Pre-Health at RU-N

Interested in pursuing a career in medicine, dentistry, optometry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine or another health profession? This website not only provides basic information on such careers, but also helps current and prospective Rutgers University-Newark students by providing resources to better guide you to your goals.

Rutgers University-Newark has several programs for undergraduate students and bachelor degree holders interested in pursuing a career in the health profession.  The office provides advisement on appropriate course selection as well as guidance on the application process. 

Pre-Health Program Overview

The Pre-Health Program at Rutgers-Newark is designed for students preparing for admission to medical colleges including allopathic and osteopathic schools as well as dental, optometry, podiatry and veterinary schools.

Medical colleges generally require the following undergraduate science courses for admission:

• 2-3 semesters of Biology with laboratory (8-12 credits)
• 2 semesters of General Chemistry with laboratory (10 credits)
• 2 semesters of Organic Chemistry with laboratory (10 credits)
• 2 semesters of Physics with laboratory (10 credits)
• 1 or 2 semesters of Mathematics (3-6 credits), usually through Precalculus. This requirement varies with certain schools and may require Calculus. Students are encouraged to consult with individual schools for specific entrance requirements.

These courses should be completed by the end of the third college year with at least a 3.5 GPA and in advance of the nationwide standardized examinations.

Note: Students having completed courses outside the U.S. should be aware that they may not be applied for fulfilling the academic requirements for admission to professional schools. This includes courses that were transferred and are applied toward the credits for graduation.

Before Applying:

Medical colleges typically expect applicants to have a very good scholastic record, especially in the sciences, with successful candidates earning in the range of a 3.5 cumulative grade point average. Competition for admission is intense and schools not only weigh grades but also scores on the standardized exam, the college letter of recommendation, extracurricular activities and seriousness of intentions (volunteer or paid health-related experiences, shadowing a doctor or dentist, etc.) among other factors in the decision process.

Students should complete all science entrance requirements to medical , optometry and dental schools including the MCAT, OAT or DAT in order to be considered for an interview. Applicants are encouraged to review the web sites of the professional schools.