The information in this guide is subject to change. Universities may require additional lower division courses beyond those listed. Please review a current catalog of the campus of your choice and consult with a counselor.
Last updated 3/15/19
Preparation/Requirements for Medical School
- Pre-medical course prerequisites (see below for lower-division courses that can be taken at SRJC
- The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Extracurricular activities including research or clinical experiences
- Extensive up-to-date information on medical school preparation is available at https://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/mdprogram/admissions/requirements.html
Students can major in any undergraduate degree area provided that the required pre-medical prerequisites are included in the course of study. Successful applicants have majored in many non-science subjects such as economics, philosophy, history, and international relations, as well as the more common science majors of physiology, biochemistry, and biological sciences. Often students do major in science since this ensures that there will be a great deal of overlap between courses required for the major and those required for medical school. Those choosing non-science majors often make their choice for breadth and do very well in the applicant pool. The major does not matter unless the science grades are weak. To view the specific lower-division major preparation requirements for your chosen major for CSUs and UCs, use http://www.assist.org.
Course Requirements
Specific course prerequisites vary somewhat for each medical school but the following courses will fulfill all that are generally required at the lower-division level.
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BIO 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 |
Biology: 1 year with lab |
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CHEM 1A, 1B |
General Chemistry: 1 year with lab |
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CHEM 12A, 12B |
Organic Chemistry: 1 year with lab |
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ENGL 1A + 1B or 5 |
English: 1 year |
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MATH 8A, 8B or 1A, 1B |
Mathematics: 1 year of calculus/college math (only 15 US med schools require 1 year of calculus – check individual schools) |
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MATH 15 |
Statistics: 1 semester; some schools require |
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PHYS 20/20L, 21/21L (or PHYS 40, 41, 42) |
Physics: 1 year with lab |
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Other/Non-Science: |
Other possible requirements include the following (check the MSAR (Medical School Admissions Requirements) or individual school websites for more information):
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All required courses must be taken for a grade, not on a Passed/Not Passed basis. If courses are repeated, both grades go into the AMCAS* GPA but AACOMAS** only includes the higher grades.
The MCAT examination includes four sections: Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, and Behavioral & Social Sciences (added Spring 2015). This exam is entirely computer administered. Click here for more information about the MCAT.
Application Process
Applications to medical school are submitted approximately 12 - 15 months before enrolling. Most medical schools belong to a centralized application service (AMCAS*) that allows students to apply through one initial application. Students can apply to all but one of the osteopathic medical schools through a separate application service (AACOMAS**). All medical schools in Texas (MD and DO) are a part of a third application service (TMDSAS***).
* AMCAS – American Medical College Application Service (allopathic).
An application can be obtained at https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/amcas/.
** AACOMAS – American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service.
Information can be found at http://www.aacom.org.
*** TMDSAS – Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.
Find information at http://www.utsystem.edu/tmdsas/.
Additional Information Association of American Medical Colleges: https://www.aamc.org/