Medicine
Preprofessional Studies
The path to medicine.
As a premedicine student, you know there are numerous options for you future—each ending in a fulfilling, important career. You have the desire to practice medicine one day, and now is the time to build the foundation of your education in your own way.
The details
What you need to know.
- Doctor of medicine degree or doctor of osteopathic medicine degree
- Two years of coursework in classroom and lab settings
- Two years of clinical work in an actual hospital setting
- Complete a medical residency
Note: Some programs also require a fellowship to perfect a specialty.
Workplace Environment
- Doctors’ offices
- Hospitals
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Insurance companies
- Research labs
Opportunities in the medical field are abundant in the Fort Wayne area, with even more opportunities in Indianapolis and Chicago. Purdue University also provides opportunities for medical careers through its School of Health Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences, including the Health Physics Program, Medical Physics Program, Imaging Sciences Program, Occupational and Environmental Health Science Program, and Toxicology Program.
Being a premed student does not refer to your chosen undergraduate major. Rather, it indicates that, regardless of your major, you are preparing now to be ready to apply to medical school in the future. You should choose a major you are passionate about and interested in, as strong academics are important for medical school applications. While planning your preprofessional journey, it’s important to know the following:
- No specific undergraduate major required
- Prerequisite courses required
- Meet with your preprofessional advisor as early as possible
- Prepare for and pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Note: Once you have finalized your major and academic plan, a discipline-specific faculty member may be also assigned as a premedicine mentor and guide.
- Doctor of medicine degree or doctor of osteopathic medicine degree
- Two years of coursework in classroom and lab settings
- Two years of clinical work in an actual hospital setting
- Complete a medical residency
Note: Some programs also require a fellowship to perfect a specialty.
Workplace Environment
- Doctors’ offices
- Hospitals
- Government agencies
- Nonprofit organizations
- Insurance companies
- Research labs
Opportunities in the medical field are abundant in the Fort Wayne area, with even more opportunities in Indianapolis and Chicago. Purdue University also provides opportunities for medical careers through its School of Health Sciences in the College of Health and Human Sciences, including the Health Physics Program, Medical Physics Program, Imaging Sciences Program, Occupational and Environmental Health Science Program, and Toxicology Program.
Being a premed student does not refer to your chosen undergraduate major. Rather, it indicates that, regardless of your major, you are preparing now to be ready to apply to medical school in the future. You should choose a major you are passionate about and interested in, as strong academics are important for medical school applications. While planning your preprofessional journey, it’s important to know the following:
- No specific undergraduate major required
- Prerequisite courses required
- Meet with your preprofessional advisor as early as possible
- Prepare for and pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Note: Once you have finalized your major and academic plan, a discipline-specific faculty member may be also assigned as a premedicine mentor and guide.
Requirements and Recommendations
What to expect from your preprofessional studies.
The following list includes some of the most common prerequisites for many of the medical schools in the United States:
- Biology with lab (at least two semesters)
- Chemistry with lab (at least two semesters)
- Organic chemistry with lab (at least two semesters)
- Physics with lab (at least two semesters)
- Biochemistry
- Anatomy and physiology (at least two semesters)
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Composition
It is important for premed students to gain experience in healthcare outside the classroom and to seek out these opportunities early. Here are some of the following ways you can seek healthcare experience:
- Volunteering at a hospital
- Job-shadowing a physician
- Signing up for clinical experiences
Applying to Graduate or Professional School
Prepare for the next step.
Applications to medical school should be completed early in the application cycle, so it is important to start preparing long before. The MCAT is an intense, eight-hour examination, administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges, and it is required for admission to any medical school in the United States. The MCAT is usually taken between March and May of a student’s junior year—after months of studying and practice. To be ready to apply to medical school, you should do the following:
- Research medical schools as early as your freshman year
- Create a short list of school options by your sophomore year
- Start preparing for the MCAT at the beginning of your junior year
- Write a personal statement
- Obtain letters of recommendation
Your final undergraduate year can be filled with secondary application essays, interviews, and waiting for decision results while completing your academic requirements.
Contact Us
Have questions?
Contact Marcy Ball, preprofessional advisor for health programs, at [email protected] or 260-481-5735.