Pre-Medicine
The post-baccalaureate pre-medicine certificate program provides students the opportunity to build a core scientific foundation in preparation for careers in medicine. The program is designed for post-baccalaureate students seeking core sequences in biology, general and organic chemistry, and physics required for the application to most medical, dental, veterinary, and related professional schools.
Pre-medicine students complete courses with Northwestern curriculum and faculty, which offers students the opportunity to build a deep and strong science foundation. Coursework is primarily offered in evening and weekend classes and can be completed in 15, or 21 months, depending on the student's needs.
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This program is designed for career changers and students who have not completed the core coursework needed to apply to medical school. Students who need only some of these courses should consider the pre-medicine completion program. Students who have completed core premedical coursework may want to consider the Advanced Studies in Biology for the Health Professions certificate program, or designing a specialized post-baccalaureate certificate to meet their needs.
We have created a pre-med flowchart to help you see, based on your background, which of our program options will best enable you to complete the required science courses necessary to pursue graduate level study in the medical field.
(The science curriculum) way over-prepared me, in a good way. I’m sure that there were questions that the MCAT could have thrown at me that I only would have been able to answer because I took specific classes with professors who taught at a distinguished level.”
Fiona Fimmel, SPS Premed ’19, accepted to George Washington University School of Medicine through Northwestern's linkage program
I definitely think the science curriculum is preparing us well for the MCAT. It (the pre-med program) sets you up really well for success — in medical school and going forward.”
The rigor of Northwestern's pre-medicine post-bacc program prepares students for successful application to and completion of programs at top medical schools nationwide.
509Average MCAT score of Northwestern post-bacc pre-med students (U.S. national average is 501*)
* 2022 data from American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS®)
SPS pre-medicine students are competitive candidates for medical school application and have been accepted to prestigious schools such as Harvard University, Johns Hopkins, Columbia University, Washington University, University of Michigan, Yale University, New York University, University of Chicago, University of Pittsburgh, and Northwestern University. View the list of recent medical school acceptances.
I knew that level of instruction at Northwestern would be rigorous. You want professors that hold students to a high standard because that is exactly what you need to be a competitive medical school applicant.”
Sarah Clark, pre-med student
Linkage agreements with select medical and dental schools enable eligible Northwestern University pre-medicine students to apply for admission during their final year in the post-baccalaureate program, and bypass the glide (application year). If accepted to a medical or dental program through a linkage, students can put their medical education and career on a faster track.
LINKAGE AGREEMENT INFORMATION
Thanks to a collaboration between SPS and Northwestern Medicine, SPS pre-medicine students have the opportunity to shadow physicians at several clinics in the Chicago area. Shadowing is an integral part of the preparation needed for medical school. Students are selected in for these shadowing opportunities in fall, winter, and spring, through an application process during their program.
Having been out in the world made a huge difference in how I handled medical school. At Northwestern I learned how to manage my time. I didn’t pull any all-nighters. I knew what was relevant.”
John Stracks, MD (SPS pre-med alum)
Learn strategies for being an effective student and applying to med school with our optional for-credit proseminar series. No tuition is charged for these courses.
Covers subjects surrounding the pre-med experience, including:
Prepares students for the year-long medical school application cycle with topics such as:
Tutoring and advising are also available throughout the program. See all the resources available to post-bacc pre-med students by visiting our advising and academic support page.
ADVISING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT
In addition to completing an online application, you'll also need to submit a few supplemental materials. A list of requirements for admission including application deadlines and tips on how to apply can be found on the admission page.
Post-baccalaureate students at Northwestern's School of Professional Studies pay per course. For more information about financial obligations and tuition, please visit the tuition page.
Whether you're a first-time registrant or current and returning student, all students register using our online student registration and records systems. Important information about registering for courses at SPS, including registration timelines and adding or dropping courses in which you are already enrolled, can be found on the registration information page.
Review sample course plans for the pre-medicine certificate program offered by Northwestern University School of Professional Studies.
The Northwestern University Pre-Health Professionals student group is first and foremost a community dedicated to the success of its members pursuing careers in medicine, health, and veterinary practice. NUPP serves as a forum for the discussion and presentation of professional and academic experiences, a collective resource of relevant information, as a social network, and as a representative voice for the body of non-traditional pre-health students. Pre-Health students are eligible to run for election to the leadership board each spring.
Students in the post-baccalaureate pre-medicine certificate program may transfer up to eight semester hours or twelve quarter hours of academic credit. A transcript and grade of B or better are required to transfer courses for this program. Courses audited or taken with the pass/no credit option cannot be applied toward the program requirements. Courses earned for a bachelor's degree at SPS may not be applied retroactively toward certificate requirements. Students who have completed up to two courses as a student-at-large may apply for a certificate and ask that those courses be included in the certificate. If students complete additional courses (beyond two) as a student-at-large, a petition to the Student Affairs Committee requesting an exception to policy should be submitted.
Learn which medical schools students have been accepted to after completing the post-bacc pre-med program on the medical school acceptances page.
Review frequently asked questions about the post-bacc pre-med certificate program on the pre-medicine frequently asked questions page.
While Northwestern University’s programs are designed to align with core sequences required for medical, dental, veterinary, and related professional schools, students should familiarize themselves with medical school admission requirements for desired institutions as they choose which program aligns best. Northwestern University’s policy on awarding credits states that credit is awarded in units, rather than credit hours, on student transcripts. Courses are offered over a ten-week period and are assigned 1.0 unit of credit. One unit of credit is equivalent to four quarter hours, which is equivalent to 2.67 semester hours. Some institutions will round up to 3 semester hours while others will not, so it is imperative that students know the requirements of the institutions to which they intend to apply.
