How Do I Choose the Best Accelerated Medical School?

Accelerated medical schools are programs that help students to earn their medical degrees in periods of time that are shorter than what is considered conventional. Students who take a conventional path to earning their medical degrees might earn undergraduate degrees in four years that prepare them for school, take medical proficiency exams, and apply to graduate medical programs. An accelerated medical school, on the other hand, allows students to move directly from their undergraduate programs into graduate programs, reducing the number of years it takes to earn graduate degrees. To choose the best accelerated medical school, it is important that you are familiar with application requirements and your own qualifications. Many schools place minimums on grade point averages and proficiency exam scores and request references from instructors.

Before applying to an accelerated medical school, it is essential that you take the time to read over which credentials and documents you need to send and how you should send them. Aside from test scores, you probably also have to send transcripts of classes you took and grades you received in high school. These transcripts often must be requested ahead of time from school registrar offices. In most cases, it also is essential to pay an application fee to each medical program to which you apply.

A common misconception about choosing an accelerated medical school is that it doesn't matter which kind of undergraduate degree you earn, as long it prepares you for a graduate program in medical studies. The truth, however, is that there are a number of different undergraduate tracks offered in accelerated medical schools, all of which can prepare you for a medical career. For example, some students choose to concentrate on biology while others focus on subjects such as human physiology or biomedical engineering. It is important that you choose an accelerated medical school that offers concentrations in disciplines that interest you. By finding a program that is appealing to you, you increase your chances of performing well and entering the medical career of your choice.

Medical educators disagree over how much time in school is considered an adequate amount. For instance, it is not uncommon to find an accelerated medical school that graduates students in five or six years. Many professionals feel that this is to short of a time to spend in school, though many students might feel that it helps them to save money and to sooner begin their careers. Other students might feel that after six or seven years, they are fully trained and comfortable entering the medical profession.