You’ve dreamed of being a doctor your whole life. The day has finally come: You’re off to college and ready to declare your designation as pre med.
You’re fully aware of the fact that you’ll need to get involved with some sort of research through your school and that you’ll be spending multiple hours volunteering—both are prerequisites for medical school. You also know that there are certain classes you’re going to have to take in order to be considered for med school.
Undergrad Classes To Take To Get Into Med School
To get into med school, you do NOT need to have a pre-med major. Let’s say it again: You do not need to be pre med. There are course requirements that med schools will expect you to fulfill, but aside from that, you can basically declare any undergrad major and still get into med school if you take all the required classes. Oh, and you must have an excellent grade point average.
- 2-4 semesters of biology with a lab
- 2 semesters of inorganic chemistry with a lab
- 2 semesters of organic chemistry with a lab
- 2 semesters of math, including calculus
- 2 semesters of physics with a lab
- 2 semesters of English, potentially including a writing course
Where Should I Take My Courses?
You may be tempted to take classes at your local community college. No one can blame you; it’s much less expensive than taking them at the university. Not to mention, you heard it’s easier to get a good grade through a community college. However, it’s probably not a wise decision, because most school admissions counselors are fully aware of the thought process students have when they take their heavy classes at a community college. They may overlook a summer semester where you took a class or two, but don’t expect to get into med school if you tried to take the “easy” way out.
Does It Matter Where I Do My Undergrad?
Whether you go to an Ivy League or a state university doesn’t matter. Doors aren’t going to open any wider for you either way. What medical school admissions counselors care about are going to be your grade point average, your MCAT score, and what you’ve done with your free time: volunteering, research, becoming the world champion in Fortnite. All of these, plus how you do on your personal statement essay and interview will be the determining factors as to whether you’re a good fit for the medical school you’re applying to.