Students collaborating with the pre-professional advising office will complete a series of pre-requisite classes as well as other requirements in order to receive a pre-committee letter on their behalf. This page details the nuances of the roughly 15-class sequence and helps prepare prospective undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students for what to expect through the course of these classes.
Optional, but sometimes recommended, courses that are worth considering are pre-calculus, pre-chemistry, and basic physics classes. Especially for veteran students it may have been over 10 years since you have taken math and science courses. Consider your timeline, financial situation, and talk with your advisor about taking these introductory classes. It is worth noting that these courses cannot be taken towards a degree and do not count towards the pre-med requirements.
Often the first sequence one will take will be General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II (and their corresponding recitation sections, weekly small groups that review material touched on in lecture). These classes are large and can be difficult. In many senses it is like learning a new language and a new way of thinking. Chemistry I needs to be preceded or taken concurrently with Calculus I. When selecting your course load for a semester you should evaluate how many other difficult and time-consuming classes you are taking alongside Chemistry and Calculus. For example, foreign language classes are often taken three days a week and will require significantly more time than, for example, Global Core classes. This is not to say it is impossible to take multiple science or upper-level classes during these semesters, however, you should also consider your interest in volunteering, research, mentoring, and other initiatives to accurately assess what time you will have for them.
After General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II (and likely General Chemistry Lab) students have multiple possibilities depending on their program, degree, and other factors. For example, the post-bacc program typically take their next set of classes in what is called Bio/Orgo year. In the fall and in the spring of Bio/Orgo year students take Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry II (which also include labs and recitations) alongside Contemporary Biology I and Contemporary Biology II. The combination of these two classes will be demanding. Discuss with your advisor how to plan for and create a manageable load for this year. Another possibility is taking them over the course of two years, especially if your degree requires you to continue the contemporary biology sequence into Neurobiology I and Neurobiology II (not required for pre-medicine track, but required for some degrees).
Having completed General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and the Biology sequence you will be very close to completing the required classes for committee recommendation. Considerations to made along the way include University Writing and one more upper-level literature course. Students also need to either take Calculus II or Introduction to Statistics. Lastly, you must take Physics I and Physics II which each come with corresponding labs. The timing of taking physics varies more than the timing of Chemistry and Biology sequence typically does, but your advisor can help recommend the best time to take these classes.
An extraordinary amount of assistance, support, tutoring, study aids, and more are available to students who take on the pre-med classes. These classes have been taught for years and have considerable resources available to learn and master the material. If you are considering pre-med it is advisable to fully read the official premedical handbook and understand the length and complexity of the premed sequence. With this knowledge you can fully commit and excel in this classes without doubts or uncertainties about the future ahead.
Questions? Attend MedVets office hours to ask questions or learn more about the process!