Post-bacc pre-med students with successful first degrees looking to change careers are welcome at Oregon State. We have an informal program where students take the courses they need along with the regular students, and take advantage of all the extensive support services available in the pre-med program.

What is the right post-bacc pre-med program for me?

Admission is not automatic and is at the discretion of the College of Science. The post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at OSU admits students who have a high probability of success in gaining entrance to medical school. This program is a good fit for you if you meet the following criteria:

• Have a strong academic background (3.0 minimum undergraduate GPA and a 3.0 in any completed science coursework)
• Have prior healthcare experience, which could include shadowing, volunteering, or working in the healthcare field
• Can clearly articulate your interest in medicine and your plan for achieving academic excellence to be a competitive applicant
• Are a U.S. citizen (U.S. medical schools rarely admit international students)
• Are able to complete the core pre-requisite science classes with labs in person

Applying to post-baccalaureate premedical program

Post-bacc pre-med students must meet both the general requirements for post-bacc pre-med admission as well as the pre-health student requirements established by the College of Science above. There is no special application for post-bacc pre-medical students; apply as a regular post-bacc student through OSU admissions.

What is the best major for pre-med?

There is no single best major for pre-med students, it is most common to simply complete prerequisite courses. It is a common misconception that having multiple degrees will make students stronger candidates for medical school. Students do not need to complete a second degree, and multiple degrees are not a criterion of importance in the application process. The two paths for post-bacc pre-med major selection are outlined below:

Prerequisites only

Students planning on just completing the pre-medicine prerequisite courses (not a full second degree) must apply as a Non-degree Student. You will still be able to work with a pre-med advisor to navigate your pathway.

Second degree

Students planning to complete a second degree often select Biology based on the alignment with prerequisites, but other science majors such as Microbiology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, or Chemistry, as well as other majors across campus are possible.

Contact the pre-med committee (premed-committee@oregonstate.edu) if you have questions about major choice.

What are the residency issues?

Out of state students should pay attention to the residency rules for the state of Oregon as it can be difficult to achieve residency while attending school. In addition, students should be aware that most of the allopathic medical schools in the west are public and take very few if any non-residents. Please note that if you are planning to switch residency to Oregon, it means that you would be giving up residency for your home state and its medical schools.