Surviving Pre-Med Coursework

Whether you're taking premed courses online or at a traditional institution, getting through the rigorous curriculum of a pre-medical program is no easy task. Get tips on how to survive pre-med coursework here.

• Don't rush. You will not do yourself any favors in the long run by rushing through premed courses online. Take the time to give your all in each class. You will earn better grades, and you will be glad you devoted the time you did to learning the material when you take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). The MCAT will test you on everything you learn in your pre-med classes, so it's important that you retain the information.
• Get to know your professors. Most medical schools will require that two of your three letters of recommendation come from science professors. As such, it will help you later on if you get to know the instructors of your premed courses online now. The better you know the instructor, the more your letter of recommendation will stand out from the others. Ask your instructor questions, keep in touch, and, if appropriate, express an interest in the professor's research area.
• Stay well-rounded. It's easy to lose yourself in your premed coursework and neglect the other areas of your life. However, this will make you look one-dimensional and less attractive to medical schools. The best applicants are well-rounded; they do well in their studies while also working, participating in extracurricular activities, volunteering, etc.
• Keep your eye on your goals. When you get bogged down in the minutia of premed courses online, it's easy to lose sight of your long-term goals. You might get discouraged by the difficulty or workload of your pre-med classes and think about abandoning your goal of joining the health professions one day. If you begin to lose motivation in your classes, try to remember what inspired you to want to be a health professional in the first place. Remember that pre-med coursework is over fairly quickly, but a rewarding career in medicine can last a lifetime.
• Be realistic in scheduling your courses. Don't overwhelm yourself by taking too many difficult premed courses online. For example, you wouldn't want to combine organic chemistry and physics in the same semester if you can avoid it. Ideally, you should try to take just one pre-med science class at a time and fill out your schedule with courses in other disciplines, such as English.

If you want to know more, or have questions you would like to ask, visit our frequently asked questions section.