Pre-Med is not an academic major. The term refers to the undergraduate coursework and related academic and community activities that students participate in, in order to enhance one's chances of admission into medical school.

Program Information and Guides

Why Choose UIS?

A major advantage of UIS is the close relationship of faculty to students, and the consequent opportunity for personal advising as a student seeks admission to professional school. A large number of myths and rumors often overwhelm and mislead students into deciding not to pursue advanced degrees, and an informed advisor can help the student past these unfortunate distractions.

At UIS we have also cultivated a relationship with the Illinois RMed Program which is designed to improve access to healthcare in central and southern Illinois. Several of our students have gone to the UIUC Medical School as participants in the RMed Program.

Irrespective of their major, students considering professional school are strongly advised to contact a Pre-Professional Health Science advisor as early as possible after enrolling at UIS. This will ensure that they take the needed courses in the appropriate sequence and learn, early on, about other important activities that improve chances of admission to a professional school, even if the student elects not to major in science.

General Information

Most professional schoolsl require some kind of specalized admissions test. The content and dates of the test vary from discipline to discipline. The sites below include schedules for testing dates, FAQ about the test, and practice tests. The fees for these tests can be expensive so you want to plan out when you take them well in advance and study for them ahead of time.

MCAT Registration

For up-to-date information on the MCAT visit the official Medical College Admission Test site at the American Association of Medical Colleges.

Normally each year there are two periods to take the MCAT: between January and May an between June and September. Check with the medical schools you are interested in applying to for how far in advance they want to receive your scores. Note that if you are taking the computer verision of the MCAT that you must register for that at least 120 days before the exam.

DAT Registration

For up-to-date information about the Dental Admissions Test (DAT) see this page at the American Dental Association.

This is a computer based test offered year round at ProMetric testing centers. You should consult the admissions guide for the schools you are interested in to decide when to take the test based on when they want to receive your scores.

Career Paths

  • Medicine
  • Dentistry
  • Pharmacy
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Optometry
  • Osteopathic Medicine
  • Podiatry
  • Chiropractic Medicine
  • Physician’s Assistant Training
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • And other Professional Schools
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