PRE-MEDICAL PROGRAM AT MACALESTER

Important Tips:

• It is important to check your e-mail often for events related to the health professions.
• You will be assigned to a pre-med advisor - talk to this person early and often!! (This person does not take the place of your academic advisor in your major.)
• There is no pre-med major at Macalester. You can major in anything you want.
• Fulfill medical school entrance requirements for the medical school you plan to attend. Most frequently, this is the state university in the state in which you hold residency.

Virtually All Medical Schools Require:

• One year of General Chemistry (You may test out of General Chemistry I and take only General Chemistry II and still fulfill this requirement)
• One year of Organic Chemistry
• One year of Physics
• Demonstrated interest and experience in health care

Most (> 50%) of Medical Schools Require:

• English (Commonly two semesters)
• Math through Calculus I
• Biology (Commonly 2 semesters - But we recommend 3)

Many Medical Schools Also Require:

• Specific, upper level science courses (e.g. Biochemistry)
• Specific courses in the Humanities and/or Social Sciences (e.g. Developmental Psychology)
• Unspecified coursework in the Humanities and/or Social Sciences (usually fulfilled by Macalester distribution requirements)

Examples From Medical Schools Frequently Attended by Macalester Students

The University of Minnesota (Twin Cities - Public)

• Biology with lab     (2 semesters)
• General Chemistry with lab (2 semesters)
• Organic Chemistry with lab (2 semesters)
• Biochemistry with lab (1 semester)
• General Physics with lab (2 semesters)
• English (2 semesters)
• Behavioral sciences, social sciences, or other liberal arts courses (5 semesters)
• Upper-level Statistics (Multivariable) or Calculus (1 semester)
• Strongly Recommended: Coursework in genetics, psychology and the liberal arts.

Washington University (St. Louis, MO - Private)

• Biological Sciences (2 semesters)
• General Chemistry (2 semesters)
• Organic Chemistry (2 semesters)
• Physics (2 semesters)
• Calculus I and II

Planning Your Four Years At Macalester

Recommendation I:

• General Chem I (Chem 11) and II (Chem 13) (or just Chem 13)
• Organic Chem I (Chem 37) and II (Chem 38)
• Principles of Physics I (Phy 26) and II (Phy 27)
• Calculus I (Math 21) and II (Math 22)
• Cell Biology (Bio 21), Physiology (Bio 22), and Genetics (Bio 23)
• Summer and/or Academic Year Internships or Volunteer Positions in Health Care
• Go to Medical School Immediately After College

Consequences and Realities:

• You must take three subjects for a full year (General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and Physics).
• The only Physics offered at Macalester during the academic year requires Calculus II, at least taken concurrently.
• To attend medical school immediately after graduation, we recommend that you take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) in April of your Junior Year.
• You need to have all your science prerequisites completed before you take the MCAT (Verbal Reasoning, Biological Science, Physical Sciences and a Writing Sample).
• You would then apply for medical school during the late summer and early fall of your Senior Year.

Your schedule would look something like this:

Considerations for this type of schedule:

• To avoid taking more than two science/math classes at once, you need to start fall term of your FY taking two sciences.
• If you wish to study abroad, the only good semester to do it is Fall of your senior year. You can get your application completed during the summer, but when medical schools want to interview you, they will have to wait until you return from abroad.

Recommendation II:

• Same coursework, internships and volunteer work as previously stated.
• Go to Medical School after 1-2 year hiatus after college. NOTE: Waiting does not put you at a disadvantage in the medical school admissions process and, depending on how you spend your time, might help you.

Consequences and Realities:

• You can take the MCAT in April of your Senior Year (or later if you wish to wait more than one year).
• You can study abroad as a Junior (the typical time students study abroad) without any potentially negative consequences.
• You can space your science courses out a bit more and have some terms with only one science class (e.g. the terms you take Organic Chemistry).

Recommendation III:

• General Chem I (Chem 11) and II (Chem 13) (or just Chem 13)
• Organic Chem I (Chem 37) and II (Chem 38)
• Introductory Physics I (Phy 21) and II (Phy 22) in the Summer
• Required Math Course (Calculus, Stats)
• Cell Biology (Bio 21), Physiology (Bio 22), and Genetics (Bio 23)
• Summer and/or Academic Year Internships or Volunteer Positions in Health Care
• Go to Medical School Immediately After College

Consequences and Realities:

• If your likely Medical Schools do not require Calculus I and/or II, and you take non-calculus based physics (Phy 21 & 22 or equivalent) you do not have to take Calculus.
• You can take Introductory Physics I and II at Macalester in the summer from a superb instructor (Dr. Kim) for $1475 per term ($2950 for both terms) or take it at any accredited university in the United States.
• You can study abroad as a junior because you are not taking a two-semester course that year. Therefore, you will be in the country when you apply to medical school.

Recommended Courses

• Anthro 239 Medical Anthropology
• Phil 119 Critical Thinking
• Phil 227 Bioethics

Internships

• The Internship Office (Either with or without academic credit)
• The Ruth and Vernon Taylor Summer Fellowship  (x6247 - Prof. Liz Jansen)

Community Service

Civic Engagement Center