Problem
Four consecutive odd integers have a sum of 48. Find the average of those integers.
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GET THE NUMBERS
Bring your grades up, and do well on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Even though demand for doctors outstrips supply, getting into medical school still requires high marks and strong test performance (fewer than half of those applying to med school last year got in). The average grade-point average and MCAT score (excluding writing sample) for incoming med students in 2005 were 3.63 and 32, respectively. Top schools look for better-than-average results.
SHOW LEADERSHIP
The best med schools look for students who've demonstrated leadership and character "and who've stretched themselves," says Delores Brown, admissions dean at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. This could be holding elected school office or organizing community action, for example. Meanwhile, more applicants work or volunteer after completing undergraduate work. Notching time or work with government health agencies, fellowships, Teach for America, the Peace Corps, or Doctors Without Borders is helpful. Mastery of something, whether it's a sport, music, or research, is a plus. Interpersonal skills are important, too, with schools parsing letters of recommendation for clues to an applicant's communication skills.
PLAN AHEAD
It's common for medical students to change their interest or specialty between the time of entering med school and graduation, when the relatively long hours and low pay of residency begin. But if you have an interest in academia or in a surgical specialty versus a primary-care discipline, it's all the better that you know that before applying, as some schools emphasize one area over another. So plan accordingly.
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Copyright © 2004 U.S. News & World Report, L.P. Used under license. All rights reserved.
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