Medical

³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏing to Medical School

a costumed person walks down a sidewalk

Medical programs require various prerequisites for admission and consider a variety of clinical and non-clinical experiences. This typically includes:  

  • A bachelor's degree
  • Specific prerequisite coursework
  • Standardized test scores
  • Clinical and non-clinical experiences
  • Volunteer experiences
  • Research (not always) 

Become a Physician

Did you know - there are 2 types of medical schools in the United States.

  • Allopathic:
  • Osteopathic:

    • Both have the similar training and can practice in all 50 states.  DO's receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
  • Other Physicians
    •  -Alternate resource

Pre-Professional Health

Quick Links

Common Pathways @³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ

What major should you choose? You can major in anything and apply to medical school. Admissions requirements vary from school to school, so you should do your research to make sure you have a plan to meet all of the requirements needed for your schools of interest. 

When should I apply to Medical School?

Everyone's timeline is different, but gives recommendations on what should do each year (freshman -> sophomore -> junior -> senior) to help you build your most competitive application possible. Consider taking a if you need to build your clinical experiences or brush up your GPA, or maybe just want to take a break to recharge before entering a rigorous medical education program. 

How to Build a Competitive Application

Most programs have a minimum GPA, typically at least 3.0 but many programs have an average GPA of 3.5 or higher for admitted students.

You'll apply through a Centralized Application Service, or CAS. The link below explains how GPAs are calculated:

Medical School (Allopathic - MD)
Medical School (Osteopathic - DO)

 

MCAT Prep  

It's best to begin preparing for the early.  Check to see the of the schools you are considering. AAMC offers to assist students with MCAT prep or consider taking an MCAT prep course.  It's also a good idea to connect with other pre-med students through the Pre-Health Club to hear the recommendations of other students further along in their journey toward medical school.  that provides reduced fee waivers for the MCAT. If approved, the primary application fee in AMCAS will also be waived. 

Shadow:

  • Why Shadow:
  • Shadow abroad:  


Get a Certification: 

  • Become a Medical Assistant: or search for local Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) courses
  • Become a Patient Care Technician:  Sentara offers a 16-week program which includes 180 hours of hands-on experience
  • Become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT):  Search local Community Colleges or health care institutions for programs in your area, such as   You can also check with your local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) department to see if they offer EMT training. Some cities, like Virginia Beach, offer free EMT training in exchange for a volunteer time commitment:  


Volunteer:  

  • Hampton Roads/Coastal Virginia Hospitals:
    • , , and are all hospital groups with great volunteer programs, some right down the street from ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ.
    • Interested in opportunities on the peninsula? Check out Sentara’s Williamsburg. location or .
    • Live outside of Hampton Roads? Check your local hospital’s website for information about volunteer opportunities and how to apply!
  • Volunteer with Hospice:
    • Hospice organizations assist patients and their families by providing care to maintain quality of life in times where opportunities for treatment of a disease or illness no longer exist and life expectancy is less than six months.
      • Check out , or
    • Seek out Free Clinics like and .
    • Join the
    • Look for Opportunities with Health-Related Volunteer Organizations. Check out ‘s page with information about why volunteering is important and how you can benefit, as well as a comprehensive list of volunteer resources to get you started.
      • is a local organization focused on regenerative medicine and organ donation.
      • The is always seeking volunteers.
      • and connect volunteers to opportunities and charitable organizations in the local area. 

Research 

Research experience, either as an undergraduate or during a gap year can be a great way to hone your analytical skills and can help to strengthen your medical school application:   

As a R1 research institution, there are many opportunities on campus to gain research experience as an undergraduate. Look up faculty in the College of Sciences, Ellmer College of Health Sciences, Ellmer School of Nursing, and Joint School of Public Health and reach out to professor(s) whose research matches your interests. 

Leadership  

Join a club or organization and volunteer for a leadership position 

  • Medical Brigades
  •  


Unique Life Experiences 

  • Multilingual 
  • Study Abroad or travel outside of the US
  • Peace Corps 
  • Military Experience
  • Work full time 

Early Assurance Program

EVMS offers outstanding and qualified ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ undergraduate students the opportunity to gain early assurance of acceptance into the School of Medicine before beginning their final year of college. 

Common Prerequisites / Pre-Med Guide

Common Prerequisite Courses Course Numbers  
General Biology I & II w/ labs BIOL 121N/122N BIOL 123N/124N
General/Inorganic Chemistry I & II w/ labs CHEM 121N/122N CHEM 123N/124N
Organic Chemistry I & II w/labs CHEM 211/212 CHEM 213/214
Biochemistry CHEM 441  
College or University Physics I & II w labs PHYS 111N or PHYS 231N PHYS 112N or PHYS 232N
Statistics STAT 130M  
Behavioral Science courses

PSYC 201S 

SOC 201S