Before you can apply to medical school, you must complete a set of undergraduate prerequisite courses that demonstrate you have the scientific foundation to succeed in medical training. These requirements are not standardized across all schools, but there is a common core that covers the vast majority of programs.
Core Pre-Med Prerequisites (Most Medical Schools)
Biology (2 semesters + lab): Introductory biology covering cellular and molecular biology, genetics, and ecology. This is the foundation for the Biological and Biochemical Foundations MCAT section.
General Chemistry (2 semesters + lab): Covers atomic structure, bonding, thermodynamics, kinetics, and equilibrium. Essential for understanding biochemical processes in medicine.
Organic Chemistry (2 semesters + lab): One of the most notorious pre-med hurdles. Covers carbon-based reactions, mechanisms, and molecular structure. Relevant to pharmacology and biochemistry in medical school.
Physics (2 semesters + lab): Mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and optics. Tested on the Physical Foundations MCAT section and directly relevant to imaging, diagnostics, and physiology.
Biochemistry (1 semester): Now required or strongly recommended by most allopathic and osteopathic medical schools. Heavily tested on the MCAT. Take this before your MCAT if at all possible.
Mathematics (1–2 semesters): Typically calculus and/or statistics. Statistics is increasingly emphasized given evidence-based medicine. Some schools accept statistics alone in place of calculus.
English/Writing (2 semesters): Most schools require college-level English composition. Strong writing skills are critical for your personal statement and secondary essays.
Emerging Requirements
A growing number of medical schools now require or recommend Psychology, Sociology, and/or Behavioral Sciences — subjects now covered on the MCAT's Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations section. Check MSAR carefully; schools like Columbia, NYU, and UCLA have added these requirements in recent years.
Using AP Credit for Prerequisites
Many colleges will grant credit for AP Biology, AP Chemistry, or AP Physics, which can allow you to skip introductory courses. However, some medical schools prefer (or require) that prerequisites be completed at the college level, not via AP credit. A safe strategy is to use AP credit to place into higher-level courses, not to skip the prerequisite entirely. For example, use AP Chemistry to place into Honors General Chemistry, not to avoid chemistry altogether.
When to Complete Prerequisites
Most students complete the majority of prerequisites in Years 1–2 of college, with organic chemistry and biochemistry in Year 2–3. You should complete biochemistry before taking the MCAT. Do not rush organic chemistry — it is the most grade-sensitive course in the pre-med sequence, and taking it before you have strong chemistry fundamentals is a common GPA mistake.