Medicine (Allopathic)

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)

Students apply to medical school through a centralized application system called the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Similar to the common application for undergraduate programs, students can apply to any of the medical programs through a single application on the AMCAS. The AMCAS opens early May.

Students interested in pursuing medical school are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT).

MCAT

• The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice test required for any students interested in pursuing medical school. 
• The exam is made up of four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. 
• Cost: As of July 2022, the MCAT costs $325.00.
• Fee Assistance Program

Some schools are also requiring the Altus Suite (a multi-part assessment that includes CASPer, Snapshot, and Duet) and the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam.

Altus Suite Assessments

• CASPer test, the most commonly required of the Atlus Suite, is an online screening tool designed to evaluate key personal and professional characteristics that make for successful students and graduates. The CASPer test can only be taken once per application cycle.
• Snapshot is a one-way video response tool to help compliment the program interview.
• Duet is a value-alignment questionnaire that evaluates your fit with medical schools. You can find test prep material.
• You can find test prep material for each on the Altus Suite website. 
• Cost: As of July 2022, the Altus suite costs $85.00 which covers distributing your results for all three assessments to eight schools and $15 to send to any additional schools. 
• Local programs requiring the CASPer test include: Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Medical College of Wisconsin, Indiana University, Rosalind Franklin University and University of Illinois at Chicago.

AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam

• PREview is a standardized exam designed to assess examinees’ understanding of effective pre-professional behavior across eight core competencies for entering medical school. The PREview can only be taken once per application cycle.
• You can find test prep material, podcasts, and webinars on the PREview website. 
• Cost: As of July 2022, the PREview costs a flat fee of $100.00 which covers distributing to all participating schools. Registration fees are waived for examinees in the AAMC Fee Assistance Program.  
• Current local programs requiring the PREview test include Rosalind Franklin University and Southern Illinois University. For full list of schools, please check the AAMC PREview Participating Medical Schools website. 

It is important for students to check each school's requirements carefully as some schools will require courses not listed above. For more information about a specific program, please contact the school directly.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science - Chicago Medical School

Rush University

University of Illinois - College of Medicine at Chicago

Northwestern University - Feinberg School of Medicine

Loyola University - Stritch School of Medicine

University of Chicago - Pritzker School of Medicine

Accelerated 3+ medicine program with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is only available to Pathways Honors students with a declared health sciences major. Students should meet with their health sciences academic advisor and the pre-health advisor each quarter to make sure they are taking the correct courses for their major/professional interest.

Below is a sample timeline for a health sciences major, and it should not be used to replace meeting with an academic advisor.

BS to MD 3+ Accelerated Flyer

Visit the Volunteering and Leadership Opportunities website for the full list.

Highlighted opportunities:

Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)

Loyola Summer Enrichment Program (ASPIRE)

Student Life Volunteering Society

Advocate Pre-Health Volunteer Program

Northwestern Medicine 

Northwestern Medicine - Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center
Community Health
Old Irving Park Community Clinic
Howard Area Community Center
Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) Community Clinic

Port Ministries
Washington Park Clinic

Night Ministry 

Mobile Care Chicago

Shadowing Tips - Where to Begin: 

1. Start by asking your personal doctors if they would be willing to be shadowed or could recommend another practitioner.

2. Ask your friends, classmates, parent's friends, or professors if they have a connection that might be willing to shadow.

3. Utilize the DePaul network and check to see if there are alumni on ASK (Alumni Sharing Knowledge) that you could potentially shadow.

4. Reach out to local medical clinics to see if they would be open to you shadowing a practitioner.

National Average Cumulative GPA: 3.74
National Average Science GPA: 3.67

National Average MCAT: 512

• The total score of the MCAT 2015 will be between 472-528. Students should attempt to be in the 70% percentile to be considered competitive.
• Each section will be scored between 118-132.

Doctor of Allopathic Medicine Timeline and Checklist.pdf
Medical Specialty Areas.pdf