Skip to main content

Boost Medical School Prep With Undergrad Courses in Other Fields

By U.S. News & World Report

As a member of an admissions committee and longtime physician, I hold firmly to the belief that a liberal arts education is highly valuable, especially if you are headed toward a career in medicine and caring for people. The arts and sciences need not be divided.

To the contrary, combining art and science education often yields tremendous results. As technology guru Mark Zuckerberg stated in an address at Brigham Young University in 2011, Facebook is “as much psychology and sociology as it is technology.”

It’s no accident that many of our future medical school students attended liberal arts colleges. We look for students who are curious about and have an understanding of humanity, our history, our present and our future. An education that blends art and science not only helps them become great physicians who care about patients, but also helps them become exceptional citizens of the world.

[Learn to shine on medical school applications without a premed major.]

In addition to your science prerequisites, consider taking some of these nonscience courses to help you prepare for your future role as a physician.

— Psychology: The new MCAT requires you to have a working knowledge of psychology. Not only do you need to have the basics at your fingertips for the psychology and sociology section, but you also should be able to interpret research findings in the critical reasoning section of the exam.

More important, in my opinion, is that you need a knowledge of psychology to help care for patients who experience fear, sadness and every other possible emotion. No matter which medical specialty you enter, you will work with people.

If you ask primary care physicians what their education lacked, they will likely say psychology or psychiatry, and I can’t think of one medical school that doesn’t want more time for their students to study these disciplines. As well, a better understanding of psychology will likely reduce the risk for lawsuits — attention, future surgeons!

All kidding aside, when we physicians can better relate with our patients, we not only can provide the best care, but also reduce any chances of confrontation.

[Determine if your MCAT prep should include psychology or sociology classes.]

— Sociology: For similar reasons as above, I highly recommended taking a sociology course. Sociology is included with psychology in one section of the MCAT and may be useful when completing the critical reasoning section. However, I think it’s more important to take sociology because it will help you understand the general population as well as why and how it changes.

None of us can pretend that others don’t impact our actions. If you can understand why groups behave in certain ways, you will be better prepared to understand your patients, particularly as medical care shifts from private practice to population and global medicine.

— Statistics: Many medical schools require a statistics course, and some expect students to already know how to use statistics. Interpreting medical research is so much easier if you understand how a researcher arrived at their results.

A lot of mediocre research gets published, but if you have a statistics background, you will more easily be able to sort the wheat from the chaff and not jump to use unproven treatments on your patients.

[Read more about studying social and behavioral sciences for medical school.]

— Economics and political science: Both an economics and political science course are necessary for your future career as a physician. Practicing medicine today is no longer as simple as having clinical knowledge. You must have an understanding of how economic factors and politics impact the business of health care as well as health care delivery.

When deciding which nonscience courses to take, ask yourself which courses will increase your curiosity and inspire you to grow as a human being. During my undergraduate years, I chose a philosophy of education course.

At the outset, the professor announced to the class that only one person in the room would receive an A. That didn’t make me happy because there were 40 to 50 smart people in that room, but the readings and the discussions were amazing. What was most valuable about that class wasn’t the grade — I received a B — but the growth factor. I was not the same person after the class as I was before the class.

More from U.S. News

Elevate Medical School Applications With Research Experience

3 Tips to Prepare for the MCAT Social, Behavioral Sciences Sections

Determine If You Need Psychology, Sociology Classes for MCAT Prep

Boost Medical School Prep With Undergrad Courses in Other Fields originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote