Planning your eight semesters carefully is key when considering a career in a health profession. With some judicious course selections, you can fulfill premedical/prehealth requirements; major in a non-science discipline; double major or add a concentration; study abroad; complete a thesis; and graduate in four years.
You are encouraged to consult with the Science and Health Professions Advisor, your first-year or major advisor, and course instructors as needed before making final decisions on courses. Please use these career specific course templates to start planning before your meeting: Medicine, Dental, Nursing, Physician’s Assistant, Veterinarian, and Physical Therapy. Clicking on a link will automatically create your own personal copy to fill out. If you have already started the chemistry sequence, use the first tab on the sheet. If you are starting the chemistry sequence Fall 2023 or later, use the second tab.
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- Set up a spreadsheet with your course requirements and selections for each semester so you can visualize how the premedical required courses fit with other Williams requirements. Keep the Registrar's webpage on distribution requirements bookmarked!
- Sample one course from each department that you see as a potential major during first year, if possible. This guide offers good advice: Choosing First-Year Courses
- Note that AP courses may "count" toward prehealth course requirements. Most commonly, students use AP Calculus I and II courses for the math requirement. AP Physics is generally used for one semester of Physics. (You must have a 4 or 5 on AP tests.) See the Science and Health Professions Advisor for specifics.
- Select one or two laboratory science courses during both first-year semesters. To study away in junior year, it is best to have started the four-course chemistry sequence in your first year. Typically, prehealth students enroll in BIOL 101 and CHEM 101 in the first semester of their first year, but this is not mandatory and may not be appropriate for you.
- Choose a 100-level English course in the first year, as entering students are often given preference.
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The minimum admission requirements of most medical and dental schools are satisfied by these courses.
BIOL 101, 102 The Cell, The Organism CHEM 101 and 200 Two semesters of general chemistry w/ lab CHEM 201 One semester of organic chemistry w/ lab (Chem Majors see CHEM 242**)
Note: Students who began their Chemistry studies in Fall 2022 or earlier should refer to the Williams Chemistry webpage for the previous course sequence. CHEM 242** An additional semester of organic chemistry is required for CHEM majors but NOT required for other pre-health students
PHYS 131, 132 Introduction to Mechanics, Electromagnetism and the Physics of Matter. May fulfill with AP*. ENGL 1XX or higher Courses with an emphasis on literature and composition. Many schools require two such courses; others permit writing intensive courses to substitute. (Note: these courses must be designated at Williams with a “W.”) MATH 130, 140, 150, or higher Calculus I and II, Multivariable Calculus, or one higher math course. May fulfill with AP*. STATS 101, 161, 201 or PSYC 201 Introductory Statistics, Introductory Statistics for Social Sciences, Statistics and Data Analysis, or Experimentation and Statistics. Medical schools strongly recommend one statistics course. BIOL 222*** or BIOL/CHEM 321 or 322 Essentials of Biochemistry or Biochemistry I or II *Many schools will accept AP credits to fulfill these particular requirements if they are reflected on your Williams College transcript. Please note that school policy varies.
**CHEM 241 is required for CHEM majors but NOT required for other pre-health students
**BIOL 222 (Essentials of Biochemistry) is a one-semester biochemistry course with lab designed for students who want to fulfill the pre-medical requirement in biochemistry and/or who want to gain an overview of biochemistry in a single semester. The course includes material that is also covered in BIMO/BIOL/CHEM 321 and BIMO/BIOL/CHEM 322. Students who wish to keep open the possibility of pursuing the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology ("BiMO") concentration should not take BIOL 222, but rather enroll in 321 and/or 322. BIOL 222 is not a prerequisite for 321 or 322. Because of the overlap in content, students may not count the combination of 222 and 321 or the combination of 222 and 322 towards the Biology major.
Additional Courses
Some students elect to take courses beyond the minimum requirements because of their major, interest in the material, or additional requirements published by specific schools.
Typical additional courses might include the following:
PSYC 101 or SOC 101 Intro to Psychology or Sociology BIOL 202 Genetics BIOL 205 Physiology PSYC/BIOL 212 Neuroscience BIOL 315 Microbiology (required by vet schools) Important Considerations
- In general, you should not enroll in prehealth required courses during a study-away program or during the summer without consulting the relevant department and/or your advisor. The Williams-Exeter Programme at Oxford is the exception as it is a special curricular offering of the College.
- Exceptions to this rule include the need to fit in courses before or after a study-away program; or in cases when required courses conflict with courses necessary for your major; or if you made a late decision to prepare for medical/dental/veterinary school or another health profession.
Your major is arguably the most important curricular decision in your college career, and among the least important factors in your medical school application. Professional schools do not prefer any particular major, though many applicants major in the sciences as a result of their interests. In the current 2019 application cycle, 50% of the applicants are Biology majors; 34% are Chemistry majors; and 28% are double majors. Other majors represented in this group are Art History (2); Economics (1); Psychology (1); Mathematics (3); and Statistics (1).
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- Find your academic rhythm—the pace of coursework, assignments, and exams is fast!
- Explore extracurricular activities and choose one or two.
- Contact the health professions advisor if you want to get acquainted, make future plans, or discuss any concerns you may have.
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- Read daily messages for information on departmental summer research assistantship opportunities. A RA job at Williams provides experience for applying to other research programs next summer.
- Apply broadly for summer internships. Remember you can apply for Alumni Sponsored Internship Program (ASIP) funding for unpaid opportunities.
- Get a job--the experience will be useful in terms of showing maturity and responsibility.
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- Consider your academic strengths and interests.
- Explore career options in health care and public health.
- Meet with the health professions advisor to discuss your plans.
- Select your major based on your interests. You do not have to be a science major to go into a health profession!
- Engage in your community on and off campus.
- Map out your academic plan if you want to study abroad in junior year.
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- Participate in an internship, meaningful activity, or job that assists your career exploration in either a clinical or research setting. Again, use ASIP for funding.
- Contact Ephs in a healthcare field through the Alumni Career Network or LinkedIn.
- Engage in a service-related activity.
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- Perform well in courses, labs, and seminars.
- Discuss the strength of your application to graduate school or a professional school with your major advisor and health professions advisor.
- Continue your engagement in community service; consider a leadership role.
- Attend any departmental or career center info sessions or panel discussions related to your career interests.
- Consider a thesis project for senior year.
- If you hope to matriculate in a health professions program immediately after graduating:
- Complete the academic prerequisites or ensure you are enrolled in them in senior year.
- Attend the December meeting on application procedures and follow the application timeline on the website!
- Study for and sign up for the MCAT this spring; same for DAT or GRE in the spring or early summer.
- Request letters of recommendation
- Complete the “Intent to Apply” form, schedule your Health Professions Committee Interview, and begin drafting a personal statement.
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- Begin your thesis research if required or appropriate.
- Participate in a research or clinical experience that will enhance your understanding of a career in science or health professions.
- Complete your applications for med school, if hoping to matriculate after graduation.
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- Complete thesis research and the final project.
- Maintain your high level of academic performance.
- If you are applying to enter medical school immediately post-Williams:
- Complete your secondary applications for health professions programs.
- Prepare for and go to interviews.
- If you hope to matriculate in a healthcare program after one or more years out of college:
- Complete the academic prerequisites or plan to do so while working.
- Make preparations to take the appropriate test (MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE…)
- Request letters of recommendation for the year in which you apply.
- Meet with the health professions advisor before leaving campus.