Pre-Health Sciences Advising

Pre-Pharmacy Advisor: Grace Derda

Faculty Pre-Health Advisor: Dr. James O'Brien

Students wishing to enter medical, dental, optometry or veterinary medicine schools should pursue B.A. or B.S. degrees in the majors of their choice, but they should also take additional courses as necessary for admission to the professional school.

Since medical school admission requirements vary, students are urged to consult the catalogs of the schools to which they intend to apply. Updated information may be found in Medical School Admission Requirements (United States and Canada) for the current year, available from the Association of American Medical Colleges, 2450 N. Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20037-1126. A copy is available for student use at the reference desk of the Thomas Jefferson Library.

Many medical, dental, and veterinary schools recommend the following undergraduate courses:

Biology: Bio 1811, Introductory Biology: From Molecules to Organisms; Biology 1821, Introductory Biology: Organisms and the Environment; Genetics and additional courses in molecular and/or cell biology.

Chemistry: Chemistry 1111, Introductory Chemistry I; Chemistry 1121, Introductory Chemistry II; Chemistry 2612, Organic Chemistry I; Chemistry 2622, Organic Chemistry II; Chemistry 2633, Organic Chemistry Lab; and additional courses in biochemistry, organic chemistry, and quantitative analysis.

Mathematics: Students should take courses at least through calculus, as appropriate for the major degree.

Physics & Astronomy: Eight credit hours or as appropriate for the major degree.

Requirements for the College of Optometry at UM-St. Louis may be found at UM-St. Louis College of Optometry.

Students also should take the required national standardized exam during the junior year or as is appropriate for the exam: the Medical College Admission Test for premed students; the Dental Admission Test for pre-dental students; and the Optometry Admission Test for pre-optometry students. Pre-Vet students should consult the school to which they intend to apply for the appropriate admission test. (Usually it will be the Medical College Admission Test or the Graduate Record Exam and/or the Graduate Record Exam/Biology.)

Each year, the number of applicants to health profession schools exceeds the number of available places. Students are encouraged to have alternative plans should they not gain entrance. Pharmacy, nursing, and laboratory technology are some alternative fields to consider. For further information, testing dates or pre-health sciences advising, contact the Office of Undergraduate Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences, 303 Lucas Hall, 314-516-5501.

Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Information

The web site for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) includes information on the following topics:

American Association of Medical Colleges
Medicine as a career
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
        Practice test and preparation
        Registration deadlines
        Test dates
Alphabetical and geographical listings of medical schools
Applying to medical schools
American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
Financial Aid

See websites below for information on Missouri medical schools:

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Washington University School of Medicine

For information on schools of dentistry, optometry and veterinary medicine, see web sites below:

American Dental Education Association (ADEA)

University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry

Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry

Assocation of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)