The "Premedical Picture" at UR
- CURRICULUM
- All of the courses (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math and English) necessary for admission to medical, dental, optometry and veterinary school are offered here. There is no "premedical" or "predental" major, and it is not necessary to major in science in order to improve one's preparation or chances for acceptance. Please note that medical school applications are on the rise, and there will be stiff competition ahead. It is wise for students to think about other careers and to choose their majors with alternatives in mind.
- ADVISING
- The health professions advisers in the College Center for Academic Support provide students with the more specialized academic and other information related to health professions schools. Scott MacPhail, Kate Sgabellone, and Dan Blake may be reached in Lattimore 312 at (585)275-2354. In addition to individual appointments and walk-in consultations, regular group information sessions on premedical courses and the health professions application process are offered. See the Health Professions Handbook.
- ACTIVITIES
- Membership in the Charles Drew Pre-Health Professions Society is open to all students interested in the health professions. A large and very active organization, the Drew Society hosts an annual conference featuring guest speakers from The College, the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry and the local medical community. The Society also maintains information on summer premedical programs and internship/research opportunities.
- RESEARCH
- For students who are interested in research, both the River Campus and the medical center offer a wealth of opportunities, and many students have been able to engage in research for academic credit or as paid employees hired through our Student Employment Office in the Career Center. Stipends are also available from a variety of University and outside sources.
- CLINICAL OPPORTUNITIES
- It is essential that students interested in the health professions acquire hands-on experience before making a firm commitment. Our Strong Memorial Hospital and other area hospitals are always in need of volunteers, as are many local service organizations. The volunteer ambulance companies in the neighboring suburbs, for example, are always in need of help and are excellent sources of experience. For students interested in mental health, the Compeer program pairs volunteers with troubled individuals who need companionship and emotional support. The nearby Al Sigl Center houses several organizations which serve the physically challenged. There are many, many ways in that students may explore health-related careers while helping others.
- REQUIREMENTS
- A. Prerequisites:
- Schools of medicine, dentistry, osteopathy, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary medicine have similar foundational prerequisites for admission. Because individual programs may vary, however, students should consult the reference materials in the Goldberg Career Library and talk with a health professions adviser in the Center for Academic Support. A Health Professions Handbook for UR students and application results are available on the Web at: http://www.rochester.edu/College/CCAS/healthprofessions.html
- Students can meet preprofessional requirements by taking any one of the following sequences for each subject. Nonetheless, students should consult a departmental adviser or an academic adviser in order to choose the appropriate sequence for their ability and intended major.
| Preprofessional Requirements | Minimum # of Credits at UR | Courses Available the UR |
|---|---|---|
| Two semesters of general chemistry with lab | 10 | CHM 131 and 132 |
| Two semesters of organic chemistry with lab | 10 | CHM 203 and 204 with labs 207 and 208 or CHM 171Q and 172Q with labs 173Q and 210 |
| Two semesters of general physics with lab | 8 | PHY 113 and 114 with labs or PHY 121 and 122 with labs |
| Biology with lab | variable | See section B that follows |
| Two semesters of mathematics are strongly recommended but not always required | 8 | MTH 141 and 142 or MTH 161 and 162 or MTH 171Q and 172Q |
| Two semesters of English | 8-12 | The College writing requirement satisfies the preprofessional English requirement. |
- B. Biology Requirement
- Students who plan to pursue a B.A. degree in Biology or a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences will complete more than enough Biology courses to fulfill the preprofessional requirement. Those who choose to major in a discipline unrelated to Biology should consult with the health professions adviser. Regardless of major, all health professions students should consult the Program in Biology and Medicine's Curriculum Handbook, available in Hutchison 402, for the latest information on Biology course offerings. Please note that in order to fulfill the preprofessional requirement of "two semesters of Biology with lab," and to adequately prepare for standardized admission tests, more than two semesters of Biology coursework is required.
- C. General Program Planning Guidelines
- It is important that students intending to apply to health professions schools make an early start on science courses. There is no "one size fits all" schedule (especially since so many entering freshmen have AP and/or transfer credit), but here are some key points to keep in mind.
- 1. Any student considering a Biology or Biological Sciences major should take Biology in the freshman year. The Biology Department strongly recommends that a student enrolling in BIO 110 or BIO 112 also enroll in CHM 131. If there is concern about a student's ability to handle more than two science/technical courses in a semester, consider one of these alternatives:
- Take biology and chemistry in the freshman year and calculus in the summer or in the sophomore year.
- Take calculus with chemistry in the freshman year and biology with organic chemistry in the sophomore year.
- Take calculus and biology in the freshman year and chemistry in the summer (either here or elsewhere).
- 2. You need only two semesters of mathematics for most health professions schools.
- 3. Most Rochester students who apply to health professions schools complete general chemistry in the freshman year, organic chemistry in the sophomore year and physics in the junior year. This "timetable" may be altered to fit individual needs. What is most important to remember is that admission tests for health professions schools must be taken no later than a year before expected matriculation, and all required science courses (except for calculus) must be completed prior to taking tests.
- 4. Health professions schools do not treat repeated courses as the College does. Both grades are included in the cumulative average, so even an "A" in a second attempt does not raise the average that much. A student should be aware of this if (s)he is considering repeating a course.
- 5. Health professions schools are not troubled by a few grades of "W" in an otherwise good record, and they will certainly "forgive" course withdrawals resulting from circumstances beyond a student's control (e.g., illness, family emergency). Students should keep in mind that a grade of "W" indicates that an effort was made to complete a course. When a course is dropped (deleted) from a 16-credit program, the student appears to have carried an "underload" for the entire semester. This is usually more detrimental than a grade of "W."
- 6. Students should consider from the beginning that they may be better, more mature, more competitive applicants if they wait until after their senior year to apply.
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