ÌÇÐĶ¯Âþvlog

 

Over 25% of our first-year students who declare pre-medicine go on to apply to medical school by the end of their senior year, compared to the national average of 16%. Of those students who utilize our pre-medical committee process over 85% are accepted into medical school on their first application cycle, compared to 44% nationally.

Overview

 At Illinois Wesleyan, pre-medicine students receive premier preparation in the sciences, supported by the breadth of a liberal arts education and personalized mentorship from expert faculty and professional advisors.

As at most universities, students at Illinois Wesleyan do not major in pre-medicine. Instead, they select a primary field of study”commonly Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience or Psychology”while completing the courses required for admission to medical school.

Pre-Medicine at Illinois Wesleyan ” Our Advantages

• Close Faculty Mentorship “ Small class sizes and a student-centered culture foster strong relationships with faculty, which are critical to academic success, research opportunities, and competitive letters of evaluation.

• Hands-On Scientific Experience “ Students have access to top-tier lab facilities and state-of-the-art equipment, with opportunities to engage in independent research projects under the guidance of Ph.D. faculty.

• Holistic Advising Support “ The Pre-Medical Advisory Committee and the Health and Science Career Counselor work collaboratively to support students throughout their pre-med journey, including course planning, MCAT guidance, personal statement development, mock interviews, and comprehensive letters of evaluation.

• Targeted Communication and Programming “ Information about shadowing, research, internships, and application workshops is distributed through Handshake and regular programming coordinated by the Career Center. Students are surveyed twice per year to ensure tailored support aligned with their pre-professional interests.

As a result of this integrated and highly supportive approach, Illinois Wesleyan has a strong track record of placing students into a wide range of medical schools, including both MD and DO programs.

Curriculum

Your Educational Future

A sampling of the medical schools admitting our recent graduates includes:

• Baylor University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Creighton University
• Dartmouth College
• Duke University
• Indiana University
• Loma Linda University
• Loyola University Chicago
• Medical College of Wisconsin
• Michigan State University
• New York Medical College
• Northwestern University
• Penn State University
• Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
• Rush University
• Saint Louis University
• Southern Illinois University
• University of California-Davis
• University of Chicago
• University of Cincinnati
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of Florida
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Iowa
• University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
• University of Michigan
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities
• University of Missouri
• University of Nebraska
• University of New Mexico
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas Southwestern
• University of Toledo
• University of Virginia
• Vanderbilt University
• Wake Forest University
• Washington University in Saint Louis

Pre-Medicine: Biochemistry Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Biology Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Chemistry Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Non-science Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Physics Major Course Plan

Pre-Medicine: Biology Major Course Plan

The course plan below outlines the courses students need to successfully complete prior to taking the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test). Your faculty advisor will work with you to complete each semester's schedule.

As an ÌÇÐĶ¯Âþvlog student, it is your responsibility to track your progress each semester towards completing graduation requirements using the degree evaluation tool.

Study Abroad

Illinois Wesleyan encourages students to pursue global learning experiences, including study abroad. Pre-med students interested in studying abroad should begin planning early”ideally during their first year”so they can integrate international study with required science coursework and professional school preparation.

For students applying to medical school at the end of their junior year, the fall semester of junior year is typically the best time to study abroad. For those planning to apply during their senior year or take a gap year, either junior or senior year may be appropriate. Students should work closely with the Health and Science Career Counselor and faculty advisors to map out their academic plan and ensure appropriate MCAT timing and clinical preparation.

It is highly recommended that students interested in study abroad consult with Dr. Loni Walker and the International Office as early as possible.

Additional Information

• Once enrolled, all students will have a degree evaluation tool available to them on , which allows them to track their progress toward graduation and pre-medical course requirements.
• All prerequisite courses should be completed prior to taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is typically taken in May or June of junior or senior year, depending on the student™s intended application cycle.
• In addition to core biology, chemistry, and physics courses, students must also complete:
  • One semester of Psychology (PSYC 100) also fulfills the Life Science Issues (LSI) general education requirement.
  • One semester of Sociology (SOC 101) also fulfills the Contemporary Social Institutions (CSI) general education requirement.
  • One introductory statistics course from any of the following: ECON 227, PSYC 227, SOC 227, or BIO 209
  • Students must have familiarity with basic statistics-thus an introduction to statistics may be required.

• The MCAT is offered as a computer-based exam on multiple dates throughout the year. Students are encouraged to register early and consult with the Pre-Medical Advisory Committee or Health and Science Career Counselor when determining their ideal testing date.

Resources for Pre-Medical Students

• Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Advisory Committee “ Chaired by Dr. Loni Walker, the committee provides guidance on course planning, application timelines, and letters of evaluation.
• Health and Science Career Counselor “ Offers one-on-one advising, support with MCAT prep planning, personal statements, shadowing strategies, and interview readiness.
• Handshake “ All important announcements, workshops, shadowing opportunities, and application deadlines are now distributed through the Handshake platform. Students should activate their accounts and check regularly for updates. 
• Career Center “ The Hart Career Center offers advising appointments, workshops, mock interviews, and help with resumes, gap year planning, and health professions applications.Career Interest Survey is sent out twice a year by the Career Center to help tailor programming and outreach to students™ specific pre-professional interests.