admissions committee. The entire class could be chosen by a properly programmed computer.  Voters on medical school admissions committee do look for applicants who have observed (and been influenced by) physicians interacting with patients (medical “shadowing”), and those who have sincerely helped those in need.

What factors other than GPA and MCAT scores should most concern a student in premedicine? Premedical students "be mindful of good character." A person with a poor personal reputation may well have a difficult time gaining admission to medical school. Conviction for use or possession of illegal drugs may well ensure that a person will never be admitted to medical school.

Premedical students should also be aware that medicine requires a life-long commitment to learning. Mandatory continuing education for physicians has become commonplace and most states require continuing medical education credit for relicensure. The maintenance and expansion of professional competence must, to a large extent, be done by home study and regular reading of medical journals. Voracious readers are much more likely to have the kinds of skills which will allow them to keep up with the rapid expansion of knowledge in their field.

Students should also recognize that medical admissions committees seek a broadly educated person who is well-informed about current events and health care issues. An entering freshman in premedicine is well advised to subscribe to and read a weekly news magazine such as Time, Newsweek, or U.S. News and World Report. The broadly educated person will have an interest in and an awareness of happenings in many different fields.

Most physicians recommend that students cultivate some outside interests which may be pursued for recreation (and perhaps contribute to physical fitness) during medical school and beyond. It is important to have other interests which may be used to "get away from it all" occasionally and cope with the stress that will be a part of every physician's life. Some run or play handball; others play musical instruments, paint, or tinker with sports cars. The list is long, but it is important to find something that is an enjoyable pastime that can be used to forget about medicine and the problems that may become overwhelming. 

It is never too soon to begin planning how to pay for your medical education. Students who plan to finance a major part of their educational costs through loans must be prepared to assume rather large debts. They should also be aware that management of a large debt while in medical school could limit the type of practice or medical specialty that may be pursued after completion of training. The heavily indebted graduate may place greater priority on financial rewards rather than type of practice or specialty when making this decision. A reference notebook on Financial Aid is available for student study at the UGA Premedical Studies Office.

Finally, students should remember that the admission process is analogous to “a two-way street.” Admissions committees are trying to find the best possible  cooperative, reliable candidates to fill their classes.  They want the type of individual who shows promise of developing into an outstanding physician. It is hoped that these guidelines will provide information that will be of use in helping each student develop into the type of candidate that will be actively sought. We wish you success not only in gaining admission, but also in your practice and in your personal life. To reiterate a point made earlier, the success of our advising program will be judged by the success of our students. It is to our mutual benefit that you succeed!

(Please send all questions and comments to resa@uga.edu,  Room 207 Memorial Hall, Athens, GA 30602)