Pre Med Requirements Checklist: Everything You Need for a Health Career
Launching a career in the healthcare profession is about more than a hefty paycheck. Yes, salary and professional interest top the reasons to enter the field.
They shouldn’t be the sole motives for what you base your career decisions on. Becoming pre-med means so much more. So what does it take?
Every lucrative career choice requires a level of education. Prerequisites and training set the tone for the position you’re about to embark upon. Education helps determine what leadership role you step into on a healthcare team.
And, it sets the framework for the type of influence you have in the lives of the patients you deal with.
If you want to become a medical or healthcare professional, you should know what it takes. Use this complete pre-med checklist to make sure you’re satisfying all the requirements.
Pre-Med Education
Becoming a pre-med student requires a degree in medicine. Students must prepare and take courses to develop them for the field.
There are many branches of medical education for students looking into healthcare. From general medicine to veterinary medicine, students must take specific courses:
Medicine (M.D./D.O.)
Medicine is heavily based in science. Students spend at least one year in science courses with labs, including:
- Biology
- Organic and General Chemistry
- Physics 111 & 112
- Physics 113 & 114 (optional with Physics 11 & 112)
Most universities and colleges do require general education courses. Students still take Math, English Comp, and Social Sciences. Psychology and sociology are also required. Students must take both before applying for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Optometry
A career in vision healthcare is apart of the medical professional. Proper schooling is also required. Along with general education credits, students spend at least three years preparing for the field.
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
All of these science pre-reqs are one-year courses with labs.
Dentistry
As with other medical specialties, dental students need three years of undergrad education. Within that timeframe, students earn the required B.S. or B.A. Courses include:
- General Education courses
- Some Advanced Courses—physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry
- General and Organic Chemistry
- Physics
- Biology
Again, general ed. classes vary from school to school. So, make sure you’re aware of prerequisites before you set your class schedule. Check into RC DNP BSN for more ways to prioritize your medical career choices.
Forms and Documents
Students working towards a pre-health professional must complete the right forms for admission. They then submit these forms to the Office of Pre-Professional Advising and Fellowships.
The OPPAF acts a Pre-Medical Council. For consideration, students submit the following:
- Photo Identification
- Faculty Evaluations (at least 5)
- Undergraduate Transcripts
- Copy of Test Results—MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE
- A hard copy of your electronic application for the medical school you’re applying to. (Medical, Dental, Optometry, etc.)
The OPPAF may ask for other documents during the pre-med council process.
Essay
Some pre-medical and medical schools require a personal statement from students. In this case, students may submit an essay.
Your personal statement or essay needs a compelling storyline. Don’t waste time writing about obvious reasons—family medical history, love for people, etc. Start with an enticing hook.
Then polish your essay with a core story and a solid reason why you’ve chosen the medical profession.
Join the Medical Professional
The healthcare professional has multiple career branches and outlets. To become a part of the landscape, you must complete the pre-med requirements.
Find out what it takes. Study this checklist. Make an informed decision on which field best suits your professional personality.
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