PRE-MEDICAL INFORMATION

The basic courses required for entry into medical school are:

• 1 year of Biology (Biol 101, 101L and Biol 252 or 276 plus lab)
• 2 years of Chemistry (Chem 101, 102, 241*, 261, and 262 plus labs)
• 1 year of Physics (Phys 104 and 105 or 116 and 117)
• A few schools require 1 year of Calculus (Math 231 and 232)
• Some medical schools (notably UNC) recommend Biol 202
  
  *Note: Chem 41 should be taken because it is part of the organic chemistry sequence at UNC. Medical schools know this and look for it on the transcripts of UNC students.  Without this course, you do not meet the minimum number of hours required for organic chemistry.

College Major: There is no specific major that is required, or that is "best" to pursue. Medical schools are looking for well-educated and well-rounded individuals.

The MCAT: Most medical schools require the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The usual time to take it is in the spring semester of the Junior year. Students should prepare for this test.

Application: Most medical schools accept applications through the American Medical Colleges Application Service (AMCAS). This application should be submitted in the summer before your last year in college. AMCAS applications can be downloaded from the Web.

Extracurricular activities: Extracurriculars are a very important part of the applicant's materials. Most medical schools place emphasis on volunteer community service. Some volunteer experience in a medical setting is a must. Undergraduate research is a plus. UNC has a very active chapter of Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED) an honorary pre-professional society and the premedical division of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA).

Letters of Recommendation: You must get to know faculty members so that they can write letters of recommendation for you. UNC has no Pre-medical Committee or Advisor's Letter.

Other web sites of interest for medicine:

• Association of American Medical Colleges
• American Medical Association
• Medical Education Page
• Student & Applicant Information
• Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Med Society at UNC)