The Prerequisites for Medical School

Understanding the prerequisites for medical school is critical to admissions success. The requirements for medical school can seem daunting, so it’s important to start your research early to stay organized and avoid missing application deadlines. In this comprehensive guide, we break down the necessary classes, exams, and other considerations you need to complete in order to qualify for medical school. Read on to learn more about the essential med school application requirements.

[ READ NEXT: What’s the Real Cost of Medical School? ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• What are the common medical school requirements?
• How To Choose a Pre-Med Major
• What classes are required for medical school?
• What is the GPA requirement for medical school?
• What’s a good MCAT score for medical school?
• Clinical Experience for Medical School
• Letters of Recommendation for Medical School Applications
• How To Enhance Your Medical School Application With Extracurriculars
• AAMC PREview Exam and CASPer Test Requirements for Medical School Admissions
• What are the secondary application requirements for medical school?
• Medical School Requirements FAQs
• Medical School Admissions Resources & Consulting

What are the common medical school requirements?

Here is a quick list of the common U.S. medical school prerequisites:

• A four-year degree (B.A. or B.S.) from an accredited university 
• A strong GPA
• Pre-med courses, including one year each of biology, general (inorganic) chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics
• A good MCAT score
• Letters of recommendation
• Extracurricular activities, including clinical experience and volunteer work
• Submitting an AAMC PREview or CASPer score (if required)

How To Choose a Pre-Med Major

There is no specific pre-med major prerequisite for medical school in the U.S. While science majors are certainly more common, medical schools stress their interest in well-rounded students with broad-based undergraduate backgrounds. In fact, regardless of your major, your undergraduate transcript is a vital part of the admissions decision.

If you are a science major, one approach is to broaden your education by considering at least some social science and humanities electives. If you are not majoring in a science, your work in both science and non-science courses will be evaluated. However, with fewer courses on which to judge your science ability, your grades in the core science subjects will take on greater importance. So consider taking at least some additional science courses, such as biochemistry, cell biology, or genetics.

[ KEEP READING: Pre-Med Majors: Choosing Your Medical Specialty ]

What classes are required for medical school?

One of the primary medical school requirements is completing specific prerequisite courses to demonstrate your academic readiness. The required classes for medical school typically include:

• Biology: Almost all medicine requires a basic understanding of biology, so it is a definite necessity for medical school. Knowing about genetics, cells, and the framework for life are the building blocks of medical science and are crucial for success in the field.
• Chemistry: Chemistry—and especially organic chemistry—provides a strong basis for understanding acid-base imbalances within the body and how different medications work. chemistry is also the foundation for understanding biochemistry.3
• Physics: Physics also introduces key medical concepts, such as laws of pressure and volume, which are incredibly important for cardiology and understanding the forces operating within the body.
• Mathematics: Some schools will require calculus, while others require statistics. Regardless, most schools require at least a semester of math. A surprising amount of basic math and statistics is important for daily life as a physician or health professional—from determining proper dosage to reading lab results.

In general, you take two semesters of Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Math. For details regarding the required classes for each medical school, visit the Medical School Admission Requirements™ (MSAR^®) website.

Medical school prerequisites are selected by the particular program, and so there are some classes that are not required at all schools, but are required at most or some. 

• English: Many medical schools want you to have critical thinking and reading/writing skills outside of basic science classes. The way they ensure you have these skills is through requiring an English class or, at the very least, a class with a writing-intensive focus.
• Biochemistry: Biochemistry has gotten a lot more attention since receiving an increased emphasis on the MCAT. Some schools make it a prerequisite, while others simply assume you have the knowledge if you studied for the MCAT.
• Psychology and Sociology: Like biochemistry, psychology and sociology have increased in popularity as medical school prerequisites since their inclusion on the MCAT.

In addition to the required pre-med classes, you should select other courses in the sciences and humanities to supplement the core curriculum, enhancing your education and your application to medical school. Here are a couple of examples of nonessential but valuable pre-med classes:

• Medical Anthropology/History: One of the most fascinating components of medicine is how it has changed and evolved over the centuries. A background in medical history will provide you with an appreciation for the evolution of medical knowledge and how it may change moving forward.
  Foreign Language: Learning a second language is a particularly useful skill for any medical student or physician. Not only can it open up broader career opportunities, but it empowers you to connect with more diverse populations and become a better provider.

