Undergraduate coursework

There is no specific major that a student needs in order to continue on in a medical training program after graduation. The biochemistry major most closely tracks with the admission requirements for allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine training programs. However, we routinely work with students that are majoring in other areas or are double majoring- this is what makes Beloiters unique.

Required coursework

In addition to completing a major, students interested in MD or DO training need:

• Two semester-long courses in Biology with lab [BIOL 110, 111, 121, 172, or 208; and BIOL 237, 256, 257, 260, or 289]
• Two semester-long courses in Chemistry with lab [CHEM 117 and 220]
• Two semester-long courses in Organic Chemistry with lab [CHEM 230 and 235]
• Two semester-long courses in Physics with lab [PHYS 101 and 102]
• Two semester-long courses in English with intensive writing
• One semester-long course in Biochemistry [BIOL/CHEM 260 or 300]
• One semester-long course in Math or Statistics

Supplemental coursework

The following are suggestions to more fully prepare for the MCAT and a future career as a physician:

• One semester-long course in Psychology [PSYC 100]
• One semester-long course in Sociology [SOCI 100]
• As many chemistry and biology courses that fit into a schedule.
• Learn a language that helps you serve diverse people and communities.

Core competencies for medical school

Medical Schools are also looking for evidence of core competencies, and students should organize their extracurricular activities and college experiences to proficiency across multiple competencies. 

• Pre-professional Competencies: Capacity for Improvement, Cultural Competence, Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others, Oral Communication, Reliability and Dependability, Resilience and Adaptability, Service Orientation, Social Skills, and Teamwork
• Science Competencies: Human Behavior and Living Systems
• Thinking and Reasoning Competencies: Critical Thinking, Quantitative Reasoning, Scientific Inquiry, and Written Communication

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Applying to allopathic and osteopathic training programs

Timing

• The process for formally applying to MD or DO training programs begins 18 months before you intend to start a training program.
• Your initial application should be completed in June of the year before you intend to start a training program.

Associations and applications

• For allopathic medicine (MD): apply using the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
• For osteopathic medicine (DO): apply using the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS) through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)

General process

1. Request a committee letter from the Health Professions Advisory Committee.
2. Complete the MCAT exam no later than mid-April of your application year.
3. The AMCAS (MD) and AACOMAS (DO) application systems opens at the beginning of May. Completed applications can and should be submitted at the beginning of June.
   • The 2026 AMCAS processing fee is $175 for the first school and $47 for each additional school.
   • The 2026 AACOMAS processing fee is $198 for the first school and $57 for each additional school.
4. Secondary applications begin in July with an additional cost of up to $200 each. These contain several essays to write and need to be submitted within two weeks of receipt.
5. On-site interviews will occur in the late summer and fall of the application cycle. The applicant most cover all the travel costs for these interviews.

Additional considerations

• Training programs will review your overall GPA, as well as your cumulative GPA of all Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math coursework. To be a competitive applicant these two GPA values should be similar and above 3.7.
• Training programs require a competitive score on the MCAT which is around 515. Sitting for the MCAT costs $345.
• Training programs will look to your personal statement to understand how your experiences inside and outside the classroom have prepared you to be successful in medical school and as a future physician. Strive for sustained, high engagement patient care and research experiences.

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Example programs

Between 2019 and 2024, Beloit College Graduates have been accepted to training programs across the country, including:

• The University of Wisconsin-Madison
• The University of Washington, Seattle
• UIC College of Medicine (RMED)
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Arizona
• Loyola-Stritch