Pre-Med Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
No specific major is required. Historically, though, most pre-medical students have majored in biology or chemistry. If one majors outside the sciences, consideration should be given to completing a minor in biology.
- General Education Curriculum (required for all students at Houghton)
- Core Science and Math Courses (required by med schools for admission and to prepare for the MCAT)
- General Biology (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry (2 semesters)
- General Physics (2 semesters)
- Calculus (1 semester)
- Other electives available (sampling):
- Biochemistry (required by some medical schools)
- Molecular and Cell Biology
- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy and Physiology
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Medical Ethics
- Microbiology
Representative Academic Timeline
Flexibility exists within this general guideline for those who choose to participate in First-Year Honors Programs or for those who decide after their first year to pursue a career in medicine.
First Year
- General Biology
- General Chemistry
- General Education Requirements
- Summer: Begin to look for possible volunteer/shadowing experiences
Second Year
- Organic Chemistry
- Calculus (if not taken in first year)
- Integrative Studies requirements
- Courses for major
- Summer: Volunteer/shadowing experiences
Third year
- General Physics
(Research course available to science majors) - Courses for major
- Request institutional letter of recommendation (Fall)
- Meet with letter-writing committee
- Review for and take MCAT
- Begin personal statement
- Submit list of medical schools to which you are planning to apply
- Summer: Complete personal statement, AMCAS application, take MCAT (if not taken in spring), volunteer/shadowing experiences
Fourth Year
- Medical Ethics (if not taken earlier)
- Complete courses for major
- Institutional letter of recommendation is sent
- Secondary applications (as applicable)
- Interview for medical schools as invited