Is the Dornsife Pre-Med Academy Right For You?

The Dornsife Pre-Med Academy brings together first-year students with a passion for the medicine who are considering becoming a physician. To be eligible to apply, you must be a first-year student entering in the fall semester with a Dornsife major and a pre-med pre-professional emphasis. Dornsife students of any major (even those outside of the natural sciences) may apply as long as they have a pre-med pre-professional emphasis.

Students in the Dornsife Pre-Med Academy have typically done well in high school, especially in their science and math coursework. A strong background in chemistry and math is highly recommended. A physics course of any level is required for admission.

Students in the Dornsife Pre-Med Academy will enroll in Advanced  General Biology (BISC 121 and 221) and Advanced General Chemistry (CHEM 115a and 115b) in their freshman year.  One biology and one chemistry course is taken in each semester (fall and spring).  Students will also enroll in a one-unit course each semester that will provide additional exposure to pre-medical resources and research opportunities at USC.

In subsequent years, students will enroll in specialized lab sections of organic chemistry and physics for the life sciences to prepare students for the academic rigor of medical school. Students will also continue to enroll in a one-unit course each semester that will introduce them to special topics in medicine and healthcare, including narrative medicine and artificial intelligence.

If you are focused on a future career in medicine, or if taking advanced versions of our general biology and general chemistry courses appeals to you – even if you aren’t positive that medical school is in your future – the Dornsife Pre-Med Academy might be a good option. The supplementary coursework you’ll take over the course of the four-year program is designed to expose you to various aspects of healthcare and medicine and may help hone your future goals.

If taking advanced versions of our general biology and general chemistry courses does not appeal to you – or if you do not want to take both Advanced General Biology and Advanced General Chemistry together in your freshman year – the Dornsife Pre-Med Academy may not be a good fit for you. Please rest assured that there are many other opportunities at USC to engage in challenging science coursework and explore your interest in medicine via academic research, internships, community service, and student organizations.

The Dornsife Pre-Med Academy features advanced lab sections, specialized research opportunities, and deeper engagement with faculty and leaders in the field, which will provide an expanded perspective that matters not just to medical schools but to the future of medicine.

Dornsife Pre-Med Academy students do not receive extra credit or a boost to their college GPAs for enrolling in the courses related to the program. There is also no special designation on a student’s diploma to indicate completion of Dornsife Pre-Med Academy coursework, and students in the program are not guaranteed admission to USC’s medical school. However, by participating in the program, students will become more well-rounded and more knowledgeable about medicine, healthcare, and patient care.