Premed Course Planner
Check off your medical school prerequisites as done, in progress, or planned, and watch your progress toward MCAT readiness.
Last updated: October 2026
Prerequisite checklist
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The standard prerequisite list
Nearly every US medical school expects the same core science sequence, because the MCAT assumes it. The checklist above covers the standard set: a year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics, plus biochemistry, psychology, sociology, statistics or calculus, and English. Individual schools vary at the edges (some want a second math, some accept AP credit, a few add humanities requirements), so treat this list as the common core and verify against each target school’s admissions page.
Why each subject is there
The prerequisites are not arbitrary hurdles; they are the MCAT syllabus. General chemistry and physics power the Chem/Phys section, biology and biochemistry power Bio/Biochem, psychology and sociology power Psych/Soc, and organic chemistry threads through all the science sections. Statistics matters because the MCAT tests data interpretation relentlessly. English is there because CARS is a reading test and because doctors write constantly. When a course feels pointless, remembering which MCAT section it feeds usually restores motivation.
Sequencing strategy
Order matters because of prerequisite chains. A workable four-year map: freshman year, General Chemistry I and II plus Biology I and II. Sophomore year, Organic Chemistry I and II plus Physics I and II. Junior year, Biochemistry plus Psychology and Sociology, with the MCAT in late spring. Statistics and English slot wherever they fit. Never take organic chemistry and physics in the same term unless you enjoy suffering; spreading the hardest sequences keeps your GPA, the other number admissions committees worship, intact.
| Year | Priority courses | Why now |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman | Gen Chem I/II, Bio I/II | Foundations for everything; unlocks organic chemistry |
| Sophomore | Ochem I/II, Physics I/II | Hardest sequences done while GPA cushion is largest |
| Junior | Biochem, Psych, Soc, Stats | Completes MCAT core before a spring test date |
| Senior | Remaining requirements, upper-level bios | Buffer year; strengthens science GPA |
Worked example
A sophomore has finished General Chemistry I and II, Biology I and II, Psychology, and a year of English: 6 of the 13 checklist courses done.
- Progress: 6 / 13 x 100 = 46.2%
- MCAT core: 5 of 11 core subjects done (gen chem x2, bio x2, psych); not yet ready
This is the state pre-loaded in the checklist above. The MCAT-readiness indicator stays red until all 11 core subjects (the two chems, ochem x2, bio x2, physics x2, biochem, psych, soc) are marked done, because the exam genuinely tests all of them.
Protect the GPA while you check boxes
Admissions is a two-number game: MCAT and GPA, with the science GPA (BCPM: biology, chemistry, physics, math) watched especially closely. A checked box with a C+ in organic chemistry helps less than students think. If a term is overloaded, it is better to delay a prerequisite than to damage the GPA: the course can be taken later, but the grade is permanent. Use grade replacement and retake policies strategically, and treat the hardest sequences as the terms where extracurriculars go light.
AP credit and community college
Two common questions. AP credit: many medical schools do not accept it for prerequisites, or accept it only if supplemented with upper-level coursework in the same subject, so strong AP scores often mean retaking the course in college anyway (usually an easy A that pads the science GPA). Community college: perfectly acceptable for prerequisites at most schools, especially for nontraditional applicants, though a few top-tier programs prefer university coursework. When in doubt, email the admissions offices of your target schools; they answer this question constantly.
Premed Course Planner FAQs
What courses do medical schools require?
The standard set is a year each of general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and physics, plus biochemistry, psychology, sociology, statistics or calculus, and English. The checklist above tracks all thirteen. Individual schools vary at the edges, so verify against each target school’s admissions page.
Do all medical schools require the same prerequisites?
The core science sequence is nearly universal, but details differ: some schools require a second math or specific humanities courses, and policies on AP credit and community college courses vary. Use the standard list for planning, then confirm school by school.
When should I take the MCAT?
After finishing the core science prerequisites, typically spring of junior year for a traditional applicant. The MCAT-readiness indicator above turns ready when all eleven core subjects are done. Taking it before finishing biochemistry and organic chemistry wastes an attempt.
Does AP credit count for medical school prerequisites?
Often not. Many schools reject AP credit for prerequisites or require upper-level coursework in the same subject as a supplement. Strong AP scores usually mean retaking the course in college, which typically becomes an easy A that helps your science GPA.
What GPA do I need for medical school?
The average MD matriculant has roughly a 3.75 overall and a similar science (BCPM) GPA. Competitive DO programs average somewhat lower. A single weak term can be overcome with an upward trend, but the science GPA is watched closely, so protect it during the hard sequences.
Can I be premed in any major?
Yes. Medical schools accept any major as long as the prerequisites are complete; humanities majors with strong science grades are admitted every year. Choose a major you will excel in, since GPA matters more than the major’s name.