Prerequisites for Medical School

The key to medical school admissions success is careful planning based on correct information. Research the schools in which you are interested. What are their admissions requirements? Keep in close contact with your pre-med advisor. Are you taking the proper classes now? With thorough research and thoughtful questions, you will benefit from the great amount of information that is available to you. By proactively seeking information, you will avoid the aggravation, disappointment, and delays that come upon finding out that you do not meet all of the necessary prerequisites.

Medical school studies build on a strong foundation in the sciences and mathematics at the premedical level. Beyond the successful fulfillment of these basic prerequisites, the Committee on Admission considers the overall quality and scope of an applicant’s undergraduate educational experience. The field of concentration for undergraduate studies and the selection of additional science and mathematics courses are the student’s personal choice and will not affect the admission process.

In addition to the academic requirements detailed below, we seek candidates who evidence the following characteristics:

1.     Academic Excellence
2.     Leadership
3.     Service, compassion and humanism
4.     Diversity
5.     Ability to work in a team (or as part of a team)

Students interested in medicine are encouraged to research the wide variety of jobs available in the health professions, to discuss the nature and demands of medicine with a pre-medical advisor or health professional, and to ask a lot of questions before embarking on the application process.

Chapter 7 of the MSAR: Getting Started, “The Admissions Decision,” describes the evaluation process in to further detail including the holistic review approach, personal attributes, experiences and metrics.

Each school's specific prerequisites, detailed annually in the MSAR® Online, is highly recommended to all prospective applicants and is available at most school libraries, premedical advising offices, and can be purchased from AAMC Publications.