Education Articles from College Matching Service

How To Prepare Yourself

The premedical advisor of a university or college can assist a student through the entire application process. Medical college evaluates a student on the basis of its characteristics, grades and extracurricular activities. Most colleges ask students to sit for MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) that analyzes student’s knowledge of basic science, writing and reading abilities and problem solving skills.

College entrance requirements include completing coursework in English, physics, chemistry, mathematics and biology. However, students must also have deep knowledge in social science and humanities that will help them a lot while preparing for medical college. Extracurricular experiences are quite vital. Students must volunteer at some clinic or local hospitals to gain practical experience.

When Should You Start Applying

Most students start applying for medical college towards the end of junior college years. Some finish college course and work for many years before starting medical education. Others participate in different collaborative programs between medical schools and undergraduate colleges through which students can start taking preparation to get admission into a medical college.

How Do Colleges Decide

The major factors affecting admission include:

• Average of grade points
• Successful windup of undergraduate courses
• Performance on MCAT
• Letter of recommendation
• Interviews with admission committees of the medical schools

How Can You Apply

Applying to a medical college is not at all a complex process. Several accredited medical colleges are located in the United Sates, and application process is quite easy. MCAT registration packets must be available through the health professions advisor. The advisor must be capable of helping a student learn about the admission process. During junior years, students can ask their advisors to help them in submitting all their essential documents to complete the admission procedure. After submitting the application, some medical colleges ask for extra information such as letter of recommendation, secondary application and interest in the program.

There is no doubt that medical colleges look for the most motivated and finest mind students. It indeed takes commitment and hard work to enter into a medical college. Hence, start preparing for medical college beforehand in order to get easy acceptance into a college of your dream.

The Institute of Technology offers the following diploma programs for students who plan to have a career in healthcare:

• Medical Billing/Coding Specialist
• Medical Office Administration
• Pharmacy Technician
• Professional Medical Assistant

Medical Billing/Coding Specialist

Institute of Technology provides career-focused training required to become a Medical Billing/Coding Specialist. The detailed program imparts the education and skills necessary for attaining expertise in the use of Medical Manager Software, as well as ICD-9 and CPT-4 coding software. Students also get to learn related terminology and insurance billing procedures.

Students of the Medical Billing/Coding Specialist program also get to learn the laws and ethics governing the medical profession. They get trained in the procedures and their execution in various medical insurance plans as well as the management techniques of those plans.

Medical Office Administration

Institute of Technology offers a comprehensive program in Medical Office Administration that can provide students with relevant education in the area of general medical office procedures. The essential daily tasks of scheduling appointments, filing and documenting patient records are some areas covered in the program. Students also get to study other relevant areas like general anatomy and physiology. All this is reinforced with a strong foundation in medical terminology.

The curriculum also covers medical ethics, medical billing and collections, and public relations with respect to the medical field. Graduates can look forward to beginning careers in the medical profession working as a medical office managers or administrators.

Pharmacy Technician

The Pharmacy Technician program at Institute of Technology provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary for entering the medical field as a pharmacy technician.

Students of this program learn the techniques of calculating dosages, ordering, stocking, packaging and preparing medications. All this is reinforced with hands-on training. The program does not stop at teaching the skills directly related to the field, it also helps the students to develop interpersonal and communication skills.

Professional Medical Assistant

This program covers vital areas of the medical field like anatomy and physiology, patient medical records, clinical and lab procedures, appointment scheduling, Medical Manager Software, and medical terminology.

Instructors with professional experience help students to develop their knowledge and skill base in the clinical and administrative duties which would be required by them to pursue a career as a professional medical assistant.

Graduates are prepared for and eligible for CMA and RMA certification. Upon successful completion of these two certifications, they will get national recognition as Certified Medical Assistant. This can be valuable as many employers require this certification as a pre-condition to employment.