This piece is a part of the “Being Pre-Med” Series, which discusses the Pre-Med Experience at various American universities. Check out the rest of the series here.
The University of Washington, also known as “Udub,” has recently gained popularity among pre-med students nationwide. UDub attracts people from all over the states and internationally. I personally know a few people who are prepared to move from Seattle to California. I got seven replies from University of Washington pre-med students thanks to the help of a Redditor who is a Husky.
A public university in Seattle, Washington (what’s it like to actually have rain?), Udub prides itself for holding the ranking of #1 Best College in Washington and for its prestigious research program. Along with the STEM majors that the majority of pre-med students would be interested in, the school performs exceptionally well in political science and related fields. In fact, one of the most frequently declared majors at the university is Research and Experimental Psychology. Of course, a school is always more than its rankings may indicate. Check out some Huskies’ opinions about their time studying medicine at the University of Washington.
| School | University of Washington |
|---|---|
| Students Applying | 43,517 |
| Students Accepted | 19,733 |
| Acceptance Rate | 45% |
| Enrollment | 6,415 |
Think beyond STEM majors.
Although some natural science courses might be necessary for medical school, a student’s choice of undergraduate major is much more flexible than many people realize. Actually, medical schools place a high value on students with a broad education. Last year humanities majors had a 48% acceptance rate for medical school%E2%80%94higher than the overall acceptance rate of 42%*
*Source: Association of American Medical Colleges, 10/27/20
Explore health care through a different lens.
Try something unanticipated for a student interested in health care beyond the obvious courses. These are just a few of the health-related classes the College of Arts offers.
- Race and ethnic health disparities in the US: a sociology course (SOC 230)
- A Philosophy course on medical ethics (PHIL 242)
- A global/comparative perspective on disability is explored in the International Studies course JSIS B 346.
- Biological Anthropology course (BIO A 206) on historical plagues
- Future of biotechnology: A Comparative History of Ideas course (CHID 222)
- A historical course (HSTCMP 247) that explores the origins of the contemporary global health movement
Undergraduate Academic Affairs has prepared a longer list of health-related courses. Or just explore the course catalog! You may spark a lifelong interest you hadn’t imagined.
Participate in research or clinical work.
Individuals who show initiative to gain practical experience are valued by medical schools and other health care professions, whether it be in a clinical or research setting Such chances abound at the UW, in academic departments as well as at UW Medicine, Children’s Hospital, Harborview Medical Center, and other clinical and research facilities. Students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences have great success as members of research or clinical teams, proving that clinical and research opportunities are not only available to STEM majors. (A few examples are included below. ).
Be proactive to find opportunities.
Interested in working with children? Contact Children’s Hospital about volunteer opportunities. Intrigued by specific faculty members’ research? Reach out by email to see if they are looking for undergrads to join their team. Or ask your professors for suggestions during office hours. Another great resource is the UW Undergraduate Research Program database, which lists hundreds of undergraduate research opportunities at the UW and its partner institutions, including Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. UW Medicine also offers a list of enrichment and research programs for pre-health students.
Set on a specific medical school? Check requirements.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, medical school admission requirements vary from school to school. Some require applicants to complete certain premedical course requirements; others have moved to a competency-based admissions. At a minimum, students will likely be expected to complete one year each of biology, physics, and English, and two years of chemistry (through organic chemistry). To find school-specific requirements for U.S. and Canadian medical schools, see the Medical School Admission Requirement website. The UW Career & Internship Centers Pre-Med Exploration & Preparation Guide may also be helpful.
Be inspired by the experiences of others.
These four recent undergrads planned their time at the University of Washington with medical school in mind while still pursuing their other interests.
Nicole Stankovic, Piano major
Nicole majored in piano at the UW School of Music while working at Children’s Hospital as a music therapy volunteer and community resources intern. Nicole has always wanted to be a doctor but has also always loved music. She joined the research group of a UW professor of orthopaedics and sports medicine during her senior year, analyzing information on patient outcomes following surgery.
Josh Dawson, Biology major
Josh participated in a research team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for more than two years. Additionally, he participated in a program for students interested in medical careers, studied abroad, worked as a student ambassador for the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, and interned at UW Intercollegiate Athletics. “As a pre-med student, my courses, research, and a study abroad experience in Chile that focused on health care helped me develop a global mindset. “.
Allison Dumitriu Corcoana, Italian major
Allison thinks that focusing on languages and literature will help her communicate with patients more effectively. She combined her studies in the humanities with research at the UW Medical Center, which she presented at a conference on infectious diseases. Because being pre-med gives you the freedom to major in anything you want, I chose to spend four years studying something that has a profoundly different impact on me than medicine. ”.
Thomas Khuu, Biochemistry major
Thomas began working on an ophthamology research team at Harborview Medical Center as a freshman at the University of Washington and did so for the duration of his four years there. Additionally, he worked as a volunteer at Camp Kesem, a camp for kids whose parents died of cancer, and went to Vietnam with the Vietnam Health Clinic (VHC), a mobile clinic that provides healthcare to rural areas, where UW students assisted VHC medical staff.
The BEST PRE-MED MAJOR | Proven By Med School Acceptance Data
FAQ
Is UW good for pre-med?
Pre-med students gain a great deal from the resources available at UW, one of the top public medical schools in terms of research and primary care.
Is UW medical school hard to get into?
In other words, despite its fame and reputation, it is not one of the most competitive medical schools. This highly selective medical school accepts students from Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho, among other states.
What GPA do you need for UW med school?
The following academic requirements must be met by applicants to UW: a cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3 0 and. An MCAT score of at least 500.
What pre-med major has the highest acceptance rate?
This information indicates that three major groups have higher admissions rates than others: the humanities, math and statistics, and physical sciences. In fact, these are the only three fields (apart from biological sciences) where the rate of admission to medical school is higher than 40%.
What is the easiest pre-med school to get into?
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
- University of Massachusetts Medical School. …
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine. …
- University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. …
- LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport.
What college has the best pre-med?
- Harvard. According to the Harvard Office of Career Services, 17% of its students are expected to apply to medical school
- Johns Hopkins University. …
- Stanford University. …
- University of Pennsylvania. …
- Columbia University. …
- Duke University. …
- University of Washington. …
- UNC Chapel Hill.