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Contact: Dr. Richard L. Reeder:  richard-reeder@utulsa.edu
Information can be obtained at http://www.aamc.org
And http://www.aacom.org
 Choice of major:

Medical schools do not care about choice of major as long as a student has the prerequisite courses. Most premeds are biology or chemistry majors but other common majors include chemical engineering, psychology, and English. Usually it is best if a student majors in something they are good at and that they like.
 Residency:

There are very strong state residency restrictions. Most state schools take none or few non-residents so that any applicant has a better chance of going to med school in their home state. Private schools do not have such restrictions but accepted applicants generally have higher grade point averages and MCAT scores because they have a nationwide applicant pool. Non U.S. citizens must have a green card to apply to most medical schools, certainly all state schools.
 Admission Statistics and Selection Factors:

The average MCAT score at state schools is running around 30 and the grade point average is around 3.6 to 3.7. Stats are higher for private medical colleges and for out of state residents. Other factors include letters of recommendation, an interview, and health related volunteer work or health related employment.
 Advising:

Premed (preprofessional) advising at T.U. is housed in the Office of the Dean in the College of Engineering and Natural Sciences no matter what the student's major. A biology premed will automatically be assigned an advisor. Students in other majors should see Dr. Richard L. Reeder to be assigned a premed advisor. In this latter instance a student will have an academic advisor in his/her major and a premed advisor as well.

 Prerequisite courses:

Nearly all medical schools (allopathic or osteopathic) in the United States have similar requirements:

8 semester hours of General Biology with lab
8 semester hours of General (inorganic) Chemistry with lab
8 semester hours of Organic Chemistry
8 semester hours of Physics (algebra, trig, or calculus based)

Most schools have general humanities requirements to include coursework in psychology, anthropology, sociology, etc. Most require 2 semesters of English (a few require 3). Most schools recommend advanced coursework in biology such as histology, cellular biology, comparative vertebrate anatomy, embryology, genetics, microbiology, and physiology. Some medical schools around the country now require biochemistry and/or genetics and a few require calculus or statistcs.
Science Courses which all premeds at T.U. should take are as follows:

 Biology 1603 and 1601 (Intro to Organismic & Evolutionary Biology)
Biology 1703 and 1701 (Intro to Cell & Molecular Biology)
Bilogy 2124 (Genetics)
Chemistry 1013 and 1011 (General chem I)
Chemistry 1023 and 1021 (General chem II)
Chemistry 3013 and 3011 (Organic chem I)
Chemistry 3023 and 3021 (Organic chem II)
Physics 1013 and 1011 (Introductory Phyics I)
Physics 1023 and 1021 (Introductory Physics II)
Note: This is algebra/trig based physics; calculus based physics will also suffice (Physics 2053 & 2051 and Physics 2063 & 2061)

MCAT (medical college admissions test)

All medical school applicants need to take this test. It is offered in April and August each year and takes all day on a selected Saturday. Since students on a typical degree program apply to medical school in the summer between their junior and senior years, we recommend all students take the spring test (med schools do as well). That gives you a second chance in August if your first results are not as good as hoped. Many students now take the test more than once. Beginning in April of 2007 the MCAT will be an online examination. Application to take the MCAT is an online process.
The MCAT has 4 areas:

Biological Science (includes organic chemistry)

Physical Science (physics and inorganic chemistry)

Verbal Reasoning

2 written essays

The test is scored from 0 to 15 on the first three sections; the essays are not given a numerical score. Composite scores are running around 30 at state medical schools and somewhat higher at private schools (This would be the equivalent of a 10 on each of the first three sections)

Test info and practice tests are available from the MCAT national office for a fee.

Special Note:
The August 2006 MCAT will be the last paper test. In 2007, the test will be completely on line.
Application:

Students apply to medical school through a national application service. Allopathic and osteopathic colleges each have a centralized application service. The University of Texas system has its own application center. Application is now done online, usally starting in June. Most students apply to about 5-7 schools.

As for Recommendations, most schools prefer to get a committee letter. Some students elect to send individual faculty letters, but most students go through the committee.
The University of Tulsa has such a committee. This process begins in March prior to the summer of application. The committee consists of: Dr. Richard Reeder (chair), Dr. John DiCesare, Dr. Estell Levetin, Dr. Bill Potter, Dr. William Rosche, and Dr. Scott Holmstrom.
 
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