Pre-Med Advising at Whitman College
Allopathic doctors (M.D.s) take a traditional approach to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, whereas osteopathic doctors (D.O.s) take a more holistic, preventive approach. Both are fully trained and licensed doctors.
A broad liberal arts education, like you’ll find at Whitman College, will help you learn to:
- Gather and assess data
- Continually update your knowledge and skills
- Apply new information to the medical, scientific and ethical problems you’ll face as a doctor
Medical schools look for applicants with good communication skills, a strong foundation in the natural sciences, and ample exposure to the social sciences and humanities. They are concerned with both the breadth and quality of your’ undergraduate coursework. So you should strive to complete coursework beyond the minimum requirements.
Earning a D.O. or M.D. takes an additional four years after your bachelor’s degree, followed by three to eight years of residency/fellowship training.
You can learn more about becoming an allopathic doctor from the (AAMC). And you can compare the requirements of different programs in the database.
You can learn more about becoming an osteopathic doctor from the (AACOM). And you can compare the requirements of different programs in the AACOM’s .
Plan of Study
In preparation for applying and taking the , most U.S. medical schools recommend:
- Two semesters of biology with labs
- Two semesters of general chemistry with labs
- Two semesters of organic chemistry with labs
- Two semesters of physics with labs
- One semester of biochemistry
- Two semesters of college math (statistics may be recommended)
- Two semesters of social sciences
- One semester of ethics
Some schools require additional courses in anatomy and physiology.
Other Considerations
The AAMC has identified 17 that are essential for future medical students and physicians. They include:
Professional competencies:
- Commitment to learning and growth
- Cultural awareness
- Cultural humility
- Empathy and compassion
- Ethical responsibility to self and others
- Interpersonal skills
- Oral communication
- Reliability and dependability
- Resilience and adaptability
- Service orientation
- Teamwork and collaboration
Science competencies:
- Human behavior
- Living systems
Thinking and reasoning competencies:
- Critical thinking
- Quantitative reasoning
- Scientific inquiry
- Written communication
FAQs for Medicine
Students from any major can successfully pursue medicine as a profession. While you will need a strong foundation in the sciences to get into medical school, you don’t necessarily need to major in the sciences. You should choose a major that genuinely interests you.
Yes. For most allopathic medical schools, you can use the , sponsored by the AAMC. Students interested in Texas medical schools should apply using the .
For osteopathic medical schools, you can use the (AACOMAS), sponsored by the AACOM.
- Health Professions Advisor
- Explore Health Care Careers
- Your First Steps: Getting Started
- Workshops, Speakers & Courses
- Becoming a Competitive Applicant
- Pre-Dental Advising
- Pre-Med Advising
- Pre-Nursing Advising
- Pre-OT Advising
- Pre-Pharmacy Advising
- Pre-Physical Therapy Advising
- Pre-PA Advising
- Public Health Advising
- Pre-Vet Advising
- Health Professions Advisor
- Explore Health Care Careers
- Your First Steps: Getting Started
- Workshops, Speakers & Courses
- Becoming a Competitive Applicant
- Pre-Dental Advising
- Pre-Med Advising
- Pre-Nursing Advising
- Pre-OT Advising
- Pre-Pharmacy Advising
- Pre-Physical Therapy Advising
- Pre-PA Advising
- Public Health Advising
- Pre-Vet Advising