Pre-Medicine Program

 

More than 80 percent of our pre-medicine graduates are admitted to medical school on their first try, compared to just 50 percent nationally for all majors.

Overview

At Illinois Wesleyan, pre-medicine students receive the strongest science preparation possible.

As at most universities, students at Illinois Wesleyan University do not major in pre-medicine. Instead, students will major in their primary field of interest, while also working to complete the courses required by the pre-medicine program.

Pre-Medicine at Illinois Wesleyan — Our Advantages

• Close interaction between students and faculty, which is critical for the development of strong candidates for admission into professional schools.
• The Medical Extern Program pairs students with a local physician, often an Illinois Wesleyan alum, as a mentor you can observe at work.
• Many opportunities for lab experience, working with top-quality scientific equipment and pursuing independent research projects under the supervision of Ph.D. professors.
• Our Pre-Medical Advisory Committee assists students in all aspects of applying to professional programs, including advising, in-depth interviews and the writing of thoughtful, thorough letters of evaluation.

As a result, we have had great success in placing many of our students into a large variety of medical schools

▷ Printable Brochure

Curriculum

Your Educational Future

A sampling of the medical schools admitting our recent graduates includes:

• Baylor University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Creighton University
• Dartmouth College
• Duke University
• Indiana University
• Loma Linda University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Michigan State University
• New York Medical College
• Northwestern University
• Penn State University
• Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
• Rush University
• Saint Louis University
• Southern Illinois University
• University of California-Davis
• University of Chicago
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of Florida
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Iowa
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• University of Missouri
• University of Nebraska
• University of New Mexico
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas Southwestern
• University of Toledo
• University of Virginia
• Vanderbilt University
• Wake Forest University
• Washington University in Saint Louis

Pre-Medicine: Biochemistry Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Biology Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Chemistry Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Non-science Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Physics Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Biology Major Course Plan

The course plan below outlines the courses students need to successfully complete prior to taking the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test). Your faculty advisor will work with you to complete each semester's schedule.

As an IWU student, it is your responsibility to track your progress each semester towards completing graduation requirements using the MyIWU degree evaluation tool.

 

Study Abroad

For students interested in studying abroad, the fall semester of the third year is recommended for students who plan to apply to medical school at the end of their junior year and fall semester junior or senior year for students planning to apply in their senior year. It is highly recommended that students consult with Dr. Walker as early as possible if they plan to study abroad.

Additional Information

• Once enrolled, all students will have a degree evaluation tool available to them on MyIWU. This will help students determine what courses are required to graduate on time.
• The courses listed in the template must be completed prior to taking the Medical College Admissions test (MCAT) which is taken in the May/June of junior or senior year.
• In addition to the courses listed in the template, students must also take a one semester psychology course (PSYC 100), a one semester sociology course (SOC 101), and must have familiarity with basic statistics-thus an introduction to statistics may be required. 
• PSYC 100 also fulfills the Life Science Issues (LSI) general education requirement.
• SOC 101 also fulfills the Contemporary Social Institutions (CSI) general education requirement.
• Any of the following statistics courses would be sufficient - ECON 227, PSYC 227, SOC 227 or BIO 209.
• The MCAT is taken during the spring of a student's junior or senior year.
  
  • With the computer version of the MCAT, there are many possible dates. Consult a member of the pre-med advisory committee with any questions.
• Resources:
  • Premedical/Predental Advisory Committee – The chair of this committee is Dr. Loni Walker.
  • Premed Listserv – Students should be told to subscribe to the premed listserv. The premed committee uses this listserv to disseminate important information throughout the academic year and summer. Students can subscribe to the list through the MyIWU portal.
  • Career Center – The career center has a wealth of information concerning the health professions.