Pre-Med

Overview

Academic preparation for medical school occurs at the undergraduate level (B.A./B.S.). "Pre-Med" is not a Bachelor's Degree major but a set of preparatory courses necessary for admission to medical school, completed alongside 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.

Choosing an Undergraduate Major:

Consider your undergraduate major carefully and select a field that interests you and provides a foundation for potential career alternatives. "Pre-Med" is not a major at universities. While many successful applicants major in biological or chemical sciences, a science major is not required for admission to medical school. Admissions committees need to see that you can handle the rigors of science-intensive medical school coursework. Choosing a major solely based on the assumption that it will increase your chance of acceptance to medical school is not advisable. If you are undecided about your choice of undergraduate major, you are encouraged to discuss this with a counselor.

Medical School Pathways:

Students have two paths to becoming a medical doctor: M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). For additional information, please visit the Association of American Medical Colleges at http://www.aamc.org/students/ Links to an external site. and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine at https://choosedo.org Links to an external site..

Typical Lower Division Prerequisite Requirements that can be taken at a Community College for Pre-Med Requirements

  • 1 Year General Biology with Lab: COC’s BIOSCI 106 and BIOSCI 107
  • 1 Year General Chemistry with Lab: COC’s CHEM 201 and CHEM 202
  • 1 Year Organic Chemistry with Lab: COC’s CHEM 255 and CHEM 256
  • 1 Year General Physics with Lab: COC’s PHYSICS 110 and 111 or PHYSICS 220, 221, and 222
  • 1-2 semesters Calculus (required by some but not all medical schools): COC’s MATH 211 and MATH 212
  • 1 semester of Statistics (required by some but not all medical schools): COC’s MATH 140
  • 1 year English: COC’s ENGL 101 and ENGL 103
  • In addition, most schools want students to take additional units in Humanities and Social/Behavioral Sciences similar to those that would be used to meet general education requirements for a Bachelor’s degree
  • Most California medical schools recommend Spanish language courses.

Premed Course Requirements Links to an external site. 

Students interested in specific admission requirements of certain medical schools should visit the school websites or sign up for access to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Links to an external site.. The MSAR details each school's specific requirements.

Additional Requirements

Medical schools consider personal qualifications, academic qualifications, communication skills, and motivation. Among them are:

  • Bachelor’s Degree (B.A./B.S.)
  • Science GPA (grade point average) and Overall GPA.
  • The score on the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). This test is designed to test proficiency in the basic sciences as well as general problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills.
  • Medically-related paid and/or non-paid experience.
  • Clinical Experience—It is important to show a genuine commitment to helping and serving others. If you can, explore settings that will provide an opportunity to work with ill patients, such as nursing homes, hospice centers, rehabilitation centers, and clinics.
  • Research Experience
  • Community Service
  • Letters of Recommendation
  • Medical schools look for evidence of traits such as leadership, social maturity, purpose, motivation, initiative, curiosity, common sense, perseverance, commitment to serving others, and breadth of interests.

Experience and Hours

Former admissions committee members emphasize that there's no strict hierarchy of preferred experiences for your AMCAS application. It's not about ticking off boxes; what matters most is your commitment, passion, and energy in what you've pursued. Short-term paid medical gigs don't impress more than long-term, meaningful community service. Include all experiences that show sustained commitment and personal growth, regardless of category.

According to some, the activities section is crucial—more important than your personal statement. Schools want to see long-term, personally meaningful activities and how they've impacted you. Don't hesitate to include hobbies; they add depth to your application. And don't worry if your job isn't clinical; what matters is how you reflect on its impact and the skills you've gained.

When it comes to clinical hours, don't get too caught up in technicalities. Schools value a blend of experiences, and each has its own preferences. What's crucial is showing motivation, service, and learning from your experiences.

As another former committee member agrees, the totality of your experiences matters most. Paid or unpaid, it's about what you've learned and how you've grown. So, include what you're passionate about and what has shaped you as a pre-med student.

CA Medical Schools

Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Programs

  • California Northstate University College of Medicine
  • California University of Science and Medicine
  • Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
  • Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
  • USC Keck School of Medicine
  • Loma Linda University School of Medicine
  • Stanford University School of Medicine
  • UC Davis, School of Medicine
  • UC Irvine, School of Medicine
  • UC Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine
  • UC Riverside, School of Medicine
  • UC San Diego, School of Medicine
  • UC San Francisco, School of Medicine

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Programs

  • California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific 

Students interested in specific admission requirements of certain medical schools should visit the school websites or sign up for access to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) Links to an external site.. The MSAR details each school's specific requirements.

Post-Baccalaureate or Re-Applicants

Students who already possess B.A. or B.S. Degrees may be interested in obtaining information about the Post-Baccalaureate Programs in California. These programs are three months to two years in length and consist of intensive courses in science and math, as well as MCAT preparation.

They are offered by the following local universities (the list is not all-inclusive):

  • Keck Graduate Institute
  • CSU Los Angeles
  • Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science
  • UCLA Extension
  • Chapman University
  • CSU Fullerton
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • USC
  • UC Irvine

College of the Canyons offers an unstructured setting for post-baccalaureate students to complete undergraduate premedical courses at their own pace, even while working part-time or full-time jobs. All students are encouraged to submit a college application to the Admissions office early. Students must clear appropriate prerequisites to courses by bringing in college transcripts. Medical School Admissions committees are interested in the process and experience that led to the applicant’s choice of medicine as a career goal.

 

The California Postbaccalaureate Consortium Links to an external site. programs offer comprehensive academic enhancer pre-medical postbaccalaureate programs designed to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds in gaining admission to medical school. The programs seek students who are committed to practicing in underserved communities of California. This program is located at UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC San Francisco, Charles Drew University, and Tribal Health - Cal Poly Humboldt.

UCLA Re-Application Program Links to an external site. (UCLA RAP) is an eleven-month postbaccalaureate program offered by the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, designed to assist promising students from disadvantaged backgrounds who were previously unsuccessful in gaining admission to a U.S. medical school.

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