How to Prepare for Pre-Med as a High School Student

Given the competitiveness of the medical school admissions landscape, the undergraduate institution you attend can impact your chances of acceptance to highly-ranked medical schools—many elite universities boast graduate acceptance rates in the 90s. While some schools may not list their graduates’ acceptance rates, you can also work backwards by looking at a particular medical school’s profile, which should list the undergraduate institutions from which its incoming class graduated. If you see a particular undergraduate premedical program named on a number of these pages, you can trust that this is a rigorous program respected for preparing graduates for the competitive world of medical school admissions.

This is an often overlooked statistic, but it’s critical in providing you with some perspective on an individual school’s pre-med culture. Of course, it’s common for students to enter college with one major and change their course of study along the way–but a lower percentage might indicate that a school does not have adequate resources to accommodate all of its pre-med students, or that grade deflation is in practice.

Many schools will boast impressive-sounding anecdotes of students getting involved with laboratory work, but take the time to figure out exactly how receptive most professors are to having undergraduate assistants. At a huge research university, for example, graduate students often win out over undergrads in terms of lab opportunities, so check to see how common it is for pre med students to participate. In order to combat the disproportionate allocation of opportunities to graduate students, many schools now offer specific undergraduate research pathways and programs, so be sure to ask whether the college or university you’re interested in has such a program.

While this is not the most critical consideration, it can be helpful to have the added support provided by an organized pre-medical student group. Oftentimes, these groups are affiliated with university advising systems, making it easier to get the help you need as you navigate the complex process of applying to medical school.

Combined BS/MD programs are unique because they offer seniors in high school conditional acceptance to medical school. If you’re sure you want to pursue an MD, a combined program can alleviate a lot of stress during your undergraduate years. Some schools allow students in BS/MD programs to opt out of taking the MCAT altogether if they maintain a particular GPA, alleviating some of the pressure caused by testing and allowing students to focus on getting involved in research and developing other passions. Other schools guarantee students with certain MCAT scores acceptance into their MS program.

While being accepted into a BS/MD program includes a conditional offer of admission to medical school, programs maintain academic standards and impose certain requirements throughout students’ undergraduate study.. For example, Howard University requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA in science curriculum and score a 494 on the MCAT. Many schools without an MCAT requirement still expect students to maintain a high grade point average to demonstrate their readiness for the transition into medical school. Failing to meet these requirements can result in dismissal from the program or loss of the guaranteed spot in medical school, so students should be diligent in their undergraduate studies, not taking their acceptance as license to fall behind.

BS/MD programs are intended for serious and dedicated students who are able to decide on a future career path with clarity at a young age. As such, the application process for these programs is particularly demanding and requires specialized expertise and focus. Rather than merely evaluating you as a strong potential contributor to a college campus and an exceptionally bright student, committees for these programs are trying to determine whether or not you will make a wise and compassionate physician. These metrics are obviously quite different, so it is important to tailor your approach when applying. Our trained counselors know what it takes to be admitted to and thrive in a BS/MD program. In addition to strong test scores and grades, emotional intelligence plays a large factor in determining which applicants have the maturity and perspective to succeed.

Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) is the only combined baccalaureate-MD program in the Ivy League. Brown is consistently ranked in the top 20 universities in the U.S., making it a reach school for any high school applicant. Unlike many other combined medical programs, PLME is not accelerated—students complete their undergraduate and medical school studies over eight years, just as they would if they were following a traditional pathway. However, the program offers several advantages, including:

• Flexible curriculum—Brown’s Open Curriculum allows students to explore diverse academic interests without the burden of core course requirements.
• No MCAT requirement—students do not need to take the exam to transition into Warren Alpert Medical School. However, students will need to maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA in biology courses throughout their undergraduate years.

The program is ideal for students who want to explore their interdisciplinary interests in an academically rigorous environment with renowned faculty and researchers.

One of the primary reasons students choose to pursue a combined med/ baccalaureate program is the desire to save time. While they all save you the time of researching and applying to different medical schools, only a few save a significant amount of time. Here are two of our favorite programs that offer a six-year combined medical and undergraduate studies program.

