For many, the pursuit of a career in medicine has been a longstanding aspiration. Some students enter college having known for many years of their desire to earn a medical degree. Other students come to the same realization much later in their academic careers. Whether the idea of becoming a physician is a new one to you or a goal you have sought for many years, the Health Professions Advising Office is here to facilitate your academic and co-curricular preparations for medical school. There are two types of medical training programs that you can complete in order to become a practicing physician: allopathic medicine (MD) and osteopathic medicine (DO). Medical schools evaluate its applicants on a range of competencies and assess their applicants holistically. These competencies fall into four groups: Interpersonal, Intrapersonal, Thinking and Reasoning, and Science.
Below is a list of general prerequisite courses that most medical schools require for admission; however, there are several other courses that are not required but are highly recommended. Please check with the admissions websites of individual medical school programs to obtain a current listing of admissions course requirements. Please also take note of individual programs’ policies on acceptance of Advanced Placement (AP) credit.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade “C-” or higher.
| Subject Area | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| General Biology | BSC 114 and 115 (lab) and BSC 116 and 117 (lab) or honors equivalent |
| Biochemistry | BSC 450 (prerequisites: BSC 300 and CH 232) or |
The Medical College Admission Test is a standardized, multiple-choice examination designed to assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine. The exam is divided into the following four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. Our Health Professions Advising Office is here to help you identify resources that will help you prepare for this exam. For more information about the MCAT, please visit the AAMC’s Taking the MCAT page.
Minimum GPA requirements vary from program to program, but MOST competitive applicants have a minimum 3.5 GPA overall and in their science courses.
Baffi-Dugan, C., Cannon, R. E., Bingham, R., & Corder, B. W. (2011). Health professions admissions guide: Strategy for success. Champaign, IL: National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions.