You are here: Home > Undergraduate Programs > Degree Requirements > Pre-Med, Pre-Dent, Pre-Vet Option > Pre-Med and Pre-Dent

The university maintains an office for pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Advising located in Hillcrest Hall and functions within the Honors Program. Enrollment in the Honors Program, however, is not a prerequisite for consultation with Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental advising services. The director for advising is Professor Emeritus (Biochemistry) George Simmons.

It should be noted that although the majority of pre-medical and pre-dental students major in a science, any major is acceptable to medical and dental schools so long as certain specific admission requirements are satisfied. Medical schools encourage students interested in medicine to pursue broad undergraduate study in humanities and social science as well as biology and the natural science. The national standardized Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) emphasizes facility with scientific problem solving, critical thinking and writing skills as well as mastery of basic biology, chemistry, and physics concepts. Additional requirements include significant participation in volunteer health care activities, letters of recommendation and an interview at the medical school. Successful candidates exhibit high levels of scholastic achievement and intellectual potential as well as understanding of the health care career and humanistic concern.

The Pre-Medical-Pre-Dental Advising office provides direct counseling and assistance to students about careers in medicine or dentistry, preparing for application to medical or dental school, and the admissions process. A course, "Careers in Medicine", is available to students at the sophomore and higher level. After gaining individual volunteer experience, a limited number of students may be placed with local physicians for a one semester, two credit preceptorship. Upon request, this office will also provide interviews and letters of evaluation.

Medical School Requirements

Core course requirements vary somewhat among the 126 accredited U.S. medical schools, but most require two semesters each of mathematics, English, general chemistry (with lab), general biology (with lab), organic chemistry (with lab), and general physics (with lab). The MCAT test is also required at most medical schools. Specific entrance requirements are listed in the book Medical School Admission Requirements: United States and Canada.

Dental School Admission Requirements

The general requirements for most dental schools are the same as listed above for medical school. The standardized Dental Admissions Test (DAT) is required by most dental schools.

Success Rate

The last three years (1994-1996) have seen the largest numbers of applicants to U.S. medical schools in history, approximately 46,00 applicants for about 16,500 seats (36%). Virginia Tech students have achieved a similar ratio of acceptances to total applicants both to medical and dental schools.