The Pre-Medicine program of study at ETSU prepares students for application to a 4-year
Doctor of Allopathic Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree program.
Completion of a bachelor's degree is required for acceptance to most medical schools.
Allopathic Medicine
Doctors of allopathic medicine (MDs) are medical doctors who treat disease and injury using
counteractive methods. For example, they will prescribe antibiotics to kill bacteria that have caused
an infection. Allopathic physicians often work in public or private hospitals or clinics and many have
private practices. Although many allopathic physicians become internists, generalists, or family
practitioners, most specialize in other medical fields.
Employment
Opportunities
619,400
814,700
Osteopathic Medicine
jobs in 2012
Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) practice a whole person approach to health care. In addition
to treating specific symptoms, osteopathic physicians concentrate on treating the patient as a whole.
Osteopathic physicians understand how all the body s systems are interconnected and how each
one affects the others. They focus special attention on the musculoskeletal system, which reflects and
influences the condition of all other body systems. Osteopathic physicians often work in public or
private hospitals or clinics and many have private practices. Although many osteopathic physicians
become internists, generalists, or family practitioners, some specialize in other medical fields.
DOs and MDs are Alike in Many Ways
• Both DOs and MDs complete four years of basic medical education.
• After medical school, both DOs and MDs obtain graduate medical education through
internships, residencies and fellowships. This training lasts three to eight years and
prepares DOs and MDs to practice a specialty.
• DOs and MDs can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine̶such as pediatrics,
family medicine, psychiatry, surgery or ophthalmology.
• DOs and MDs must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses.
• DOs and MDs both practice in accredited and licensed health care facilities.
Application Process
jobs projected in 2022
Median Salary
220,942
$ 396,233
$
for primary care
for specialists
for more information, see the Bureau of Labor
Statistics http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/
physicians-and-surgeons.htm
Students should start the application process approximately 18 months prior to when they desire to enter medical school. For example,
if you plan to begin medical school in August 2015, you should begin application preparation in January 2014 (your junior year) or
when you have completed all prerequisite courses and have adequately prepared for the application season.
Most allopathic medical schools participate in the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). The website is www.aamc.
org. Most osteopathic medical schools participate in the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service
(AACOMAS). The website is www.aacomas.aacom.org. Many medical schools require or recommend a composite letter of evaluation
during the application process. The MPA staff is available to assist students through this process.
Freshman
summer
sophomore
summer
junior
summer
senior
Complete medical school prerequisite requirements.
Build professional relationships with professors, advisors, and health care professionals for letters of recommendation.
Community service / volunteer work / job shadowing / engagement in student organizations. Document experiences.
Choose a major.
Gain research experience.
Campus visits to professional schools of interest.
Collect letters of recommendation.
MCAT prep and exam
Committee Evaluation
Find more detailed recommendations and resources in the
Application
AAMC s Medical School Admission Requirements guide.
Interviews
Advisement
Timeline
Pre-medicine is not a major. Therefore, you must choose a major (and
minor, if appropriate) by the time you earn 60 credit hours. Medical schools are
interested in students who excel in the sciences and mathematics, but you do
not have to major in these disciplines. Choose a major/minor that you enjoy and
that plays to your strengths.
You must meet with your advisor each semester.
You are
required to meet with your pre-professional and major advisors each term
before registering for the next. Students who receive scholarships or participate
in specialized ETSU programs (such as athletics or Honors College programs)
must also seek advisement from those departments. Serious consequences can
occur if students fail to meet with advisors (e.g., failure to graduate on time,
missing appropriate courses to prepare for the MCAT, etc.).
Advisor
contact
Medical Professions
Advisement Office
423.439.5602
ARC in Culp Center