Medical School Requirements
So you’ve taken the plunge and have decided to attend medical school. Medical school requirements will certainly vary from school to school, but there are some generalities that we can make. These will help you in deciding which classes you need to take in order to get prepared for medical school.
General Class Information
For most medical schools, you will need at least one year of:
- General Biology
- General Chemistry with Laboratory
- Physics
- Organic Chemistry with Laboratory
- English
- Calculus
Now keep in mind that these classes will also help you immensely on the MCAT, which you will also need to take. These classes can be completed at nearly any four year college.
Grade Point Average
There is no secret universal GPA that you should have when applying to medical schools. However, each individual medical school will probably have their own internal cut-off GPA. If you browse around, you can find rumors and oftentimes official statements of what these cutoff values are. However, you should try and maintain your GPA as high as possible since getting into medical school is highly competitive to begin with.
A GPA of above 3.5 is ideal. Anything below a 3.3 and you’ll probably need to do some post-bac work to improve it. Your GPA will be broken down into a general GPA and a science GPA. Medical schools typically place more weight on your science GPA, so try to maintain it as high as possible.
Degree
A bachelors degree is required for most medical schools, but it does not have to be from a science major. In fact, there have been rumors that medical schools like applicants who aren’t science majors, as it shows diversity in the applicant. On another note, English majors typically do well in medical school since they have spent the last 4 years reading a lot of information. Thus, they have found ways to digest information more effectively, and oftentimes do incredibly well on the verbal portion of the MCAT.
If you do decide to complete a bachelors degree in a science major, it will not hurt you. Just keep in mind that you do not have to have a science major in order to be accepted into medical school.
Medical College Admissions Test
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is a requirement for all medical schools (except for the combined B.S. / M.D. programs). Just like GPA, there is no universal cutoff value in score. The exam tests your knowledge from college in the biological sciences, physical sciences, and verbal reasoning. Anything above 36 is a great score, but I have read about numerous applicants being accepted with scores as low as 28. If you go below 28, it’s probably a good idea to take the exam again and try to improve your score.
Taking the exam more then three times has been rumored to hurt your chances for admission. Although admission committees like to see persistence, a large number of attempts will show them that you might not be cut out for the rigors of medical school.
Most examinees will take an MCAT preparation course offered through Kaplan or the Princeton Review. Not doing so doesn’t guarantee that your score will be low, but you will be putting yourself an an automatic disadvantage versus other applicants. Take the course if you can afford it.
It has also been rumored that an even scoring distribution is ideal. So, for a score of 36 having three 12s is better than two 14s and an 8.
Volunteer Work
Volunteer work, although technically optional, is something that most applicants to medical school will complete at some point during their college career. Look for anything that will give you some exposure to working in medicine, and try to do as much as you can. Typically a year or more of consistent volunteer work will be sufficient to pad your application enough for the admissions committee.
Undergraduate Research
While not required, this is a great way to pad your application. I did research as an undergraduate and talked about this research at each of my medical school interviews. It shows that you’re interested in the sciences in general and certainly doesn’t hurt your application at all.
Keep in mind that doing volunteer work as well as research presents an awesome opportunity for letters of recommendation. You will need anywhere from 3-5 depending on the schools that you are applying to.
Summary of Medical School Requirements:
- General Class Information
- General Biology
- General Chemistry with Laboratory
- Physics
- Organic Chemistry with Laboratory
- English
- Calculus
- Grade Point Average
- Above 3.5 is ideal.
- Try not to go below 3.3
- Degree
- Bachelors degree is required, but not necessarily in the sciences.
- MCAT
- Scores above 28 with an even scoring distribution are ideal.
- Volunteer Work
- Optional, but doesn’t hurt your application.
- Gives opportunity for letter of recommendation.
- Research
- Optional, but improves your application a decent amount.
- Gives opportunity for letter of recommendation.
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A few thoughts:
1) The year I applied, the only schools that I applied to that required calculus were Harvard and Hopkins (or it make have been Duke, I can’t remember). Some just want a full year of math, but stats will suffice.
2) Our pre-med office told people that they wouldn’t get in with an MCAT below 30. I know a few people who did, but typically they had done something like found their own international aid organization as well. They told people to shoot for above a 33.
3) If you do “too much” research, some schools will wonder why you’re not applying to PhD programs instead. I’d guess that for MD onlies, serious, substantive volunteer work counts more (see: founding your own aid organization). MSTP programs love the research though.
4) A GPA of 3.5 will get you in someplace probably. But at my school the average is like a 3.9 or something. Trust me, I’m pulling that one down. In your science classes, you don’t have to have *all* As, but 90% As helps a lot.
