Pre-Health Curriculum

Students on the pre-health track at Drew University must complete coursework in the following disciplines in order to be eligible to apply to medical and most other health professional schools: Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and English. These courses are required by the professional schools. Students should follow one of the schedules below in addition to satisfying their major, minor, and breadth requirements. The pre-health track is intensive, but manageable. Students are able to successfully complete this curriculum while pursuing any major and minor of their choice. Typically, pre-health students aim to complete the basic science requirements by the end of their junior year in preparation to take the MCAT that summer. However, many others opt to take a lag year by spreading the basic science requirements over all four years and taking the MCAT the summer after their senior year. Students should meet our pre-health advisors in order to determine the best path for them.

The basic pre-health requirements (biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, math and English) are the same for MOST health professions. However, the required electives may differ. For example, some health professional schools require advanced biology courses beyond what is listed here, and some require specific social science courses. Pre-health students should consult with a pre-health advisor or the schools directly and adjust their coursework accordingly.

Students do not have to major in a science discipline to go to health professional school. They should select a major based upon their academic interests and strengths. Admissions committees like applicants who are academically and personally well-rounded. To be competitive for health professional school, students should maintain strong GPA’s both in the sciences and non-sciences. They should also cultivate a strong record of clinical, research, and community service experience. Many students choose to take a year in between graduating from Drew and entering health professional school in order to enhance their candidacy. If this year is used productively (working in a hospital or research setting, volunteering abroad, taking additional science courses, pursuing a graduate degree, etc.) it can be a great advantage to the applicant.

Students Planning to Take MCAT after Junior Year

(Applying for entry in the fall directly after graduating from Drew)

1) Doubling Up First Year:

2) General Chemistry Summer Session:

3) Doubling Up Second Year:

Students Planning to Take MCAT after Senior Year

(Taking a lag year between Drew and medical school)

*A note about advising: In addition to meeting with their academic adviser each semester, pre-health students will meet with a pre-health advisor regularly to ensure that they are on track with their course requirements, maintaining a competitive GPA for their chosen health professional track, and preparing appropriately for the application process.

*A note about AP credit: Most medical schools do not accept AP credit in the basic sciences, so most pre-med students with AP credit in Chemistry, or Physics will forfeit the credit and repeat the coursework on the college level. On occasion, if a student has high enough AP scores in one of these disciplines, they will place into advanced courses, but they still must complete one year of coursework with the corresponding laboratory sections in each of these disciplines in order meet medical school admission requirements. Most medical schools that have college math requirements will accept qualifying AP mathematics scores.