If you’re interested in practicing medicine, you’ve probably heard of the term “pre-med” before. But what is pre-med exactly? Is it a major? And can you apply to medical school if you aren’t pre-med? In this article, we will answer all of these questions, as well as offer practical advice for pre-med students. So if you’re considering a career in medicine, you’ve come to the right place!

How does pre-med work?

You’re probably wondering, should I do pre-med? And is pre-med hard? Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s address the question, what is a pre-med track?

To start, pre-med is not a major. It’s a career path. When people say they’re “pre-med,” what they’re really saying is that they have plans to apply to medical school. Medical schools don’t really care what your undergraduate degree is — as long as you’ve taken all of the prerequisite courses.

The advantage of declaring yourself as “pre-med” is that your academic advisor and professors can recommend which classes to take during your undergrad. While medical schools don’t have a required major, they do have lots of specific course requirements. It can be a lot to keep track of by yourself, so it’s best to share your career plans with your advisor.

If you’re still in high school, you may want to consider applying to a BS/MD program. While these programs are extremely competitive, they guarantee students a place in medical school after finishing their undergraduate degree. Applying to medical school is a difficult and time-consuming process, so if you’re certain you want to be a doctor, you may want to consider applying to some of these programs. In the meantime, refer to our article, What is a BS/MD Program and Should You Apply, for more information.

What are pre-med majors?

So, what is a pre-med major? Many students with medical aspirations tend to major in the sciences, mostly because there is a lot of overlap between these majors and medical school requirements. But you can major in anything, including popular college majors such as business or engineering. While this may seem strange initially, refer to our article Does Your Major Affect Your College Acceptance? for more information.

List of popular pre-med majors

Wondering what is a good pre-med major? Or even what is the easiest pre-med major? Consider some of the most popular pre-med majors below!

● Biology
● Chemistry
● Biochemistry
● Neuroscience
● Mathematics
● Physics

What are pre-med requirements?

What are pre-med courses? And do they differ depending on the medical schools you apply to?

While required courses will largely be the same, the number of credits may differ. This is why it’s important to research program requirements as soon as you can. Make a list of medical schools you are interested in and write down all of their respective requirements. In general, it’s better to be over-prepared than under-prepared. This means that if you’re unsure how many credits you should be taking, aim higher rather than lower. If you do declare yourself as “pre-med,” share these requirements with your academic advisor so they can help you stay on track.

In the meantime, let’s take a look at a few different medical schools and their list of requirements. By considering the lists below, hopefully, you can get a better idea of what to expect as you consider whether or not pre-med is right for you.

Baylor College of Medicine

  • Math (Biostatistics preferred) – 3-4 semester hours
  • Expository Writing – 3-4 semester hours
  • Humanities-Social/Behavioral Sciences – 12 semester hours
  • Organic Chemistry – 6-8 semester hours (lab not required)
  • Biochemistry – 3-4 semester hours (lab not required)
  • Advanced Biology – 3-4 semester hours (lab not required)
  • HIGHLY RECOMMENDED: genetics, cell/molecular biology
  • RECOMMENDED: Spanish

Emory University School of Medicine

  • Physical Science – 8 semester hours (with lab)
  • Biology – 8 semester hours (with lab)
  • Chemistry – 8 semester hours (with lab)
  • Organic Chemistry – 8 semester hours (with lab)
  • English – 6 semester hours
  • Humanities/Social Sciences – 18 semester hours
  • Average cumulative GPA of 3.7

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

  • Biology – 8 semester hours (with lab)
  • Chemistry – 8 semester hours (with lab)
  • Organic Chemistry – 4 semester hours (with lab)
  • Biochemistry – 3 semester hours
  • Humanities/Social and Behavioral Sciences – 24 semester hours
  • Calculus and/or Statistics – 6 semester hours
  • Physics – 8 semester hours (with lab)

 

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For a more comprehensive list of pre-med prerequisites, visit the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) database, where you can find the prerequisites for every US medical school.

As a pre-med student, you’ll also need to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which you will most likely take during your senior year of college or the summer after you graduate. Take a look at these MCAT study resources so you can get a better idea of what this exam entails.

How many years is pre-med?

So how long is pre-med? In most cases, “pre-med” refers to your undergraduate degree, which means it will take approximately four years. That said, people with bachelor’s degrees who don’t have all of the requirements met often attend a post-baccalaureate program. Typically, it takes one to two years to catch up on all of the necessary requirements.

