Want to Be a Doctor? How to Pick a Strong Pre Med School

At Top Tier Admissions, we work with many students who are interested in pursuing medical school and careers in healthcare. With a growing, aging population and rising demand for chronic and mental health care, the job outlook for physicians and surgeons remains strong (and can’t be replaced by AI!). Despite the promising career prospects, students can often be confused to learn that colleges do not offer a specific pre-med major, and pre-health majors come from a variety of disciplines including social sciences and humanities. So, how should students prepare for a career in medicine and to be competitive applicants for top medical schools? We will explore that and more today.

WANT TO BE A DOCTOR? START HERE

To begin, medical schools want students with strong GPAs and MCAT scores, which are the two primary academic indicators for admission to medical school. The MCAT measures content knowledge in scientific subjects like Organic Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Psychology, but also assesses critical analysis and reasoning skills. Successful applicants must demonstrate a clear motivation for a career in medicine, supported by experience in shadowing, clinical volunteering, and hands-on patient care.

While GPA is important, medical school admissions committees also consider the rigor and reputation of an applicant’s undergraduate institution. Students from more selective colleges may have an edge because these schools typically attract students from high school with higher GPAs and test scores. Thus, to stand out in a competitive pool—where only about 40% of applicants are accepted overall, and acceptance rates at top programs like Harvard Medical School, Stanford, and NYU Grossman hover between 1% and 3%—students hoping to attend medical school should target top colleges and universities with strong academics. They should also choose colleges with robust pre-medical advising programs, which help students plan coursework, request letters of recommendation, and access opportunities to build their pre-med resumes.

While some students opt to pursue competitive BS/MD programs that allow students to proceed directly into medical school, most apply to med school near the end of college. We’ve outlined several top tips for choosing a strong pre-med program below.

HOW TO PICK A STRONG PRE MED SCHOOL

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Be A Scholar

At Top Tier Admissions, we advise students to fall in love with learning before falling in love with a career, and premed advisors tend to share this worldview. A look at the AAMC list of Pre-Medical Competencies, demonstrates that professional, thinking, and reasoning competencies greatly outweigh the scientific competencies on the list. This does not mean scientific knowledge is not important for becoming a health professional, but it does mean that medical schools are looking for well-rounded thinkers and problem solvers.

Liberal Arts colleges where the emphasis is on broad, interdisciplinary learning offer excellent preparation for the medical field. By taking required courses in subjects like philosophy, foreign language, and social sciences in small, supportive classroom environments, students will gain the critical thinking and reasoning required by the MCAT and the writing skills sought by top medical schools and employers. Bowdoin and Amherst are among a number of excellent liberal arts options that are strong for pre-medical preparation.

Research And Advising

Taking a look at a college’s pre-health or pre-medical advising programs is important when exploring colleges as a future medical student. These offices guide students through course selection, preparing for medical school interviews, and securing clinical and research opportunities. Strong programs can connect students with research labs, conduct mock interviews, and help arrange shadowing and clinical volunteer opportunities.

Among colleges with pre-health advising programs, the Pre-Health Office at Johns Hopkins University helps students connect with international volunteer opportunities and includes a Career Closet where students can find professional dress for interviews. The Pre-Medical Advising Office at the University of Pennsylvania boasts a weekly newsletter, a robust network of alumni in medicine, and gap year planning. Prospective students should spend time exploring the Pre-Health Advising webpages for colleges on their lists.

Support For Med School Applications

One distinction to consider when evaluating pre-health advising programs is whether they offer committee letters for students applying to medical school. With a committee letter, a group of pre-health advising faculty works together to compile a holistic endorsement of a student’s qualifications from the institution’s perspective, not just an individual recommender’s. Many medical schools prefer committee letters because of the streamlined context and comprehensive evaluation they provide.

Some colleges including large public universities where advising is decentralized or small colleges where advising is not available may not offer these. Most research universities do offer these as well as liberal arts colleges including Williams, Davidson, and Reed College.

Location Matters

Proximity to a major city can be helpful for pre-medical programs because of access to volunteer and clinical experiences at major hospitals. Some college locations also stand-out because of unique connections to local resources. Emory University in Atlanta not only offers access to Emory University Hospital (including the Winship Cancer Center) but also the nearby Center for Disease Control, making this a prime location for students interested in epidemiology or health ethics.

Pre-med students at Harvard University and Boston University are connected to Boston Medical Center, Mass General Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital, among others. Rhodes College in Memphis has a strong relationship with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke University are known for their location in the Research Triangle of North Carolina, and Macalester College’s students have access to the Mayo Clinic.

Have A Heart

Medical schools not only want to admit strong students with robust resumes, but they also seek future health professionals who are altruistic and who want to serve the needs of others. Students may also want to consider a college’s commitment to service when seeking a top pre-med program. Tulane University in New Orleans not only has access to a major research hospital but also has a public service graduation requirement and is located in a medically underserved region. University of Michigan has the Ginsberg Center for community and civic engagement, and Stanford students can access fellowships and projects worldwide at the Haas Center for Public Service.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

Choosing the right pre-med program is a key step on your path to medical school. Whether you’re aiming for a direct BS/MD track or planning to apply later in your college career, we can help you set yourself up for success and make the most of your undergraduate experience.

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Julia Spaht

Senior Private Counselor at Top Tier Admissions

A veteran teacher, advisor, and college admissions counselor, Julia has spent over 15 years coaching students to realize and achieve their full potential. Working in both public and private schools, Julia began her career teaching English and Art History to students in grades 8-12. Julia also has served as a Writing Center Director, Director of Admissions, thesis advisor, and admissions committee member in K-12 private schools, working with a diverse range of students and families at various stages of their educational journeys. Most recently, Julia transitioned into independent and private school college counseling roles, advising students throughout high school on all aspects of the college search and application process. She particularly enjoys connecting with students, learning their interests, and helping them solve problems, build confidence, and achieve their dreams. Her students have been admitted to top schools including Princeton, Cornell, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Georgetown, University of Southern California, Rice, Tulane, Georgia Tech, Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill, and University of Texas-Austin. Julia graduated magna cum laude with honors from Washington and Lee University, and she also earned an M.Ed. from Vanderbilt and an M.A. from Middlebury College.