Admission Requirements for Medical or Dental School

Required/Recommended Courses

Here is a list of courses typically required or recommended by medical and dental schools:

Biology:

At least two semesters of Biology with labs:

  • BIOL 200, BIOL 200L, BIOL 206, BIOL 206L
  • Additional recommended courses
    • BIOL 221, BIOL 221L, BIOL 222, BIOL 222L (anatomy and physiology)
    • BIOL 309 (genetics)
    • BIOL 408 (cell biology)
    • BIOL 409 (molecular biology)

Chemistry:

Two semesters of general chemistry with labs

  • CHEM 131, CHEM 131L, CHEM 132, CHEM 132L

Organic chemistry with labs

  • Two-semester sequence required of all pre-dental students and some pre-medical students
    •  CHEM 334, CHEM 336, CHEM 337
  • One-semester option for some pre-medical students
    • Pre-medical students must check the prerequisites for each medical school
    • CHEM 333. CHEM 333L

Biochemistry

  • CHEM 351

Physics:

Two semesters of general physics with labs

  • PHYS 211 and PHYS 212 (non-calculus based) or PHYS 241 and PHYS 242 (calculus based)

Mathematics:

Two semesters (statistics is often required and is helpful for the MCAT)

  • MATH 211 (Calculus for Applications) or MATH 273 (Calculus I)
  • MATH 237 (Elementary Biostatistics) or PSYC 212 (Behavioral Statistics)

EngLish:

Two writing courses

  • ENGL 102 (Writing for a Liberal Education) or ENGL 190 (Honors Writing Seminar)
  • ENGL 310 (Writing Argument), or ENGL 313 (Academic Essay), or ENGL 316 (Writing about Literature), or ENGL 317 (Writing for Business and Industry), or ENGL 318 (Technical and Scientific Writing)

Psychology and Sociology:

  • PSYC 101 (Introduction to Psychology)
  • SOCI 101 (Introduction to Sociology)

Gaining Admission to Medical / Dental School

A student must have an outstanding undergraduate record to be competitive for admission to medical or dental school. Criteria used to evaluate applicants include:

  • academic achievement with emphasis on performance in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics
  • scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Dental Admission Test (DAT)
  • motivation to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry
  • clinical experience
  • research experience
  • participation in extra-curricular activities
  • participation in extra-curricular activities
  • letters of recommendation

Although educational philosophies and specific undergraduate course requirements differ among the nation's medical and dental schools, these institutions recognize the value of a broad undergraduate education including a strong foundation in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics), well-developed communication skills, and a solid background in the humanities and social sciences.

Program Policy on Granting Committee Interviews and Providing Committee Letters and Letter Packets

  • Minimum requirements for the committee interview
    • 3.0 GPA overall for all courses taken at TU
    • 3.0 GPA for biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses taken at TU
    • Complete at least 24 credits, including at least 16 credits in biology, chemistry, physics, and math, at TU
  • Applicants to dental and osteopathic medical schools
    • Following the committee interview, the Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Committee will, upon request, provide a letter packet to dental and osteopathic medical schools. A letter packet consists of all individual recommendation letters that have been submitted to the committee, along with a brief cover letter.
  • Applicants to allopathic medical schools
    • Following the committee interview, the Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Committee will, upon request, provide a composite letter, also known as a committee letter, to allopathic medical schools. This letter is a comprehensive evaluation, including impressions from the interview, with all individual recommendation letters that have been submitted to the committee appended to the letter.
    • Minimum requirements for the committee letter (allopathic medical students only)
      • Complete interview with the Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Committee
      • 3.25 GPA for all courses taken at TU
      • 3.25 GPA for all biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses taken at TU
      • MCAT score in the 50th percentile or higher
      • Students who interview with the committee but do not meet GPA and/or MCAT score requirements for a committee letter may request a letter packet.