Pre-Medical & Pre-Dental Advising

W. Brian and Karen F. O'Connor, Pre-Med/Dental Advisors
The Pre-Med Advising Office is located in the Shade Tree Lab
Phone: (413) 545-3674
email: briano@bio.umass.edu or kareno@bio.umass.edu

Mailing address:
W. Brian O'Connor or Karen F. O'Connor
Pre-Medical Program c/o Biology Department
Morrill Science Center
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA. 01003

Pre-Med Q&A

Overview

The University offers a standard pre-medical/dental curriculum, which meets all requirements necessary to apply to health professional school. There is NO PRE-MED MAJOR OR PRE-DENT MAJOR.

You should select a major that is interesting and challenging and allows you to pursue a variety of different careers. You should select a major in the field of your greatest interest and ability.

Many UMass pre-professional students chose a major in Biochemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Kinesiology, and Psychology. Any major is acceptable as long as it allows the student to complete the minimal science/math pre-professional requirements, which are the following:

Two semesters (one year) (with labs) of:

• Inorganic Chemistry (Chem 111, 112)
• Organic Chemistry (Chem 261, 262, 269)
• Physics (Physics 131, 133 and 132, 134)
• Introductory Biology (Biology 100, 101)
• Mathematics (at least 1 semester of Calculus, preferably 2, or statistics or computer science)

Selecting a Major

If you are planning to enter an allopathic medical, osteopathic medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic or veterinary school after receiving a B.S. or B.A. degree, you should select an academic major in the field of your greatest interest and ability. Many UMass pre-professional students choose a major in Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Psychology (College of Arts and Sciences), occasionally students choose majors in Animal Science or Microbiology (College of Natural Resources and the Environment) or Kinesiology (School of Public Health and Health Sciences). Actually, any major is acceptable as long as it allows the student to complete the minimal pre-professional requirements.

The University offers a standard pre-medical/dental curriculum, which meets all the requirements necessary to apply to professional schools. However, because of the stiff completion for medical school most students are strongly advised not to major in pre-med or pre-dent, but rather to select a major that is interesting and challenging to them and allows them the opportunity to pursue a variety of careers. Students preparing for careers in the health professions must be aware of the cultural diversity and backgrounds of future patients. Therefore, we encourage students to pursue courses in the liberal arts, humanities and sciences. Such students are broadly educated and better prepared to make their career choices.

Minimum preparation for the pre-professional student must include two semesters (one year) each of the following: inorganic chemistry; organic chemistry; introductory biology, college mathematics (preferably calculus); physics and English. Certain additional courses in biology, chemistry or mathematics may be required or recommended by some medical, dental, or veterinary schools.

The Pre-Medical Program

This program advises all interested students in all areas of medicine and dentistry, and certain other allied health fields. All interested students, regardless of academic major, who are completing their 3rd semester at the university (1st semester for transfers, special students, continuing education, 2nd degree, graduates) should register at the pre-med office. By registering a student can take advantage of advice and counseling from the pre-medical advisors. Letters of recommendation for medical, dental and other professional schools are written by the pre-med advisors. A library of medical, dental, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, chiropractic and veterinary schools catalogs and other pertinent materials are maintained in the Pre-Med Office, SHADE TREE LAB.

Medical School Acceptance Rates

Because we advise a wide variety of students it is difficult to determine accurate and meaningful admission statistics. Approximately 80% of our applicants gain admission, (assuming they meet the criteria below) but this percentage varies greatly by age, and of course, academic and personal record of the student. Residency in a state in which there is a state supported medical school (or schools) is also a definite advantage in gaining admission. Competition for the 100 positions at the sole state medical school in Worcester is keen since over 800 bona fide state residents apply. However, New York has 4 state supported medical schools so New York residents have a considerably better chance of acceptance at a state school as compared to a Massachusetts resident. Similar situations occur with residents at Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Texas. Please keep these situations in mind when you inquire about statistics concerning the "admission success" for medical school applicants, as they can be misleading. In the past 5 years it is our experience that our successful applicants to any US medical school have had a cumulative grade average of no lower than 3.6 (on a 4.0 scale) and no lower than 31 (79.1 - 83.3 percentile) on the MCAT along with extensive health/community/volunteer service and/or research experience. Our acceptance rate for applicants to dental, optometry, podiatry and chiropractic school ranges from 90-100%.