Pre-Medicine
College of Sciences
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Professional School Preparation |
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Since there are many more applicants than available spaces in medical school, admission is extremely competitive and good preparation is highly important. WSU's pre-health advising office provides academic advising, information about the requirements and characteristics of professional schools, other support (such as mock interviews), and a committee letter of recommendation for each applicant. If you are serious about preparing for a medical profession, we will provide objective support at every step of the process. For more details or to contact an advisor, see the Pre-Health Advising Office home page and tip sheet. Prerequisites In addition to fulfilling the general education requirements and those of your major department, you must complete the basic science prerequisites to be eligible for admission to most professional schools. Completing other related electives can help as well. Science prerequisites: - General Biology - General Chemistry - Organic Chemistry - Introductory Genetics and Cell Biology - Microbiology Lecture and Lab - Introductory Biochemistry - Physics - Calculus is also recommended The following science electives are especially recommended: - Human Anatomy - Mammalian Physiology The following non-science electives are especially recommended: - Contemporary Social Problems - Human Sexuality - Psychology of Aging - Biomedical Ethics - History of Medicine - Professional and Technical Writing - The Biology of Women Admission tests Before applying to medical school, all students must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or Dental Admissions Test (DAT). A good score on one of these tests, normally taken between the spring of your junior year and the early fall of your senior year, will be a critical element of your success at application time. You should view each basic science course as part of your preparation for the test. The following additional courses can contribute to a better score on the life science sections of these tests, as well as better preparation for professional schools: - Anatomy - Physiology - Comparative Anatomy Personal interview and other preparation All medical schools require a personal interview. The WSU pre-health advising center offers preparation through mock interviews and other practice techniques. Internships, volunteer activities, and leadership experiences can also help your candidacy for medical schools. The WSU pre-medicine program provides assistance in arranging internships (usually in the Pullman Regional Hospital emergency room or surgery unit) and volunteer activities that create strong candidates for medical, dental, optometry, and other health professional schools. Please note: A few professional schools have different or additional requirements; be sure to get specific information about any school you're considering applying to. More information about the requirements of individual schools is available from the Pre-Health Advising Office. |
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Suggested Majors |
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Pre-medicine students may select any major. Statistics show that there is no one major that is best for getting into medical programs. In fact, medical schools expect applicants to have taken various non-science courses. They welcome applicants who have majors or have taken courses in the humanities, mathematics, psychology, sociology, physics, chemistry, biochemistry, and engineering. Several majors at Washington State University have been specifically designed to meet the needs of pre-health students. You may want to look into these: • Basic medical sciences • Bioengineering • Genetics and cell biology • Microbiology • Neuroscience • Zoology (with a pre-health option) If you opt for a non-science major, it is especially important to seek assistance from the Pre-Medical Advising Office early to optimize course choices. Your pre-medicine advisor will help you enroll in courses you need to succeed. The bottom line? Choose a major that reflects your interests and strengths. As long as the medical school prerequisites are fulfilled and your academic record is strong, you can major in anything you want. |
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Contact Information |
| Pre-Health Advising |
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Washington State University Troy Hall, Room 305 PO Box 644432 Pullman, WA 99164-4432 |
| premed@wsu.edu |
| 509-335-4549 |
Strengths of the Program
- Receive intensive advising to assist you in selecting an appropriate major and the courses required for medical school.
- Benefit from WSU's strong basic science instruction and opportunites for research with outstanding professors.
- Complete your first year of medical school at WSU through the WWAMI program.
- Benefit from personal attention from faculty and advisors and an excellent student-teacher ratio in upper-division courses.
- Study under WSU's science faculty, who have an unusually broad spectrum of knowledge and are prominent experts in their field.
- WSU's superb anatomy program is one of the few in the Northwest that includes study of human cadavers as a foundation for undergraduates' comprehension of the human body.
- You can join a math, science, and engineering community residence hall at WSU Pullman—share classes with your neighbors, study together, get free tutoring, and use the hall’s computer lab.
- Interact with students and faculty in WSU's professional schools of veterinary medicine and pharmacy.