“PRE-MEDICAL” ADVISEMENT GUIDE
(adopted from College of the Canyons Handout)
The academic preparation for medical school occurs at the undergraduate level (B.A/B.S). “PreMed” is not a Bachelor’s Degree major but is instead a set of preparatory courses necessary for
admission to medical school, to be completed in conjunction with a student’s undergraduate major.
Any major in which a student excels may be selected for the Bachelor’s Degree as long as the
required pre-medical curriculum is also completed. For additional information please see the website
for the Association of American Medical Colleges at http://www.aamc.org/students/.
Medical schools consider various factors when accepting their students. Among them are:
1. The Bachelor’s Degree (B.A./B.S.)
2. Science and non-science grade point average (Note: many medical schools select
students with gpa’s of 3.5 or higher).
3. The score on the Medical College Admissions Test.
4. Medically-related paid and/or non-paid experience.
The following lower division subjects are those which many medical schools typically require and
are those which can be completed at a community college:
• 1 year General Biology (major-level with lab)
• 1 year Inorganic Chemistry (with lab) (Preparatory College Chemistry is a
prerequisite)
• 1 year Organic Chemistry (with lab)
• 1 year Physics (with lab)
• 1 year English Composition
• 1-2 semesters Calculus (Required by some but not all medical schools)
• In addition, most schools want students to take additional units in Humanities,
Social/Behavioral Sciences similar to those which would be used to meet general
education requirements for a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Spanish language courses are recommended by most California medical schools.
• Computer skills recommended
For students who are interested in specific admission requirements of medical schools in
California, please see the websites listed below:
Loma Linda University: (www.llu.edu/llu/medicine/)
Stanford University: (http://www-med.stanford.edu/school/)
U.C. Davis: (http://www-med.ucdavis.edu/)
U.C. Irvine: (www.ucihs.uci.edu/meded/catalog)
U.C.L.A.: (www.medsch.ucla.edu/)
U.C. San Diego: (http://cybermed.ucsd.edu/Catalog/)
U.C. San Francisco: (www.som.ucsf.edu/som/)
University of Southern California: (www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/)
Western University of Health Sciences (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine):
(www.westernu.edu/comp.html)
It is important that students meet with a counselor to develop an educational
plan that incorporates the above-listed requirements with those required for
an undergraduate degree (B.A/B.S.)
Pre-Health/Pre-Med (ETS Conference Notes—Sashraf5/11)
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Any major, need certain science requirements (BCPM: Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math).
Premed course prep includes: Biology (1.5 years), Organic Chemistry, Genetics, Physics, Math,
Statistics). Lab science makes students distinctive.
Usually about 100-250 spots generally available in one medical school. There are 125 med
schools in U.S. totaling about 18,000 seats
Average age in med school is 24-25 .
Don’t have to have a degree to attend professional school (however, most do)
Why Pre-Med (what’s your story?) Looking for honesty and passion; love of helping + science
5 things to be considered a good applicants:
1) Grades (cum GPA as well as consistency in science grades)
2) MCAT (considered to level the playing field since it is based on content opposed to
educational path, doesn’t matter from community college to UC or CSU to UC or whatever).
MCAT scores: 4 areas: Verbal (score 1-15), Bioscience (score 1-15), Physical Science (score
1-15) and writing sample (not numerical score). Typically need 8 or higher on each section,
29-30 overall score to be competitive. In 2015 new MCAT will come out.
3) Letters of Recommendation: usually need 3. Recommenders should address what they
think of the student’s ability to make it through med school. Should be recent letters of rec.
(present to approx. a few years old). Research is important not only for experience but
great way to get letters of rec.
4) Volunteer/work experience: how do you know you want to be a doctor (ex. EMT)
5) Interview
Years in Medical Schools: 1st and 2nd: academic. 3rd and 4th: clinical
United States Licensing Medical Exam
Resources: AAMC (American Association of Medical Colleges ) and MSAR (Medical Schools
Admissions)
If the major is something else other than sciences just make sure when transfer will have access
to required science courses. Would be wise to do prereqs at CCC so after transfer can do upper
division sciences
After student transfers from community college there is often a 4 semester timelimit at the
university and if the student hasn’t completed the prereqs they might consider a post
bachelorette program
Academic Renewal: not applied, professional schools look at ALL grades (even though CCC may
accept academic renewal)
Application process: MCAS: medical college application service. Colleges that are interested in
the student often require secondary application and after that letters of recommendation and
after that the interview.
Out of country med schools: yes is an option but not for everyone (can get homesick, culture
shock, helpful to have foreign language skills and adventurous personality) but can have pluses
such as more hands on clinical experience and it is a bicultural experience
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Cost: applying to med schools can approx. cost $5000 (ex. Applying to 20 schools). $240 for
MCAT, $ for applications, $ for secondary applications ($100 each approx), travel expenses for
interviews)
Put in best application since if rejected once it is more difficult to convince next time around
why they would want you now. So take time 1st time applying to make application solid
Anatomy with lab is offered more often at CCC compared to universities.
Other options besides Pre-Med: Pharmancy, Nursing, Physician Assistant, Health Administrator,
Bioegineering, Physical Therapy (not as competitive as med school, 3.3-3.5 in prereqs) , Vet
(very competitive, only 28 programs in the U.S. and 2-3,000 hrs of experience)., etc..