Pre-Medicine

Choosing a Major 
Upon starting your undergraduate education, one of the first decisions you are faced with is choosing a major. Medical school programs do not require applicants to complete a specific undergraduate major, as long as they have completed the required prerequisite coursework. It is important to choose a major that you both enjoy and can excel in academically.

In addition to selecting a major of your choice, you have the option to select the UCCS Pre-Medicine Track. Click Here to access the Program Catalog for the Pre-Medicine Track Information

IMPORTANT: The Pre-Medicine Track is not a major or a minor, but a listing of prerequisite courses and recommendations needed to be eligible for admission to the University of Colorado School of Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus: http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/medicalschool/

Other medical schools may have different requirements.  Students should check admissions requirements for all schools to which they plan to apply. For more information about medical school and osteopathic school requirements, visit: Required Premedical Coursework and Competencies | Students & Residents and Choose D.O. Explorer | AACOM

*Completion of requisite coursework does not guarantee acceptance into any professional degree

Pre-medical preparation benefits from a clear, structured approach that balances academics, experiential learning, and application planning. Students should prioritize building a strong academic foundation while gaining early exposure to clinical settings, volunteering and/or research experiences, and MCAT preparation.

While each student’s journey to medical school is unique, it is often helpful to create a personalized timeline to plan how these activities can be incorporated throughout the pre-med years. The AAMC provides the following resource to help guide students in their planning: Timeline for Application and Admission to Medical School | Students & Residents

In addition, when preparing to apply, applicants must organize transcripts, secure letters of recommendation, craft a compelling personal statement, and submit their centralized application.

Medical School Centralized Applications

AMCAS is a centralized online application system that allows applicants to submit one primary application to multiple allopathic medical schools in the United States. It simplifies the process by collecting your academic records, activities, personal statement, and letters of recommendation in a single place. The following resources provide additional information about applying through AMCAS: 

• AMCAS Applicant Guide
• AMCAS Tools and Tutorials
• AMCAS application process
• AMCAS Medical Schools and Deadlines search tool 

There are a few allopathic medical schools do not utilize the AMCAS program. To learn more about these schools, visit: AMCAS® Program-Participating Medical Schools and Deadlines | Students & Residents. You can use this link to learn more about the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) is the centralized application that allows students to submit one primary application to multiple osteopathy schools, including your academic history, MCAT scores, personal statement, experiences, and letters of recommendation.

• The Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer) exam is a situational judgment test designed to assess one's personal and professional attributes, including: Collaboration, Communication, Empathy, Equity, Ethics, Motivation, Problem Solving, Professionalism, Resilience, and Self Awareness. 
   
  • It is a virtually proctored assessment. Each section contains a video-based and word-based scenario and open-ended questions.

  • For more information, visit: About Casper - Take Casper 

     

Shadowing 

• Shadowing provides an opportunity to follow and observe a physician as they perform their jobs and to gain a “day in the life” perspective. 

• When identifying a physician to shadow, many students select a general practitioner of family medicine or internal medicine to gain an overall perspective. If you find yourself interested in a particular field, you can opt to seek out physicians that specialize in that area or similar fields. 

• To learn more about shadowing, visit: Shadowing a Doctor | Students & Residents

Clinical Experience 

• Clinical experiences include opportunities where you actively interact with patients, contribute to their care, and develop a deeper understanding of healthcare delivery. 

• Examples can include volunteering in hospitals or clinics, working as a medical scribe, certified nursing assistant (CNA), EMT, or participating in patient care programs. 

• To read more about clinical experience options, visit:

  •  Five Ways to Gain Experience Without Shadowing | Students & Residents

  • Get Experience in the Medical Field | Students & Residents