If you’re considering applying for entrance into medical school, you might want to consider getting your undergraduate degree from a pre-med school. Pre-med schools offer courses that are designed to prepare you for medical school in particular, or that would work well for your future studies in medicine and health, such as biology, chemistry, and neuroscience.

Graduating from a reputable pre-med school not only enhances your learning but might even increase your chance of being accepted to the med school of your choice. Consider 10 of the best pre-med colleges in the United States so you can then narrow down your choices as needed, and ensure you’re doing everything possible to prepare yourself for your studies and a future career in medicine.

Colleges and Universities with Best Pre-Med Programs

1. The University of Michigan

Located just 45 miles west of Detroit, the University of Michigan is world-renowned for its academics as well as its athletics and other programs. U of M also offers campuses in Flint and Dearborn, and all locations are considered premier research institutes. The university routinely produces recipients of the Fields Medal, the Turing Award, the Nobel Prize, and the Rhodes Scholarship.

The University of Michigan is one of the few public universities considered to be on par with Ivy League schools and provides many strong options for study in biology, chemistry, and physics. The university allows students to enroll in some online courses for their study as well as their on-campus programs. If you do graduate from this one of the best pre-med schools and do well, you are almost guaranteed to get into medical school.

2. The University of California, Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley, is highly regarded for its research facilities. With 14 colleges and schools, the university offers over 320 different degree programs, some 50 of which are available online.

The physics department at the University of California, Berkeley, allows students to take extension courses while the university also offers many courses in calculus, pre-calculus, biology, and chemistry. The university also offers specialized courses in immunology, genetics, and human anatomy, all of which are vital pre-med courses for any student.

3. The University of Florida

The University of Florida is a public university located in Gainesville, Florida, offering a wide range of courses that are vital for pre-med students, including microbiology, cell science, and biomolecular sciences. Courses are specifically designed to prepare students to enter medical school. Some courses are also taught during summer months in an accelerated cycle, for those who need more flexibility in class scheduling. Consider studying at the University of Florida, one of the best pre-med schools in the nation.

4. The University of Illinois

The University of Illinois is respected for its vital pre-med courses, including studies in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, and interdisciplinary health sciences. The university is also known for its technical programs, and its research contributing to the first successful consumer web browser and touch screens for electronics. By combining technical studies with medicine, a student might choose the University of Illinois to pursue a future career in medical technology.

5. The University of Washington

Despite its rocky beginnings, the University of Washington has built a reputation as a premier research institute, providing many undergraduates, post-grad, and doctorate degree programs. Family medicine and primary care are my favorite choices of studies for new students. The university also offers many courses online and students have the option of working with an academic advisor to decide on the best choice of courses and a manageable course load.

6. Ohio State University

Located in Columbus, Ohio State University typically boasts a student body just shy of 60,000. While most students live on campus and attend classes in person, OSU also offers many distance learning opportunities; some 20% of their students study at least a portion of their coursework online.

The 16 schools and colleges that make up OSU provide hundreds of degree opportunities, many of which would make excellent options for pre-med students, including biochemistry, health and human services, neuroscience, and microbiology. OSU even offers a specific pre-medicine academic area of interest, allowing pre-med students to receive specialized support from the school’s advisors.

7. The University of California, Irvine

The University of California, Irvine, boasts 19 research centers and more than 75 undergraduate degree programs. Many of their majors are ideal for pre-med students, including courses in neurobiology, human biology, evolutionary biology, developmental and cell biology, chemistry, microbiology, human anatomy, and biological sciences, just to name a few.

While the university does typically require students to attend many classes in person, there are a variety of options for online courses and distance learning. Many online courses can also be taken as electives, to help boost your learning while pursuing your degree.

8. The University of Colorado, Boulder

The University of Colorado, Boulder, may not be as large and as well-known as some of its counterparts, but the school boasts 11 different research institutes and 150 programs of study from which to choose. There have also been some 20 astronauts affiliated with the school as well as several MacArthur Fellows and 12 Nobel Laureates!

The University of Colorado also offers many degree programs that are perfectly suited for pre-med students, including studies in chemical and biological engineering, evolutionary biology, and integrative physiology. Each program is designed to prepare students for the MCAT and to ensure they meet all med school requirements and enrich their knowledge base so they are prepared properly for further studies.

9. The University of Arizona

Located in Tucson, Arizona, the programs offered at the University of Arizona are often ranked among the top 25 in the country. Pre-med students might choose their Bachelor of Science in Care, Health & Society, a program designed specifically to prepare students for careers in medicine and health. The course includes studies in the sociology of healthcare but students can also choose from some 15 other units tailored to studies in pre-med.

10. Westfield State University

Westfield State University was established in 1838 by Horace Mann, a politician who advocated for public education and who believed that quality schooling should be available to everyone. Today the school offers degrees in more than 40 concentrations, including a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology that is an excellent option for any pre-med student. The university also offers many online classes as well as daytime schooling, providing flexible scheduling for all its attendees.

 

We hope that this list of best pre-med schools has helped you to see which schools you should apply to. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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