The Core Sequence

Medical school prerequisites are remarkably consistent across MD and DO programs. The traditional core, expected almost everywhere, is:

  • Biology — 1 year with lab. General biology covering cell biology, genetics, and molecular biology. Upper-level courses (physiology, microbiology, genetics) strengthen your file beyond the minimum.
  • General Chemistry — 1 year with lab. Foundational inorganic chemistry.
  • Organic Chemistry — 1 year with lab. Some programs now accept one semester of organic plus a semester of biochemistry; confirm school by school.
  • Physics — 1 year with lab. General physics, directly relevant to the MCAT.
  • Biochemistry — 1 semester. Increasingly required, not just recommended, and heavily represented on the MCAT.
  • Math/Statistics — 1–2 courses. Statistics is widely expected; some schools require calculus.
  • English/Writing — 1 year. Communication and composition.

The Behavioral Sciences

When the MCAT added a section on the psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior, the prerequisite landscape shifted with it. Most applicants now complete one semester each of psychology and sociology, and many schools recommend or require them. Even where they aren't required, taking them prepares you directly for a quarter of the exam.

Competency-Based Requirements

A growing number of programs have moved from rigid course lists toward competency-based expectations — demonstrating mastery of, say, biochemistry or statistics rather than naming a specific course. The practical upshot is unchanged: the traditional sequence above satisfies nearly all of them. Always confirm each school's exact policy, since the details vary.

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Where and When to Take Them

Complete prerequisites at accredited institutions, and take the core sciences at a four-year university where possible — committees notice. AP credit is accepted unevenly; where a school accepts it for introductory courses, supplement with upper-level work in the same area to demonstrate rigor. All prerequisites should be completed or in progress at the time of application, and the science sequence should be timed to precede your MCAT so the content is fresh.

Grades: The Science GPA Matters Most

AMCAS calculates a separate science GPA (BCPM — biology, chemistry, physics, math) that admissions committees scrutinize closely. Strong grades in your science prerequisites can outweigh a higher cumulative GPA padded by non-science courses. If your early science grades are weak, a strong upward trend and upper-level science performance can rehabilitate the picture. To plan the exam alongside coursework, see the MCAT study strategy and what counts as a good MCAT score; for how grades factor in overall, read GPA and medical school admissions.