Thinking about

medical school?

It's not easy to get into medical school, but making the right choices can help you reach your goal. It's important to start out with a good foundation.

That means taking physics and calculus in high school, both to have credibility as a prospective science major in the admissions process and to be prepared for the science courses you'll be taking in college.

Medical schools require students to have college courses in biology, inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry, physics and calculus. These courses are tougher if you haven't had any exposure to the subjects in high school.

Since medical schools will be looking at your science GPA in addition to your overall college GPA, it's important to do well in these classes.

The good news is that you can major in any subject. An art history major who has excellent grades in science classes will be in a stronger position applying to medical school than a biology major with lower grades.

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is also a major factor in admissions decisions. I know it's not fun to realize that the SAT isn't the end of standardized tests.

Beyond grades and test scores, medical schools are looking at a student's seriousness of purpose.

Volunteering or working at a hospital or other healthcare setting will help you be sure that you really do want to become a doctor and demonstrate your commitment to medicine.

Being able to deal with people from different cultures is a plus, so students who know a second language and have studied abroad may have an advantage.

Many aspiring physicians think they need to go to the most prestigious undergraduate school in order to have a chance at a good medical school. This isn't the only path, and sometimes it's not the best path.

A student who is strong in science, has a lot of self-confidence and is assertive about pursuing research opportunities will probably be successful in an intensely competitive environment.

But for the student who doesn't immediately grasp complex physics problems or is shy about asking for help, attending college with many driven and accomplished pre-med students could be the end of the dream of medical school.

One of my students is determined to become a doctor. When the family came to see me, UC Irvine was high on their list of desirable schools. Since math and science don't come easily to this student, I suggested she might be better off at a smaller, more nurturing college.

Interestingly, she recently met a pre-med student who transferred out of UC Irvine because she didn't find the professors accessible or interested in undergraduates and the best research positions seemed to go to graduate students.

Even though the UC offers prestige at low tuition, it's no bargain if the school doesn't provide what you need to be successful.

I've put together a list of schools that will provide the kind of personal attention this student needs in order to prepare for medical school.

In a nurturing academic environment, she'll be able to form relationships with faculty who will help her master the material required to do well on the MCAT, hire her to work on their research projects and write recommendation letters for medical school.

There are many colleges that are not well-known but have a good track record of sending graduates on to medical school.

And by targeting schools that are either lower in cost or where this student is likely to get merit aid, the family should not have to pay much more than they would for a UC education.

Since most students take out loans to attend medical school, it's nice to start without the burden of debt from your undergraduate education.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or audreykahane@earthlink.net.