What is the GPA requirement for medical school?

While most medical schools do not list a minimum GPA requirement, gaining acceptance into med school is much easier with a high GPA. According to the AAMC, the acceptance rate was 60.9% for applicants with a GPA greater than 3.79 in the last admissions cycle. Ultimately, the GPA needed for medical school will largely depend on which schools you are applying to and other factors, like how well you scored on the MCAT.

To calculate your GPA for medical school, the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) considers your cumulative GPA and your science GPA. Your cumulative GPA takes all of your courses into account, while your science GPA depends on your courses in the Biological sciences, such as Biology and Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (BCPM).

While both GPAs are important, admissions committees are particularly interested in the science GPA, as well as the congruence between the two GPAs. Separate from taking the required courses for medical school, allot time for your own interests.

What’s a good MCAT score for medical school?

While there is no minimum MCAT score required for medical school, the average overall MCAT score for admitted applicants is 511.7, while the average MCAT score for all test-takers is around 501. This 10-point difference can have a huge impact on admissions success. Research the schools that you are interested in to see their individual averages and accepted score ranges, but don’t aim for the minimum score – it is always better to be above average.

Ultimately, a good MCAT score largely depends on what medical schools you want to get into and what the rest of your application looks like. The MCAT score is one tool schools use to evaluate your application and predict your success in their curriculum. It is your opportunity to show schools your potential for success, so you should take advantage of MCAT prep courses and other study resources to help you achieve your best score.

[ FREE RESOURCE: 3-Month MCAT Study Plan ]

Note that the average MCAT score and GPA for students accepted to allopathic medical schools differ from those accepted to osteopathic medical schools. The table below showcases matriculated students’ average MCAT score and GPA for both types of medical school.

	Average MCAT Score	Average GPA
Allopathic Medical Schools (MD)	511.7	3.77
Osteopathic Medical Schools (DO)	504.77	3.59

Clinical Experience for Medical School

Of all the activities you could be involved in, the one that is most likely to be considered essential by a medical school admissions committee is direct patient care clinical work. According to a recent survey of medical schools, knowledge of health care issues and commitment to healthcare were among the top five variables considered very important to student selection. The other four were MCAT scores, med school interview ratings, GPA, and letters of recommendation.

Consider being active in health care activities as much as possible as a pre-med student. Gaining clinical experience will help you further validate your interest in medicine and will give you a glimpse into the reality of working as a physician. If nothing else, these experiences will help you articulate in your personal statement and interviews why you want to pursue a career in medicine.

The key to gaining clinical experience for medical school is to be proactive and seek out opportunities. Start by calling hospitals or health centers in your community. Ask to speak with a representative from the volunteer services office. These individuals will be able to direct you to the specific departments, offices, or other individuals who work with people in the management of chronic illnesses, the prevention of diseases, or advocacy for victims of abuse and domestic violence. Pick an organization whose focus interests you and go for it. Remember that you may be asked to make a commitment of up to one year, but in return, you will be a real member of the team.

Letters of Recommendation Requirement For Medical School Applications

Securing letters of recommendation for medical school is a crucial part of the application process, so be strategic about who you ask and when you ask so that your recommender has plenty of time to write a sincere commendation. In many undergraduate institutions, the pre-med advising offices handle letters of recommendation. In some cases, they simply relay the letters to the medical schools. Yet, in other cases, the pre-med advisor—or committee—writes a letter to the admissions offices on your behalf. It’s imperative that you get to know your advisor and that they get to know you so that they can write an in-depth and flattering recommendation. 

Other options for recommenders include:

• Science professors
• Non-science professors 
• A physician you shadowed or worked with
• A research director
• A volunteer program director
• A graduate program director 

How To Enhance Your Medical School Application With Extracurriculars

Medical school admissions committees select applicants who have demonstrated intelligence, maturity, integrity, and a dedication to the ideal of service to society. One way they assess your non-academic qualities is to look at how you have lived your life prior to completing your medical school application. To this end, you have an opportunity to submit a description of up to fifteen activities, club memberships, leadership roles, honors, awards, and jobs within the AMCAS Primary Application. Furthermore, many committees will ask you to submit a more comprehensive list of the extracurricular activities you have been involved in. While not all admissions committees consider them in the application process, many value the nature and depth of your extracurricular activities as significant factors in your admission to medical school.

