PreMedical Professional Programs Path Toward Application

Information sessions are designed for students interested in participating in the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke Family Pre-Medical Professional Program, which prepares them for applying to medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, chiropractic, optometry, podiatry, and/or veterinary medicine schools, and supports them as they successfully complete their educational goals.

Attendance at one of these sessions is required before scheduling an appointment with the premed advisor.

Information sessions are open to all and offered both online and in person. Dates can be found on the Pre-Medical Professional Advising Calendar.

Students meet with the College of Science advisors for general Weber State needs or with our premedical professional program advisor for specific premedical advising information. Students also need to meet with a department faculty advisor for specific degree completion requirements. The student’s college advisor will direct them to the appropriate faculty advisor.

Advisors should be a regular part of the student’s path as they ebb and flow through the rigors of balancing their academic preparation and cocurricular activities. Advisors support student success by offering personalized social, emotional, and financial resources along with strategic academic planning.

Along with your advisors, our program offers premedical students a mentoring program that pairs up newer students with more experienced students to answer their questions and help them navigate the difficult and often competitive application process.

Students must complete a bachelor’s degree before starting medical school. In addition to earning a degree, admission to medical school requires that applicants complete a set of prerequisite courses, most of which are in science disciplines.

Though the specific courses vary from school to school, the most common classes taken at Weber State University are outlined in the following lists. As for choosing a degree, any major is appropriate, and course selection should be made in consultation with an advisor. 

Always check the specific requirements of the institutions where you plan to apply, as those requirements can vary. Students should direct questions about academics to premedical professional program administrative specialist Holly Frazier at hollyfrazier@weber.edu.

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General Biology, Chemistry, and Physics

Students generally must complete one year (two semesters) of general biology, chemistry, and physics, each with a laboratory.

• Zoology 1610 
• Microbiology 2054
• Chemistry 1210 (and incorporated lab)
• Chemistry 1220 (and incorporated lab)
• Physics 2010 and Physics 2019 (lab)
• Physics 2020 and Physics 2029 (lab)

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Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry

Students generally must complete one year of organic chemistry with a laboratory, which includes:

• Chemistry 2310 and Chemistry 2315 (lab)
• Chemistry 2320 and Chemistry 2325 (lab)

 

Students must generally complete one semester of biochemistry with a laboratory, which is Chemistry 3070 and Chemistry 3075 (lab) at Weber State.

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English/Composition

Students must generally complete one year of English/writing.

• English 1010 or EN1 General Education (Gen Ed) equivalent
• English 2010 or EN2 Gen Ed equivalent

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Psychology and Sociology

Students must generally complete one semester of psychology and sociology.

• Psychology 1010
• Sociology 1010

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Math

Mathematics requirements vary from school to school. 

Advanced Placement (AP) credit for Calculus II is almost always sufficient for admissions. AP credit for Calculus I and a graded statistics course is often sufficient.

To excel in your medical school application, cocurricular activities like volunteering, patient exposure, clinical shadowing, leadership roles, and research are crucial. These experiences demonstrate your commitment to service, ability to interact with patients, understanding of the medical field, leadership potential, and scientific inquiry skills - all of which are essential for a successful medical professional.

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Volunteer Services

It is important for students to have volunteer experiences that demonstrate a commitment to serving others in the community, as they are preparing for a humanitarian profession. It is suggested that students start volunteering early in their undergraduate career, and that service be continued throughout college.

Competitive applicants complete three different experiences, each lasting 6-12 months in the four years before medical school application, for a total of 200-plus hours of service.

WSU’s Center for Community Engaged Learning has opportunities for students to participate in volunteer experiences.

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Patient Exposure

Interacting well with patients who, at times, might not be feeling at their best is critical for a healthcare provider. Students demonstrating that they are capable of this will bolster the competitiveness of their medical school application.

Patient exposure experiences can be either paid or unpaid. Successful applicants have, for example, worked or volunteered in the emergency department of a hospital or clinic, worked as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), or as a phlebotomist, or have volunteered for a hospice organization. Competitive applicants complete 1-2 different experiences, each lasting at least 6-12 months, for a total of 60-plus hrs.

