What Is Pre-Med? It Is Not a Major

The most common misconception about pre-med

Pre-med is not a college major. You will not find it listed as a degree option in any university catalog, and no college grants a “Bachelor of Science in Pre-Med.” Pre-med is a track, a set of prerequisite courses and experiences that prepare you to apply to medical school, regardless of what major you choose.

This distinction matters because it shapes one of the most important decisions you will make in college: what to study. You can major in English, engineering, music, economics, or any other field and still complete every requirement for medical school. The only thing that matters is that you take the required courses along the way.

What the prerequisites actually are

Most medical schools require the following coursework, though specific requirements vary by school:

These courses typically fit within any major’s schedule. A humanities major, for example, would take these as electives alongside their primary coursework.

Why your major does not matter (with one caveat)

Admissions committees evaluate your GPA, MCAT score, clinical experience, research, and personal qualities. They do not penalize or reward you based on your major. AAMC data consistently shows that students from non-science majors perform comparably on the MCAT and in medical school.

The caveat: you need to do well in the prerequisite science courses regardless of your major. A 3.2 science GPA will be a challenge whether you majored in biology or philosophy. Choose a major you genuinely enjoy, because a higher GPA in a subject you love is better than a mediocre GPA in a subject you chose because you thought you had to.

The pre-med “track” beyond courses

Completing prerequisites is only part of the picture. Medical schools look for a combination of academic preparation and experiential learning:

Clinical experience means direct interaction with patients in a healthcare setting. Shadowing a physician, volunteering at a hospital, working as an EMT or medical scribe, or serving at a free clinic all count. Medical schools want evidence that you understand what a physician’s daily work actually looks like.

Research does not need to be in a biomedical lab. Clinical research, public health research, psychology research, and even social science research demonstrate analytical thinking and curiosity. What matters is that you engaged meaningfully and can discuss your work.

Community service reflects your commitment to serving others, which is central to medicine. Sustained involvement in one or two organizations carries more weight than a long list of brief activities.

When to start

If you are in high school, you do not need to do anything pre-med specific yet. Focus on strong grades, genuine interests, and exploring whether healthcare feels right for you through volunteering or job shadowing.

If you are in college, most students begin prerequisite courses in their first year with general chemistry and biology. Meet with a pre-health advisor early, even if you are unsure, so you understand the timeline.

If you are a non-traditional student (career changer, post-baccalaureate), dedicated post-bacc programs and special master’s programs exist specifically to help you complete prerequisites efficiently. See our Post-Baccalaureate Programs guide.

Next steps

Related pages

Pre-Med Myths Debunked
Pre-Med Requirements
Choosing a Major
For High School Students