Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Information from the Pre-Med Advisors

Selecting a Major

If you are planning to enter a medical, dental, optometry, osteopathic medical, veterinary or chiropractic school after completing your BS 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 Microbiology, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Psychology, etc. Any major is acceptable as long as it allows the student to complete the minimal pre-professional requirements (see below).

Because of stiff competition for medical school admission, students are strongly advised 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 cultural diversity and backgrounds of future patients. Therefore, we encourage students to pursue courses in the liberal arts, humanities and the sciences. Such students are broadly educated and better prepared to make career choices.

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

Visit the CNS site for more information and to schedule appointments.

The Pre-Medical Program

This program advises all students interested 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 and graduate students) should register at the premed office. By registering with the committee, a student can take advantage of advising and counseling from the pre-medical advisors. Letters of recommendation for medical, dental and other professional schools are written by the pre-medical advisors.  A library of medical, dental, optometry, osteopathic, podiatry, chiropractic and veterinary school catalogs and other pertinent materials are available in the Pre-Med Office in Shade Tree Lab.

Medical, Dental School Acceptance Rates

Because we advise such a variety of students, it is difficult to determine accurate and meaningful statistics. Approximately 70% of our applicants gain admission, but this percentage varies greatly by age, and of course, academic and personal records of the students.  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 NY residents have a considerably better chance of acceptance at a state school as compared to a MA resident. Similar situations occur with residents of PA, NJ and TX. Please keep this in mind when you inquire about statistics concerning the “admission success rate” for medical school applicants. In the past 10 years it is our experience that successful applicants to any US medical school must have a cumulative grade average of no lower than 3.6 (on a 4.0 scale) and no lower than 30 (~70th percentile) on the MCAT along with extensive health/community service. Our acceptance rate for applicants to dental, osteopathy, optometry podiatry and chiropractic schools ranges from 95-100%.