What is Pre-Med?
The term “pre-med” refers to a course of study intended to prepare students for either allopathic medical school (MD), osteopathic medical school (DO), or podiatric medical school (DPM). A student can be any major and still be pre-med, but will be most successful in a major he or she is passionate about. However, there are common prerequisite science courses required or recommended by medical schools. In addition, a student must take the medical college admissions test (MCAT).
Rigorous Liberal Arts Formation
Medical school is academically intensive, requiring a heavy load of memorization and the comprehension of complex scientific ideas. Furthermore, it necessitates the ability to critically analyze, process, apply, and communicate the learned information. A mixture of science and liberal arts classes will give a strong base for success in medical school.
Benedictine College offers a variety of rigorous courses in the sciences and liberal arts that will provide not only the prerequisites needed for medical school, but also the liberal arts framework that helps with critical analysis as well as written and oral communication.
Best Pre-Med Majors
“There are common prerequisite courses you have to take to be admitted to medical school, and several majors will allow you to take these prerequisite courses within the major. These majors are academically rigorous, preparing you for the demands of medical school. Some examples of majors that can help students prepare for medical school are Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology, or Chemistry.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the most common major among matriculated medical students is biology or biochemistry (54% of matriculants), followed by chemistry (10% of matriculants) and psychology (10% of matriculants).”
Outside the Classroom
Medical schools expect students to not only have a strong academic record, but also have a strong record of leadership and service outside of the classroom. Students should seek out service opportunities both at the college and in the broader community that demonstrate a desire to help others with compassion and empathy. Furthermore, students should demonstrate the ability to be a leader in different environments, establishing a clear intrapersonal maturity. Benedictine College has numerous opportunities to be involved in student organizations, academic groups, and community service projects both at home and abroad.
Strong Student-Faculty Relationships
Medical schools expect students to have strong letters of evaluations, vouching for the student’s academic aptitude and overall motivation. At Benedictine College, because of small class sizes and professor-guided research opportunities, students have numerous opportunities to interact one-on-one with professors. This builds relationships that will not only help with recommendation letter writing, but will provide sustainable professional relationships that will provide a basis of community learning during a student’s undergraduate career and beyond.
