Pre-Med/Pre-Health
Pre-Med/Pre-Health
Medical schools and graduate programs in the health sciences are competitive. RIT’s pre-med/pre-health advising program is designed to maximize your candidacy for admission to these advanced-level graduate programs.
Overview for Pre-Med/Pre-Health
Admission into medical schools and graduate programs in the health sciences is highly competitive. You need to fulfill specific course requirements and recommended course work in order to become a competitive applicant to both medical school and graduate programs in the health sciences. RIT’s pre-med program provides personalized advising to help you become a strong candidate for admission into:
- Doctoral programs in medicine (MD/DO), dentistry (DDS/DSM), pharmacy (PharmD), physical therapy (DPT), optometry (OD), podiatry (DPM), chiropractic (DC), and occupational therapy (OTD).
- Master’s level programs in physician assistant (PA), public health (MPH), genetic counseling, health systems administration, and pathologists’ assistant.
- Accelerated nursing programs leading to the BS/RN degree.
Access requirements for medical school and graduate programs in the health sciences by reviewing RIT's Pre-Health Advising Checklist.
What is Pre-Med?
At RIT, pre-med is not an academic major. Instead, the pre-med program is a pre-professional advising option that provides personal, individualized academic counseling to help you become an exceptional candidate for admission to medical schools and graduate programs in health care professions. Pre-med is open to students in any major at RIT.
Medical schools and graduate programs in the health sciences base their admission decisions on several factors, including academic record and GPA, application essay, scores from MCAT and other admissions exams, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, clinical and summer employment experiences, undergraduate research experience, field work, and community involvement/volunteering. The pre-med program assists you in creating a comprehensive long-term strategy for preparing for a successful application to medical school of graduate programs in the health sciences. Working in collaboration with the advisors from your major, the pre-med program provides guidance and advice on extracurricular activities, undergraduate research opportunities, clinical and summer employment opportunities, MCAT and other graduate school admission exams, co-op and internship experiences, the medical and graduate school application process, and more.
Pre-Med Majors
There are no preferred majors required to apply to medical school or to a graduate program in the health sciences. However, all graduate-level medical or health science degrees require you to fulfill specific course requirements in order to be a competitive applicant for admission. You may major in any academic program and fulfill the course requirements for medical school or graduate programs in the health sciences by completing a double major or adding a minor to your course of study.
The most common majors for students interesting in pursuing medical school or graduate programs in the health sciences include biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, exercise science, global public health, neuroscience, nutritional sciences, and the individualized program. But again, graduate programs in medicine and health care accept students from all academic majors, including the humanities, the arts, and design. As you consider your academic major, select one that allows you to complete the necessary prerequisite courses for admission to your chosen medical program.
The pre-med program provides you with advisors to help you plan out your program of study so that you not only complete the required courses to earn your bachelor’s degree but that you also fulfill the admissions requirements of medical school and graduate programs in the health sciences. Please refer to Admissions Resources for Medical School and Advanced Degrees in Health Professions for information on admission requirements and guidance on preparing for graduate study in the medical and health care professions.
- Explore RIT’s majors in the health professions and medical sciences
- Explore RIT’s majors in science and math
- Explore all RIT majors
RIT’s Pre-Med Program
Medical schools and graduate programs in the health sciences base their admission decisions on several factors, including academic record and GPA, application essay, scores from MCAT and other admission exams, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, clinical and summer employment experiences, undergraduate research experience, field work, and community involvement/volunteering. RIT’s pre-med program assists you in creating a comprehensive long-term strategy for preparing a successful application for medical school and graduate programs in the health sciences. Working in collaboration with the advisors from your major, the pre-med program emphasizes the importance of academic excellence while providing guidance and advice on extracurricular activities, undergraduate research opportunities, clinical and summer employment opportunities, MCAT and other graduate school admission exams, co-op and internship experiences, medical and graduate school applications, and more.
Participating in the pre-med program provides you access to:
- Personalized pre-med and pre-professional advising
- Assistance on medical and graduate school applications
- Extracurricular activities
- Guidance on summer, clinical, and co-op employment
- Undergraduate research opportunities
- Events, guests lecturers, and presentations
Where RIT Pre-Med Students Pursue Advanced Degrees
What is the percentage of RIT students who are admitted to medical schools each year? It’s a logical question, and we're asked often. The answer, however, is not as easy or as straightforward as you might think. Historically, 80-85% of RIT students who apply for admission to medical school or graduate programs in the health professions each year are accepted. That number includes doctoral and master’s programs. If there is a common denominator, it is this: Those students who enroll in the pre-med program as early as possible, and who participate fully in all of the various advising workshops and activities, are the most successful.
Recent Medical School and Health Science Graduate Program Acceptances
Allopathic Medical Schools (MD degree)
- Albany Medical College
- Boston University School of Medicine
- Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
- Emory University School of Medicine
- Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
- Georgetown University School of Medicine
- Medical College of Ohio
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- New York University School of Medicine
- Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
- Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School
- Ross University School of Medicine
- St. George's University School of Medicine
- SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
- SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
- SUNY Stony Brook University School of Medicine
- SUNY Upstate Medical University
- Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
- University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine
- Weill Cornell Medical College
Osteopathic Medical Colleges (DO degree)
- Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dental Colleges (DDS/DMS degree)
- LECOM School of Dental Medicine
- New York University College of Dentistry
- University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
- University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry
Pharmacy Colleges (PharmD degree)
- Wegmans School of Pharmacy, St. John Fisher College
- University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy
Other Doctoral Programs in the Health Sciences
- New York Chiropractic College (DC degree)
- Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM degree)
- Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (DPM degree)
- Ithaca College Department of Physical Therapy (DPT degree)
- State University of New York College of Optometry (OD degree)
Physician Assistant Graduate Programs (MS degree)
- University of Tampa
- SUNY Upstate Medical University College of Health Professions
- Daemen College
- Le Moyne College
- Rochester Institute of Technology
How to Get Started
To participate in the pre-med advising program, contact the pre-med advising office and enroll as soon as you decide you want to pursue an advanced degree in a medical or health care profession. Pre-med is one to all majors.
Starting the process early has added benefits. It ensures that you can organize your curriculum early in your major to meet the requirements for admission to medical school or an advanced degree in the health professions. It also gives you time to plan for and complete additional learning experiences, such as research and cooperative education, that can strengthen your application.
Accelerated Medical Programs
RIT has partnerships with academic institutions in which RIT students may be offered conditional or guaranteed acceptance to accelerated, graduate-level medical programs in medicine, dentistry, or pharmacology.
RIT-Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
An early acceptance program to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for RIT students interested in pursuing medical and dental school, or a graduate degree in pharmacy. Learn more about the LECOM Early Acceptance Program.