Information for Premedical Students
Philosophies of education, premedical course requirements, qualifications for enrollment, and systems of training vary among the nation's medical schools, but all schools recognize the desirability of a strong foundation in the natural sciences, highly developed communication skills, and a solid background in the social sciences and humanities. Many premedical students major in science, although this is by no means necessary. Whether you major in the sciences, the humanities, or the social sciences, your program must be rigorous and thoughtfully organized, because medical schools are most concerned with the quality and scope of your work. Students who major outside the sciences, and who take the minimum number of science courses required, must do very well to ensure adequate preparation for—and favorable consideration by—medical schools. |
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All medical schools require one year each of biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry, all with laboratories. Many schools also demand a year of college mathematics and English. Advanced placement cannot usually substitute for these, but students who qualify should enroll in higher-level courses. Although most medical schools do not require them, advanced courses relevant to medicine (such as biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics) are strongly recommended. And experience in computer science, statistics, and psychology is becoming increasingly important for all health-care professionals.
Courses that fulfill the requirements for medical school must be taken for a letter grade. Grades below C in such courses are not accepted.
There is no prescribed sequence for premedical courses, but since you will be judged on the basis of the work you have completed when you apply for admission to medical school (for students going directly to medical school after graduation, this would normally be the summer after the junior year), it is recommended that you plan to finish the required courses before senior year. Most students will want to fulfill the general chemistry requirement during their first year in addition to some course work in biology, mathematics, or both. However, each applicant's secondary school preparation and primary area of academic interest are different.
In addition to discussing your course selection with your adviser, you are urged to consult the resources of the Health Professions Advisory Board at Undergraduate Career Services (UCS), 55 Whitney Avenue, third floor. A general informational meeting for incoming students is held during Freshman Orientation and will be announced in the Calendar for the Opening Days. In addition, premedical curricular meetings are conducted during course selection period ("shopping period").
Many students complete the general chemistry requirement with one of two full-year introductory chemistry courses: CHEM 113, Chemistry with Problem Solving; or 114, Comprehensive General Chemistry. Students who are placed into the single-term course CHEM 118a, Quantitative Foundations of General Chemistry, may complete the general chemistry requirement by taking CHEM 252b, Introductory Inorganic Chemistry, MCDB 300a, Biochemistry, or at least one term of MB&B 300a and 301b, Principles of Biochemistry, usually in the sophomore or junior year, each with the appropriate laboratory. Students may meet the physics requirement by taking PHYS 150a, 151b, General Physics; 180a, 181b, Advanced General Physics; or 200a, 201b, Fundamentals of Physics.
A useful guide to medical school course requirements is the Medical School Admission Requirements Handbook published by the Association of American Medical Colleges. You will find it in the library of Undergraduate Career Services. Also available at UCS is the brochure "Preparing to Become a Health Care Practitioner," a helpful guide to planning your premedical education and related activities.
Academic performance is an important admissions criterion, but it is by no means the only one. One bulletin states, "Preference is given to those who have demonstrated interest in and commitment to human services." The New Haven and Yale communities offer many opportunities for service. Yale–New Haven Hospital, the Hospital of St. Raphael, Connecticut Hospice, Leeway (a long-term skilled nursing facility for AIDS/HIV patients), Fair Haven Community Health Center (serving primarily New Haven's large Hispanic population), and Hill Health Center (providing care to low-income and underserved populations in New Haven) are some of the organizations that sponsor volunteer programs open to Yale students. For a comprehensive list of Yale and New Haven volunteer opportunities, consult the Web site of Dwight Hall, the Center for Public Service and Social Justice at Yale. Further information is contained in a UCS pamphlet, "Health Care–Related Volunteer and Community Service Opportunities in the New Haven and Surrounding Areas."
The Health Professions Advisory Program supports a resource library that contains information about admission to medical, dental, veterinary, osteopathic, and other schools; admissions data on previous Yale applicants; and student reports of medical school interviews. Students interested in a career in health care are urged to use the services and resources of the Health Professions Advisory Program of UCS. Further information is available on the premedical section of the UCS Web site.
