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Grades are not the primary defining factor of medical school admission. There are still other requirements aspiring physicians need to have before getting accepted into a medical school, such as NMAT and panel interview.  However, grades do matter, especially if the pool of applicants in the medical school you are applying for is highly competitive. Moreover, some medical schools only accept applicants with a certain general weighted average (GWA) and students that did not have any failing grades during their undergraduate program.  

What requirements do I need to apply for medical school?

The requirements needed to apply for medical school vary depending on what school you wish to apply for. However, the general requirements you need to have before applying are the following:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Before studying medicine, aspiring physicians must be a graduate of any baccalaureate degree program.

• National Medical Admission Test (NMAT)

The National Medical Admissions Test, a standardized test administered to medical school applicants in the Philippines, is developed and administered by the Center for Educational Measurement, Inc. (CEM), as authorized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). NMAT is one of the medical school prerequisites aspiring doctors should take before getting admitted to a medical school.

How to Get the Requirements Needed to Get into Medical School

1. Recommended College Courses

Some medical schools require units in certain subjects, such as Chemistry, Natural Sciences, Physics, and Microbiology, before you can apply for admission. Therefore, some students take specific courses as their pre-med because the units required for medical school application are already integrated into their curriculums. Some of the most common courses aspiring physicians take as their premed are the following:

• BS Nursing

• BS Medical Technology 

• BS Pharmacy

• BS Biology
• BS Physical Therapy

However, there are also selected medical schools in the Philippines that allow students to apply for admission and enroll directly without any course requirements as long as they take the NMAT and have the necessary documents.

Many believe that taking pre-med courses will give them an edge once they are already in medical school. While this is true to some extent, because premed courses give students a general idea of some of the lessons in medical, they can still become successful physicians without enrolling in any premed courses. It is still grit and commitment to learning medicine that will make one successful in medical school. 

What grades do I need to get accepted in med school?

Some medical schools require their applicants to have a certain GWA and have no failing grades. But in general, there is no definite grade needed to get accepted into medical school. However, good grades will provide you with a particular advantage in the application and open up opportunities for scholarships or tuition discounts. That is why it is highly recommended to perform well academically while. 

2. NMAT

NMAT is a standardized exam given twice a year by the Center for Educational Measurement.  It is a mandatory exam and prerequisite for students who wish to apply for a medical school. Graduates or graduating students of any Bachelor’s degree program can take the exam.

The NMAT scores are valid for only two years. Therefore, if the student fails to apply or get accepted into a medical school within two years after releasing the NMAT scores, the student has to retake the NMAT. 

Scores students get in the NMAT are reported as percentile rank, ranging from 1 to 99+. So, for example, if you got 90, it does not indicate that you got 90% of the questions in the exam correctly. Instead, this means that you scored higher than 90% of the NMAT examinees, while 10% scored higher than you. The NMAT scores are usually released 20 days after the examination day. 

What scores are the best to get for NMAT?

The minimum cutoff score for NMAT for a student to be qualified for medical school application is 40. However, some medical schools impose higher cutoff scores. Therefore, it is best for an examinee to prepare well for the NMAT to get a higher percentile rank and increase their chances of getting accepted into their dream medical school. 

3. Documents for Application

The medical school admissions requirements may vary depending on the medical school you wish to apply for.  However, at Southwestern University, the medical school requirements are as follows:

FILIPINO

• Two (2) photocopies of NSO Birth Certificate
• One (1) original copy of Transcript of Records (TOR/Honorable Dismissal) & 1 photocopy
• Two (2) photocopies of BS Diploma or Certificate of the expected date of graduation from the Dean
• Certificate of Good Moral Character
  • From the Dean (1 Copy)
  • From the Professor (1 Copy)
• Two (2) pcs 2×2 picture
• Original Copy of NMAT Results (Percentile Rank = 40%)
• Certificate of Grade Point Average or General Weighted Average
• Photocopy of Residence (Cedula)
• One folder long with fastener

FOREIGN 

• Three (3) copies of Birth Certificate, 1 copy original & 2 copies authenticated
• Three (3) copies of Official Transcript of Records (TOR/Honorable Dismissal) 1 copy original & 2 copies authenticated
• Two (2) certificates of good moral character (original copies), one from the Dean and one from any of your Professors
• Three (3) copies of Diploma, 1 copy original & 2 copies authenticated
• Two (2) copies of Police Clearance, copy of visa & bio page of passport
• Five (5) copies of your recent photo (black and white) 2×2 in size
• A brief biography of who will finance your medical school or Affidavit of Support, duly notarized (Certificate of Sponsorship)
• Original Copy of NMAT results, at least 40 percentile rank
• Certificate of Grade Point Average or General Weighted Average

*For pre-med taken outside the Philippines, a “Red Ribbon” authentication from

your embassy is required.

4. Extracurriculars

Extracurricular activities can help the medical school admissions committee you wish to apply for identify your non-cognitive and social skills and the perseverance required to handle all the rigorous activities and lessons in medical school. Extracurricular activities can also help you stand out in the pool of applicants and prove that you perform well, not just in the four walls of the classroom. 