For students wondering, can you do pre-med online?, taking a few online courses can be a great way to make sure you have all of your requirements met. This may be especially helpful if you decide to pursue pre-med later on in your college career.

Is pre-med worth it?

Is pre-med worth it, and how hard is pre-med? Pre-med is not for the faint of heart. It is a rigorous program that will challenge you in a variety of ways. It is, however, a great introduction to medical school, which will be even more challenging. So in many ways, yes, pre-med can be a worthwhile track. Not only will pre-med make sure you are eligible to apply to medical school, but it will also help test your resolve.

People shouldn’t go to medical school unless they are truly committed to becoming a doctor. Not only is it an incredibly difficult program (that’s difficult to get into), but it is also very expensive. This is worth mentioning because while students who go on to become doctors will be in a good position to pay back their student loans, students who do not complete their programs or otherwise change their minds about their careers may find themselves in a very tricky financial situation. So take the time to reflect critically on your career goals before you get too far into a program.

Key takeaways and moving forward

Medical schools admit students with all sorts of undergraduate majors as long as they meet the program’s overall requirements. Declaring yourself as pre-med during your undergraduate degree is one way to prepare for medical school. That said, you can still go to medical school, even if you don’t make a formal declaration during your undergrad.

Our best advice is to pursue plenty of volunteer, internship, and job shadowing opportunities to figure out whether or not medical school is right for you. Pre-med can also be a great way to test your resolve. In the meantime, if you have any questions about preparing your college applications, reach out to learn more about our services. Here at Prepory, we have the resources and expertise to help you reach all of your college-related goals.

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Have you always known you wanted to be a doctor without a shadow of a doubt? If so, you may want to consider a BS/MD program. BS/MDs are often referred to as direct medical school programs because students apply for their bachelor’s and medicine degrees at the same time. When BS/MD students are accepted to a school for their bachelor’s degree (BS), they are also accepted for their Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.

A BS/MD program allows students to bypass the long and difficult process of applying to medical school altogether. On average, combined MD/BS programs take about 7-8 years to finish. Very few programs, such as Howard University’s BS/MD program, allow students to finish their degrees in 6 years. BS/MD degree programs that take 6-7 years to complete are shorter than the amount of time it would take to finish your Bachelor’s Degree and Doctor of Medicine.

In most BS/MD programs, students will attend the same university for their bachelor’s and medicine degrees. However, some schools connect undergraduate students to a different medical programs. For example, at Penn State University’s BS/MD program, students receive their Bachelor’s from Penn State and then attend Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. Similarly, students can begin their BS/MD program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and end at Albany Medical College.

Many students and universities recognize this is an extremely beneficial program for students looking to break into the medical field. As such, BS/MD programs are extremely competitive and have very low acceptance rates. In this article, we will review some of the major pros and cons of applying to combined MD/BS programs. We will also provide you with a list of the 10 best BS/MD programs, as well as a complete list of all of the BS/MD programs offered in the US.

Pros of BS/MD

So now that we’ve established that these programs are highly competitive, are BS/MD programs worth it? Let’s take a look at some of the top advantages of enrolling in a BS/MD program.

01

Peace of mind

There are many benefits to consider in a BS/MD program. Most notably, this program eliminates the stress of applying for medical school. Students can focus solely on their studies rather than spend lots of time and money applying to different medical schools across the country. In fact, most premeds apply to 16 medical schools each cycle. A BS/MD program ensures your spot in a medical program, as long as you meet basic requirements.

Another benefit of the BS/MD program is the ability to bypass the MCAT altogether. Some schools do not require students to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) in order to enter the MD program. Much like the SAT, the MCAT is necessary for the medical school admissions process. BS/MD programs such as Northwestern University, Syracuse University, Brown University, and Spelman College do not require BS/MD students to take the MCAT.

Average amount of time to finish Bachelors Degree
4 years
Average amount of time to Doctor of Medicine
4 years
02

Stability

BS/MD programs provide a sense of stability. Students can enter their undergraduate education knowing they will get into medical school. Entering medical school right after undergraduate education means they can speed up their timeline and enter the field of medicine a bit faster than those completing the traditional application process.

03

Smaller cohorts

Traditionally BS/MD programs have small cohorts. Most programs have less than 100 people in their program. Smaller cohorts can mean a close-knit community of students who work and study together. It can also mean a greater chance to get to know your professors and build your network. Smaller cohorts can facilitate a personalized learning experience.