5) A lot of schools love to see that you’ve taken time off to fully mull over your decision. I’m not just talking about the 1 year off – I-want-a-vacation-after college-type applicant. Many people in my class were 25 or older when they started. This gave many of them time to do said volunteer work. (see: founding your own international aid organization).
6) Being related to someone who donated a building to the school / who won a nobel prize and is currently on faculty doesn’t hurt (does it ever?). We have a couple of those in our class as well.
And I thought Physics and Bio labs were standard requirements too.
It almost appears easier to medicine in England than it does in the USA.
All i need is 2 years of college with 3 A Levels at A!
Some volunteer work
Maybe work experience if volunteer isn’t medical related
And the ability to show i’m human and have a life e.g. sports, clubs, music etc.
note: chemistry is the only required subject by all med schools, some do not ask for biology in England. Crazy I no!
The funny thing is that it wasn’t always this hard to get into medical school. Most of the physicians today (trained in 70-90’s) didn’t have to do nearly as much stuff (school, EC’s, etc) compared to today’s applicants.
A few points to kinda bolster what Hoover said: if you’re a potential applicant and are whining or complaining about all the requirements, realize that in medical school it’s not any easier! The tests are sometimes very, very difficult, the expectations are high, and you’ll have to take 3 MCAT-like licensing exams that differ only in subject material and length…they are longer than the MCAT. Step 3 is a two-day exam. So while the hoops you are jumping through are to an extent arbitrary, they do help weed people out who would struggle even MORE than the people who manage to make it through.
If you can’t get into med school, trust me when I say there are many alternative careers that could be just as fulfilling (probably more so) and don’t require as much time, money, or suffering. Don’t let ego cause you to spend many years doing something you don’t deep down wish to do.
which would schools prefer, Physics with calculus or non-based calculus?
I took non-calculus based physics. I don’t think it makes a difference as you won’t really use it outside of the MCAT anyway. FYI, the MCAT physics is non-calculus based.
Sorry I’m leaving a late comment. But I just wanted to ask a question please. A friend in med school tells me that she doesn’t even use most of the basic sciences that she had to take as prereqs all that much in med school (e.g. chem, organic chem). She tells me taking and doing well in the prereqs (and MCAT) is more like a barrier or obstacle that everyone has to get through, but once you get through it and complete your prereqs, the science in med school is pretty different. She adds that although it’s true some of what you learn in med school builds on a general knowledge of the basic sciences, most of it is more like starting from scratch. That was her opinion, but I don’t know if she’s just trying to make med school sound somehow “easier” than it really is or whatever. So I wanted to ask you if you find what she said to be in any way true or accurate? I figured people here would give me the real scoop. Thanks!
Carbon Based Humanoid, I agree. You’ll rarely use pre-req sciences in medical school. It’s more of a hoop to jump through than anything else.
yeah,i kinda have plans to go into medicine,but i am hesitant because there is some rumor that only us citizens can apply for med school.seeing as how i am a perm. resident,i dont know where to turn now…i feel like an illegal alien…lolz
I’m international and I want to do my MCATs at the end of the summer, I’m worried because my GPA isn’t great. Apart from that I have a pretty good resume, I’ve researched for 2 summers now going on my 3rd one, I’ve volunteered at a couple places and I am really involved on campus. I’m pretty sre I can do well on the MCATS but I don’t think that the admission officers will have time to sit and think about the fact that it was my overinvolvement in campus activities that caused my grades to suffer and not the fact that I’m not that smart, I’m a hard worker and I’m really worried cause I know my application will be just one amongst many great ones, AND I’m international, what do you guys think. I already started studying for the MCATs since last year,and I hope that I will do really well, and just wonder what my chances are…
I am 27 and decided to go back and finish school and major in premed. I have around 60 hours, but my GPA dropped the last semester I was in school,in 2004, to like a 2.1 or something. I had wonderful grades until then. I had a car accident and therefore I have like five F’s showing on my transcript as well as several w’s. My advisor told me that I have about 2.5 to 3 years left until I graduate and to excel in my Science and Math classes and not to worry about my GPA so much. Is this true? Even if I get all A’s for the next 3 semesters my GPA will still be a low 3 pointer I think. Any suggestions or extra things I could do to make the process of trying to get into med-school easier? I am smart and don’t want a low GPA to be the reason of not getting accepted into med school.
Thanks.
Listen, I am just informing you all to not worry. The things we usually worry most about never happen anyways. If you want to go to medical school. You will go to medical school. If you want to become a teacher, you will become a teacher ect… My point is this: the fact that you are willing to dedicate yourself to something means thats what you are inside. Human drive can only be slowed down be yourself. If you want something bad enough, you will get there. Adrenal gland signing off, thank you thank you, i’ll be here all week….
