Academic Prerequisites for Medical School

Prior to sitting for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), prospective applicants should complete the following virtually universal minimum requirements for American medical schools:

RequirementSemesters NeededTruman Classes that meet Requirement
General Biology with Lab2 semesters
  • BIOL 107
  • BIOL 104
General Chemistry with Lab2 semesters
  • CHEM 130
  • CHEM 131
Organic Chemistry with Lab2 semesters
  • CHEM 329
  • CHEM 330
  • CHEM 331
  • CHEM 332
  • CHEM 332
  • CHEM 333
College Physics with Lab2 semesters
  • PHYS 185
  • PHYS 186
English Composition2 semesters
  • ENG 190
  • Additional ENG course or Writing Enhanced (WE) course
Some schools have additional requirements to meet for their program. Information and data about specific schools and their requirements, as well as other valuable advice, may be found on the AAMC (https://students-residents.aamc.org/) and AACOM (https://www.aacom.org) websites.

 

Additional strongly recommended courses:

  • Biochemistry: CHEM 335
  • Psychology: PSYC 166
  • Sociology: SOAN 190

Grades & Course Load

The detailed academic record of a student is the prime indicator of an applicant’s talent, performance, and judgment. In general, admissions committees like to see evidence that you can do well in courses while carrying a substantial course load (15-17 credit hours), but remember: you must establish a very good GPA, so it is a balancing act. Medical schools look for A’s and B’s in classes overall. Faced with the prospect of a C, it is important to discuss options with a pre-med advisor. Depending on the time of the year, a student may receive a W (withdrawal), but more than two W’s indicates a lack of judgment and an inability to handle difficult situations. All attempts on a course will be recorded and reported when applying to medical school.