Program Overview
If you’re interested in applying to graduate studies at a health professional school, our Pre-Medicine program is for you! Our program is customized for each student through course selection, personal counseling, and academic support. A Pre-Medical Committee supervises the program, giving students access to faculty members from across campus, the Pre-Medical Program Director, and local medical professionals. The Pre-Medicine program at WCU is an advising course, not a full program of study. It is intended to prepare students for professional health and medical schools through completion of prerequisite courses. Students should choose a major in a discipline related to their career aspirations. The program prepares students for application to professional schools of medicine (allopathic or osteopathic), dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary medicine; physician and pathology assistant programs; and careers in biomedical research.
Tracks
Pre-Medicine
Pre-Medicine is an educational track that undergraduate students can pursue in addition to completing their major requirements. Students on the pre-med track at WCU may choose any of our 100+ undergraduate majors, as long as all prerequisite coursework is completed. Additionally, we encourage our students to participate in volunteer activities, clinical experiences, research, and MCAT preparation. Our goal is to develop our students so they have sufficient evidence of their personal attributes of integrity, adaptability, language skills, collaboration, and a commitment to pursue medicine as a career.
Pre-Dentistry
Pre-Dental is an educational track that undergraduate students can pursue in addition to completing their major requirements. A student on the pre-dental track at WCU may choose any of our 100+ undergraduate majors, as long as all prerequisite coursework is completed. Additionally, we encourage our students to participate in volunteer activities, clinical experiences, research, and DAT preparation. Our goal is to develop our students so they have sufficient evidence of their personal attributes of integrity, adaptability, language skills, collaboration, and a commitment to pursue dentistry as a career.
Pre-Physician Assistant
Pre-Physician Assistant (pre-PA) is an educational track that undergraduate students can pursue in addition to completing their major requirements. A student on the pre-PA track at WCU may choose any of our 100+ undergraduate majors, as long as all prerequisite coursework is completed. Additionally, we encourage our students to participate in volunteer activities, complete 500+ hours of patient contact, research, and GRE preparation. Our goal is to develop our students so they have sufficient evidence of their personal attributes of integrity, adaptability, language skills, collaboration, and a commitment to pursue PA as a career.
Pre-Optometry
Pre-Optometry is an educational track that undergraduate students can pursue in addition to completing their major requirements. A student on the pre-optometry track at WCU may choose any of our 100+ undergraduate majors, as long as all prerequisite coursework is completed. Additionally, we encourage our students to participate in volunteer activities, volunteer or work at an optometrist’s office, and OAT preparation. Our goal is to develop our students so they have sufficient evidence of their personal attributes of integrity, adaptability, language skills, collaboration, and a commitment to pursue optometry as a career.
Pre-Veterinary Medicine
Pre-Veterinary Medicine is an educational track that undergraduate students can pursue in addition to completing their major requirements. A student on the pre-vet track at WCU may choose any of our 100+ undergraduate majors, as long as all prerequisite coursework is completed. Additionally, we encourage our students to participate in volunteer activities, work at a veterinary office, research, and GRE preparation. Our goal is to develop our students so they have sufficient evidence of their personal attributes of integrity, adaptability, language skills, collaboration, and a commitment to pursue veterinary medicine as a career.
Program Highlights
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Priority scheduling within a student ‘s academic cohort
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Personalized advising to highlight a student’s strengths
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Pre-Med Committee interview and support letter to pre-health professional discipline of the student’s choice
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Early Assurance/articulation agreements with Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Temple University School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Arcadia University's M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies
What can I do with this degree?
Our goal is to prepare our graduates for the professional medical and affiliated health science programs of their choice. We have successfully placed students in over 50 locations in the US and abroad, including:
- Boston University School of Medicine
- Cornell University Medical College
- Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Drexel University College of Medicine
- Duke University School of Medicine
- George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Harvard Medical School
- Harvard School of Dental Medicine
- Thomas Jefferson Medical College
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Ohio State University School of Veterinary Medicine
- Penn State University College of Medicine
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Temple University School of Medicine
- Temple University School of Dental Medicine
- Tufts University School of Medicine
- Uniformed Services School of Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Dental Medicine
- University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
- University of Minnesota School of Dentistry
- University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
- University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
- University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
- University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
- University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine
- University of Virginia School of Medicine
- Yale School of Medicine