Requirements for Admission
The Faculty of Medicine accepts
applications from current students in good
standing and graduates of accredited colleges who:
Meet the minimum requirements
listed below
Present evidence that their intellectual and personal credentials are of such quality as to predict success in the
study and practice of medicine.
Demonstrate aptitude in the
biological and physical sciences during their undergraduate years, but not to the exclusion of the humanities and social sciences.(A study at Harvard Medical School has shown that students are successful in their medical studies regardless of undergraduate concentration, providing that they have had adequate science preparation. Students are urged to strive for a balanced and liberal education rather than specialized training. No preference is given to applicants who have majored in the sciences over those who have majored in the humanities.)
Supplemented their education with at least one year of college or
university training in the United States or
Canada if they have completed academic work outside the United States or Canada. (Foreign students who do not have a
baccalaureate or advanced degree from an
institution in the United States or Canada are rarely
accepted for admission.)
PLEASE NOTE: Students
who have been enrolled in medical school are
ineligible to apply for admission to the first-year
class. Students who have applied for admission to
HMS on two prior occasions also are ineligible.
General Comments Regarding Course
Requirements
The Committee on Admissions considers the level of courses when evaluating academic performance and determining a candidates suitability for medicine. We require a strong preparation in the sciences and mathematics basic to medical school
studies. Candidates should take courses that are comparable to courses taken by students majoring in these subjects.
In the final analysis, however, it is not the number of years in college or hours in a course, but the quality of education and the maturity of
the student which determine readiness for medical
school. At least three years of college work and
a baccalaureate degree are required prior to
matriculation in medical school.
Required
Course
1. Biology: one year
with laboratory experience. Courses taken
should deal with the cellular and
molecular aspects as well as the
structure and function of living
organisms. Advanced placement credits
cannot be used to satisfy this
requirement; upper level courses should
be taken if granted advanced placement
credits.
2. Chemistry: two
years with laboratory experience. Full
year courses in general (or inorganic)
and organic chemistry generally meet this
requirement. A one semester course in
organic chemistry which covers the
relevant material supplemented by a
semester course in biochemistry may
substitute for the traditional year of
organic chemistry. We will consider other options that
adequately prepare students for the study
of biochemistry and molecular biology in
medical school.
Advanced placement credits which enable a
student to take an upper level course may
be used to meet one semester of this
requirement.
3. Physics: one year.
Advanced placement credits which enable a
student to take an upper level course may
be used to meet one semester of this
requirement.
4. Mathematics: one
year of calculus. Advanced placement
credits may satisfy this requirement (Calculus
AB - 1 semester, Calculus BC - 2
semesters). A course in statistics does
not meet this requirement.
5. Expository Writing:
one year. Writing skills are important
for the study and practice of medicine.
This requirement may be met with any non-science
courses that involve substantial
experience in expository writing.
Advanced placement credits cannot be used
to satisfy this requirement.
6. Additional requirements
for the HST Program: Requirements are
the same as above except that calculus
including differential equations and one
year of calculus-based physics in college
are required. A course in biochemistry is
strongly encouraged before matriculation.
We will consider other course formats or combinations that are sponsored by the
undergraduate institution attended and provide equivalent preparation. When advanced placement credits used to satisfy
portions of the chemistry, physics, or mathematics requirements noted above, scores from the AP examination must be submitted prior to matriculation. If these
credits are not shown on the college transcript,
an AP score report will be required before matriculation.
Recommended Courses
We encourage candidates to complete at least 16 hours in literature, languages, the arts, humanities, and the social
sciences and become familiar with
computers. We also recommend honors courses and independent
study or research, as they offer in-depth exploration of an area of knowledge.
