Medical School Requirements

There are some basic requirements that everyone who applies to med school must meet. These include:

1. Any major that results in a bachelor's degree - med school applicants come from a variety of majors, and you don't have to major in pre-med or biology. For instance, I majored in electrical engineering. Associate degrees, however, do not qualify

2. Pre-Health Advisory File - many undergraduate schools have a committee that will keep all of the following information in a file, which you must open (as early as freshmen year) 

3. Pre-med courses:

• Biology (2 semesters)
• General chemistry (2 semesters)
• Organic chemistry (2 semesters)
• Physics (2 semesters: calc-based NOT required)
• Math (2 semesters, 1 of calculus*)
• English (2 semesters)
• *Calculus not required by all med schools
• **Some schools also require a behavioral science (ex. psychology, anthropology)
• ***The above list covers the majority of medical schools, however, some may have additional requirements (ex. biochemistry)

4. Clinical Volunteer Work - a minimum of 50 hours to show you're comfortable with patients and the hospital setting

5. Physician Shadowing - a minimum of 50 hours to show your interest in becoming a doctor

6. MCAT - the medical school entrance exam, consisting of material from the pre-med course requirements. Aim to take this junior year

7. Committee Letter (CL) and Letters of Recommendation (LoR) - many undergraduate schools will compose a CL, based on your LoR and file (indicated above). Your LoR will usually be from 3 science courses, 2 non-science courses, and 1 volunteering/shadowing activity

8. Personal Statement - an essay about you. Why do you want to be a doctor and what events in your life have influenced that choice? No more than 5300 characters

9. Resume - you as an applicant, including all work experience, volunteer experience, etc. Much of your AMCAS application for medical school will be derived from this.