Last Updated on September 30, 2026
Quick answer: Pre-med requirements usually include a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics with labs, plus biochemistry, and many schools also recommend psychology, sociology, statistics, and writing. Alongside coursework, build clinical experience, research, and service, take the MCAT in junior year, and apply the summer before senior year or later.
Pre-Med Requirements for Every Year of College
You might have taken some high school courses to prepare for a future career in medicine, but now it’s time for the big leagues, the ever-stressful pre-medical student life at college. With so many requirements to check off your list before medical school, you need to map out the next four years right from the start. So, how do you stay on the right track for your future career as a doctor and take appropriate advantage of your pre-med years? Use this year-by-year plan to map out the pre-med requirements for each year of college and give yourself the best possible preparation.
Freshman Year
To start our list of pre-med requirements, you must meet with your pre-med or academic advisor to figure out which courses you’ll need to complete throughout college. Most medical schools require one year of biology with lab, one year of general chemistry with lab, one year of organic chemistry with lab, one year of physics with lab, and one semester of biochemistry. To stay organized during the process, create an academic plan on your computer or planner to remind yourself of what prerequisites you need to take. [1]
Extracurricular-wise, as you look for more unique activities, it can’t hurt to join clubs that are relevant to medicine and STEM, such as Pre-Health Society, Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS), Biochemistry Club, etc. early on. You’ll get to meet more pre-med students and talk about your ambitions together. Take the time for other hobbies as well, admissions officers appreciate students who have other interests besides medicine. Participate in activities and projects that distinguish you from other applicants, whether it be marathon running or a cappella. You will have 15 slots in the AMCAS activities list to talk about your extracurriculars. Start thinking early about how you will fill those spaces!
Next, apply for lab or clinical research with a biology, chemistry, or neuroscience professor, or a lab outside your university. Our overview of research opportunities for pre-med students can help you get started. Think about why you want to be a doctor. Let these motivations shape the extracurriculars you pursue, since they can also shape your future personal statement. If you can, shadow a doctor. Patient exposure matters, and starting early is key.
Clinical exposure deserves a place in your schedule from the start. Medical schools look for shadowing, patient-centered experience, community service, and leadership, because these show that you understand the realities of caring for others. [2] Keep a simple log of your hours, responsibilities, and memorable patient interactions. Those notes will make your activities list and personal statement much easier to write later. For practical ideas, read our tips on how to get clinical experience for med school.
Sophomore Year
In terms of pre-med requirements, sophomore year is when you should start getting into a groove instead of trying new things. Continue taking pre-med courses and perform well in them! Keep track of your cumulative, major, and science GPAs. Narrow down your extracurriculars to those that excite you most. Start applying for leadership positions within them. Volunteer with a medical-related organization so that you can demonstrate your altruism and empathy.
As you start solidifying your goals, familiarize yourself with the medical school application process timeline and components. If you plan to apply during your junior year of college: Start studying for the MCAT. And finally, find a summer internship that grants you clinical exposure. Medical schools want you to have patient exposure, so this one is important!
Your summers count, too. Use them for research, clinical work, or a course you could not fit into the semester, and look for roles that give you more responsibility each year. For ideas, see what pre-meds should do over the summer.
Junior Year
This is a crucial time if you’re applying straight after college so you need to make sure you’ve covered all of the pre-med requirements.
If you’re applying to attend medical school immediately after senior year: an important point among pre-med requirements is to talk to professors you’re close to about recommendation letters. Think about how you want to divide your letters between professors and supervisors. If applicable, talk to your pre-med advisor about coordinating a committee letter.
At the same time, reflect on your profile. Think about which areas your application might need improvement – is your GPA low? Do you need more extracurriculars?
Revisit your course plan and make sure you’re meeting all the requirements for medical school. Continue to conduct research, in a medicine-related track if possible. It also can’t hurt to show initiative. If you feel like the extracurriculars at your college don’t facilitate your interests, start your own club or organization.
Timing is also important. Start thinking about whether you want to take a gap year before medical school: consider your work experience, grades, and whether you’re mentally prepared. You will need to apply in the upcoming June, so make sure you have everything you’d need! If you don’t plan on taking a gap year, register for and take the MCAT!
When you choose your MCAT date, work backward from when you plan to submit your application. Leave enough time to receive your score and, if needed, retake the exam. As you ask for letters of recommendation, give each recommender your resume, a short summary of your goals, and a clear deadline so they can write a specific, detailed letter.
Senior Year
If you haven’t applied yet: look through your courses, grades, and extracurriculars and plan out when you intend to apply to medical school. If you’re taking a gap year, start looking for jobs early senior year, use your connections to STEM professors and your internship supervisors. Even in the time you’re taking off, it’s preferred that you spend time doing something that will continue to showcase why you’re a solid fit for the medical field, so don’t underestimate your gap year!
It’s become more and more common to not apply directly out of college. Senior year, in that case, is the time to register for the MCAT and take the test. Start making a list of medical schools you want to apply to. Build a balanced list of MD programs that fit your academic profile, mission interests, and location preferences. Keeping in mind when you’re going to apply, begin drafting your personal statement and activities list, and check in with your recommenders to make sure they are on track. If your grades aren’t up to the mark, start researching additional science classes you can take through a post bacc program. If you’re applying the June after graduation, get all your application materials ready! It’s go time!
As you can tell, a lot of your to-do list depends on whether or not you decide to take a gap year before medical school. Alongside remembering the pre-med requirements, use your judgment as well as our Medical School Application Timeline to further plan the year before your application. Starting in your freshman year gives you time to meet every requirement without rushing. Best of luck!
Core Pre-Med Requirements: Courses and the MCAT
Pre-med is a track, not a major, so you can study any subject as long as you complete the prerequisites medical schools expect. The core sciences are biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, usually with labs, plus biochemistry. Many schools also want coursework beyond the lab sciences. Duke University’s prehealth advising office, for example, recommends calculus, statistics, psychology, medical sociology, and two English or writing courses alongside the sciences. [3] Requirements vary by school, so check each program’s website before you finalize your plan.
These classes also prepare you for the MCAT. The exam has four sections: Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills. [4] Because psychology and sociology concepts appear on the exam, fit those courses in before your test date rather than saving them for senior year.
Ask your advisor about AP credit early, too. Some medical schools accept AP credit toward prerequisites and others do not, so an upper-level course in the same subject can help you cover both possibilities. [3] If you need to fill gaps after graduation, a post-bacc program is another way to complete your pre-med requirements.
A Four-Year Pre-Med Checklist
Use this summary to check your progress at the start of each semester:
- Freshman year: meet with your pre-med advisor, map out your prerequisites, join a medicine or STEM club, and begin shadowing, volunteering, or research.
- Sophomore year: continue your science sequence, track your cumulative and science GPAs, take on leadership roles, and find clinical exposure over the summer.
- Junior year: finish your core prerequisites, take psychology and sociology before the MCAT, sit for the exam, and ask professors and supervisors for letters.
- Senior year: submit your application if you are applying straight through, or plan a gap year that adds clinical, research, or service experience.
Every student’s timeline looks a little different, and that is fine. What matters most is that each year builds on the last, so your coursework, experiences, and reflections come together in a clear, convincing application.
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