Catalog
Premedical Studies
Students interested in pursuing a career in allopathic (M.D.), osteopathic (D.O.), podiatric, or veterinary medicine; dentistry; or optometry should take advantage of the College's Premedical Program. The Premedical Program is not a major; it is a program under the guidance of the Premedical Committee designed to assist students with pre-professional planning and applications to professional schools. Premedical students should consult members of the Premedical Committee early in their academic careers and formally notify the Premedical Committee Chair of their interest in considering a career in medicine. Premedical committee members include Professors Kathleen Verville (Committee Chair), Anne Marteel-Parrish, Juan Lin, George Spilich, and Matthew McCabe. To become aware of expectations, requirements, procedures, and deadlines, premedical students should read the advising information found on the College's premedical Web site and in the college catalog and attend all premed meetings. Students seeking a Committee Letter from the Washington College Premedical Committee (required/recommended by the majority of medical schools) must be aware of the need to complete a file with the Premedical Committee, file requirements, and the deadline for file completion.
Students should begin to plan their program of coursework immediately upon entering the College. Although many premedical students major in one of the Natural Sciences, any major offered by the College may be chosen. Students are encouraged to explore courses and activities outside their major. In addition to fulfilling the requirements for the major and for graduation from Washington College, premedical students will need to take those courses required for professional school admission. These most commonly include: General Biology (BIO 111, 112), General Chemistry (CHE 111, 112), Organic Chemistry (CHE 201, 202), Physics (PHY 111, 112), two semesters of Math (see information below), two semesters of English, Social Science and Humanities courses. Biochemistry (BIO 409/CHE 309) is required by many programs. Math requirements vary. Because PHY 111, 112 at Washington College recommends Differential and Integral Calculus, and because many medical schools expect students to take Differential Calculus, students are strongly advised to take Differential Calculus (MAT 201). Students who perform well in MAT 201 are encouraged to consider Integral Calculus (MAT 202). A course in statistics is recommended.
A limited number of schools have fewer requirements, while many others have additional requirements and/or recommended courses. This is especially true for veterinary programs. As admission requirements vary among institutions, students are encouraged to consult the appropriate Web sites for each area of medicine (aamc.org, aacom.org, aacpm.org, aavmc.org, adea.org, opted.org) as well as books that list professional school requirements: Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR), Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR), and ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools. These books, which are updated annually, are available in the Premedical Reading Area of the Toll Science Center. Most of the required science courses listed above are also necessary for preparation for the admissions tests [Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), the Dental Admission Test (DAT), and the Optometry Admission Test (OAT)], which students should plan to take before applying to professional school. Advice about when to take these tests and how to prepare for them should be sought from the Premedical Committee.
Students may plan to attend professional school the academic year following graduation, but are encouraged to consider taking additional time. Those who wish to attend professional school immediately following graduation must plan coursework especially carefully so that courses required for admission (many of which are also necessary for successful completion of the admission tests) are completed by the end of the Junior year. This allows an application to be submitted early in the summer between the Junior and Senior years. A sample schedule for each major that allows for completion of required courses by the end of the Junior year is shown below; however, because there are many other possible course arrangements and because students differ in academic background, each student is encouraged to seek individual advice about course planning.
Regardless of the timing of the application, careful and early planning of courses required for the major, graduation, and medical school admission is important because many required courses have prerequisites, some students may need to take additional courses (e.g. Precalculus) for adequate preparation, and some course combinations are not recommended.
Students with Advanced Placement credit in required premedical courses should seek advice from the Premedical Committee, as many medical schools do not accept AP credit for required courses. Those schools typically ask students either to retake the course at a four-year college or to take additional upper level courses in the discipline(s) in which the AP credit was received. Those students planning to study abroad should seek advice about coursework planning and should take all required premedical courses in the United States. Required courses, which should not be taken Pass/Fail, have minimum grade requirements. Students who do not have U.S. citizenship or permanent residency should seek out early advice about career planning and be aware that it is very difficult for non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents to gain entry into U.S. medical schools and to finance their medical education.
Sample Course Schedules
Sample course schedules for students who plan to enter medical school the academic year following graduation*
| Biology Major | Chemistry Major | Physics Major | Psychology Major | Other Major |
| First Year | ||||
| GRW 101, ENG 101 | GRW 101, ENG 101 | GRW 101, ENG 101 | GRW 101, ENG 101 | GRW 101, ENG 101 |
| BIO 111, 112 | CHE 111, 112 | PHY 111, 112 | PSY 111, 112 | Introductory Sequence for Major |
| CHE 111, 112 | BIO 111, 112 | CHE 111, 112 | BIO 111, 112 | BIO 111, 112 |
| MAT 201, Math | MAT 201, 202 | MAT 201, 202 | MAT 201, Math | MAT 201, Math |
| Second Year | ||||
| CHE 201, 202 | CHE 201, 202 | MAT 203, 345 | CHE 111, 112 | CHE 111, 112 |
| Advanced Biology | PHY 111, 112 | PHY 201, 204 | PSY 209, PSY 309 | Advanced Course for Major |
| English | English | CHE 201, 202 | Advanced Psychology | English |
| Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective |
| Third Year | ||||
| PHY 111, 112 | Advanced Chemistry | Bio 111, 112 | CHE 201, 202 | CHE 201, 202 |
| Advanced Biology | Distribution or Elective | Advanced Physics | PHY 111, 112 | PHY 111, 112 |
| Distribution or Elective | | English | Advanced Psychology | Advanced Course for Major |
| | | | English | Distribution or Elective |
| Fourth Year | ||||
| Advanced Biology | Advanced Chemistry | Advanced Physics | Advanced Psychology | Advanced Major for Course |
| Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective | Distribution or Elective |
*These sample schedules allow for medical school application in the summer between the junion and senior years, the approximate application timing for students who plan to enter medical school in the year following college graduation. As there are many course combinations that can allow this same application timing, students should seek out individual advance regarding course planning. When planning courses, students should be aware that the required courses for medical school admission need to be completed before the application is submitted and that many of the required courses are necessary for strong performance on most of the admission tests (e.g. MCAT), which students are advised to complete before the application is submitted.