Medical professional schools encourage students to develop the broadest academic base possible during their undergraduate years. Any undergraduate major may be used as background for entry. It is important that students understand they can major in just about anything, as long they complete the standard prerequisites for medicine. All pre-medical students should take courses that develop disciplined thinking, intelligent appreciation of values, and empathetic understanding of society and human interaction. Applicants are encouraged to take coursework in any of the following disciplines: anthropology, communication, computer science, economics, ethics, human development, literature, philosophy, psychology, sociology, and statistics.
Most colleges have pre-professional medical programs that serve as advisory committees for student interested in careers in allopathic or osteopathic medicine, nursing, chiropractic, dentistry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and veterinary medicine programs. These programs or societies give students an opportunity to interact with their pre-medical peers and obtain guidance from the school faculty.
A baccalaureate degree is required for admission to most professional medical programs. You do not need a bachelor's degree, however, to become a registered nurse. You can obtain an associate's in Nursing without formal college education. Professional schools base admission decisions on a variety of items such as grade point average, entrance exam score, interview, and personal references. The application process usually occurs one year before the intended entry date.
Professional schools encourage employment or volunteer experience within a professional or related medical setting. Work and volunteer experiences (including shadowing) in health care facilities, hospitals and physician's offices are strongly recommended. It is important to note that you can go outside of medicine as well - volunteer experience in and of itself is very important to the medical community.
Core Courses for Professional Schools
The undergraduate degree must also include the successful completion of the required prerequisite core of courses such as:
One Year of English Composition
One Year of College Level Math (One Semester of Calculus for some schools)
One Year of Inorganic Chemistry (w/labs)
One Year of Organic Chemistry (w/labs)
One Year of General Biology (w/labs)
One Year of General College Physics (w/labs)
Additional courses such as biochemistry may strengthen your experience.
Medicine (MD or DO)
Admission requirements are essentially the same for the MD (allopathic) and DO (osteopathic) programs. The Medical College Admissions Test is required for MD and DO professional schools as well as for most podiatry schools. It is offered electronically in January and also April through September each year.
Chiropractic (DC)
Each professional school sets its own prerequisites and requirements. Check your state or local college to learn about the prerequisites to obtaining DC training.
Dentistry (DDS)
Applicants for the field of dentistry complete the core courses listed above and also additional biology courses. An academic advisor can assist in choosing these courses. The Dental Admissions Test is also usually required.
Optometry (OD)
Entry requirements for this professional school are considerably different from the others. The Optometry Admissions Test is required. Early in their academic career, students should see an academic advisor for information about specific schools and programs.
Pharmacology (Pharm.D)
Pharmacy programs usually require two preparatory years of university level coursework followed by four years in the professional curriculum. The sequence of the courses is important, so students are urged to meet with an academic advisor early in the student's academic career. After completing the pre-requisites for pharmacy school, you will take the PCAT exam and apply for admission to the pharmacy school of your choice. Most schools with a college of pharmacy have specialized combined degree programs that allow students to move directly from undergraduate study to graduate study in pharmacology. If this interests you check with your college to find out more information.
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