Pre-Medicine

Preparing for a Career in Human Medicine

A physician (medical doctor) is a person trained in the science and art of healing. This profession is concerned with the well-being of patients through the promotion, maintenance and restoration of health. A physician has earned a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree and is accepted as a practitioner of medicine under the laws of the state and/or nation in which he or she practices.

The path to becoming a medical practitioner begins with a genuine desire and interest in helping other people. The strong foundation built as an undergraduate student at Westminster College includes demonstrating the knowledge, skills and personal growth attributes that contribute to a strong medical school application and future success as a medical professional.

Students can choose different paths to medical school, but must be mindful of the core requirements for competitive applications, preparing for the MCAT exam, gaining appropriate experiences in the field and completing their respective majors. While it is possible for a pre-med student to do virtually any academic major, it is imperative for all pre-med students to work closely with both academic and health professions advisors to ensure completion of all requirements for medical schools and for their undergraduate degree. Most often, a student on a pre-med track will choose a science major such as Biology, Biochemistry or Neuroscience since the curricula include most, if not all, required and recommended courses for medical schools. Students will typically apply to medical school between their junior and senior years, allowing for a direct transition following graduation, but some wait until after they graduate to apply in order to further their education and gain more relevant experience.

Pre Medicine Track at Westminster College - Pennsylvania

The academic and extracurricular experience at Westminster College, ranging from coursework to on- and off-campus service and experiential activities to international study and/or travel, contribute strongly to the appeal of the well-trained and well-rounded individuals who graduate from our school.

Students may also choose to participate in one of our articulation agreements with either the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM: 4+4 and 3+4 programs) or the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM: 4+4 program) where Westminster students can matriculate directly to these institutions having met the appropriate requirements.

Core Requirements for Medical School (and for MCAT Exam Preparation) generally are:

• Biology (with labs) – Cell Biology and Genetics (BIO 201), Organismal Biology (BIO 202)
• General Chemistry (with labs) – Principles of Chemistry (CHE 117) and CHE180/230/231
• Organic Chemistry (with labs) – Organic Chemistry I (CHE 261), Organic Chemistry II (CHE 262)
• Physics (with labs) – Foundations of Physics I (PHY 141), Foundations of Physics II (PHY 142)
• English – Writing (WRI 111) and an additional course (ENG ---) that requires extensive reading, writing and discussion in the English language

The following courses should also be completed prior to taking the MCAT exam:

• Sociology – Principles of Sociology (SOC 101)
• Psychology – Introduction to Psychology (PSY 101)
• Biochemistry – Biochemistry Principles (CHE 381)
• Statistics – Biostatistics (BIO 206)

Additional course requirements may vary from one professional program to another, so it is the responsibility of the student to be aware of specifics regarding their schools of interest. Good planning and working closely with academic and health professions advisors are essential to maximize chances of success in the highly competitive medical school application environment.

What would a typical Pre-Med schedule look like?

A sample schedule for a biology major preparing to take the MCAT exam between their junior and senior year and matriculating to medical school following graduation is below.

With the exception of the core requirements and courses strongly recommended ahead of the MCAT exam, there is curricular flexibility within any chosen major and among the elective courses that are part of the liberal arts curriculum at Westminster College. Students planning to study abroad for a semester must also plan accordingly to meet all requirements and timelines. It is also advisable for students to budget time during the spring semester of their junior year to prepare for the MCAT exam.

Extracurricular and Off-Campus Experiences

• Shadowing physicians (DO and MD) and other medical professionals in both office and hospital settings
• Clinical internships
• Volunteer experience with direct patient contact
• Any experience working with children (e.g. day camp, Science camp)
• Any experience working with disabled people or individuals with special needs

Where have Westminster students matriculated recently?

• Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine


• Drexel University School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)
• Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine (NEOMED)
• Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Scranton, PA)
• University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
• University of Cincinnati School of Medicine
• Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

Web Resources

• AAMC.org - Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) – General information about allopathic medicine (MD) and links to US allopathic schools
• ChooseDO.org - American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine – General information about osteopathic medicine (DO) and links to US osteopathic schools