Pre-Health Professional Programs

There is no one major that is required for admission to any professional school, nor is there a major that will guarantee admission into a program. Many students choose to major in biology or biotechnology because the common prerequisites for these programs are very similar to the courses required by most professional schools; however, students from all majors in arts and sciences are regularly admitted to professional schools.  The required science courses can be taken in conjunction with any major. 

Your choice of major should be determined by your interests and abilities.  Major in something you truly enjoy.  Students who are able to excel academically in both the core required science courses and coursework in non-science courses will have an excellent chance for admission to professional schools regardless of their major.

Each school has its own specific requirements, but a survey of schools shows that the following are generally the required courses:

• Chemistry - two semesters of General Chemistry class and lab (CHM 1045/CHM 1045L and 1046/1046L) and two semesters of Organic Chemistry (CHM 2210/2210L and 2211/2211L).  Because these four courses are sequential it is critical for you to begin the sequence in your freshman year.
• Biology - two semesters of General Biology (BSC 1010C and BSC 1011C)
• Biochemistry - one semester is recommended by many professional schools and required by many medical schools (BCH 3023C)
• Physics - two semesters of either College or General Physics plus labs (PHY 2053/2053L and PHY 2054/2054L or PHY 2048/2048L and PHY 2049/2049L)
• English - two semesters.  Some schools also require an additional course in literature.
• Mathematics - two semesters.  Some schools require or recommend calculus.
• Psychology - some schools require or recommend one semester.

Other courses may include: Microbiology, Genetics, Immunology, Statistics, Anatomy and Physiology.

Because requirements will vary among programs, you should contact the schools to which you plan to apply for specific information.  Most have websites that will list required courses.  (Information about all medical schools is compiled in a yearly publication: Medical School Admission Requirements United States and Canada.  Similar information for dental schools is available through ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.)  It is important to complete all required coursework by the time you have reached 90 credits at which point you will be applying to professional school. (Note that pharmacy schools may admit students after 60 credits.  Contact the admitting school for further information.)

Admission to professional schools is very competitive.  These programs are looking for students who have successfully completed a rigorous science-based core of courses and who have the personal qualities to be caring and compassionate health care providers.

Generally, a professional school will consider all the following before making an admission offer to a student:

• Science GPA in the specific courses required for admission - all science courses will receive careful scrutiny
• Overall GPA
• Scores on the professional school admission exam (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, VCAT, GRE, etc.)
• Work and volunteer experiences in health care.  Students who have spent time in health care demonstrate that they understand what the profession is about.  They have experienced the benefits and rewards as well as the stresses and frustrations of the job.
• Outside interests and activities. 
• Written personal statement - It is important for health care providers to demonstrate strong writing skills and explain their reasons for wanting to be a health professional.
• Personal interview - Strong verbal communication skills are an asset to all health care professionals.
• Letters of reference
• Undergraduate research, particularly in the biomedical arena, may be regarded as an important plus.

Your science GPA in the required science courses, your overall GPA, and your score on the required admission exam are given the most weight in admission decisions.  Schools want to be sure that you have the academic background to complete the rigors of professional school.   Other factors, although important, are not given as much weight in the decision process.  Your work and volunteer experience, for example, will enhance your application if your grades and test scores are good; however, this experience will not be sufficient to offset low grades or test scores.

Generally, one semester of C work will not automatically remove you from the selection process -- assuming that other semesters continue to be strong academically.  A pattern of withdrawals or low grades, however, will tend to weaken your application.

You should plan to begin preparing for the exam six months before you take it.  There are many types of study aids available for every professional exam.  These range from website practice exams to study guides available through bookstores and full-blown classroom review courses.  Investigate all your options for test preparation.

Because many schools have rolling admission dates, it is to your advantage to apply early in the admission cycle to have the best chance at acceptance. 

Each institution will have its own published deadlines for application.  Please note that all will require a specific admission exam score (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, VCAT, GRE etc.) as part of the application package.  Some of the tests, such as the MCAT are only offered during select dates.   Others, such as the GRE and the DAT, can be taken online at a testing center at your convenience.  You will need to plan ahead to complete the exam with sufficient time to have the scores reported to the professional school.

Since most application deadlines are in November or early December for the following fall, the admission test should be taken during the spring semester of your junior year so that you will have an option to retake the test in the fall of your senior year if you need to improve your score.   Be advised that medical schools and some other professional schools average multiple exam scores.  Do not consider your first exam as a “practice test.”  Prepare for it as if it were your only opportunity to take it.  Make sure you have taken the entire chemistry sequence (through Organic II), both semesters of physics, and both semesters of biology before attempting the MCAT.  Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Physiology, Introductory Psychology, Introductory Sociology and Analytical Chemistry can also enhance scores.

If you are applying to several medical schools, the American Medical College Application Service provides a resource for processing multiple applications more efficiently.  See "Helpful websites for more information" below.

American Association of Medical Colleges

Processing multiple med school applications 

American Dental Education Association 

American Dental Association 

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry 

Association of American Veterinary Medical College 

Schools of Pharmacy 

American Academy of Physician Assistants