Pre-Medicine
Undergraduate Preparation
The “pre-med” pathway is not a degree by itself, but a beginning point for students. There are certain criteria that must be fulfilled for admittance to medical school. You and your academic advisor will need to examine your interests, your academic record and the requirements to determine the best academic path for you.
Important Information
- Pre-Medicine Advisors
- Medical School Admission Test (MCAT)
- MCAT Fee Assistance Program
- American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Allopathic Medical Schools (M.D)
- Naturopathic Medical Schools (N.D.)
- Osteopathic Medical Schools (D.O.).
Preparation for Medical School
What should I major in if I want to go to medical school? There is not a specific major that is required for admittance into a medical program. With your advisor’s help you can design a program of study that meets the admission requirements of medical school while still studying what interests you the most. Most medical schools are seeking students who have developed excellent writing and speaking skills, possess analytic and synthetic thinking ability, are enthusiastic life-long learners and possess an understanding of the interpersonal aspects of medicine. Your major does not determine your success in being accepted to medical school. There are Allopathic Medical Schools (M.D), Naturopathic Medical Schools (N.D.) and Osteopathic Medical Schools (D.O.).
Most schools require:
- CHEM 1110/1111 & 1120/1121 - General chemistry with lab, (2 semesters)
- CHEM 3510/3511 & 3520/3521 - Organic chemistry with lab, (2 semesters)
- BIOL 1110/1111 & 1120/1121 - General biology with lab, (2 semesters)
- PHYS 2010/2011 & 2020/2021 - Physics with lab, (2 semesters)
- MATH 1730 or 1810 or 1910 - College level math (some schools specify calculus)
- MATH 1530 - Statistics or BIOL 4100 - Biostatistics
- ENG 1010 & 1020 - English Composition
- SOC 1010 - Introduction to Sociology
- CHEM 4310/4311 - Biochemistry 1 with lab
Early in your academic career you need to research the medical schools you are interested in attending to ensure you will meet all their criteria for admission. Some basic factors common to all professional schools include:
- Good undergraduate grades (overall GPA of 3.75, STEM GPA 3.75, non-STEM GPA 3.75)
- True interest in profession as demonstrated by shadowing or volunteering in the field
- Service-related experiences in people-oriented environments – long term service preferred to short bursts of unrelated service activities
- Exceptional communication skills
- Strong reference letters from professionals who know your character, as well as, your work ethic.
- Please review the admission statistics for the medical programs that interest you. Most medical schools require an excellent score on the MCAT. A score of at least 506 is preferable to be competitive.
Links to Medical Schools (M.D.) in the Area
- East Tennessee State University College of Medicine
- ETSU Medical Horizons Summer Program
- University of Tennessee College of Medicine
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Meharry Medical College
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- Emory University
- University of Georgia-Athens
- Morehouse School of Medicine
- Southern Illinois College of Medicine
- University of Illinois College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign
- Indiana University School of Medicine
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- University of Louisville School of Medicine
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine
- Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
- University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Links to Doctor of Osteopathy Schools (D.O.) in the Area
- Lincoln Memorial-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Marian University
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine-Georgia Campus
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Links to Naturopathic Schools (N.D.) in the Area
Success Stories
- Clare Grady (University of Florida School of Medicine 2018)