Premedical is an all-encompassing term used to describe college students on the path to medical school. Historically, premedical students have been biology or chemistry majors who go through the rigors of challenging basic science coursework and then apply to medical school their junior year of college.
Since the first couple years of medical school are filled with sciences like biochemistry, pathology, and anatomy & physiology, most college students choose to be a science major to best prepare them for the years ahead. In recent times non-traditional majors such as anthropology, religion, philosophy, psychology, and other humanities majors have been accepted to medical school in increasing numbers.
There is an apparent trend among admissions officers to encourage potential applicants to medical school to consider “non-science” majors during their college years. The changing face of medicine is looking for "people" people, not just academic superstars as in past years. In essence a student should choose to be a major that most interests them keeping in mind that rigorous science classes will be in your near future in medical school.
The basic requirements for medical school admittance include:
* One year of Biology with lab
* One year of General Chemistry with lab
* One year of Organic Chemistry with lab
* One year of Physics
* College level math
The above general requirements are to be completed while in college and from time to time some medical schools might have special requirements that a specific to that medical school.
Premedical students have the chance to be on the cutting edge of academics. Medicine is a field that incorporates science, research, technology, economics, public health, social justice, human rights, and much more.
