Medical
School – Preparation
PROSPECTIVE PRE-MED INFORMATION
What constitutes a “Pre-Med” major at
University of San Francisco?
Students
may choose to complete their pre-medical or other pre-health science
requirements as a part of, or in addition to, the requirements of any academic
major. Applicants are encouraged to choose a major that reflects their own
general curiosity or interest in case they decide not to pursue a career in
health in the future.
What
Premedical Services does USF offer that will help me to be a successful medical
school applicant?
While there is no specific premedical advisor at USF, Pre-Professional Health Committee
(PPHC) that can help guide and recommend students to professional health
schools, primarily medical and dental schools, but including pharmacy,
optometry, veterinary medicine and podiatry. PPHC is optional, but is strongly
encouraged. There are also numerous campus organizations at USF that can
provide helpful information and resources to premedical students (see Resources).
Why
should I go to USF when other schools have specific medical programs that might
be more advantageous?
USF
offers a renowned academic community that provides many opportunities for personal
and professional enrichment such as research with premier faculty, programs
that link students to internships and volunteer opportunities, and a tight knit
educational environment that works to prepare students for the academic rigors
of medical school. Additionally, the number of students admitted to medical
schools from the University of San Francisco surpasses the national average by
more than 20 percent.
What
education pathway will I have to go through in pursuing a medical education?
The lower division science course
requirements for medical (including podiatry), dental, pharmacy, and veterinary
schools generally include:
- General
Biology, two semesters, lecture/lab
- General
Chemistry, two semesters, lecture/lab
- General
Physics, two semesters, lecture/lab (may be non-Calculus based courses)
- Organic
Chemistry, two semesters, lecture/lab
- Biochemistry,
3 units, lecture
Other highly recommended courses
include: Analytical Chemistry (required for pharmacy schools), Calculus (at
least one semester strongly recommended by most schools), Genetics, Cell Physiology, Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Health Studies.
