<p>hi i’m currently a high schoiol junior and am i’m interested in a career as a doctor in the airforce. I plan to apply to the air force academy and intend to major in behavioral sciences if accepted.</p>
<p>My question is, how successful are USAFA cadets in the medical school application process? does the AFA have a good premed program? Are there research oppportunities available in the biological and behavioral sciences?</p>
<p>Thanks, any info is helpful :)</p>
<p>We have no such thing as a "pre-med" program. People tailor their schedule to make it competitive for med school and fulfill class requirements. For cadets that are qualified to attend (3.5+ GPA, classes, etc.), the chance of success is very good. I see you want to to BS, which is good and bad. Med Schools these days like non-typical majors (instead of the standard Biology degrees), so that will help. BUT, your major will require to take many extra classes (organic chem, biology, etc.). For someone like me with Bio-Chemistry as my major, I have all my requirements complete because of my major. In fact, Bio-chem majors at the academy have a history of 100% attendance in med school for all qualified majors that apply!</p>
<p>Research opportunities in the bio/chem/BS departments are abundant and you could become involved as a freshman. Our research opportunities are of grad school quality at an undergrad institution! </p>
<p>You MUST consider your back-ups though. I'd say about 100 people are interested in attending medical school here, but usually, after organic chem (the first semester), about 1/3 to 1/2 of them will no longer be qualified because of grades. The curve continues to go down after that. We have about 20 slots for medical school here, and that's usually about how many are able to get far enough to have one. So, consider what else in the AF you would be willing to do if you are not able to attend med school. Would you still come if you couldn't go to med school? Think long and hard.</p>
<p>thanks so mcuh hornetguy. your response was very helpful. Isn't the 1/3-1/2 of "pre-meds" drop after orgo chem pretty typical of any college?</p>
<p>Don't know, I'm not at a typical college to compare. ;) But, our academics are more intense by the sheer fact that our time is at a premium with training and athletics. Therefore, many that drop from attempting med school here probably could have a good chance at a civilian school where they could concentrate on pre-med. </p>
<p>On another note, is your screen name a reference to Grey's Anatomy?</p>
<p>I can answer that one. Yes it is typical, but not always from organic. Most schools have at least one or two classes that they really hammer on the premed track so they can have more competitive students apply, at the college I went to my freshman year (in 05) the class of choice was Bio 1. Not typical at all.</p>
<p>Just about every college starts out with an abundance of pre-meds but the numbers fall quite a bit the first two years. Like a lot of things in life it "sounds good" but without the requisite motivation or self-determination it won't happen. No different than a service academy in my opinion.</p>
<p>i can see how the extra demands of a service academy would make pre-med seem more daunting. I hadn't thought of that before. </p>
<p>and yes, i am a big grey's anatomy fan. Lately though i'm pretty disappointed with the writing - it's gotten to be such a joke :(</p>