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Can I apply for medical school with an undergraduate degree in biology?

I'm enrolled at Jacksonville State University as a freshman for fall 2016. I'm majoring in biology, but plan to enroll in medical school after college with plans to be a pediatric oncologist. #doctor #medicine #professor #healthcare #medical-school

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Estelle’s Answer

Yes, of course! Choose a major that you really enjoy so that your grades will be awesome and you will get strong letters of recommendation. Study hard for the MCAT, and use a prep course like Kaplan Review or Exam Krackers. Get about 40 hours of shadowing experience and have some people that you admire look over your personal statements on your medical school applications. Good luck!
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Rachel’s Answer

Major in whatever field interests you and will allow you to maintain an excellent GPA. I majored in Spanish literature and had no trouble with my med school applications. You do need to complete the pre-med requirements that vary from school to school. These include at least a year of biology, 1 year inorganic chemistry, 1 year organic chemistry + labs, physics, calculus, and biochemistry. Your junior year, you will need to take an MCAT study course prior to taking the MCAT. With a solid GPA and MCAT score, you should be a competitive applicant.
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Richard’s Answer

In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.

Pick a college that suits your personality and a major that interests you. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.

Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses.

Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters

I chose biochemistry because there was overlap with the premed requirements and I wanted to complete my degree in 3 years.
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James’s Answer

hi andrew,


i graduated med school in 1993 and have been a family physician for 20 years.


a biology degree is definitely a good start. however, it sounds like you might be unaware of the pre-medical required courses. most of those are included within the biology degree program. however, some are not.


speak with your college's health professions counselor ASAP. they can also discuss with you the additional "recommended" courses.


good luck!
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