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