College of Science and Technology

Pre-medical Track for Biology Majors*

The Pre-medical Track for the Department of Biology's Pre-medical Scholars Program is designed to successfully prepare Biology Majors to be competent, confident, and competitive leaders in health care. Biology majors may apply for the pre-medical track upon completion of the first semester of the freshman year.

* Students in other majors are not eligible for this track, because this curriculum leads to a Biology degree. Pre-med is not a major but the Pre-Med Track provides a clear path to complete the requirements for medical, dentistry, and other health-related programs. Students can enter the health care field from any major by completing the prerequisite courses and meeting other requirements specified for the professional school of interest. See Resources below.

Biology students applying to the Pre-Med Track must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Students must have at least an overall 3.0 GPA upon completion of the first semester.
  • Students must have earned at least a B in BIOL 101, Math course, Chemistry 106 and 116. (This may be flexible based on the student's cumulative GPA and overall performance.)
  • All students must compose a Personal Statement (essay) consisting of 100-150 words discussing future career goals and why they wish to pursue a career in their chosen health career. Additionally, students may also explain any blemishes on their academic record.
  • Each student must meet with his/her academic advisor to review the academic transcript, the Pre-medical Track curriculum, requirements, and expectations.
  • Due to the rigorous nature of the Pre-Medical Track, students must obtain their academic advisor's signature stating that he/she is in support of the student's application.

Students accepted into the Biology Pre-medical Scholars Program must adhere to the following expectations:

  • Scholars will meet regularly with their academic advisor and follow the Pre-Medical Track.
  • Scholars must maintain a minimum overall 3.0 GPA.
  • All students are expected to attend supplemental instruction for chemistry and mathematics and/or tutoring at least once per week.
  • Scholars must maintain active membership in the N.C. A&T State University Minority Association of Pre-medical Students (MAPS) or the Undergraduate Student National Dental Association (USNDA).
  • Scholars will serve as peer mentors in the department for Early Assurance Scholars and entering freshman.
  • Scholars are expected to participate in job shadowing, attend the Pre-Professional Scholars Program Professional Development Conference hosted in the Spring on the N.C. A&T campus, and actively seek summer enrichment program opportunities.
  • Scholars should follow the Pre-Health Advising Guide located on the Biology Department Organization Site on BlackBoard.
  • Scholars are required to attend meetings of the Pre-Medical Scholars Program.

Applications for the Biology Pre-Medical Track will be shared with Biology majors each February. For more information, contact Dr. C. Dinitra White (cdwhite@ncat.edu) or Dr. Jessica Han (jhan@ncat.edu).

Resources for Health Care Careers

Suggestions for obtaining clinical hours

Clinical hours and exposure to the health care field are critical components to successful acceptance into professional school. Students should look for specific requirements for their chosen field. For example, physicians’ assistants (PA) programs usually require 1000 patient hours prior to application. In-person and virtual shadowing (observing a health care worker interact with a patient) is a great way to determine a student’s interest in a field and gain exposure. Networking with one’s own personal health care providers, family, and friends is one way to connect with health care providers for shadowing experiences. However, shadowing does not count as direct patient contact. Some schools allow any direct patient contact to count (e.g. volunteering at a hospice center reading to patients); other schools require direct patient care, where an individual has direct face to face contact with a patient and is responsible for medical decision-making as an actual health care provider (e.g. working as a certified nursing assistant (CNA), medical assistant (MA), medical scribe, phlebotomist, emergency medical technician (EMT), pharmacy technician, etc). Students interested in dentistry may identify a position as a sterilization technician, which does not require certification, or dental assistant which does require certification. Future dentists should also participate in activities that strengthen hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills such as playing an instrument, painting, creatively working with nails, modeling clay, etc.