<p>Hey all!
I am a 2012 guy who just got done with his first year of pre med work at college and I have a couple questions about the pre-med opportunities at the Academy. Obviously its gonna be tougher to maintain high grades at the Academy as opposed to UVA but beyond having to try harder in courses what opportunities are there to get clinical hours or actual pre-med time? I am an active EMT and all that jazz so I am curious if there are any opportunities to up my cert. to Paramedic level while at the Academy, run EMS time, or get in at a hospital. Also, is there a pre-med advisor out there? Thanks alot to anyone with info.
Alcat</p>
<p>I highly doubt you would have time to upgrade to paramedic. I was trained as an EMT here, that took a semester of class time. I don't think the Academy would even train us as paramedics anytime soon. However, you would be allowed to join the EMT team as soon as you got here. You can volunteer and work at the hospital, but not the clinic. </p>
<p>USAFA has a full board for med school applicants with advisors (primarily Ms. Pigage). We have no true "Pre-med" program, but people take the necessary classes like organic chemistry and biology. I will say that our med school wannabes has dropped from about 100 to maybe 30 due to organic chemistry alone. Grades are a lot harder here. If you get above a 3.0 here, you should be able to at least get into USUHS for med school. Above a 3.5 and you are competitive for most civilian med schools, to include places like Harvard and John's Hopkins. 2008's top grad is a Rhodes scholar and was begged by Harvard to attend their medical school after her tour at Oxford. </p>
<p>My particular major, Biochemistry, has a 100% acceptance rate to medical school for qualified candidates.</p>
<p>How was training to be an EMT (sorry, I'm taking over your board alcat)? I'm really interested in getting into the medical field as well.</p>
<p>2010 had a great program because we did it after lunch every other day. However, like 2009, 2011 (and 5 more 2010s) will have to do evening classes every other day due to objections from some teachers. I liked it and I really like the team as well. I'm glad I did it.</p>
<p>Hornet, I heard a rumor that parts of the hospital don't have a very bright future in staying open. Any idea what effects on volunteering if parts are closed?...if not, no big. Just wondering.</p>
<p>The EMT team has been expanded for those reasons. The ER is not open 24/7. Surgery is no longer going to be there I believe. Lots of parts shutting down, something like halving the techs there. Basically, the EMT team is being pumped up (class size next year is double mine) to fill in the gaps, especially for events.</p>