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Clinical Shadowing

Observing a physician or medical professional in your area of interest, in action, will help students gather the information they need to fully commit to the profession and to potentially learn about a variety of medical specialties. Students can shadow medical professionals whom they know (not family members) or can be assigned to one through our Clinical Preceptor Program. For students pursuing medical school, it is a good idea to shadow doctors of medicine (MD) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO), as well as primary care physicians and specialists.

Competitive applicants shadow 2-5 different medical professionals in their area of interest, spending at least 8-10 hours with each, for a total of 60-plus hours.

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Leadership

Medical professionals are leaders and team members in many ways – with their patients, staff, colleagues, and community. Developing leadership qualities and skills is therefore important for the future.

Examples of leadership experiences as an undergraduate student include holding an officer position in a club or organization, serving as a member of a committee, leadership in church activities, coordinating a project, managing, training, or supervising at work, teaching, tutoring, coaching, or mentoring.

Competitive applicants complete three different experiences, each lasting three months or longer, in the four years before they apply.

The College of Science has many ways for students to get involved with clubs and organizations, including the Pre-Med Club.

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Research

Medical professionals depend on medical literature to remain current in their field throughout their careers. Most medical professional schools highly recommend - and some require - participation in research as an undergraduate. 

Research experience can be completed in any discipline; it does not have to be clinically related or completed in a research lab. However, research experience must be one that tests a well-formulated hypothesis.

Competitive applicants complete at least one research experience under the supervision of a faculty member that lasts at least six months.

Additionally, WSU’s Office of Undergraduate Research can help connect students with research opportunities.

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Overall Competence

It is not enough to simply engage in these activities; it is necessary to reflect upon them and to learn from experiences. Maintaining an in-depth journal or diary of experiences will help students as they prepare for the application process, secondary application essays, and interviews.

What students hope to do through involvement in cocurricular activities is to develop the skills, traits, and attributes of a successful physician.

Entrance Exams

Premedical students should approach their medical program’s standardized test preparation strategically, typically dedicating 200-300 hours over several months for comprehensive content review and extensive practice. Start by taking a diagnostic exam to identify strengths and weaknesses, then build a detailed study plan. 

Leverage officially approved resources from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), and/or the American Association of Veterinarian Medical Colleges (AAVMC), etc., including their official prep materials like practice exams and question banks, which are invaluable for simulating the real test experience. 

Additionally, free resources like Khan Academy's MCAT course (supported by the AAMC) offer excellent video tutorials and practice questions, while reputable commercial prep companies provide comprehensive courses, books, and practice tests for those seeking structured guidance. Our premedical program advisor will support you in determining the best and financially sound resource for your needs.

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Application Process and Portfolio

Applying to medical professional programs, including medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine, typically involves submitting a primary application through a centralized service. These centralized application services, such as AMCAS, AADSAS, or VMCAS, collect your academic transcripts, science and other prioritized subject grade point averages (GPA),  standardized test scores (like the MCAT or DAT), a comprehensive record of your cocurricular activities, life experiences, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. 

After the primary application is processed, many programs will invite applicants to complete secondary applications, which often include school-specific essays, followed by interviews. Our program will help students gather these components into one comprehensive portfolio.

WSU Learning Support has writing assistance resources for students listed on the Tutoring website.

Download this GPA calculator to determine or forecast your overall, science, and other prioritized subject GPAs. 

Applicants for medical, dental, pharmacy, and other medical professional programs must be well-prepared for the interview phase, a critical step in the admissions process. Our program supports students through this by offering valuable mock interviews and facilitating on-campus visits from medical schools. For detailed interview expectations and application timelines, always consult the specific centralized application services like AMCAS, AADSAS, or VMCAS.

As students progress, they should strategically plan their undergraduate graduation and consider the potential for a "gap year" to strengthen their application before matriculating to their medical professional school. It is crucial to meet regularly with your program advisors to develop these strategic plans.