Pre-Medical Facts Sheet

Pre-medicine is not a major; it is a pre-professional path successfully followed by students regardless of major. In choosing a major the rule is to follow your own interests. Ideally, your major will support an alternate career. Intellectual engagement in whatever major you choose is of greatest importance to medical school admissions committees. Essential science background can be gained—and the ability to learn additional information later in medical school and beyond—an be demonstrated whatever your undergraduate major.

GPAs calculated on medical school applications normally include coursework done at all colleges attended. If a course is repeated, both grades will be included in the GPAs calculated by the medical schools. Aim for GPAs of 3.5 or higher.

C is an honorable grade, though most if not all grades should be higher! Grades below B, especially within the two academic years leading up to medical school application, could interfere with admission to medical schools. Faced with a likely grade below C, some students should withdraw (W) and later try for a higher grade; consult with your advisors as you decide. More than two Ws, however, could indicate a lack of judgement or an inability to handle challenges in medical school.

• General Biology I and II with lab– 8 semester hours (BIO 201/205 and 202/206)
• General Chemistry I and II with lab – 8 semester hours (CHM 203-206; CHM 285/286 can substitute for CHM 205/206)
• Organic Chemistry I and II with lab – 8 semester hours (CHM 321-324)
• General Physics I and II with lab – 8 semester hours (see below for information about the different options with physics)
• Biochemistry – 3 semester hours (CHM 371 for non-chemistry majors, CHM 381 for those with any major track through the chemistry dept.) – note: Organic Chem II is a prerequisite.
• Physiology – 3 semester hours of BIO 449, EXS 320, or equivalent; the course must have general biology as a prerequisite.
• Statistics or a course that develops statistics competency; applied statistics is very important for the MCAT. A statistics course is required by several medical schools including Creighton’s; many departments offer statistics and any could suffice.
• Psychology – 3 semester hours (PSY 201)
• Introductory Sociology or Anthropology – 3 semester hours (SOC 101, ANT 111, 112, or 113)
• English – 6 semester hours (including at least one course with significant composition/writing)

• Cellular Biology (BIO 362) – lots on MCAT. A few medical schools require but many recommend. Consider taking sophomore year. Prerequisite for taking BIO 449.
• Genetics (BIO 317) – required by a few med schools including UNMC; likely of increasing importance on MCAT. If possible, consider taking before senior year.
• Developmental biology, anatomy, evolution, immunology, molecular biology, microbiology, and neurobiology are some examples of additional subjects relevant to medicine; each student should choose appropriate courses in consultation with pre-health advisors and/or major advisors.