I decided late in my undergrad (pre-med) not to go to med school……I now work for a top medical device company that is paying the tab at a very competitive MBA program. While I do have regrets of not following through, I couldn’t be happier with my current state in life. I am married with 2 kids, I make close to 225k a year, and I am involved in direct patient care in the OR and CV lab. My biggest regret is working with hack physicians that just don’t give a damn (I know I would have made a much better physician than most that I work with). My point is there are many things to do with your life that are as fulfilling as medicine without the time commitment.
Then, you could cheat to get in. I know a guy who got a few 21’s on his MCAT’s. He in the Reserves, and was sent to Kuaitt. While there, he had the MCAT sent over for him to take (I’m not sure they do this anymore). His buddy administered the test, and gave him all the time he wanted… basically open book, no time, etc. He miraculously got a 31. Anyway, he’s in his third year now.
@ John – I hope I never see your spineless, slimy buddy as my doctor. No integrity whatsoever.
I’ll be a freshman in undergraduate school in the fall and I’m considering Med School. I was just wondering if it would be wiser to take all the science requirements and spread them out over the four years of college or try and get them all done as early on as possible.
Any hints?
@Confused – spread them out over four years.
Consider taking some of your sciences during the summer…I did physics and calculus during the summer. The classes are smaller and I liked just being able to focus on 2 courses, albeit 5 days a week.
I just finished up at a community college, going to begin my undergrad junior year this fall as a biology major. I decided that i wanted to try and further my education with med-school. Will my post secondary schooling at a community college prevent a med school from admitting me? Any advise…
@Metaphase:
Community college won’t have any impact on being accepted to medical school pending you did a good job and maintained solid grades.
I’m going to start college this fall, and I’ve been wondering if I should even attend the honors college/program my university offers..does it actually make a difference to med schools if i don’t have an honors degree?
@MildlyOverwhelmed:
It shouldn’t matter at all. I didn’t have an honors degree and got a 100% acceptance rate to medical school. Numbers get you the interview, the interview gets you the spot.
I’m actually thinking about med school at 23yo. My science gpa is only 3.0. To get into med school I have a couple classes to retake and I just don’t know what my chances would be for med school. I have lots of volunteer hrs, but no research…..If I began preparing now, In 2011 I could apply for med school. I don’t know if I should go another route or not, but I really want to be in the medical field and I am not aware of many fields out there that don’t require medical school but are emotionally and finacially rewarding.
@NEEDingGUIDance:
Stay away, stay far away.
hey guys …say you really totally fucked up your undergrad.. graduated with a 2.6 overall with bio major/psych
and ur science grades arent like As.. so its say Bs and Cs…more emphasis to the Cs lol.
..is it totally done for you to be a doctor?…
sometimes u dont realize the effect of u fucking up until afterwards
anyway could u do like a masters in biology and then when u done with that take the mcats and apply for med school??
or basically do some other graduate work and excel in that program then show that? does that work?
Im just wondering, can you get accepted into medical schools with visiable tattoos? ( wrist or back of neck)
@Natalie:
Tattoos shouldn’t hurt your chances of admission. On interview day, wear something modest that covers them up the best that you can just to be safe.
I was wondering the same about tattoos.. I have only 1 tattoo, but it is visible.. small, on my wrist. I’ll def be covering it just in case!
can you get into medical school if your high school record isn’t so great ?
@Iyan:
Your high school grades won’t have any bearing on medical school acceptance. They will, however, determine how competitive you are for college.
How long is the residency requirement for you to enroll in the medical program?
Okay, to Jugdish – how did you manage to get a quarter of a million a year? You need to let me know your secret.
Anyway, I need some advice. Throughout my whole undergraduate career I have been struggling on what to do with my life. And because of that some of my earlier grades in science classes are below average (B+ usually). The problem is my science gpa is pretty low – 3.25 – even though my cumulative is 3.6. Since I’ve chosen pre med I’ve kicked it up (aced organic with ease), but I’m afraid my earlier grades will affect my entrance into med school. I don’t know about you all, but when I’m not motivated, like I used to be, I didn’t really care how well I did.
So I’m worried I’ll have a hard time getting into med school, and also, even more, I’m not even sure I really want to go, but I have no idea what else I would do with a psych major (I don’t want to get 40k a year and council kids in high school or some crap).
Any advice would be greatly, greatly appreciated.
@LostAndConfused:
If you’re not sure about going into medical school, don’t. I wasn’t sure either, and I absolutely hated it. You could be different and end up loving it, but it’s a pretty big gamble.
