Pre-Medical Studies

friendship clinic physicians and patient

The Pre-Medical Studies Pathway is a non-degree program available at Boise State University. You will not earn a degree in Pre-Medical Studies (with the exception if you were attending or have attended Boise State between 2012 – August of 2018). Therefore, it is suggested that students work closely with their pre-medical studies advisor to successfully and efficiently meet both the academic requirements of the major they select and the professional school requirements.

Students planning on gaining admission to medical school must successfully combine an academic major with the specific prerequisite requirements of the professional school they wish to attend. Medical schools provide substantial latitude in the academic majors that students may pursue at the baccalaureate level. While there are many majors to choose from, a degree in Health Studies from the Department of Public Health and Population Science is often appropriate for those who wish to work in health professions.

Students should work closely with their pre-medical advisor to successfully and efficiently meet both the academic requirements of the major they select and the professional school requirements.

Considering a Career as a Physician?

Pre-Medical Studies Information

Advisor	Position and Department	Email	Phone	Office
Erin Colburn	Pre-Health Professions Advising Coordinator	erincolburn@boisestate.edu	208-426-2454	NORCO 116
Shannon Kerr	Academic Advisor	shannonkerr@boisestate.edu	208-426-3732	NORCO 116

The following information and resources are excellent for pre-medical studies students to consult when looking for more information about the profession and locating programs:

Forms of Medical Physicians

Allopathic Medicine

Osteopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine

Podiatric Medicine

Additional Web Resources

HLTH 110 Introduction to Health Science and Public Health is a Foundational Studies course that is recommended for all students with an interest in health and wellness.

Most medical schools require coursework in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math. This typically includes BIOL 191-192, CHEM 111-112, CHEM 307-310, MATH 143-144, and PHYS 111-112. Some schools also require cell biology, biochemistry, and genetics, along with English, humanities, and social science courses. This may include BIOL 310, BIOL 320, and CHEM 350. Additional beneficial courses may include BIOL 205, BIOL 227-228, MATH 160 or 170, MATH 254, PSYC 101, and ZOOL 401. Admission to medical school is based on academic performance, character, and scores on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Students should consult the Medical School Admissions Requirements handbook for requirements specific to their professional schools of interest. For additional information, visit www.aamc.org.

Information is available from advisors concerning state-supported tuition programs for qualified Idaho residents to professional schools outside the state of Idaho, including the University of Washington and the University of Utah.

The above courses do not lead to a bachelor’s degree in Pre-Medical Studies. If you are/or have attended Boise State University between 2012- August 1st of 2018 you are eligible for a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical Studies and can find the specific requirements in the Undergraduate Catalog on the Registrar’s Office website.

Boise State University Dr. Ralph R. Jones MD FACS Pre-Medical Summer Research Fellowship

Boise State University annually awards competitive research fellowships for Boise State students to collaborate with research scientists. Fellowships at Boise State are awarded in a combined Employee/Educational Experience format. Fellows will also participate in some mandatory, non-compensatory educational opportunities. The recipient is expected to and should anticipate committing to typically a minimum of 40 hours per week for 10 weeks in the selected lab during the summer of 2021.

The pre-medical students selected for this fellowship award will receive a stipend for participating in a bench research setting and assisting with research activities. A student award of $6000.00 is offered to facilitate student involvement in collaborative research on topics of interest to the student and as preparation for a future medical school application. Fellows will complete timesheets for hours worked, which is subject to payroll withholding.

Eligibility

Applicants must be undergraduate pre-medical pathway students (any major will be considered).
Applicants who have previously participated in this fellowship will not be eligible.
Applicants must be either Junior or Senior undergraduates or post-baccalaureate students obtaining medical school prerequisites. Preference will be given to full-time Boise State students with limited research experience and who have expressed a commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts from a professional and/or personal level.
Eligible students must currently be enrolled at Boise State (SP21) and completing a degree or prerequisite work on or after December 2021. Students graduating in May or August 2021 will not be eligible for a fellowship.
Applicants must be available to participate in the program during the summer of 2021.

Applicants must have completed at least the following course work before starting the fellowship:

General Chemistry – 2 semesters
Organic Chemistry – 2 semesters
Biology – 1 year of college-level biology with 1 semester of Cell Biology strongly recommended
Additional biology and chemistry background in courses such as microbiology, immunology, genetics, physiology, anatomy, and biochemistry are strongly encouraged and preferred
Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
Preference will be given to the most qualified pre-medical students, and selection is competitive. Appropriate applicants include students with a strong background in the biological and physical sciences wishing to pursue medical school.
As part of the application, students are asked to submit an essay describing their interest in research and how this fellowship relates to their educational goals. Credit can be awarded for participation in this research experience, but it is not mandatory to do so (summer school fee consideration, etc.). As part of this learning experience, awardees are required to submit a summary report describing their scientific experience.

It is recommended that the report contains an abstract, introduction, methods, results, and discussion sections. Fellowship awardees will be encouraged to attend a research conference to present a poster of their research.

Participation in this hypothesis-based research experience will qualify the recipient to meet the specific research expectations at the University Of Utah School Of Medicine and other medical school applications. Such experience can assist all pre-med students in being more competitive. Additionally, students have the opportunity to work more closely with a faculty member whose relationship can support the student in medical school applications.

Student Application Process

Submit the following: (note the 2021 application is now closed)

Completed application form – Comes out in Late February
Essay: As part of the application, students are asked to submit an essay describing their interest in research and how this fellowship relates to their educational goals. The essay should be one page in length describing the career goals of the applicant and the reasons for pursuing medicine, as well as addressing the applicant’s motivation for conducting research. Please treat this as your personal statement as considerable weight is placed on its contents.
Transcripts of all college work (unofficial transcripts are acceptable).

Would you like to see what kinds of things you can learn during this summer opportunity? Check out this fabulous news article

In addition to academic coursework, pre-medical studies students have opportunities to work in a clinical environment and observe the practice and delivery of healthcare through arranged internships. Qualified students may register for an internship. These students work and study in a clinical setting with practicing physicians. To register for an internship, students must have upper-division standing, cumulative GPA above 3.25, approval of their advisor, and consent of the instructor. See the course description for HLTH 493 Internship. Students participating in clinically oriented internships will need to submit to a criminal background check at their own expense.

Important Note

To receive notifications about upcoming events and programming related to pre-medical studies, please make sure to contact your academic advisor in the College of Health Sciences Student Services and Academic Advising Office to be put on our mailing list.