This page covers pre-med prerequisite course planning, pre-health advising resources, and MCAT® preparation guidance specific to undergraduate students at New York colleges and universities.
Pre-Med Prerequisites at New York Institutions
The standard pre-med prerequisites (two semesters each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics with labs, plus biochemistry, statistics, English, psychology, and sociology) are offered at virtually every four-year institution in New York. The key differences between institutions lie in the quality of instruction, the availability of pre-health advising, the research infrastructure, and the support systems for pre-med students.
SUNY Flagship Campuses: Stony Brook University, University at Buffalo, Binghamton University, and SUNY Albany offer comprehensive pre-med prerequisite courses through their chemistry, biology, physics, and psychology departments. These campuses have dedicated pre-health advising offices that provide committee letters, application timeline workshops, and individualized counseling. Stony Brook’s proximity to Stony Brook University Hospital and its medical school creates particularly strong clinical and research connections. Buffalo’s Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences provides undergraduate research opportunities and early medical school exposure. Binghamton has a strong pre-med tradition with high medical school acceptance rates relative to its applicant pool.
CUNY Campuses: Hunter College, City College, Brooklyn College, Queens College, Baruch College, and other CUNY schools offer pre-med prerequisites at an extremely affordable cost for New York City residents. Hunter College has one of the strongest pre-med programs in the CUNY system, with a dedicated pre-health advising office and active pre-med student organizations. City College’s Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education (now the CUNY School of Medicine) offers a combined BS/MD program that draws pre-med talent to the campus. CUNY students should be aware that some medical schools have historically scrutinized grades from community colleges and open-admissions institutions more closely than grades from selective universities. Performing at the top of your class and scoring well on the MCAT® helps mitigate this concern. Additionally, taking upper-level science courses at four-year CUNY campuses (rather than community colleges) for your more advanced prerequisites, earning strong letters of recommendation from science faculty who know you well, and demonstrating significant clinical and research experience all help build a compelling application that stands on its own merits regardless of your undergraduate institution. The CUNY system has produced thousands of successful physicians, and your undergraduate institution alone does not define your potential or your future.
Private Universities: NYU, Columbia, Cornell, University of Rochester, Syracuse, Fordham, Hofstra, Colgate, Hamilton, Vassar, and dozens of other private institutions offer pre-med tracks. Larger research universities typically provide more research opportunities and clinical connections, while smaller liberal arts colleges offer more personalized advising and smaller class sizes in prerequisite courses. Both approaches can produce excellent medical school applicants. The most important factor for medical school admissions is not the prestige or ranking of your undergraduate institution but rather your performance within it: your GPA, MCAT® score, clinical experience, research, and personal statement.
MCAT® Preparation in New York
The MCAT® is the standardized exam required for admission to virtually all MD and DO medical schools. It tests biology, biochemistry, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, psychology, sociology, and critical analysis and reasoning skills. Most New York students take the MCAT® in the spring or summer after completing organic chemistry and biochemistry.
Free resources first: Khan Academy® offers a comprehensive, free MCAT® preparation course developed in partnership with the AAMC®. The AAMC® itself provides free practice questions, one free full-length practice exam, and reasonably priced additional materials. These two resources provide a strong preparation foundation at minimal cost. New York college libraries (particularly CUNY and SUNY libraries) often have MCAT® review books available for borrowing, eliminating the need to purchase expensive prep books. Pre-med clubs at many New York campuses organize MCAT® study groups that provide accountability and peer support. See our MCAT® Preparation page for a complete study plan.
Testing locations: Pearson VUE testing centers across New York State administer the MCAT® in New York City (multiple locations), Long Island, Westchester, Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo, and other cities. Register early through the AAMC® at students-residents.aamc.org/mcat, as popular spring and summer dates fill quickly, especially at NYC-area centers.
Transfer Students and Community College Pathways
Many New York pre-med students begin at CUNY community colleges or SUNY community colleges before transferring to four-year institutions. This is a financially smart strategy, particularly when combined with the Excelsior Scholarship (which covers SUNY and CUNY tuition). To make the most of this pathway, work closely with both your community college advisor and the transfer admissions office at your target four-year institution to ensure courses transfer and satisfy prerequisites. Complete as many general education requirements and lower-level science prerequisites (general chemistry, biology I and II, introductory physics, psychology, sociology, English) at the community college as possible, and plan to take organic chemistry, biochemistry, and upper-level biology courses at the four-year institution. Medical schools evaluate the rigor of your coursework, so taking the most challenging courses at the most challenging institution available to you at each stage demonstrates academic preparedness. See our Pre-Med Requirements page.
Choosing Your Major
Medical schools do not require a specific major. You can major in biology, English, engineering, art history, or any other field and still be competitive, provided you complete the required prerequisites and score well on the MCAT®. The most common pre-med majors at New York colleges are biology, biochemistry, chemistry, neuroscience, and health sciences, primarily because these overlap with prerequisites. Non-science majors who complete prerequisites can differentiate themselves in the applicant pool with a unique academic perspective. See our Choosing a Major page.
Academic Planning by Year
New York pre-med students should plan their course sequences carefully to avoid overloading any single semester and to ensure they complete all prerequisites before taking the MCAT®. A common pitfall is combining organic chemistry and physics in the same semester, which many students find overwhelming due to the cumulative study demands of both courses. Spread your heavy science courses across semesters and pair them with lighter non-science courses to maintain a manageable workload.
Year 1: General chemistry I and II (with labs), biology I and II (with labs), calculus or statistics, English composition. Year 2: Organic chemistry I and II (with labs), physics I (with lab), psychology, sociology. Year 3: Biochemistry (critical MCAT® content), physics II (with lab), upper-level biology electives (genetics, cell biology, anatomy, microbiology). Take the MCAT® in the spring or early summer. Year 4: Remaining electives and major requirements. Submit AMCAS® in June, complete secondaries and interviews in the fall. This timeline works for traditional four-year students; those who transfer from community colleges or take gap years should adjust accordingly. See our Pre-Med Timeline page for a detailed semester-by-semester guide.
CUNY and SUNY community college students should prioritize completing general chemistry, biology, introductory physics, psychology, sociology, English, and math before transferring. Save organic chemistry, biochemistry, and upper-level biology for the four-year institution, where the course rigor will be evaluated more favorably by medical school admissions committees. Work with transfer advisors at both your current and target institutions to verify course-by-course equivalencies before enrolling.
References
AAMC. “MCAT Essentials.” AAMC, 2025. https://students-residents.aamc.org/mcat/. Accessed March 2026.
SUNY. “Transfer Pathways.” SUNY, 2025. https://www.suny.edu/. Accessed March 2026.
Khan Academy. “MCAT Prep.” Khan Academy, 2025. https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat. Accessed March 2026.