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Pre-Med at Russell Sage College
If you are interested in medical school or a similarly competitive graduate program, we recommend you major in Biology or Health Sciences.
Sage also offers a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical program for students with a bachelor’s degree in another subject, who want to earn the science credits required for medical school.
What Classes are Required for Medical School?
Most medical schools require one year of biology, organic chemistry and physics with labs, and a semester of biochemistry. We recommend developmental and abnormal psychology, as well as coursework in sociology.
Requirements for physician assistant, veterinary and dental programs vary slightly. Your advisors will help you select classes that align with your goals.
Pre-Med Advising
You’ll have a faculty advisor within your major who will talk you through graduate school and career options, and guide you as you select classes.
You will also have a pre-med advisor, who offers more specific guidance on:
- Preparing for the MCAT or GRE (required by physician assistant programs)
- Identifying research, work and volunteer opportunities that provide clinical and patient-contact hours
- Drafting application materials that will help you stand out.
Pre-Physician Assistant Programs
Students may apply to the Accelerated or Assured Acceptance programs Sage offers in conjunction with Albany Medical College’s Physician Assistant Program.
Qualified high school students may apply to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a master’s degree for physician assistants in less time than it would take to pursue the programs separately.
Third-year Sage students may apply for assured acceptance to the medical college’s PA program.
Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program
CSTEP, sponsored by the New York State Department of Education, provides paid research experiences, MCAT prep and other forms of academic support to underrepresented and economically disadvantaged students in Biology, Health Sciences and other science-related majors or professional programs.
Your Future
Recent Sage College graduates have been accepted at Albany Medical College, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of Illinois-College of Veterinary Medicine, the State University of New York’s Upstate Medical University, and the schools of medicine at Stony Brook University, Quinnipiac University, the University at Buffalo, New York Institute of Technology and the University of New England.
Pre-Med Program Spotlights
Students and grads say that Sage has helped set them up for success.
