Major
	None
Professional Degree
	Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the UI Carver College of Medicine
Competitive Admission
Links
	Web Site General Catalog

As an undergraduate student at The University of Iowa, you may declare a pre–health sciences designation (frequently called “pre-med”), which means that you’re taking courses you'll need in order to apply to a professional health sciences degree program. Pre-health sciences is not a major.

If you are planning to attend a health sciences college after earning a bachelor’s degree, you may decide to earn an undergraduate major in one of the sciences. But many students choose majors in liberal arts areas such as the humanities (e.g., English or philosophy) or social sciences (e.g., psychology or anthropology) and do very well when they apply to a health science school. There is no single undergraduate major that best prepares you for entry into the health sciences. You should choose a major that genuinely interests you. There is a Pre-Med Living-Learning Community in the residence halls for first-year students.

Most students start out intending to become a physician in one of the 23 specialties offered at the University's Carver College of Medicine. Many do enroll in the college eventually, but others find rewarding work in related fields. An interest in science, the healing arts, helping people, and medical research can lead to a great number of satisfying careers.

The University’s medical programs consistently place high in national rankings.

• Preparing for Health Sciences Careers
• Preprofessional Study
• Admission to the MD Program
• For More Details
• Financial Aid

Preparing for Health Sciences Careers
You can research health-related careers while you’re still in high school. An excellent source for information about becoming a physician is available on the Carver College of Medicine web site, under Admissions. Another good online resource is the Occupational Outlook Handbook, which gives summaries of health careers.

The University of Iowa prepares students for many different health-related careers—medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, public health, biochemistry, biology, health and human physiology, medical technology, microbiology, nuclear medicine technology, physical therapy, physician assistant, radiation sciences, and more. Taking a variety of undergraduate courses may help you discover a field that particularly appeals to you.

When one area sounds especially interesting, arrange to shadow a professional in that field. You’ll follow him or her at work for a day to get a sense of what the field is like and whether you’d enjoy working in it. Many health professionals are happy to help prospective students when their schedules permit.

In high school, do your best to develop time management and study skills in preparation for the University’s academic environment. It’s helpful to take a strong high school mathematics and science program to help you with pre–health science course work. Completing your foreign language requirement in high school will give you increased flexibility in scheduling required courses and choosing electives once you enroll at the University.

Preprofessional Study
After you’ve enrolled at Iowa, use your undergraduate years to prepare for admission to professional colleges. Most postgraduate health science colleges, at Iowa and elsewhere, look for bright, engaging leaders who function well as team members, have a deep concern for others, are inquisitive, and are interested in the scientific method and the value of research.

You can show that you fit this description by excelling academically and by participating in well-chosen extracurricular activities. Many students continue one or more of the activities they enjoyed in high school—music, sports, art, or service, for example. You also may want to explore new activities among the nearly 500 student organizations at Iowa. Volunteer work in a health environment and research expertise in a major field can be valuable in helping you determine whether a health care career is right for you.

Strong academic work, both in science and nonscience courses, is essential for students heading for the health professions.

Admission to the MD Program
Applicants to Iowa’s MD degree program must have been granted a bachelor’s degree or be enrolled in a degree program with the expectation of receiving their degree before they enroll in medical school. They must have completed the following prerequisite course work:

• One year of introductory physics with labs
• One year of organic chemistry with labs, following an introductory course in modern general chemical principles with labs (usually one year)
• One year of biology (or zoology and botany) with labs, and one semester of advanced biological sciences (e.g., biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, physiology)
• College algebra and trigonometry
• Two English courses that include composition and literature
• Four courses in social and behavioral sciences and/or the humanities that include writing as well as content on diversity and cultural competence

Applicants must have a grade-point average (GPA) of at least 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) for all college work they have undertaken. However, the average GPA for enrolled medical students is 3.70, and 95 percent have a GPA of at least 3.20. When you have a choice of taking pre-med courses for a grade or pass/fail, choose to take the courses for a grade.

Technical Standards

Applicants to the MD program must possess the capability to complete the entire medical curriculum and earn the Doctor of Medicine degree. Applicants and continuing MD students must meet the technical standards for admission and retention; see Admission to Medical School (MD) on the college’s web site.

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

Completion of the MCAT is a requirement for admission. For more information about the MCAT, visit the Association of American Medical Colleges web site.

For More Details
See Doctor of Medicine in the UI General Catalog to learn about the MD degree and for more information about admission, including prerequisites, technical standards, application materials, and how to apply.

Financial Aid
Students are advised to minimize their undergraduate debt levels, particularly credit card debt, in order to pay for the extended academic years of professional courses.

While the cost of medical school is high, many sources of financial assistance are available to help students finance their medical education. These include grants, scholarships, and loans. The Carver College of Medicine Financial Services Department can help by providing basic information and counseling on financial issues you may encounter throughout medical school and residency.