Are you looking forward to enrolling in a pre-med program in a pre-med school but you do not know the exact school to apply to? Then you are on the right track because we will look at the Best Pre-Med Schools in the United States in this article.
Going through this article will help you in selecting a school that will be comfortable and also equips you with the necessary experience you will need to face the challenges you will encounter in medical school.
Pre-med is not a major but rather an advising track that helps students apply successfully to medical school. This means students do not have to major in natural sciences, though most pre-meds do.
They have the choice to major in whatever subject they want, as long as they take the required pre-med courses. See George Mason University Acceptance Rate.
These courses vary slightly from one institution to the next, but generally, they include a certain number of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, math, and English classes. Students may check the specific course requirements for their medical programs of choice here.
The following best pre-med schools in the United States offer strong pre-med programs: rigorous coursework, personalized advising, ample clinical shadowing, and volunteer opportunities are at the heart of these offerings.
1. Harvard University
Like the other schools on this list, Harvard doesn’t have a designated pre-med major for undergraduates, but it does offer a post-baccalaureate pre-med program through Harvard Extension School.
This pre-med program is personalized to each applicant’s specific needs. Students receive guidance from pre-med advisors on required coursework as well as the med school application process.
Coursework is flexible (evening classes, part-time), affordable ($480 per credit with access to federal financial aid), and rigorous, leading to high rates of med school acceptance.
For pre-med undergraduates, Harvard has published sample four-year plans with variations for study abroad and summer school.
They stress that pre-med schedules can be flexible and that students should feel free to explore interests outside of health.
To help navigate all this, students can go to their assigned pre-med advisor and join pre-health student organizations, like the Harvard Pre-Medical Society.
See: Harvard University Acceptance Rate
2. Duke University
With access to one of the nation’s best medical schools, Duke pre-med students are guided by pre-health advisors from the very start of their undergraduate careers.
This ensures that 70-80% of Duke’s first-time applicants get into med school, almost double the national average.
Duke University pre-meds also have access to ample clinical and community service experiences. Some of the school’s notable student organizations include:
Duke Adopt-a-Grandparent, Public Health Brigades, Pancakes for Parkinson’s, Duke Disability Alliance, Autism Speaks U, Special Olympics College.
Pre-med students can also get involved in research at Duke’s many humanities labs, ranging from social justice to publishing to the Amazon rainforest.
Learning about humanities will give pre-med students a balanced perspective that will be integral to patient care in their future health professions.
See: Duke Medical School Acceptance Rate
3. Stanford University
Stanford is centrally located so that pre-med students have access to clinical and research opportunities in the local community.
The Stanford Immersion in Medicine Series (SIMS) program permits sophomore, junior, and senior pre-meds to shadow physicians at Stanford Hospital, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, and the Palo Alto VA Hospital.
The Stanford Immersion in Medicine Series students is paired with a physician mentor and accompany them on rounds, observe during surgeries, attend lectures, and more.
Over the course of a quarter, students will have a better idea of what kind of career in medicine or health they’d like to pursue. Stanford pre-meds also have access to unique study abroad opportunities.
See: Stanford University Acceptance Rate
4. Yale University
Yale pre-med students receive a lot of support, which is why almost 90% of pre-med graduates later get accepted to med school.
The Health Professions Advisory Program helps students handle the rigor of pre-med tracks at this Ivy League.
They provide structured assistance throughout all four years of undergrad as well as assistance putting together med school applications in junior and senior years.
Undergraduate Learning Assistants (ULAs) and graduate TAs are also an important part of the support system for pre-med students at Yale.
In addition, pre-med students have access to shadowing some of the country’s top doctors at the Yale New Haven Hospital, Hospital of St. Raphael, Connecticut Hospice, Leeway, Fair Haven Community Health Center, and Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center. Most of these institutions provide specialized care and serve underprivileged communities.
See: Yale University Acceptance Rate
5. UC Berkeley
Califonia pre-med students have a wealth of clinical and research opportunities to take part in alongside their required pre-med coursework.
For support and opportunities to help the local community, they can choose from over 50 health-related student organizations and student-facilitated courses called DeCals.
Through the Undergraduate Research Apprentice Program (URAP), pre-med students work under the tutelage of faculty, who conduct cutting-edge research.
From there, students may take a more active research role through Sponsored Projects for Undergraduate Research (SPUR), which is limited to students in the Rausser College of Natural Resources but gives participants the chance to work on a faculty project or create their own.
Berkeley doesn’t have a medical school of its own, but many Berkeley pre-med graduates applying to med school get into nearby UCSF.
Pre-med students who want to assist underprivileged global communities can apply to various international health study abroad programs.
See: UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate
6. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
University of Michigan has not only an excellent pre-med program but also an outstanding Honors pre-med program.
A whopping 80% of Honors students are accepted into MD programs, compared to a 56% acceptance rate for regular Michigan pre-med graduates, a percentage that is still higher than the national average of 43%.
The university is also at the heart of the region’s best hospitals where students can volunteer their time to get clinical experience.
For pre-med students, there are so many specialized health-related research opportunities to get involved in, such as the UM-SMART Undergrad Summer Program.
This program is designed for ambitious students seeking a combined MD/PhD. Participants work full-time in a basic research lab under faculty supervision.
7. Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University is specifically good at preparing pre-med students for med school. The school boasts world-class facilities and resources that are specially designed to help aspiring healthcare providers get into med school and be able to decide their specific interests in the health field.
For instance, medical tutorials give undergraduates the chance to learn about medicine through non-credit, non-graded modules. Faculty supervisors allow participants to ask questions and learn for the sake of learning.
All pre-health students can join the Health Sciences Career Academy in the Life Design Lab. Through this academy, students are free to explore their specific interests, whether it’s in basic science, research, pharmaceuticals, public health, or medicine.
Students can also network with alumni and professionals in the field for insight into their desired careers.
Pre-med students can also complete the Committee Letter requirements to receive a letter of recommendation touting their strengths and competencies.
The conditions are relatively easy to fulfill, especially for full-time students already on a pre-med track, and take care of one of the letters of recommendation requirements for med school applications.
Conclusion
To this end, the Best Pre-Med Schools in the United States have been listed and discussed in this article. You can do well by sharing what you have in mind on this topic with us via the comment box. It will go a long way to help us in serving you better.
Last Updated on July 11, 2023 by Admin
