Pre-med requirements usually include key science courses — like biology, chemistry, and physics — along with a solid GPA and meaningful clinical or volunteer experience. In short, you need the right classes and hands-on preparation for medical school. 

Thinking about becoming a doctor? You might be wondering about how to get started — and what “pre-med” actually means. Let’s break down the requirements of a pre-med program so you can start strong — whether you’re still in high school or already on a college campus.

You can be pre-med and major in anything — from neuroscience to Spanish literature — as long as you complete these core classes. But it’s important to remember that every medical school has its own requirements, so you’ll want to double-check requirements when planning your schedule. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lists medical school websites that outline required premedical coursework and competencies.

How do you get into pre-med?

You don’t need to apply to a pre-med program. At most universities, including the University of Iowa, you simply declare an intention to follow the pre-med track.

Here’s what the process usually looks like:

1. Choose a major that you’re passionate about. It doesn’t need to be a science major.
2. Meet with your pre-med advisor to plan your academic schedule.
3. Register for your prerequisite courses early. Some of them need to be taken in a specific sequence.
4. Get involved in relevant experiences, such as engaging in research, volunteering at a hospital, shadowing medical professionals, or participating in student organizations related to health or science.

How should I prepare in high school?

Good habits start early. If you’re in high school and already thinking about med school, you can:

•  Take challenging science courses, such as AP biology, chemistry, and anatomy.
•  Build math readiness with pre-calc or AP calculus.
•  Develop good study habits and time management.
•  Focus on writing. Strong communication is key in medicine.
•  Volunteer in your local hospital or health organization.
•  Shadow a doctor to see what their day-to-day looks like.

But don’t take our word for this. We asked current pre-med students and medical students what they did in high school that best prepared them for pre-med and what they wish they had done.

“One thing that I did that was really helpful was I got my CNA (certified nursing assistant) license; one thing I wish I would have done is developed certain study techniques before I got to college,” says Tae’ Shaun Presswood, a University of Iowa exercise science student. “I also wish I would have sat down and mapped out maybe the next year. Not the next four years, but just saying, ‘OK, these classes would put me on this track.’”

“Through a program at my high school, I was able to shadow a couple of doctors and explore different aspects of medicine to see if it was something that I was actually interested in,” says Architha Bommena, a student in the UI Carver College of Medicine. “If you can set up a shadowing opportunity, it can be tremendously helpful to see if you like being in that environment.”

“AP classes and dual credit classes are great, but if you took them as a junior in high school, and now you’re a college sophomore and you’re being expected to build upon concepts that you haven’t touched for three years, it gets a little bit dicey,” says Cole Rich, also a student in the Carver College of Medicine. “So, if you do that, make sure before you go to the next-level class, do a brief refresher using free resources like Khan Academy.”