Pre-Med Curriculum: Get Your Science On Columbia SC

Pre-Med Curriculum: Get Your Science On

You might be surprised to know that you can be a ""pre-med"" student without actually being enrolled in a pre-med program. You can also major in just about anything as long as you take enough courses to build a strong biological sciences background. Whether you major in Music and take a lot of science electives, or get your degree in Biology, the courses you take serve not only as prerequisites for medical school, but help build the foundation you need to get through your first year. However, the reality is that to be competitive when it comes time to apply, you should pursue a degree in the natural sciences.

Science major or not, plan on taking at least a year's worth of coursework in the following, with lab work included in each of the science subjects:

• biology or zoology
• inorganic and organic chemistry (two years)
• physics
• English
• Calculus or other advanced math course

It's not necessarily required (although it is for many majors), but you should toss in at least one Statistics class for good measure as well. Ultimately, your science coursework will comprise your science GPA and medical schools will carefully consider this when they make their decisions.

Smoothing the edges
Med schools look for well-rounded students, so taking courses in the humanities and social sciences works to your advantage, as does participation in leadership and extracurricular activities.

Author: Alan Frost

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