Getting into Medical School: The Premedical Student's Guidebook [Paperback]

Sanford J. Brown (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0812096479 | ISBN-13: 978-0812096477 | Publication Date: March 1997 | Edition: 8th

Barron's GETTING INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL is exactly what the doctor ordered as a prescription for surmounting the strenuous challenges every prospective medical student faces. It tells college students how to meet the stiff competition for acceptance into medical school, which undergraduate courses to take, how to approach the MCAT, and much more.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

There are plenty of doctors' reference books on diseases and drugs, but few to assist the would-be doctor attain that status. And there's an overwhelming blizzard of issues to face. Considering the effort that goes into passing organic chemistry, it's not a major time commitment to spend a few hours learning how to choose a college, survive premed, take the MCAT, and apply successfully to med school. And as a bonus, there's an appendix of summer programs for premeds, and a full directory of American medical schools (with grade point averages, enrollment, costs, and application information) as well.

Review

This appears in its 8th revised edition to cover the basics of what it takes to beat the stiff competition for medical school. From handling the major tests and application process to getting through interviews and considering alternatives if rejected, this contains all the basics necessary to understanding the entire process. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 279 pages
• Publisher: Barrons Educational Series Inc; 8th edition (March 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812096479
• ISBN-13: 978-0812096477
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,958,260 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Encouraging, September 17, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Getting into Medical School: The Premedical Student's Guidebook (Paperback)

For the non-traditional applicant, Dr. Brown's book is insightful and encouraging. While lacking a bit in the school-review section (no juicy details here), it takes on the process of applying to Medical School as a personal carpe-diem search rather than a run in the rat race often depicted by books geared toward nervous 20-year-old grade-thirsty premeds. Worth a 2nd read.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definitive book for nontraditional students, October 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Getting Into Medical School (Paperback)

This is the only book I could find that dealt directly with issues that the nontraditional applicant would face in applying to medical school. I highly recommend it for applicants who are older, have a non-science degree or have other obstacles to overcome in applying to medical school. One chapter is devoted to success stories of applicants who had huge obstacles to overcome and still were able to do the impossible - getting accepted into medical school despite these barriers. Very inspiring!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An acceptable text in comparison to other premed texts..., November 7, 2005

By 

Microbiologist, RN, and perpetual student. "~BB" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Getting Into Medical School (Paperback)

I wouldn't say that this text is geared to 'just non-trads', but to everyone.

Pros: This author encourages you to contact him... impressive for any author, let alone an M.D. He gives a 'real-world' view of medicine, and this being his 9th edition, has a fair amount of experience in the 'pre-med' arena.

One thing I really like about this book is the reality check it gives. Facts like M.D.s have about 10 years of post-graduate education, yet are told what to do by people who went to school for only 2 years post graduate to get their M.B.A.'s (Since medicine is becoming coorperatized by HMO's, and new physicians are finding themselves joining managed groups or hospital positions, ran by 'management' MBAs). The fact that HMO's are taking over and autonomy is no longer available for the physician. The fact that it is no longer a 'stable' career as U.S. and foreign medical schools are cranking out more physicians than the demand, and that salaries fell for the first time ever recently... and that it will ultimately be the willingness to be of service and to help that will continue to spur students into medicine, as salaries continue to fall and current M.D. positions are replaced by PAs FNPs and other specialists. He, and many physicians I've talked to, have supported his idea that M.D.'s are losing their security by the excess supply, and replacement by PAs, FNPs etc.

These are the things that few 'Get In' texts fail to mention, yet many physicians attest to.

Cons: You only get 'half' a book. The first half is the book, the second half is a dummed down version of the Medical School Admission Requirements (which you should get if you are seriously considering medical school). The first half has valuable information, the second could either be scrapped or include more inforamtion... it doesn't include nearly the information it tries to reflect from the MSAR.

Summary: A worth buying text... more realistic than most out there. Like most others, its a bit short. Its a good reality check to think about the current state of medicine, where its headed, what you expect from becoming a physician, and what likely will be. Great for any student who is new to the idea of becoming a doctor.