Pre-Medical Guide: University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)
BEING A PRE-MEDICAL STUDENT AT UT
The path of a pre-medical student at UT is one that is both incredibly challenging and also rewarding. It requires a lot of perseverance, tenacity, passion, time management, and academic focus. Thus, the importance of program planning for the pre-medical student cannot be overstressed. It is essential for students to develop their academic and co-curricular plans carefully and creatively in order to prepare for medical school and pursue a degree at the same time. Health professions advisors in the College of Arts and Sciences are available to assist the student with program planning; however, in the final analysis, it is the student’s responsibility to determine the program that will best satisfy their particular needs.
PROGRAM PLANNING AND SELECTING A MAJOR
Because admission to all medical schools is competitive, the pre-medical student is strongly urged to select a major which will enable them to adapt to an alternative program in the event admission to medical school is not achieved. Thus, the student may major in any department and is in fact encouraged to pursue a major that aligns with both their interests and goals, which may or may not include the pre-requisite courses needed to apply to medical school.
Advisors are available in Arts and Sciences Advising Services, 313 Ayres Hall, to assist pre-medical students as they plan their programs. During a student’s fourth semester at the University, they will be assigned to a faculty mentor in the department of the declared major, but they should continue to consult with a health professions advisor in Arts and Sciences Advising Services about their pre-medical path.
A representative from the College of Medicine, UT Health Science Center in Memphis, visits the UTK campus once or twice a year to discuss with interested pre-medical students their plans for attending medical school. Students on the pre-health advising listserv will be notified when the representative is coming to campus.
Possible Sequence of Courses
These courses are based on 2024-2025 curriculum and UTHSC College of Medicine Admission Requirements.
| Freshman Year | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| English 101-102 or equivalent | 6 |
| Biology 150* (or 158) (see Note 1) | 3 |
| Biology 160* (or 169) and 159* (or 167) | 5 |
| Chemistry 122*-123* and Chemistry 132*-133* (see Note 2) | 8 |
| Mathematics (see Note 3) | 6-8 |
| Communicating Orally (OC) | 3 |
| Total | 31-33 |
| Sophomore Year | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Chemistry 260*-269* and 360*-359* | 8 |
| Physics 221*-222* (see Note 4) | 8 |
| Biology 240 (see Note 5) | 3 |
| Intermediate Foreign Language (see Note 6) | 6 |
| Arts and Humanities (see Note 7) | 3 |
| Non-US History | 3 |
| Total | 31-33 |
| Junior & Senior Years | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 401 (see Note 8) | 4 |
| Non-US History | 3 |
| Arts and Humanities (see Note 7) | 3 |
| Communicating through Writing (WC) | 3 |
| GCUS | 3 |
| Social Sciences (see Note 9) | 6 |
| Connections (see Note 10) | 9 |
| Electives (see Note 11) | 4-7 |
Foundations & Perspectives Requirements
Students seeking a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences must meet all college requirements, including credit hours, residency, foundations, perspectives, and connections requirements. With the exception of the social science and natural science requirements, there is no preferred way for a pre-medical student to fulfill their Vol Core requirements. The pre-medical student should keep in mind that the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) evaluates critical analysis and reasoning skills; therefore, courses which emphasize these skills (literature, history, philosophy, etc.) should be included in the student’s program, either as perspectives requirements or as electives.
CLEP and Advanced Placement Credit
Advanced Placement credit, CLEP, or other non-traditional credit in required science prerequisite courses awarded by the applicant’s regionally-accredited college may be honored for fulfilling prerequisite course requirements provided that the applicant has successfully completed an equal number of semester hours in the same discipline in a traditional classroom setting. (Example: UT College of Medicine requires 8 hours of biology and a student was granted 4 hours by CLEP. Student needs to take the remaining 4 hours in a higher level biology in a traditional classroom method.) NOTE: Advanced placement credit in English will satisfy the general hours requirement.
However, students should note that medical schools vary in their policies regarding the acceptance of CLEP and AP credit for medical school pre-requisites, particularly for Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.
Students in Other Colleges
The advisors in the College of Arts and Sciences provide pre-health advising for all students across campus, regardless of their major. Students who are currently enrolled in another college, i.e., Engineering or Education, Health and Human Sciences, do not have to fulfill Foundations and Perspectives requirements, but are required to take the following minimum courses for most medical schools:
- English 101-102
- Biology 150-160, & 159
- Chemistry 122/123 & 132/133
- Chemistry 260/269 & 360/359
- Physics 221-222 (or Engineering Fundamentals 151-152)
- The following courses are not required by most medical schools, but their content is included on the MCAT and is therefore HIGHLY recommended:
- Biology 240 (Genetics)
- Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology 401 (Biochem I)
- Psychology 110 (General Psychology)
- Sociology 120 (Introduction to Sociology)
Note that many of the above courses have prerequisites and constitute the minimum requirements for most medical schools. Pre-medical students should review the websites of medical schools they are considering and should meet with the pre-health advisors in the College of Arts and Sciences regularly. Students are also encouraged to first attend workshops offered by Pre Health advising, to help learn more about these pre-requisites, the general timeline for applying, and how to work towards a competitive application.
Selection Criteria at UT Health Science Center
- Successful completion of the pre-medical requirements with grades of C or better earned in each course.