Some of the best extracurricular activities to help boost your medical school application are the following:

• Clinical Work

There exist a variety of extracurricular activities you can engage in to bolster your medical school application. However, clinical work might be the best to engage in.

During medical school applications and interviews, applicants are always asked why they want to become a doctor. In this question alone, some applicants already start to falter. However, when you have clinical experience, it will be easier to convince the admissions committee about your devotion to learning medicine and becoming an excellent physician.

Moreover, clinical work is the best way to immerse yourself in the profession. This will allow you to know how the medical field operates and acquire hands-on experience that can help ease the arduous tasks you will be required to do once you are already in medical school. 

• Research

Research teaches many skills required to become successful in medical schools, such as critical thinking, perseverance, and tenacity, among others. Research projects can also help show the admissions committee that you are dedicated to figuring out the unknown and possess a great interest in acquiring new knowledge and information. These are often some of the qualities they look for in an aspiring physician.  Research also allows you to work with other individuals, which trains you for the collaborative environment in medical schools and hospitals. 

• Community Service

Community service is one of the most philanthropic activities a student can participate in. This also entails your willingness to put others before yourself, which is precisely what physicians are supposed to do. When you participate in community service, it means that you are willing to serve others, devote your time to building a better society, and help better the lives of those who are in need. As a result, the admissions committee is more likely to consider your participation in community service as a factor when considering your application. Some of the most excellent community services include volunteering in medical missions, participating in charitable events, and joining projects to help the vulnerable. 

• Teaching

Teaching lets you develop your communication and leadership skills, which are essential for a doctor to have. For example, doctors have to clearly explain their diagnoses and treatment plans to their patients and openly and respectfully talk about dogmas and ideas that might not be in line with yours. 

5. Recommendations

Recommendation letters are an essential part of your medical school application. Usually, the admissions committee uses this as a tool to gain more knowledge about you as a person from people who know you well. Recommendation letters are typically written by your professors, deans, or previous bosses/supervisors. 

What Medical Schools Usually Look For in Applications

Here are five things medical schools usually look for in applicants:

Good Grades

Gades measure your mastery of the objectives of a course and your ability to thrive in a high-pressure environment. In addition, the admissions committee looks at your grades in your undergraduate degree to assess if you would be able to handle the academic load in medical school. 

High NMAT Score

The admissions committee of the medical school you applied for will more likely accept you if your percentile rank is in the NMAT is high. This is because NMAT, just like other aptitude tests, predicts a person’s ability to learn or do given the proper education and direction.

Leadership Experience

Physicians lead a team of healthcare professionals and help guide patients during their treatment. That is why leadership experience is often one of the things admissions committees look for in applicants to gauge if they could become excellent physicians in the future. You do not have to be a club president to prove your leadership experience. Some lead through teaching, community volunteering, or coaching. 

Ability to Thrive Under Pressure

Medical schools often look for students who can still carry on a conversation despite being put into a difficult situation. Admissions officers often test an applicant’s ability to thrive under pressure during panel interviews. Therefore, it is crucial to practice and engage in mock interviews before facing the real deal. 

Undergraduate Major

Medical schools accept aspiring physicians from all majors, consider that they did well during their undergraduate degree, their NMAT, and handle all the questions asked to them during panel interviews excellently. Medical schools also often look for people from different walks of life and have diverse perspectives. 

Other Details that Aspiring Medical Students Can Add to their Application

Financial Status

Declaring your financial status in your application can help the admissions committee assess whether you will be able to support your medical school education. While there are scholarships available to those deserving but financially struggling students, medical schools often prefer students who will be able to finance themselves even without the help of any scholarships or tuition fee discounts. 

Convincing Narrative

Almost all medical schools require their applicants to submit an application letter detailing all the important things about themselves and why they want to enter medical school. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that you highlight aspects of yourself that will prove that you are worthy of a slot in the medical school you wish to enter and have a convincing narrative of why you want to become a medical doctor. 

Tips to Remember When Completing Medical School Prerequisites

Request the necessary documents in advance. 

Some documents may take days or even weeks to arrive after requesting them. To avoid the unnecessary stress this may cause you, it is important to request the necessary documents in advance. Additionally, it is also best to request multiple copies of the documents you will be needing, especially if you are planning to apply to more than one medical school. 

Take note of the deadlines.

Nothing is worse than not making it into your dream medical school just because you missed the deadlines. Always check the websites of the medical schools you wish to apply for any pertinent announcement regarding the application and take note of the important deadlines. 

Prepare!

During the medical school application process alone, you will already face a lot of tests. First is the NMAT then next is the dreaded panel interview. Make sure that you review properly for the NMAT. Enroll yourself in review centers if you can for better supplementation. Moreover, make sure to prepare well for the panel interview. You can participate in mock interviews and read about the common questions asked to medical school applicants and tips on how you can answer them.