04

Financial aid

Some BS/MD programs offer merit-based scholarships and grants to help offset the cost of postsecondary education. Some will even provide funding for the MD part of the program. This can be beneficial, especially because the cost of medical school is expensive. Be sure to check what financial opportunities schools offer before applying!

Cons of BS/MD

We’ve already established that BS/MD program acceptance rates are incredibly low, but what are some of the other cons to applying to combined medical programs?

01

MCAT requirements

 In programs where the MCAT is required, students often have to reach a certain percentile to gain admission to medical school. For example, Boston University’s Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program requires students to take the MCAT before a certain date and achieve a combined score at or above the 80th percentile. Their MCAT score is taken into consideration when determining whether or not to accept them into medical school. The time constraint and score requirement may cause additional stress. Many students take the MCAT many, many times before achieving the score they want. Students may need additional time to achieve the score they want. Taking the test multiple times and at your own pace may make the process less stressful and give you enough time to achieve the score you want.

02

Commitment

Many students believe that they want to become doctors. Many also realize after their first organic chemistry class that the field is not for them. The BS/MD fast track requires students to know what they want to do at a young age and stick to it. While you can always change your mind, it may cost you time, money, and stress.

Additionally, BS/MD programs require students to commit to both an undergraduate and medical school at once. This may pose a problem if students realize the school they chose is not an academic or cultural fit. Depending on the program, students may not be able to apply to another medical school outside of the BS/MD program. Applying to medical school separately gives students the freedom of choice and the ability to experience a different college.

03

Competition

As previously mentioned, BS/MD programs are intense. Ivy League programs have acceptances below one percent. Even more selective schools have extremely low acceptance rates for BS/MD programs. BS/MD programs are notoriously difficult to get into and have lengthy application processes. Students may allocate hours to a singular program without achieving the results they want. While this should not discourage you from applying, it is important to be aware of it and ensure you have other options.

04

No time off

Jumping from an undergraduate degree to a graduate degree can be exhausting. Some premed students select to take time off to pursue a master’s degree, intern at a hospital, or work as a medical assistant to gain some real-world experience before jumping into medical school. These experiences may help students figure out the best path for them and allow them to grow their professional network before committing to four more years of school. It can also provide a much-needed breather between an intensive four years of medical school.

Top 10 BS/MD programs

The best BS/MD programs are highly competitive. In fact, many schools only select a small handful of students. If you want to know what the best combined medical programs are, refer to our table below. Additionally, if you’re curious about BS/MD programs that don’t require MCAT, take an extra look at Brown University, Case Western Reserve University, University of Rochester, and George Washington University.

Name of Program Undergraduate Institution Medical School Years to Complete Required Undergrad GPA MCAT Requirement
Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) Brown University The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University 8 years 3.0 in biology courses Not required
Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) in Medicine Case Western Reserve University Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine 8 years 3.63 Not required
Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) University of Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine 8 years 3.75 Required
Baylor Baylor Medical Program Baylor University Baylor College of Medicine 8 years 3.5 Required
Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REM) University of Rochester University of Rochester School of Medicine 8 years 3.6 Not Required
Connections Dual Admissions (BS/MD) Program University of Cincinnati University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 8 years 3.5 Required
Penn State-Jefferson Premedical-Medical (PMM) Program Penn State University Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University 7 years 3.5 Required
Dual BA/MD Program with GW Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (George Washington University) George Washington University George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences 7 years 3.6 Not Required
Pre-Med Health Scholar Program Temple University Temple University School of Medicine 8 years, possibly 7 years 3.6 Required
Guaranteed Admission Program at Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine 8 years 3.5 Required

It’s important to note that even if you are accepted into a combined medical program, your medical school enrollment is conditional. BS/MD program requirements often include a minimum undergraduate GPA, as well as a minimum MCAT score.

Complete list of BS/MD programs in the US

As you investigate how to get into a BS/MD program, take a look at this complete list of combined medical programs in the US. It’ll take some time, but regardless of whether you are looking for BS/MD programs with the highest acceptance rates or BS/MD programs that accept transfer students, there’s likely a program suited for your needs!

Key takeaways and moving forward

There is a lot of valuable advice for pre-med students. After all, attending medical school is no easy feat! In addition to taking rigorous courses, students with medical aspirations must demonstrate their commitment through volunteer opportunities, pre-college summer programs, and high school internships. If you’re interested in applying to the best BS/MD programs in the US, reach out to learn more about our services. Here at Prepory, we have the resources and expertise to help you meet all of your college-related goals!