8 Best Colleges For Medicine
Written by: Sushma Sharma and Pavita Singh
Are you aspiring to be a doctor? If so, you probably want to start thinking about applying to colleges with strong pre-med programs. The schools with the best pre-med programs are typically characterized by rigorous math and science courses, access to clinical experience, opportunities for research, and medical school acceptance rates. If you’re pretty sure you want to pursue the pre-med track but are not sure where to start, consider researching the colleges and universities listed below. These schools are not listed in any particular order.
1. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD:
Students at Johns Hopkins have access to Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, where they can shadow clinicians and gain clinical experience. The pre-med advising track offers students individual appointments, small group meetings, and special programs. There are also many health-related student organizations on campus.
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC:
One of UNC’s special programs for pre-med students is the 9-week Medical Education Development (MED) Summer Program, where students can shadow physicians, participate in professional development lectures and seminars, and get a taste of the first-year medical school experience. Student groups such as the Carolina Pre-Med Association and The Carolina Covenant provide invaluable networking and mentorship opportunities. Students also benefit from the Health Professions Advising Office.
3.University of Washington, Seattle, WA:
University of Washington is renowned for gmedical research and primary care. The campus is teeming with pre-med student clubs, most notably Alpha Epsilon Delta, and shadowing opportunities.
4. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL:
The pre-med program at Northwestern is one of the most rigorous in the country and offers students a wealth of research and clinical experience. In fact, students have the opportunity to conduct independent research Students are encouraged to get involved in the community. Many Northwestern pre-med students are involved with Peer Health Exchange, which trains students to deliver health education programs in local high schools that don’t have access to such curricula. Pre-med students at Northwestern get to take part in the pre-med peer mentor program (NU PPMP), which pairs upperclassmen with strong academic backgrounds with underclassmen whom they can support and mentor through their studies.
5. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY:
After completing the two-year pre-med track program, Cornell students have the opportunity to pursue the Urban Semester program, which allows them to work at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and design their own rotations. Students can also volunteer at the Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca. One of Cornell’s most popular student organizations and resources is the PATCH club, which brings together pre-health and pre-med students and offers a supportive environment for members to engage in beneficial opportunities.
6. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA:
Around 76% of U Penn undergrads who apply to medical school get in. Penn offers a 10-week Summer Pre-Med Enrichment Program for Underrepresented Minority Students, which gives participants access to mentorship, workshops, and lectures. Penn’s urban location gives students plenty of opportunities for volunteering and job shadowing.
7. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA:
Harvard is well-known for its strong science curriculum. Harvard pre-med students each have a group of a three advisors, one of whom is a doctor. Starting in their sophomore year, students also have a pre-med tutor who lives in the same dorm. The Harvard Premedical Society offers pre-med students a one-year advising programs and opportunities to shadow physicians and volunteer at local hospitals.
8. King’s College London, London, UK:
KCL offers an undergraduate program called Health and Society. This program is unique in that it is the first in the UK and one of the first in the world to offer an integrated curriculum that includes social, behavioral, ethical, and anthropological perspectives. Shadowing opportunities in clinical settings are an important component of the course.
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