Download Medical School Admissions Guide as a printable PDF
For some students, medicine has been the plan for as long as they can remember. For others, the idea arrives later either sparked by a course, a clinical experience, or a conversation that shifts everything into focus. Wherever you fall on that spectrum, The Office of Pre-Professional Mentoring and Advising is here to help you build the academic and co-curricular foundation medical school will ask you to demonstrate. Two pathways lead to practice as a physician: allopathic medicine (MD) and osteopathic medicine (DO). Both prepare you to become a licensed, practicing doctor. Medical schools review applicants holistically, considering a broad set of competencies that fall into three categories: Professional, Thinking and Reasoning, and Science.
Prerequisites
The courses below represent the general prerequisites most medical schools require. Others aren’t required but are strongly recommended, and requirements vary by program. Always verify this information on the admissions website of each school you’re considering. Pay particular attention to how individual programs treat Advanced Placement (AP) credit, as policies differ widely.
All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher.
| Subject Area | Recommended Courses |
|---|---|
| General Biology | BSC 114 and 115 (lab) and BSC 116 and 117 (lab) or honors equivalent |
| General Chemistry: | CH 101 and 102 or honors equivalent |
| Organic Chemistry: | CH 231, CH 232, and CH 237 (lab) |
| Biochemistry: | BSC 450 (BSC 300 prerequisite) or CH 461 (prerequisite CH 223) |
| Physics | PH 101 and PH 102 or PH 105 and PH 106 (or honors equivalent) |
| Mathematics | 2 semesters of Math; MATH 125 required by some schools |
| Statistics | PY 211 or BSC 380 recommended |
| English | EN 103 (or AP credit) plus 3 credits of another EN or writing course |
| Social and Behavioral Sciences | PY 101 and SOC 101 |
The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): The MCAT is a standardized, multiple-choice exam that measures the reasoning skills and scientific foundation medical schools consider essential for success in their programs. It tests problem-solving and critical analysis alongside content knowledge in the natural, behavioral, and social sciences. The exam has four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. Our prehealth advisors can help you identify preparation resources and build a study timeline that fits your schedule. For registration details, testing dates, and official prep materials, visit AAMC’s About the MCAT Exam Website.
Grade Point Average (GPA)
Grade Point Average (GPA): The admissions process is holistic, but your transcript remains a central piece of it. It offers admissions committees evidence of how you might handle the academic demands of medical school. Applicants are evaluated on two figures: overall GPA and BCPM (Science) GPA, which averages coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Minimum requirements vary by program, but most competitive applicants present a 3.5 or higher in both.
Timeline
Freshman Year
- Meet your OPMA Health Professions Advisor and schedule your first appointment.
- Begin the basic science sequence (see chart on page 1).
- Visit your professors during office hours.
- Join student organizations such as AED.
- Start volunteering on campus and in the community.
- Explore undergraduate research opportunities.
- Shadow physicians during the academic year and on school breaks.
- Apply for summer research and enrichment programs (scribe, EMT, internships).
Sophomore Year
- Continue the next sequence of science courses.
- Meet with your OPMA Health Professions Advisor to begin assessing competitiveness.
- Deepen your involvement in shadowing, volunteering, and service.
- Pursue leadership positions within your organizations.
- Continue visiting your professors during office hours.
- Identify MD and DO programs that interest you.
- Develop an MCAT preparation plan.
- Apply for summer research and enrichment programs (scribe, EMT, internships).
Junior Year
- Fall
- Meet with OPMA Health Professions Advising to evaluate your competitiveness.
- Register for OPMA P.H.A.S.E. (Pre-Health Application Support and Education). Registration opens in October (OPMA Newsletter). Eligibility requires current or completed enrollment in Biochemistry.
- Register for the MCAT.
- Begin drafting your personal statement.
- Request 4–5 letters of recommendation.
- Spring and Summer
- Study for and take the MCAT.
- Interview with the OPMA Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC).
- Complete your application through AMCAS, TMDSAS, and/or AACOMAS.
- Continue your activities and service commitments.
Senior Year
- Fall
- Submit your centralized application if you have not already done so.
- Complete secondary applications as they arrive.
- Prepare for and attend interviews.
- Continue your activities and service commitments.
- Spring and Summer
- Talk with an OPMA Health Professions Advisor about alternate plans, if needed.
- Finish your degree requirements.
- Graduate.
Resources
AAMC Premed Competencies for Entering Medical Students and Overview of Holistic Admissions Process
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (DO programs) website
Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS)