How to maintain a high GPA as an Ohio State premed
Determining which courses to take (and when) is a necessary step in your journey as an OSU premed student, but that’s really just the beginning! Once you have that figured out, you’ll want to develop a plan of action to help you maintain your high GPA. But, what does that entail?
Stay organized. This is probably one of the most important strategies you’ll need to implement (which is why we’ve listed it first)! Between lectures, exams, extracurricular activities, research, MCAT prep, and—eventually—med school applications, you’ll have plenty of things on your plate. Failure to stay organized is a precursor to feeling overwhelmed which will likely result in losing focus and your hold on your high GPA.
Set clear goals. Define your academic goals and set a target you’d like to achieve. When you have a clear goal in mind, you’ll be more likely to adhere to it because you’ll (hopefully) catch yourself the moment you stray from those goals.
Regularly attend your classes. Although it may seem that this would go without saying, it needs to be reiterated. Missing classes unnecessarily will leave you feeling behind. Your required classes will be challenging, but they’ll be even more difficult if you miss lectures and have gaps in your learning.
Create a study schedule. Having a regular schedule or routine that is in line with your course load and personal preferences will go a long way toward helping you keep up your GPA.
Carve out time for MCAT prep. The MCAT is a huge part of any med school application as it’s weighed heavily by adcoms. . That said, you’ll want to be sure you devote enough time to prepare for it, from learning the content it covers to test-taking strategies. Need some help? Whether you’d prefer self-study materials that enable you to study for the MCAT on your own or would rather have an online MCAT tutor, we’ve got you covered!
Connect with a pre-health advisor. As early as you are able, you should connect with a pre-health advisor. Since admission to med school is very competitive, you’ll want the support of individuals who know not only med school admissions and you but also what it takes to succeed. As such, they’ll be ready to advise you and guide you along the way.
Part 3: Ohio State premed extracurriculars
We’ve discussed the courses you’ll need to take and the fact that you’ll need to do well in them. We’ve also touched upon MCAT preparation and what that entails. With that in mind, you’ll also want to devote time and energy to choosing extracurricular activities that will benefit you as you apply to med school. As an Ohio State premed, you’ll be surrounded by options and opportunities!
For instance, you may want to join Alpha Epsilon Delta, which is the premed honor society at Ohio State. The group offers various activities and networking opportunities between their biweekly meetings and other events. They also participate in several fundraising events, as well as service projects. In particular, the group is known for having the Buckeye Tutor Team and for staffing a couple of free health clinics.
Undoubtedly, as an OSU premed student, you’ll want to join the pre-medicine club. There, you’ll find resources for premed students (including MCAT prep) as well as service opportunities. They also hold fundraising events, volunteer events, and social events for networking. Additionally, they’re known for making arrangements to have guest speakers come to share information with those in attendance.
Some of the other student organizations that may interest Ohio State premed students include:
Black Men In Medicine - a group dedicated to helping minority men navigate the path toward becoming physicians
Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience - a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness about neurological diseases, brain injuries, and mental health
Health-Link Society - an organization that exists to unite those with an interest in medicine with others in the community
Medical Innovations - a group whose mission is to connect those with an interest in student-led projects in medicine (This would also be a great resource for finding research opportunities!)
National Alzheimer's Buddies - as a social organization, this group exists to connect students with individuals who have dementia
STEM2TORS at Ohio State - a student group that strongly supports OSU students majoring in STEM-related fields and that seeks to help those students achieve their goals
Research as an Ohio State premed
In addition to stacking your schedule with extracurricular activities, you’ll need to make space for a few research opportunities. As an OSU premed, you’ll be in good hands as there are many avenues to achieve this. For instance, the Research Postings page lists updated research opportunities you may be interested in becoming involved with.
However, if you’re unable to find something of interest there, why not begin your own research project? You’d need to identify a professor or faculty member you think would be interested in supporting your research (so choose one whose teachings align with your learning style). From there, have a look at several of the college’s department review pages and consider attending a research forum. You can also explore the research theses of previous undergraduate students. Once you’ve decided on a faculty mentor, connect with them in a meeting to discuss your ideas and research proposal(s).
If you’re still feeling unsure of the direction in which you should head, consider reaching out to the Office of Academic Enrichment’s Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry section. They exist to help students find research opportunities and mentors while also providing support for those mentors.
Shadowing as an Ohio State premed
As a premed student, you’ll also need to participate in shadowing opportunities which will put you on the frontline of patient care while showing you the ropes of physician life. It can be difficult to find doctors willing to allow students to shadow, though. For this reason, the Buckeye Shadowing Club exists as a group that helps students find shadowing opportunities. In addition to having doctors teach students in person, they also meet online (via Zoom) to collaborate. These interactive sessions enable students to ask questions and learn from experienced physician-mentors who are eager to have a part in training the next generation of physicians!
Part 4: Getting into medical school as an Ohio State premed
Naturally, the ultimate goal behind everything we’ve been discussing is to see you accepted into med school! Whether your goal is to enroll in the Ohio State University College of Medicine or elsewhere, you’ll want to know that all the hard work you’ve put in up to this point was worth it.
Regardless of where you’d like to attend medical school, you’ll need similar components as you complete your application. You’ll need to put together a personal statement, complete a secondary application that includes secondary essays, gather letters of recommendation, and fill out the primary AMCAS application, including the .
It’s one thing to attend a school that’s prepared you for the next step, but it’s another to take that next step. How do OSU students do in terms of applying to med school following graduation? Looking at the stats for the most recent entering class (2023), of the 50,186 applicants who hoped to gain acceptance, approximately 7,229 applicants came from Ohio State.
While we don’t have data on every applicant hailing from OSU or every single medical school, we do have some information on Ohio State University College of Medicine. At this time (October 2023), precise details for the entering class of 2023 have not been released. However, looking at the entering class of 2022, we can see that the average MCAT score was 514 and the average (cumulative) GPA was 3.81. For both years (e.g., the entering class of 2022 and the entering class of 2023), the enrollment rate was 0.3%. No doubt, this is a competitive school. Nonetheless, you can rest assured that Ohio State University takes great pride in preparing premeds to continue their educational journey. It’s safe to assume that they would especially prepare students for enrollment into their own medical school.
Final thoughts
Moving through your undergrad years as an Ohio State premed will be challenging, but it’s far from impossible. With proper planning, sufficient guidance, and solid determination, you can successfully come away from OSU as a med school enrollee!
Remember: while time management is key, you’ll still need to study hard and keep up your grades, all while preparing for the MCAT and juggling extracurricular activities. In the end, you’ll have paved the way for a thriving career in medicine—but it all starts with succeeding as a premed student.