- Letters of evaluation from three faculty members who have a good awareness of the student’s ability.
- Experience in/exposure to the health field.
- Total academic performance, with attention given to course content and load, trends in performance, and general commitment to scholarship.
- Satisfactory scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
- Personal interview with two members of the Committee on Admissions. (Competitively qualified applicants will be invited for interviews after their applications have been reviewed by the Committee.)
- Other criteria such as extracurricular activities; motivation and goals; research experience; the morals, character, and integrity of the individual; and any disciplinary or civil records that a person may have Accrued.
Please note that high GPA and MCAT scores are not by themselves a sufficient basis for entrance into medical school. The Committee on Admissions takes a close look at the total experience of the applicant in making its final decisions. In addition, the Committee on Admissions reserves the right to require additional course work from any applicant. Additional information regarding admissions can be found at https://www.uthsc.edu/medicine/admissions/requirements.php
Pre-Professional File (Letters of Evaluation)
Arts and Sciences Advising Services offers a system for submitting faculty letters of evaluation for students applying to medical school, podiatry school, or post-baccalaureate programs. This service provides a means for three faculty members to supply a letter of evaluation which can be forwarded to AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS, international medical schools, or schools of podiatry. In addition, Arts and Sciences Advising Services can ensure that the letters that are forwarded are confidential. Letters from the packet will be retained in Arts and Sciences Advising for five years.
During the junior year, students should attend a pre-professional file group meeting to learn about setting up the pre-professional file. Group meetings are scheduled with Arts and Sciences Advising Services and students can request to attend a meeting at this link: https://artsci.utk.edu/future-students/pre-health/medicine/pre-professional-file/ In the meeting, students are given information on pre-professional evaluations, AMCAS, and other aspects of the medical school application process.
The most important aspect of the file is the letters of evaluation from faculty members who are familiar with the student’s aptitude, ability, and personal characteristics. It is recommended that two of the evaluations should come from faculty members teaching in science-based disciplines. Students should make every effort to become well acquainted with their professors prior to requesting the evaluations. Once the file has been started, students should maintain contact with the pre health coordinator to periodically check on the file and to provide updated contact information as needed.
Arts and Sciences Advising Services will forward your pre-professional file to your selected application system any time after the service opens in the application year. However, we require processing time of 8-10 business days, possibly more during peak times in May, June and August. Your written request may be made through emailing prehealthadvising@utk.edu. Requests made by phone cannot be honored. You must have your AAMC ID and AAMC Letter ID to make your request. For the purposes of AMCAS, the file prepared in Arts & Sciences is considered a letter packet, and the primary contact for the packet is the current chair of the health professions.
Building a Competitive Application
HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE
Experience in a health care field is a critical component of the pre-medical student’s pre-professional program. To develop a working knowledge of the role and responsibilities of a physician, students should volunteer or work part-time in a health facility and/or spend extensive time with physicians discussing their profession and professional training. It is best to get exposure to a variety of settings. Demonstrating exposure to the medical profession has become so important that virtually all of the students accepted into medical schools have worked or volunteered in a clinical setting in some capacity.
MEDICAL COLLEGE ADMISSION TEST (MCAT)
The MCAT is a standardized examination designed to help admissions committees predict which of their applicants will perform adequately in the medical school curriculum. The exam assesses mastery of basic biology, chemistry, and physics concepts as well as facility with scientific problem solving and critical thinking. The MCAT is designed to encourage students interested in medicine to pursue broad undergraduate study in the natural and social sciences and the humanities.
The MCAT contains four sections:
- Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
- Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological System
- Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
- Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Total scores will be centered at 500, with scores ranging from 472 to 528. Each section will be scored on a range of 118 to 132, with a midpoint of 125.
Nearly all U.S. medical schools require applicants to attempt the MCAT before applying for admission. The MCAT is a computer-based test (CBT) sponsored by the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC). For UTHSC, acceptable scores may not be more than five years old. To meet this requirement, applicants to the 2025 entering class may submit scores from any administration of the MCAT between January 2020 and September 2024. Applicants are advised to prepare adequately and thoroughly for this examination and complete the prerequisites for admission prior to taking this important examination.
The cost of the 2024 MCAT is $335 for registration. The AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program aids individuals with extreme financial limitations who otherwise could not take the exam.
To register for the MCAT, students should go to the AAMC website at https://students-residents.aamc.org/register-mcat-exam/register-mcat-exam . In addition to MCAT registration, this website also contains a list of publications available to order as resources for MCAT preparation.
JOINING PRE HEALTH STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
While we encourage pre-medical students to be involved in areas outside of their pre-medical interest, we do think it is valuable to be connected with at least one pre-health student organization on campus.
2023 UTHSC College of Medicine Entering Class
Profile of Admissions
- Number of Applicants: 2602
- Number of Applicants Accepted: 254
- Number of TN Resident Applicants: 634
- Number of TN Resident Matriculants: 155
- Matriculated Applicants: 173
- Male Matriculants: 86
- Female Matriculants: 87
- Average Age: 24
- Colleges Attended: 69
- Students with baccalaureate degrees: 100%
Academic Credentials of Matriculants
- Science GPA: 3.78
- Overall GPA: 3.89
- MCAT CPFBS: 128
- MCAT CARS: 127
- MCAT BBFLS: 128
- MCAT PSBFB: 129
- Total Average: 511