Premedical Studies

The School of Natural and Social Sciences offers a Pre-Medical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program for students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and who wish to complete their science preparation for medical school or other health-related graduate/professional programs. Students holding a bachelor’s degree can take the basic science courses needed to prepare for professional exams and applications, internships, or research opportunities, and they benefit from expert advising through the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee.

Students in the Pre-Medical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program are awarded a Certificate upon completion of courses needed in order to acquire scientific knowledge requisite for success in appropriate entrance examinations and in the professional school application process. Students who choose to enroll in the Pre-Medical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program can come from any major, including the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. If students have already completed some relevant coursework in their undergraduate career, they earn the Certificate by taking missing coursework required by their prospective medical schools. It generally takes 1-2 years to finish all the necessary courses on a part-time basis; along the way, students receive close guidance from the Pre-Medical Faculty Advisory Committee. The Pre-Medical Studies Certificate will be awarded to post-baccalaureate students who enroll in the certificate program and complete 20 or more credits of eligible coursework at Purchase College.

To apply for the Pre-Medical Studies Post-Baccalaureate Program, contact the Office of Admissions.

To pursue pre-medical courses and advising as a visiting student, interested students should contact the Natural and Social Sciences Administrative Assistant, Harrison McDonald.

Pre-medical advising is available to post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the Pre-Medical Studies Certificate Program as well as undergraduate students who are matriculated at Purchase College. Our pre-medical advisors provide guidance for students as they acquire the knowledge they will need for success on the appropriate entrance examinations and in the professional school application process. Undergraduate students who seek pre-medical advising can come from any major, including the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. Although not required to major in the sciences, many undergraduate students seeking to apply to medical and health-related programs find that majors such as biology, chemistry, and biochemistry are excellent paths for achieving their goals.

Note: Students seeking pre-medical advising should ask a member of the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee to serve as their pre-medical studies advisor.

Courses Recommended by Pre-Medical Advisors

Students seeking to apply to medical or health-related programs may benefit from completing the following basic science courses:

• General Biology I and II with labs
• General Chemistry I and II with labs
• Organic Chemistry I and II with labs
• Introductory Physics I and II with labs
• Biochemistry lecture

Additional courses required by some graduate schools:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Introduction to Sociology
• Calculus
• Biochemistry lab
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Introductory Statistics
• Writing/Composition

In addition to the basic science courses, students may select advanced courses based on their interests and/or academic needs. Many medical schools either recommend or require certain advanced science courses.

Students are encouraged to review the requirements of schools where they plan to apply to ensure that all requirements and a suitable number of recommended courses are included in their academic plan.

Note: Transfer students who have not completed any pre-requisites at their previous institutions are encouraged to begin recommended course work with General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II over the summer sessions. Successful completion of these courses will satisfy the prerequisites needed to take Organic Chemistry l in the fall and continue to Organic Chemistry II in the spring.

If students cannot complete both General Chemistry courses in the summer sessions, those courses may be taken in fall and spring. However, doing so may prolong the time needed to complete all suggested courses, as Organic Chemistry I is only offered in fall semesters, and Organic Chemistry II is only offered in spring semesters. Please contact a member of the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee for additional guidance.

Students applying to medical schools or other health professional programs are advised to gain extracurricular experience in a clinical setting. Off-campus internships, volunteer clinical experiences, or previous or current employment can serve this purpose. Students are responsible for securing their own clinical opportunities. Faculty advisors and the Career Development Center are available to offer guidance.

These faculty serve on the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee. Click on their names to access their bios and contact information.

Biology Faculty

Elliot Abrams, PhD
Johns Hopkins University

James G. Daly, PhD
University of Guelph (Canada)

Jan Robert Factor, PhD
Cornell University

Stephen Harris, PhD
Graduate Center, City University of New York

Mark Jonas, PhD
Stony Brook University

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty

Stephen A. Cooke, PhD
University of Exeter (England)

Monika Eckenberg, PhD
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Germany)
Chair of the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee

Elizabeth Middleton, PhD
Yale University

Joseph Skrivanek, PhD
Pennsylvania State University

The Pre-Medical Advisory Committee conducts interviews that are designed to help students prepare for the medical school interview process. The Committee will also provide feedback and write a letter to support eligible students’ professional school applications.

To be eligible for an interview with the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all related coursework at Purchase College. Students who did not meet this average after graduating from Purchase College could become eligible for an interview if they earn a Master’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0.

Students must manage their files through Interfolio.com, a web-based credential service used by the Career Development Center (CDC). Students should schedule a meeting with a CDC counselor, who will assist in establishing and maintaining their Interfolio credential files. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the CDC about Interfolio requirements well before the deadline and make certain that all materials, including letters and transcripts, are received on time.

Before scheduling an interview with the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee, students must have submitted the following materials to their Interfolio account:

1. Transcripts from all educational institutions: The Purchase College transcript must include at least four science courses. Either official or unofficial transcripts may be submitted.
2. Letters of recommendation: A minimum of four confidential letters; several should be from Purchase faculty. Students will be able to see if letters are submitted, but only the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee can access the letters’ contents.
3. Entrance exam scores: These may be submitted after the committee interview, but must be received before the committee letter can be finalized.
4. Résumé
5. Autobiographical statement

Students with complete Interfolio files and acceptable GPAs will be interviewed by the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee.

This interview offers students an opportunity to practice for the medical school interview process. The faculty aim to provide feedback and advise on ways to strengthen the students’ applications or interview skills. Interviews generally take place at the end of the spring and the beginning of the Fall semester. The Pre-Medical Advisory Committee Chair and three other committee members interview the student.

Student files should be completed three weeks prior to the interview appointment. Students should contact the chair of the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee to schedule an interview.

After the interview, if it went well and the student achieved above-average scores on the relevant standardized exams (MCT, DAT, etc.), they can then request a letter of recommendation from the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee.

SUNY Upstate Medical University made the decision to conclude the UAS program and notified Purchase College of this decision in fall 2023. This program will not be accepting any new students at this time.