PRE-MED & OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS Berkeley offers excellent undergraduate preparation for medical and other health-related professional schools and sends an impressive number of students on to these graduate programs each year. Cal, like most universities, does not offer a specific “pre-med” major. Few colleges in the United States do, because there is no specific major required for admission to medical or other health- related schools. All students obtain a bachelor’s degree before admission to medical school. For students seeking admission to dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, and other health- related graduate programs, many have received a bachelor’s degree prior to admission. What should I major in at Berkeley, AP credits will not satisfy prerequisites at most Does it make a difference where I if I want to go to medical school? medical schools.) Select an academic major that complete my academic preparation for interests you and allows flexibility in taking the There is no preferred pre-med major. Every year medical or other health-related schools? required pre-med courses. students with majors in the social sciences, The quality and reputation of the college or humanities, chemistry and engineering are What should I do when I’m not in class? university from which you graduate can play a accepted to medical school from Berkeley. role in your acceptance to a medical school. If you want to study biology at Berkeley, you One option is to experience the health care The high quality of Berkeley students and can choose from more than 25 areas of environment in a paid or volunteer position during the campus’ worldwide academic reputation specialization in the biological sciences, such college. Or you could actively engage in pursuits are major factors in the success rate of Cal’s as Molecular Environmental Biology, Genetics that support your interests and talents and applicants to medical school. Many attend UC and Plant Biology, or Nutritional Sciences in demonstrate your strong leadership skills (e.g., and other California medical schools as well as the College of Natural Resources. Chemical in community service, the arts, or athletics). out-of-state private schools. Biology in the College of Chemistry and majors Many Berkeley students who are admitted Berkeley’s acceptance rate is consistently higher in the Department of Integrative Biology or the to medical school also have done research than the national average. Medical school Department of Molecular and Cell Biology in the during their undergraduate years at Cal. The acceptance statistics for Berkeley graduates may College of Letters and Science offer more options. campus offers a variety of ways to get involved be viewed on the Career Center’s website at: While any undergraduate major is acceptable, you in undergraduate research, including the career.berkeley.edu/MedStats/MedStats.stm must fulfill the following requirements to prepare Undergraduate Research Apprenticeship Program. Note that when comparing Berkeley’s acceptance for medical school: Students also may contact professors directly and ask to join their research projects. The opportunity rates with those from other schools, not all schools • two years of chemistry (general and organic) to perform research as an undergraduate is one of compute their average in the same fashion. with lab the advantages of enrolling at Berkeley. What do medical schools look for • one year of physics with lab in applicants? • at least one year of general biology with lab Does Berkeley have a medical school? Medical schools look at a number of factors when Some medical and other health professional schools Berkeley does not have a medical school on selecting their students: also require some or all of the following courses: campus, but that has no bearing on your admission to medical school. Large numbers of 1. College GPA. This is an important factor. • calculus or other college-level mathematics Berkeley students enter medical schools all over Science and non-science grades are considered • English the United States each year. separately. Year-by-year improvement trends • advanced biological science and/or The campus has a limited medical program with and recent grades are very important. An biochemistry UC San Francisco through its graduate program excessive number of courses taken passed/not We recommend that you check with the schools in health and medical sciences. Each year a small passed could work against you because medical to which you intend to apply by reading specific number of graduate students are simultaneously schools cannot interpret your accomplishment school websites or reviewing the Medical School enrolled on the Berkeley and San Francisco accurately. Many medical school admissions Admission Requirements at aamc.org or in the campuses where they complete the five-year officers assume that a GPA wouldbe lower if all Career Center Info Lab at 2111 Bancroft Way, once Joint Medical Program earning a M.S. in Health courses had been taken for a grade. you have settled into your first semester at Cal. and Medical Sciences from UC Berkeley and a 2. The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The most important thing for you to do is to M.D. from UC San Francisco. Information on the Before taking the MCAT, you should have complete the required preparatory course work program is available at: jmp.berkeley.edu completed a year of college courses in each of in college and to maintain a high GPA. (Note that the following subjects: PRE-MED & OTHER HEALTH PROGRAMS • general biology a veterinary school. Requirements vary from provides a letter of recommendation service, holds • general chemistry institution to institution so check school workshops on preparing and applying for medical information well in advance of applying. and health-related programs, and facilitates • organic chemistry recruitment visits with representatives from • physics Required undergraduate preparation in science graduate and professional schools. usually includes: Successful applicants plan for a semester or If you are a pre-med student, you should register summer to study for the MCAT after these • two years of chemistry for the Career Center’s Health and Medicine courses are completed. The test has four • one year of physics Careermail list at this web page to make certain sections: Verbal Reasoning, Physical Sciences, • one year of biology you have the essential information to keep on track: Writing Sample, and Biological Sciences. https://career.berkeley.edu/maillist/maillist.asp Information on the MCAT is available at: • college-level calculus or statistics aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm Other requirements usually include: For more information… 3. The personal statement and/or personal • English • The publication Medical School Admission interview. This is an opportunity to inform the • general humanities Requirements is available from the Association school of factors not reflected in your GPA or • social sciences of American Medical Colleges: aamc.org your application. Consequently, it is important Advanced courses which are often required • Pre-medical student web pages vary in focus. to have a clear sense of your motivation and before entry include: Sometimes they provide information for college your goals and to articulate them effectively. and high school students about getting into • embryology 4. Letters of recommendation. These should medical schools and about what it is like to be be from individuals who know you well and • genetics a medical student. For examples see: American can write knowledgeably about you. Get to • animal physiology Medical Student Association at amsa.org or know several professors early in your college • microbiology or immunology Student Doctor Network at: studentdoctor.net/ career so they can provide a compelling index.asp • animal behavior recommendation on your behalf. • Information about admission requirements Professional schools usually require practical of U.S. and Canadian dental schools is 5. Motivation. Since medical school admissions experience, either through volunteer or available from the American Dental Education officers often look for evidence of genuine paid employment. concern for others, as well as personal interest Association: adea.org and knowledge about the health field, prior What other professional health programs • For details on a career in Advanced Practice experience—either paid or voluntary—can be does the Berkeley campus offer? Nursing following your undergraduate work at crucial in the selection process. Research is not At the undergraduate level, a four-year program Cal, stop by the Career Center or see the Health necessary for the successful applicant; exposure in nutritional science is available through the Career web page: career.berkeley.edu/Health/ to the medical work environment is required. College of Natural Resources (cnr.berkeley.edu), Health.stm • Information about pharmacy school admission How competitive is admission to which leads to a B.S. degree and ultimately to requirements is available from the American medical schools? professional accreditation as a dietitian. Association of Colleges of Pharmacy: aacp.org Interest in careers in medicine remains high. This The Graduate School of Public Health • Information for applicants to schools and is also true of other medical-related fields, making (sph.berkeley.edu) offers a wide range of both academic and professional programs related to colleges of optometry is available from the admission to all health