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Course planning advice here is limited to majors. For a full description of degree requirements, please see this overview of the Academic Program and refer to the for details and official rules. Any discrepancy between the Course Planning Pages and the Catalog will be resolved in favor of the Catalog.

Medical school admissions committees are looking for students who can demonstrate three things:

• The academic skills and foundational scientific knowledge to take their courses.
• An understanding of what it means to be a doctorÌýand a sincere desire to serve through medicine.
• The competencies required to be an excellent physician.

To build a competitive medical school application, you should use your time as a pre-med student at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ to actively seek out opportunities to develop, and then demonstrate advanced proficiency, in these three key areas. Below is some advice to help you with these efforts.

Course Requirements and Major Declaration

There is no specific major which increases your chances of being accepted into medical school. Instead, you should choose a major that genuinely interests you,Ìýthat allows you to take courses you enjoy, and helps you toÌýmaintain a strong GPA. This will demonstrate to medical schools that you have the skills required to be successful in their rigorous academic environment.

Each medical school has its own prematriculation requirements–courses that must be completed prior to enrollment–which largely align with those needed to prepare for the MCAT. Below is a typical set of prematriculation requirements, though it is important you verify whether these match the requirements of any medical schools you are interested in attending:

• Biology: Fundamentals of Cellular Life, Genetics, and at least one other biology course
• Chemistry: General Chemistry I and II, Organic Chemistry I and II, Biological Chemistry
• English: any two courses coded ENGC, ENGF, and/or ENGL
• Math: Statistics, Calculus I (prerequisite for Physics I and II)
• Physics: Physics I and II
• Psychology: not required by medical schools, but important preparation for the MCAT
• Social Sciences: any two courses

Course Planning – Gap Year Track

Below is a suggested gap year trackÌýschedule for the science and math classes that are medical school prematriculation requirements and that will help you prepare for the MCAT. On the gap year track, you should plan to take the MCAT the summer you graduate from ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

Your own circumstances, including your choice of major, may require a deviation away from this plan.ÌýConsult with your academic advisor and pre-med mentor on the best time to take these classes.

More detailed, major specific, course planning advice can be found on the .

Below is a suggested accelerated trackÌýschedule for theÌýscience and math classesÌýthat are medical school prematriculation requirementsÌýand that will help you prepare for the MCAT. On the accelerated track, you should plan to take theÌýMCAT the summer between your junior and senior years at ºÚÁϲ»´òìÈ.

Your own circumstances, including your choice of major, may require a deviation away from this plan.ÌýConsult with yourÌýacademic advisorÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýpre-med mentorÌýon the best time to take these classes.

More detailed, major specific, course planning advice can be found on the .Ìý

Engaging with your communities, spending time in healthcare settings, and participating in research projects are all ways in which you can strengthen your medical school application. Be sure to not only keep a record of your activities but also reflect on how they fueled your interest in a career in medicine.

• Shadowing in a healthcare setting helps you grasp the realities of a medical career and assess if it's the right fit for you.
• Volunteering in your community demonstrates a commitment to service. Choose an organization whose mission aligns with your values and interests, it does not need to be health related.
• Research experience highlights your dedication to learning, problem-solving, and scientific curiosity, qualities that medical schools highly value.
• Clinical experience,Ìýinvolving hands-on work with patients, can be very rewarding but often requires costly certification or training. While medical schools don’t expect clinical experience, pursuing it when possible, can be beneficial.

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has compiled a list of deemed essential for success in both medical school and in a career as a physician. These competencies are organized into three categories:

• Professional Competencies
• Thinking and Reasoning Competencies
• Science Competencies

As you select courses, extracurricular activities, and Odyssey projects, consider how each will contribute to your growth in these areas. Be sure to maintain a record of these experiences to reference when the time comes to apply to medical school.