Howard is a private, historically black university in Washington D.C.. The university offers a dual degree program that allows students to complete their B.S. and medical degree in just six years, as opposed to the customary eight years. Unlike the previously-discussed programs, Howard does require a minimum MCAT score of 494, as well as a minimum science GPA of 3.0. Undergraduates applying to the Howard University College of Medicine as part of the dual-degree program are also required to submit compelling letters of recommendations and participate in an interview. High school applicants must have a 3.5 GPA and minimum ACT score of 28/SAT score of 1300. Although this degree program has more steps than some of the eight year options, and doesn’t afford you the luxury of skipping the MCAT altogether, you will still end up a full one or two years ahead of your peers on your journey to medical practice!

In 2024, the average tuition at a public medical school was $59,605, rising at a rate of 2.5% each year. Given this significant amount, almost three quarters of medical school students graduate with debt, the amount of which averages about $234,597.

In light of these statistics, students should take into account how their medical education fits into their current financial capabilities and future earning potential. For students looking to fast-track their journey to medical school while keeping costs manageable, the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) BS/MD program is an ideal option. This accelerated program, offered in partnership with Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), allows students to complete both their undergraduate and medical degrees in seven years. Like Brown, NJIT allows undergraduates in their accelerated program to matriculate directly into medical school without taking the MCAT. As a public university, NJIT offers significantly lower in-state tuition rates than many private institutions, making it a great choice for New Jersey residents, or students who can establish residency during their studies. Additionally, students admitted to the BS/MD program are eligible for a variety of merit-based scholarships. Offered through the Albert Dorman Honors College (ADHC), students receive financial aid from the honors program, as well as additional financial support from the medical program, providing numerous avenues to relieve the financial burden medical school can bring.

1. University of Missouri Kansas City BA to MD Program
2. Case Western Reserve Pre Professional Scholars Program
3. Bachelor of Science to Doctor of Medicine (BS-MD) Combined Programs at California Northstate University
4. Drexel BA/BS + MD Early Assurance Program
5. Seven-Year Dual BA/MD Program with GW Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
6. Hofstra 4+4 Program: BS-BA/MD
7. 3 + 4 Accelerated Program (BS/BA + MD) at NJIT & American University of Antigua
8. Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program (BS/MD) at Penn State and Thomas Jefferson University
9. Saint Louis University Medical Scholars Program
10. 7-Year BA/MD Joint Degree Program at Rutgers
11. Pre-Med Health Scholar Program at Temple University
12. Connections Dual Admissions Program at University of Cincinnati
13. Scholars for Medicine at Stony Brook University
14. Accelerated Pre-Medicine Program at Stevens Institute of Technology

In order to apply to medical school, you’ll generally need to complete:

• 1 year of biology with a lab component,
• 1 year of general chemistry with a lab
• 1 year of organic chemistry with a lab
• 1 year of physics with a lab
• 1 year of English
• 1 semester of biochemistry

More specifically, it’s often necessary to take these classes during your first couple of years of study. You will be tested on these topics when you take the MCAT, an entrance exam for medical schools that evaluates how prepared you are for advanced coursework in medicine. In addition to the above, you might want to tack on a semester each of psychology and sociology, topics that can be studied independently but will appear on the test in some form.

Of course, it’s imperative to do as well as possible in each of these courses. Medical schools will consider your “science GPA,” which is exactly what it sounds like—a grade point average consisting only of grades earned in science-related courses. The closer to a 4.0 this number is, the better, but realistically, you’ll need to have around a 3.9 to have a shot at the top schools.

You should start contacting professors early in your freshman year in order to get leads on undergraduate involvement in scientific research. It’s critical to demonstrate this experience on your application to medical schools, so cast a wide net by reaching out to plenty of labs. If you need assistance with this, make an appointment with a research coordinator, academic dean, or advisor at your school.

Medical schools want to feel assured that prospective students are aware of the demands of the field and have some up-close experience with real patients and physicians.Be sure to spend time (beginning in your first year of college!) volunteering at a local hospital or in a clinic. The specifics of your duties as a volunteer are less important than the overall perspective you’ll gain from being in a clinical setting.

Before you can apply to medical school, you will need to take the MCAT, a standardized test that measures your knowledge and abilities in four core sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Living Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. The test takes 7.5 hours to complete.