Pre-Medicine Study

CAS Science Faculty Advisors: Dr. Steve Myers and Dr. Robert Stach
SHPS Faculty Advisor: Dr. Suzanne Selig

There is keen competition for the limited number of places available in medical schools. Therefore, prospective applicants are urged to plan an alternate career option as they pursue a bachelor’s degree. Students are also advised to obtain exact information from their prospective medical schools concerning requirements for admission.

In general, medical schools stress scholastic achievement, especially in the sciences, as a major criterion for admission. Premed students may major in any discipline so long as the requirements of the medical program to which they are applying are fulfilled. Medical schools are looking for well-rounded students with a broad, liberal arts background. Such a background can be demonstrated by pursuing a non-science major or minor, or focused sequences of courses in multiple disciplines. Such factors as the quality of the undergraduate college and the recommendations supplied by its faculty, results of the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and residence are also considered. Personal qualities such as integrity, motivation, leadership, and maturity are often discernible through the applicant’s record of nonacademic activities, an autobiographical statement, and the personal interview at the medical school.

Each student who plans to apply for admission to medical school should seek the assistance and guidance of an advisor from the Biology, Chemistry/Biochemistry or Health Sciences and Administration Departments at the University of Michigan-Flint, or consult the Biology website for more information at http://www.umflint.edu/biology/programs/premed.htm.

As a minimum, the following courses should be completed before applying to medical school: 

BIO: BIO 111, BIO 113, BIO 326, BIO 328.

CHM: CHM 160, CHM 161, CHM 162, CHM 163 or CHM 165, CHM 330, CHM 331, CHM 332, CHM 333.

ENG: One year (typically ENG 111 and ENG 112).

MTH: Wide variation; some require integral calculus.

PHY: PHY 143 and PHY 145; or PHY 243 and PHY 245.

Pre-medical advisors, in addition, highly recommend:

BIO: BIO 432, BIO 435.

CHM: CHM 450, CHM 452.

The following courses are also of special value and should be selected according to one’s area of concentration in consultation with one’s advisor:

BIO: BIO 412, BIO 425, BIO 450.

CHM: CHM 340, CHM 366, CHM 367, CHM 451, CHM 453.