AAMC PREview and CASPer Test Exam Requirements for Medical School Admissions

A growing list of medical schools is requiring (or recommendations) applicants to submit an AAMC PREview exam score or CASPer test score during the admissions process. Both exams are situational judgment tests (SJTs) that require examinees to respond to hypothetical scenarios similar to what they might encounter in medical school; however, unlike the CASPer test, the PREview exam was developed by the AAMC. Be sure to check and see if any of the medical schools on your list require you to submit a CASPer or PREview score. Earning a good score on one or both of these tests can boost your medical school application, but it is not the most important factor in your application packet. 

What are the secondary application requirements for medical school?

While the primary application is filled out once and sent to all the schools you select, each school has a unique secondary application. Secondary applications allow medical schools to collect more information than is included in the primary application. They often involve prompts that the school is especially interested in learning about you, and candidates will answer them in essay form. Depending on the medical schools you’re applying to, secondary applications may be more or less involved. In some cases, you may not be given the opportunity to complete and submit them because some medical schools screen primary applications to decide which candidates receive secondary applications. The amount of time medical schools allow to complete secondary applications can vary but is usually between 2-4 weeks.

Medical School Requirements FAQs

Below, we answer some frequently asked questions about medical school applications and other prerequisites for medical school.

Is research experience required for medical school applications?

In general, the only time research experience is an absolute must is if you are planning to apply for M.D./Ph.D. programs or are considering an academic or research career. If this is the case, then it is important that you have documented experience that validates your interest and potential in the research field. However, that doesn’t mean that applicants planning a purely clinical career wouldn’t benefit from a research background. As a physician, your job will involve research, either as you seek to determine your patients’ medical conditions or through the process of continuing education, in which you read and study the published findings of research groups.

Can I list my teaching experience on my med school application?

One of the most important roles that a physician plays is that of a teacher as they impart information to patients and teach them to play a more active role in their own health care. The diversity of teaching experiences of medical school applicants during their undergraduate years is very broad. Such experience might include teaching swimming or a musical instrument to children, or becoming a teaching assistant in a lower division class in which you did exceptionally well. Teaching can encompass just about anything you enjoy doing. All you need to do is share it with others in a structured, organized manner.

How does employment reflect on my medical school application?

Many undergraduate students need to work throughout their college years. Most admissions committees recognize that the time you work necessarily means that you have less time for your studies and other forms of extracurricular activities. These committees understand that maintaining academic performance while holding down a job is hard work. If an applicant has been able to do both well, it is an indication that they will be able to maintain their academic performance upon entering medical school when academic pressures increase.

Should I include volunteer work in my med school application?

Yes! Along with the rest of your application, medical schools are looking for candidates that demonstrate how much they care about their community and the public in general. Volunteer experience will help you stand out by illustrating your genuine motivations to help others. Separate from other kinds of experiences listed in your application, your volunteer work does not have to be completed in a specific field or area of practice. Just be sure to seek activities that are aligned with your passions. And be ready to speak on why these experiences are significant to you and how they’ll help as you pursue your career.

Medical School Admissions Resources & Consulting

Medical school applicants often fail to acknowledge the importance of working with their institution’s pre-med office. Often, admissions officers ask why applicants haven’t used their pre-medical office’s resources. So be very mindful to have the full support of your pre-medical office if such a resource is available to you. If your school does not have a dedicated pre-medical office or advisor, you will want to seek out the advisor that works most closely with pre-meds on your campus – sometimes they are found in the biological sciences department or career center.

Kaplan also offers medical school admissions consulting services for those looking for comprehensive and personalized support – or just need help with a few steps along the way. Our consultants have worked in medical school admissions and have seen thousands of applications, so they know how to take the guesswork out of the admissions process. Check out our consulting options to see how Kaplan can help you on your medical school admissions journey.

---

Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Rich Maraggio, Executive Director, Pre-Health Programs at Kaplan North America. Rich has worked on the MCAT for over a decade and has assisted thousands of pre-med students. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Union College.