In making decisions about admissions, MD and DO schools consider a range of factors that may vary from one school to another. All prerequisite courses need to be completed with a grade of B- or higher. The average GPA of successful applicants from St. Olaf to medical school is 3.8, with an average science GPA of 3.62.
PRE-HEALTH (pre-med, pre-dental, & pre-podiatry) Course Planning Guide
Pre-Health Preparation Website – Visit this site and bookmark it in your browser.
Recommended First-Year Schedule
First-year students intending to apply to medical school are advised to start their math and chemistry prerequisite coursework during their first year. The following timeline is an example of how that coursework can be completed.
Typical First-Year Schedule
Fall
- FYS 120 or WRIT 120 or Conversation Program
- World Language according to placement or SOAN 121, SOAN 128, SOAN 247, SOAN 258, or SOAN 267 or PSYCH 125 or BIO 150
- General Chemistry according to placement (CHEM 122 or CHEM 125)
- MATH according to placement* (MATH 119, MATH 120, MATH 126, or MATH 128) or SOAN 121, SOAN 128, SOAN 247, SOAN 258, or SOAN 267, or PSYCH 125 or BIO 150
*MATH 120 can be taken in Fall, January Term, or Spring. MATH 119 and MATH 128 are only offered in Fall.
january term
- MATH 120 or SOAN 121, SOAN 128, SOAN 247, SOAN 258, or SOAN 267, or OLE Core/Elective
Spring
- FYS 120 or WRIT 120 or Conversation Program
- World Language according to placement or SOAN 121, SOAN 128, SOAN 247, SOAN 258, or SOAN 267 or PSYCH 125 or BIO 150
- CHEM 126
- MATH according to placement (MATH 120 or MATH 126) or SOAN 121, SOAN 128, SOAN 247, SOAN 258, or SOAN 267 or PSYCH 125 or BIO 150
Additional Information
Coursework Checklist
Spring/Summer To Do list:
- Take the math & chemistry placement surveys (end of May); see additional detail about math placement & course requirements below.
- Register for FYS 120 or WRIT 120 or Conversation Program (summer)
- Register for calculus & general chemistry according to placement, MATH 119, 120, 126, or 128 and CHEM 122 or 125 (summer)
- Register for World Language according to placement or SOAN 121, SOAN 128, SOAN 247, SOAN 258, or SOAN 267 or PSYCH 125 or BIO 150
- Attend the Pre-Health session during New Student Orientation (NSO)
Math Placement/AP/CIS/DUAL Enrollment/College or University Credit:
Students should take the Math Placement Test before the end of May and register for calculus in the Fall, J-term or Spring according to their placement test results, unless they already have a calculus course on a transcript from another four-year college or university (for example, from a CIS/dual enrollment course taken in high school).
- AP calculus can meet the requirements for calculus at St. Olaf and provides sufficient calculus background for *CHEM 126. However, it will not be recognized by medical schools as “college calculus”. Students may choose (although this is not recommended) to rescind their credit for AP calculus in order to register for MATH 120, MATH 126 or MATH 128 – please contact the Math Placement Director to discuss your personal situation. Students who keep their AP credit for Calculus I and/or Calculus II (this is recommended), should consider taking Calculus II (Math 126) or linear algebra (MATH 220) followed by multivariable calculus (MATH 226; for which linear algebra is the prerequisite).
- If students lack AP calculus, and do not have a college transcript with calculus from another four-year institution AND are unable to get a seat in calculus in the Fall, they should try to get into calculus during J-term. If this is not possible, they may take calculus and CHEM 126 concurrently in the Spring.
CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS COURSEWORK
- If students have AP, IB or transfer credit for PSYCH 125, it is recommended to take PSYCH 241.
- If students have credit for AP, IB or transfer credit for an introductory Sociology/Anthropology course, they should take a level 2 sociology/anthropology course.
Placement
- Take the Math and Chemistry placement surveys.
Informational Events
There will be a pre-health information session during New Student Orientation. It is important that you attend that session.
In addition, complete this Google Form to request access to the Pre-Health Moodle which will have information about the Academic Year Pre-Health 101, 201 and 301 sessions, as well as other important information.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Professor of Biology, Chair of the Health Professions Committee – Kevin Crisp (crisp@stolaf.edu)
Kevin Crisp focuses on academic planning for students in their upper division students (sophomore, junior and senior years). Students in their first year should consult their advisor. It is highly recommended that students interested in pre-health should attend Pre-Health 101, 201 & 301.