Pre-Medical Studies

If you major in any of our Biological and Chemical Sciences degree programs, you will graduate with the required courses for entrance into medical school.

Check out our biology, biotechnology, or chemistry programs. We also offer a combined accelerated seven-year Life Science, B.S./Osteopathic Medicine, D.O. degree, as well as other combined degree programs in occupational therapy (OTD or M.S.), physical therapy, and physician assistant studies. 

But not all pre-med students major in biology or chemistry. Even if you choose to major in fine arts or interdisciplinary studies, you can still earn the requisite credits to apply to medical school, as long as your pre-medical school plan incorporates the required courses and useful electives.  

Your Pre-Med Plan

Most medical schools require one year of courses (with labs) in General Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and General Physics, as well as a year of English and college-level math. Some schools also suggest a year of social and behavioral sciences. Be sure to check the specific requirements for each school you are considering—these often vary and frequently change. We also recommend you consider taking some of the upper-level courses listed below:

  • BIOL 235 Microbiology
  • BIOL 241 Developmental Biology
  • BIOL 310 Human Anatomy
  • BIOL 311 Comparative Anatomy
  • BIOL 312 Pathophysiology
  • BIOL 315 Neuroscience
  • BIO 331 Virology
  • BIOL 335 Genetics
  • BIOL 340 Biochemistry
  • BIOL 341 Genetic Engineering
  • BIOL 435 Evolutionary Biology
  • BIOL 461 Cancer Biology
  • CHEM 350 Instrumental Analysis
  • CHEM 410 Physical Chemistry I
  • MATH 235 Statistics
Find Additional Biology & Chemistry Courses

We also recommend that you select additional courses from the following list of general electives:

  • PSYC 101 Introduction to Psychology
  • SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology
  • SOCI 376 Medical Sociology
  • ICPH 306 Bioethics
  • ICPH 301 Philosophy of Human Nature
Pursue A Minor In Medical Humanities

All medical schools require the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). If you wish to have your application reviewed in the fall of your senior year, you will need to take the MCAT no later than the summer following your junior year. This means you will need to prepare to take the MCAT in three years, not four. Other students choose to take the exam in their senior year and take a year or more after graduation as an opportunity to gain experience as a research assistant or further prepare for medical school. We recommend you attend MCAT information sessions offered by the Department of Biological and Chemical Sciences to learn about your options. 

A successful medical school candidate must display academic ability, research activity, clinical experience, and community service. Our Office of Career Success and Experiential Education can help you pursue volunteer and internship opportunities at hospitals, clinics, and research facilities. Perform independent research with our faculty, or apply to our Advanced Research Core program to engage in independent research with faculty members from our medical school. Or find your own opportunities shadowing a physician, doing paid work at a clinic or hospital, or participating in other forms of community service. All of these will help you demonstrate that you have the motivation and commitment to the community to pursue a medical career.

Our Pre-Professional Committee can help you obtain a letter of evaluation to support your medical or allied health school application. This letter of recommendation, which is available to eligible students upon request, will include contributions from three or more faculty members.

Check Eligibility Requirements

Students with extenuating circumstances who do not meet the criteria for a letter may email nyitcommitteeletter@gmail.com to be considered on a case-by-case basis 

To request a Committee Letter, eligible students should submit the following at least two months before the application deadline:

  • Copy of (unofficial) transcripts
  • Copy of standardized exam scores 
  • Personal statement or essay
  • Resume or CV
  • Type of professional school to which you are applying 
  • Instructions on where to submit the letter and the date it is due 

Instructions for Long Island students:

  • Prior to submitting your request, identify three professors you had for class who know you well and can speak positively about you as a student and your potential for success in your intended program. Send them an email indicating that you will be requesting a pre-professional committee letter and ask them if they will be willing to contribute a few sentences describing their experience with you as a student.
    • Make sure you have an email confirmation from these professors agreeing to help prior to submitting your request.
  • Complete the Pre-Professional Committee Letter Form.
    • The form will ask you to upload your material and provide the instructions for us to submit your letter. 
  • Questions may be sent to nyitcommitteeletter@gmail.com.

Instructions for New York City students:

  • Send your request and support materials to Eleni Nikitopoulos, Ph.D., at enikitop@nyit.edu.