Pre-Requisites for Medical School

A prerequisite is a course or other requirement that students must complete before continuing to the next level of education. In the medical school admissions process, premeds will need to complete a number of upper level courses that depend on which schools they want to get into.

Students applying to medical school must complete certain course requirements at their undergraduate institution or post-baccalaureate program before entering the school of medicine to which they are accepted.

School requirements may include specific courses, overall or topic-specific GPA requirements (e.g., minimum 3.5 GPA or GPA of at least 3.5 in science courses), or other qualifications for admission (a bachelor’s degree). For example, students must take 9 semester hours of biology or chemistry courses for their degree.

You can apply to medical school before you’ve finished all of your pre-reqs, but you must complete all of them before matriculation into your chosen program.

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What Are the Typical Med School Pre-Requisites?

In general, you’ll need to take the following pre-medical courses before entering med school:

• Biology: Medical schools typically require applicants to have completed one or more college-level biology courses, which may cover genetics, cellular biology, and physiology.
• Chemistry: Most medical schools require applicants to have completed one or more college-level chemistry courses, which may cover organic chemistry, biochemistry, and general chemistry.
• Physics: Many medical schools require applicants to have completed one or more college-level physics courses, which may cover topics such as classical mechanics, electricity and magnetism, and thermodynamics.
• Mathematics: Some medical schools may require applicants to have completed college-level math courses, such as calculus or statistics.
• English: All medical schools require applicants to have completed college-level English courses, which may include literature and writing-intensive courses.
• Behavioral Sciences: Many medical schools require applicants to have completed college-level courses in the behavioral sciences (social sciences), such as psychology or sociology.
• Biomedical Ethics: Some medical schools may require applicants to have completed a course in biomedical ethics, which covers health sciences related to healthcare and medical research.

Requirements for prerequisite courses vary slightly from school to school, so we recommend you consult the list below to find out which ones apply to you based on your target schools.

Medical schools do not give preference to your major or the number of science courses taken. The idea that there are non-science majors in medical schools is popular among programs because it contributes to the diversity of the student body.

Schools have placed a more significant emphasis on well-rounded students entering medical education. Most medical schools still need to be assured that students have a prerequisite knowledge base in the sciences. If you have earned a C or lower in any course, we recommend retaking that course.

Which Classes Should I Take Before Medical School?

As you can see above, you’ll be taking many science courses. Here is a breakdown of what they are and other required courses you will need:

• One year of Biology with lab.
• One year of General Chemistry with lab.
• One year of Organic Chemistry with lab.
• One semester of Biochemistry.
• One year of Physics with lab.
• One year of English

Which Classes Should I Take Before the MCAT?

1. Biology: You may have to take General Biology 1 and 2. Gen Bio 1 may be sufficient, depending on your coursework. You can also take more advanced biology courses, such as immunology, cell biology, microbiology, genetics, molecular biology, and more.
2. Organic Chemistry and General Chemistry: Pre-med students need to take general chemistry (inorganic chemistry) 1 and 2 and organic chemistry 1 and 2. (Organic chemistry was ranked the most challenging prerequisite college course by pre-med students).
3. Physics: We recommend that medical school students take Physics 1 and 2.
4. Biochemistry: Biochemistry is crucial for successfully taking the MCAT as it takes up about 25% of the topics on the exam.
5. Psychology: This isn’t a requirement but we recommend it before taking the MCAT.

Preparing for the MCAT (medical college admissions test) is a very important part of your med school application. Your performance demonstrates your competencies in subjects you will encounter during your education.

A good MCAT score increases your chances of getting into the medical program of your choice.

What Is the Best Pre-Med Major?

There is no single best “pre med major.” It really depends on each individual scenario. You should pursue a pre med major that you find personally interesting, well rounded, and academically challenging.

Do AP Credits Count Toward Med School Pre-Requisites?

Advanced placement courses often count towards medical school prerequisites (but you’ll need to check your medical program’s requirements to be sure).

However, your score must be included on the transcript submitted with your application, and many schools require a minimum score in the course to consider the credit.

Outside the Classroom: Non-Course Prerequisites

Medical schools seek specific qualities, such as accountability, reliability, and maturity. As an applicant, you can demonstrate these qualities through research, volunteer activities, and mentorship experiences.

When writing your personal statement and secondary applications, show (don’t tell) how you have the “right stuff” to be a physician. Demonstrate why being a doctor is important to you.

Ideally, you should be able to demonstrate the following to impress admissions committees reading your application:

• Volunteer experience.
• Clinical experience.
• Research experience.
• Relevant extracurricular activities.
• Well-written letters of recommendation.

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Database Of Medical School Prerequisites