Did you know ...

  • Sterling College has a tradition of excellence in preparing students for success in medical school, with an overall acceptance rate into medical school that has exceeded the national average since 1965.
  • Outstanding junior and senior pre-med students are eligible to compete for additional scholarship awards through the Rupe-Bemis Memorial Scholarship.
    An extensive network of medical doctors that are alumni at Sterling College are closely involved with the biology department and have served as seminar speakers and coordinated internships for our current students.
  • Recent graduates from Sterling College are currently attending medical schools ranging from the University of Kansas Medical School to The Medical School for International Health in Israel.
  • Biology department faculty annually attend the University of Kansas pre-med advisors conference and work closely with student advisees to ensure they meet course prerequisites for medical school.
  • The science curriculum is designed to offer a wide range of courses related to the health sciences, including prerequisites for major medical schools.
  • The biology department offers a resource room designed to provide students direct access to study guides, books, and resources to prepare students for the MCAT exam and admission to medical school.

If you are considering being a part of the pre-med program at Sterling College, the following information will be useful.

Course requirements

In addition to courses required for the biology major, students are advised to select the following courses during the freshman year:

  • General Chemistry I (CH151) and General Chemistry II (CH152)
  • Zoology (BI170)
  • Pre-calculus (MA 150)

As soon as possible following the freshman year, students should select:

  • Organic Chemistry I & II (CH261 & CH262)
  • Genetics (BI260)
  • College Physics I & II (PH210 & PH211)
  • Calculus I or II (MA 200 or MA210)
  • General Psychology (BS125)

Prior to the senior year, students are encouraged to take:

  • Human Anatomy I & II (BI211 & BI212)
  • Microbiology (BI344)
  • Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology (BI350)
  • Biochemistry (CH265)
  • Developmental Psychology (BS225)

Additional recommended courses include Immunology (BI393) and Medical Terminology (BI210).

Timeline

If students are a Kansas resident, they may be eligible to apply for the Scholars in Rural Health Program
at KU Medical following the sophomore year.

Students are advised to complete science requirements before the end of the junior year and to take the MCAT during the spring semester of their junior year.

Following completion of the MCAT students should submit applications to medical school via the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS).

Experience

Students are strongly encouraged to gain experience by shadowing medical professionals, interning in a hospital setting, or working part-time in the health-care field. Students are also encouraged to gain research experience by enrolling in Biological Research (BI441) or summer medical research programs.

Useful sites