Getting an early start . . . As a pre-medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, you will meet with your Academic Advisor early in your freshman year to select the necessary courses for admission into medical school; get tips on how to gain access to the medical community through volunteer experiences; and gain experience in science labs to help build a foundation for a successful career in your chosen field. We recommend that you get involved in student organizations such as the Pre-Med Society, Alpha Epsilon Delta Honorary Organization, and/or the Pre-Medical Organization for Minority Students. You may also chose to live on a residence hall floor reserved exclusively for students interested in pursuing a health-related field. Torn between wanting to be a doctor and majoring in music? You can do both! You do not have to major in a science in order to apply to medical school. Some students will choose to major in a science because of a natural interest and also because many science curricula correspond with the prerequisite courses that medical schools want to see applicants take. The following courses represent the typical pre-requisite coursework for most medical schools: Biology (exclusive of botany) with lab 8 credits General or inorganic chemistry with lab 8 credits Organic chemistry with lab 8 credits Physics with lab 8 credits English 6 credits Guaranteed admission . . . A limited number of freshman applicants with outstanding high school credentials and SAT I or ACT results, who indicate pre-medicine as their intended field of study on the admission application, will be offered guaranteed admission to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. No special application is required. Selection will be based on the candidate's application for admission. Research, Research . . . The University of Pittsburgh is among the nation's top universities in the receipt of funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In fact, the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center has been the site of discoveries such as the polio vaccine, vitamin C, and synthetic insulin. At University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, which is located right on campus only a few blocks from the majority of our residence halls, Pitt students have the opportunity to observe surgeries being performed by top surgeons. In fact, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is one of the world's leading organ transplant centers. For more of a hands-on approach, students can look into the dozens of volunteer and research positions available there or at 33 other hospitals in the Pittsburgh area. Applying before you apply . . . As juniors, students have the opportunity to present their qualifications to the Pre-professional Health Committee in for evaluation. Students submit their medical school application materials, an application form, including five letters of evaluation, official transcripts and a personal essay. The Committee then writes a composite letter of evaluation which can be sent to medical schools along with other letters of evaluation. At the junior-year level, students also take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), an entrance examination required for admission into medical school. It measures skills in physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning and writing ability. The MCAT is offered twice a year in April and in August. An abundance of health related professions . . . Many students begin their studies at the University of Pittsburgh with one health profession goal in mind and then find they're interested in another. Because the University offers such a variety of health-related majors, as well as the opportunity to prepare for graduate/professional health-related fields, and because it is associated with a major medical center--the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, it is a terrific place to investigate different options. Just check out our list of Academic Departments and Programs to get an idea. Remember, there are plenty of academic advisors to help you plan along the way. University Honors College To supplement their credentials, or simply because they want to, many pre-med students take courses through the University Honors College (UHC). The UHC staff can assist you with finding research opportunities and advise you, academically. UHC also provides an academic community for talented and motivated students.