Galen Mell (Professor of Biological Sciences), Director
The pre-medical sciences program
provides the basic training students
require for careers in dentistry,
medicine, veterinary medicine,
optometry, and podiatry.
Students may select any major as a
field of study which must include
specific preprofessional courses. When
selecting a major consider that your
undergraduate years may be your last
opportunity to pursue in depth a
nonscience subject of interest.
Professional schools are most concerned
with the overall quality, scope and
difficulty of undergraduate work.
Preprofessional courses are designed
to provide a strong foundation in the
sciences, highly developed
communicative skills and a solid
background in the social sciences and
humanities. The curriculum guide
outlined below conforms to the minimal
course requirements established by
professional schools.
The minimal requirements should be
completed by the end of the third year of
study or prior to taking the admission
test required by professional schools.
Since specific subject requirements vary
among institutions, students should
discuss their academic plans with a
pre-medical sciences advisor.
Individuals with weak math and science
preparation should consider a five year
undergraduate program beginning with
remedial courses in math, English, and
reading skills.
Admission to a professional school is
very competitive. Students must
maintain a B-plus grade-point average in
college if they expect to be admitted. All
required courses must be taken for letter
grades. In addition, the applicant must
place high on an admissions test which
has been designed to measure basic
academic ability in the natural sciences,
reading ability and problem solving skills. The examinations are given twice a
year, usually in the spring and autumn,
and ordinarily is taken during the junior
year.
Besides their academic
accomplishments and admission exam
scores, acceptance by a professional
school is also dependent upon letters of
recommendation by the University's
pre-professional advisory committee and
personal interviews conducted by the
professional school. It is important that
students consult with their pre-medical
sciences advisor and with their major
advisor each year to make sure that he or
she can satisfy the necessary
requirements for graduation within the
time available. The advisor can also
discuss procedures, counsel and support
the student during the process of
applying to a professional school.
High School Preparation: High school students contemplating a pre-medical
sciences program should have three to
four years of mathematics, several years
of a modern foreign language,
experience in chemistry and
considerable background in literature
and social science.
Suggested Course of
Study
Dentistry, Medicine,
Osteopathy, Optometry, Podiatry, Veterinary Medicine |