My suggestion? Declare a new undergraduate major in something you’re truly passionate about and go from there. You’ll be much happier in the long run.
Well the problem is I’m a senior, it would be a little late to change..but yeah people keep telling me not to do it if my heart isn’t into it.. you’re probably right.
I just have no idea what to do with a psych major…
I have always wanted to go to Medical School for Psychiatry, but had several obstacles in my younger years; financial and single parenting that made other less demanding options more realistic. Now I am 36, and have finally decided that now is the time to do what I have always wanted to do. I have a BA in Psych and a Master’s in Social Work. My undergraduate GPA is 3.8, and my Master’s GPA is 3.9. My undergraduate work includes Biology and Stats, but it seems I need extra sciences from what I’ve read. I have been considering a certificate program at SFSU or UC Berkeley, and am eager to get started.
First, do you think 36 is too old to go to med school? Second, what advise can you give me to make this as seamless as possible? Third, how important are the extra science for admission and is there a more efficient (time and $) means to get them besides a certificate program? Thanks.
I am a 14 year old young lady attending Foothill High School with the dream of becoming a Pediatrician after graduating from Stanford University. I understand the 4.3 gpa, the volunteer hours, the sports, the leadership, all the requirements and Im fully prepared..but I was wondering if anybody else had gotten accepted into this challenging school and was wondering if they could give me a few pointers. What if I started getting..3.8 gpa’s in high school…would that automatically kick me out of stanford and send me to a community college to try and get in from there?? I was just wondering I need some help and advice, thank you!!!
@ Standfordbound … Stick to your dream.. but your grades in highschool don’t really matter. How well you do in college, does. To an extent. Don’t pop a vein or anything.. you have PLENTY of time. You’re just a kid. But I guess the earlier the better… but it’s too early to worry.
wow, this is nothing
hey guys,
how’s everyone doing? I’m currently a sophmore in college. I’m a bio major with hopes of going to med school. I work at a doctor’s office 4 days a week after school. The doctor who runs the office is the head of internal medicine at well known hospital. He has agreed to write me a letter of recommendation for med school. I was wondering if letters from actual doctors are weighed more than letters from professors? any insight would be helpful, because I have no idea what im doing or how to get in med school. thanks
I am a senior in high school and am looking at colleges. I’ve received scholarships from 2 instate universities and now it comes down to what major i want to do, Engineering or Biology? I have heard that its advantageous to do chemical engineering as a premed and is more preferred by med schools however that is a much harder route than just doing a biology major. Is it true that it will be better for me to do engineering than just a science pre-med? Anyone have any advice for a young guy looking into medicine?
I am not sure, what it means when they say “research experience is helpful” to get into med school.
What exactly research experience mean? does this imply, conducting your own research or could it be experience e.g like working in a lab, and doing production work?
@Gulab:
It usually means working in the lab under the direction of a supervising PhD.
hey guys, im in 10th grade in high school and have always really wanted to become an orthopedic doctor. last year in honors bio i came out with a c+, this year in honors chem im gonna get a b+, junior year im gonna take AP bio and AP calculus, and senior year im going to take AP Chem. My GPA is a 3.2 and im afraid i wont be able to pursue my goal. any advice or tips on what to do, and can you tell me what you have to do to become an orthopedic doctor? Thanks!
I am in med school…its not hard to get in…its harder to get out. Its the most stress I have ever had in my life. It will be worth it in the end but if I could go back in time, I def would have changed a lot of things.
To all of the high school students worrying that their high school gpa’s are not good enough to get into medical school:
Most medical schools don’t look at your high school gpa, that only effects what college you get accepted to which is and can be very important depending on what medical school you want to attend. I think they tend to look more at your MCAT, GPA, and what you do in college. I know many people that had almost perfect gpa’s before college and when they got to college they blew it. As for myself, I did horrible in high school, and now am getting all A’s and B’s in college. I had to learn study habits the hard way and am always perfecting them so I can go to medical school one day. Having good grades and study habits in high school is great and makes things alot easier on you in college but be prepared to work and study alot. I know very few people that are so smart that they didn’t have to study and if that applies to you good for you lol.
I am just wondering if it is possible to hold down a job say as an rn while attending med school. I am considering doing so in order to help pay for med school expenses.
Audrey, honestly it would be tough to hold down a full-time job while attending medical school. Take the loans and don’t worry about it.
Hello
I am 24 years old and I have been working as a bachelors prepared critical care nurse for almost two years now and am considering applying to medical school. I graduated with a 3.8 GPA. I took orgo and bio in undergrad but not physics…does anyone know if one NEEDS all those undergrad classes in order to apply? or should I go back and complete a year of physics? Thanks.