Pre-Professional Studies

Medicine

Physicians treat and prevent human illness, disease and injury. There are two types of physicians: the M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) and the D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). The practice of medicine includes disease prevention and health education, and the use of accepted methods of medical treatment, including pharmaceutical agents and surgical procedures.

Medical school programs are four years in length. At the end of four years, allopathic institutions grant the M.D. degree and osteopathic institutions grant the D.O. Degree. Additional graduate medical education may range from 3-7 years, depending on the specialty selected. Successful completion of national boards is required for certification prior to licensure.

Admission Requirements

The minimum entrance requirement for medical or osteopathic school is  four years of college with specific core science courses.

Student applicants are required to complete the Medicine College Admission Test (MCAT) as a prerequisite for admission.

The majority of U.S. colleges of medicine participate in a centralized application service. AMCAS (The American College Application Service) services allopathic (MD) institutions and AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service) services osteopathic institutions (DO). 

Admission to a medical school generally requires volunteer or paid experience in a health care setting.

Applicants seeking admission to a medical school should contact the schools that interest them for information on specific prerequisites and admission requirements.

Course Requirements

1. General Chemistry with the lab (C105-106, C125-126)
2. Organic Chemistry with the lab  (C341-342, C343-344)
3. Physics with the lab (P201-202) or (P221-222) 
4. Biology with the lab (L101-102)

Some medical schools also require Biochemistry (C483) and almost all medical schools recommend this course highly. 

Websites

Association of American Medical Colleges
Rockville, MD 20852
202-828-0400

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 405
Rockville, MD 20852-3991

Additional websites:

• American Medical Association
• Student Doctor Network