Colleges and universities approach premedical studies in different ways, as the subject is not always a major but rather an advising track that offers opportunities for extracurriculars.
No matter where they go to school and what they major in, though, students who pursue premedical tracks should expect to take different kinds of science classes so they can fulfill medical school prerequisites and prepare themselves as best they can for their careers.
Luckily for students, Ohio is home to loads of top universities prepared to offer these different programs to premedical students.
And they will be pursuing a field that will not only always be in demand but also continue to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of physicians and surgeons working in the country will increase by 3% between 2020 and 2030.
Although this rate is lower than the national average, it still amounts to an additional 24,800 jobs to the 727,000 physician and surgical positions that existed in 2020, the bureau noted.
Below, we’ll take a deep dive into the Ohio schools that offer the best pre-medicine programs, ranked by schools supplying the most applicants to medical school in the state. Schools on this list supplied at least 50 applicants each to medical schools.
Here are the best pre-med schools in Ohio.
9. Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)
Xavier University has a pre-professional health program with an excellent track record. The program has a set curriculum for each of the four years of undergraduate study to prepare students for pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, and even veterinary medicine.
Xavier had a record number of alumni accepted into medical school in 2019, an impressive 92%.
The university recommends that students pick a major that will prepare them for their future careers.
Students will kick off their freshman year by meeting with their pre-professional adviser and join the university’s Pre-Med Student Association, which offers opportunities for aspiring medical professionals, like hearing from guest speakers.
Sophomores can expect to participate in research opportunities, while juniors will do mock interviews with the university’s Health Sciences Committee in addition to taking the MCAT. Along the way, students can get help through peer mentoring and an additional academic adviser specifically for pre-professional health students.
8. Wright State University (Dayton, OH)
The premed studies certificate program at Wright State University is designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and want to bolster their chances of getting accepted into medical school.
Students have two paths to choose from: a more advanced one-year program for those who already have a background in the sciences or a two-year program geared toward people wanting to change careers and who need more scientific training.
Students will complete 30 semester hours, but they don’t only learn about foundational sciences. Courses also focus on behavioral science, as the university aims to provide a deeper look at the various personal and community dynamics that affect today’s health care.
Prospective students will need to meet Wright’s undergraduate admission requirements and have a GPA of at least 3.0 overall or in their last 90 credit hours. They also should have experience either job shadowing, working, or volunteering in the medical arena.
7. The University of Akron (Akron, OH)
Future physicians will find an extensive support system at the University of Akron. Its guide to pre-professional health resources provides undergraduates with everything they need to know about the types of majors available to them that would work to their advantage in medical school, how to become competitive applicants for graduate school, and more.
Students also can receive pre-professional health advising, in which they can get guidance on a variety of topics, such as what classes to take and what extra-curriculars to participate in. They also receive access to a dedicated Brightspace page where they can hear about upcoming events and other pertinent information.
Lastly, the university has several partnerships with nearby professional schools, including the early assurance pathway with the Northeast Ohio Medical University College of Medicine, letting Akron students to obtain an early place in one of its future medical school classes or pharmacy program.
Another school, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, has an early acceptance program through which it admits a maximum of five Akron students into its medical, dental, or pharmacy schools.
6. University of Dayton (Dayton, OH)
University of Dayton students can earn a bachelor of science in pre-medicine, part of the school’s Premedical Programs unit.
Program participants receive an adviser from the Premedical Faculty Committee and can take advantage of the Premedical Programs Office’s various services.
The interdisciplinary coursework includes loads of science lessons as well as classes in the social sciences and the humanities to prepare students to move on to medical schools. Students also gain clinical experience to get a taste for their future careers and also get 15 to 18 semester hours to spend in “self-designed study.”
This could involve pursuing a minor in a science or other field that interests them or going for a certificate through the Institute for Applied Creativity and Transformation.
University alumni have done well, too, with 75% of graduates in the last decade getting admitted to health professional schools. In 2019 alone, 77% of Dayton students were accepted into medical school.
5. University of Toledo (Toledo, OH)
Several undergraduate programs at the University of Toledo offer pre-medicine tracks, including pharmaceutical sciences, bioengineering, and public health.
The university says most of its students major in either biology or chemistry, enabling them to meet the requirements of both their major and the pre-health concentration, which means they don’t need to take additional courses.
The university also offers the BACC2MD Pathway Program, which molds undergrads into candidates for the M.D. program at its medical school. These students receive mentoring through the College of Medicine and Life Sciences and can interview with the school their junior year, with a chance to earn a conditional acceptance that spring and avoid having to take the MCAT.
Pre-health students also move into the Health Professions Living Learning Community, located in one of Toledo’s residence halls. There, they’ll live with fellow students pursuing health-related majors and get to enjoy special programs and other benefits.
4. Miami University (Oxford, OH)
Miami University of Ohio takes a unique approach to pre-medicine, offering it as a co-major through the Mallory-Wilson Center for Healthcare Education.
In this approach, students complete a primary major, which is the degree they will receive at graduation, but also take science classes to build a foundation for their future medical career.
Students take 62 to 66 semester hours, the majority of which will consist of chemistry and biology courses, to fulfill the requirements of the co-major and gain the knowledge they’ll need to take the MCAT and eventually enroll in medical school. Other classes cover different math, social science, and humanities topics.
Co-majors also get to take two semesters hours worth of professional development classes and receive advising throughout their four years of study. In their third year, students prepare to move on to medical school by filling out mock AMCAS paperwork applications and sitting for a mock interview.
3. University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, OH)
The University of Cincinnati can help students who plan to pursue health care careers through its Pre-Professional Advising Center. The center’s staff are able to help aspiring medical students learn about the jobs available to them and select the appropriate courses to help them reach their goals.
Students can also receive advice on gaining some health care experience as undergraduates and preparing for the MCAT. And when they’re ready to apply to medical school, the center can provide details about different colleges and help students with their recommendation letters.
Undergraduates also can get a first-hand look at medical careers by participating in the Pre-Health Internship Program and gain valuable experience through different research opportunities.
The university also has numerous student organizations focused on health care that provide opportunities to learn more about various careers and socialize with other pre-health majors.
These include the American Medical Student Association (Premedical Chapter), Health Occupations Students of America, and MAPS (Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students).
2. Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
Pre-med students have pursued a variety of majors while also preparing for health careers while at Case Western Reserve University. Regardless of what they study, undergraduates should note that they likely need to fulfill particular prerequisites to attend medical school, including different types of sciences with lab work.
But Case Western students can learn from some of the best minds in the world if they decide to major in fields like physics, physiology, and chemistry. And many undergrads follow in their footsteps, with 86% participating in research or other creative projects.
The university has produced some positive results, too, with 64% of its undergrads getting accepted into medical school over the past five years. And through Case Western’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program, 15 to 20 first-year students usually receive a conditional offer of admission to either the university’s medical or dental schools.
1. Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
While Ohio State University students cannot major in pre-medicine, they can choose it as an academic interest so their different advisers can tailor their guidance to make it as productive as possible.
Pre-medicine is one of the university’s preprofessional programs and more specifically part of pre-health, which encompasses not only medicine but also pharmacy, optometry, and other areas.
The university recommends that pre-medicine students take one year of classes in several types of sciences to give them a strong base and to get some in-person experience in a health care setting as early as possible, such as through shadowing or volunteering.
That way, students will learn more about their interests and potentially make valuable contacts with professionals already working in the field. There are also opportunities to work on research projects with faculty members.
And in their free time, students can engage with their peers through Alpha Epsilon Delta, a pre-medicine club that hosts different activities and programs, like guest speakers.
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