Admissions Requirements

Requirements

Although a minimum of 90 undergraduate semester hours is needed for admission, almost all students have earned degrees before matriculation. Eight semester hours each in general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics are generally considered as minimum preparation. Prerequisite course work from community colleges is strongly discouraged because of the difficulty in adequately assessing the quality of that preparation. If a prerequisite course is completed at a community college, student must take subsequent courses in that discipline at a four-year college or university in the United States or Canada. Medical teaching hospitals need to keep requirements strict so that better applicants come forward. 

• Eight semester hours of vertebrate zoology or general biology 
• Eight semester hours of general physics 
• Eight semester hours of general chemistry 
• Eight semester hours of organic chemistry

Biology

Courses should provide a broad survey of the animal kingdom, an awareness of animal types and their classifications, and a view of man in nature. Such information is usually covered in one year of general biology. A laboratory course which provides opportunity for dissection is desirable.

Chemistry

The student should have a working knowledge of chemical principles and basic quantitative and physiochemical concepts of the properties of chemical elements and ions, and the relationship of chemical properties to structure and function. It is important that the student’s experience includes adequate time in the laboratory and familiarity with quantitative techniques.

Physics

Knowledge of the fundamental principles of electricity, electromagnetic radiation, sound, heat, mechanics, and optics is valuable and can usually be obtained in a one-year course in general physics.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to determine that the required courses have been completed by the time of application. Working at a teaching hospital means consistently working to improve the lives of those around you, both through passionately and precisely practicing medicine as well as sharing your knowledge and insight with others. Working together in this way benefits both the teacher and the student.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

Each applicant must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges. Results of this test must be received by Wake Forest School of Medicine before an application can be evaluated by the Committee on Admissions for the secondary application. The MCAT is computer based and given twenty two times yearly. Applicants should take the test early in the calendar year of application so scores can be considered and the test taken again if improvement in performance is desired. Scores from the MCAT taken more than three years prior to application will not be accepted.

More information about this test can be obtained from the premedical advisor or by contacting the Medical College Admission Test Program.

Medical College Admission Test Program
P.O. Box 4056
Iowa City, Iowa 52243
MCAT®
www.aamc.org