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Thank you for watching this Prehealth video. Today I will be talking with you about the required courses for Prehealth students and choosing your major.
Most professional health schools require the following courses:
2 semesters of Biology with lab, 2 semesters of general chemistry with lab,
, 2 semesters of organic chemistry with lab, 2 semesters of physics with lab, and 2 semesters of English.
It is also recommended that students take Calculus 1 and 2, Biochemistry and Human Physiology.
However, US medical schools are increasingly moving toward a competency based model which may allow
for greater flexibility of course choices for future applicants. Stay tuned for additional information as the competency model unfolds.
At the University at Buffalo students generally take the following courses to complete the prerequisite courses for professional health schools:
If you have received AP or IB credit for any of these courses you should talk with a Prehealth Advisor about the best option for your courses and schedule.
Generally it is advised that students repeat the courses they have AP or IB credit for here at college or University setting.
If you decide to take the AP or IB credit for any of these courses then professional health schools will expect to see additional work in the subject completed at the college level.
For example if you take credit for Physics 1 and 2 professional health schools will expect you to still take a year of physics at the college level.
Some professional health schools require additional courses beyond the general prerequisites already mentioned.
Optometry schools generally require statistics, microbiology, psychology, and biochemistry;
chiropractic schools generally require psychology and other social science and humanities courses;
veterinary schools generally require biochemistry, genetics, animal nutrition, and microbiology.
The only course that UB does not offer is animal nutrition.
If you are planning to apply to a veterinary school that requires this course you should talk with the school to see if they will substitute Human nutrition for this requirement.
If you are planning to apply to a Physician Assistant program their requirements vary from other professional health schools.
Physician Assistant programs are normally master's level programs, each with their own course requirements.
Generally Physician Assistant programs require General chemistry 1 and 2, general biology 1 and 2, human physiology, anatomy, microbiology, and introduction to psychology.
It is strongly recommended that you do research on the Physician Assistant programs you are interested in applying
to early in your undergraduate career so you can ensure you take all the necessary prerequisite courses.
In addition to the prerequisite courses already mentioned the MCAT is changing in spring 2015.
For students planning to take the MCAT after January 2015 it is highly recommended that you take
introduction to psychology, introduction to sociology, and a statistics course to be best prepared for the new MCAT.
While it may seem that Biology or Biomedical Sciences would be the best majors as a Prehealth student you can actually major in any major at UB
as long as you add the prerequisite courses into your schedule.
Professional health schools like to have broadly educated students in their classes.
The best major is one that you are both interested in and will excel in.
Admissions to Professional health schools are very competitive and if you are taking courses you
are truly interested in you will be more likely to study and go to class.
Grades matter a lot in the application process to professional health schools.
The GPAs listed here are averages, not cut offs, but the averages ranges from a B average up to an A-/A average.
While grades do matter they are not they only thing that admissions committees will look at while reviewing your academic history.
Professional health schools prefer to see that you have taken 15 or more credits most semesters with 2 sciences most semesters.
They will also look at the rigor of your courses over time and the trends in your grades.
Have your grades gone up or down as you move into higher level sciences?
You will want to minimize the number of courses you have to repeat.
Professional health schools like to see that you can do well in a course the first time.
If you think you should repeat a course or are not sure if you should repeat a course talk with a
a Prehealth Advisor before retaking the course. They will help you decide if retaking the course or if taking
additional higher level sciences would be the best option for you.
Most Professional health schools have admissions exams that students must take.
Students normally take the admissions exams the spring of
the junior year but you should not take the exam until you have completed or are finishing the prerequisite courses
courses and you feel prepared to take the exam.
If you are unsure on when you should take an admissions exam you can talk with a prehealth advisor.
The University at Buffalo has Early Assurance Programs for both medical and dental school. Students would apply to Early Assurance during their sophomore
year of college and if accepted are guaranteed a place in the Medical/Dental school
as long as you maintain their outlined requirements. For the Medical School students need a 1400 SAT score in Math and Reading from one sitting
the medical school does not mix and match the best scores from multiple SAT exams.
Students also need a 3.75 overall and science GPA with half of your premedical prerequisites,
, mentioned earlier in this video, completed.
For Dental School students need a 3.5 overall and science GPA with ¾ of the prerequisite courses completed, including 2 semesters of English.
For more information, make an appointment with a Prehealth Advisor by calling 716-645-6013 or stopping by 109 Norton Hall.
Watch additional Prehealth Videos, read the handbooks, attend a workshop or visit the prehealth website at http://prehealth.buffalo.edu.