Academic Programs Supporting Pre-Health Students

A researcher and student dissect a cadaver in a labThe Georgia Tech College of Sciences offers several majors that align with the admission requirements of most health-related professional training programs such as medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, physical therapy, nursing, public health, optometry, and veterinary medicine. The program of study of the following majors can be tailored to incorporate all of the courses that are expected by admissions boards. These include the completion of a year of Biology with laboratory, General Chemistry with laboratory, Organic Chemistry with laboratory, Physics with laboratory, Mathematics and English composition — all within the four-year (122-credit) B.S. curriculum. Pre-health students in these majors often choose to take additional classes in biochemistry, anatomy, and physiology as a part of their degree program.

These rigorous courses also prepare students for entrance exams such as the MCAT, OAT, GRE, and DAT. Students are encouraged to verify specific prerequisites for the health professional programs they plan to pursue. Pre-Health Advisors can help you identify requirements and develop a plan to satisfy co-curricular expectations for professional school.

Students also participate in undergraduate research, shadowing experiences, and entrance exam preparation.

Health and Medical Sciences Minor

The Health and Medical Sciences Minor is ideal for students interested in the scientific foundations of human health and medicine. It offers flexibility to customize coursework for a wide range of health-related careers. This minor bundles a number of courses that might already be part of your pre-health curriculum with a couple of additional courses, chosen from a wide selection, to allow you to tailor your degree in such a way that it stands out in your application to a health professional program. 

A Dual Advising ProgramThree people sitting outdoors on a bench. The person in the middle is flipping through a textbook.  

Upon enrollment in a major in the College of Sciences, you will be assigned a Ph.D.-qualified academic advisor who will provide expert guidance on:

  • Course selection
  • Majors and minors
  • Career pathways
  • Co-curricular opportunities (clinical shadowing, undergraduate research, internships, etc.)
  • Extracurricular involvement (community service, volunteering)

You may also schedule appointments with professional pre-health advisors and peer advisors in Pre-Health Advising who provide individual and group advising, workshops on admissions to medical programs, application preparation, and an alumni mentoring program.

The coordination of academic and pre-health advising ensures students receive accurate and timely guidance.

Atlanta: A Healthcare HubA photo of the Downtown Atlanta skyline with Tech Tower in the foreground

Georgia Tech’s location in Atlanta provides students with access to a wide range of healthcare facilities within a short distance of campus. These facilities offer opportunities for clinical shadowing and volunteering. Pre-Health Advising and student organizations such as GT Hospital Connections, AMSA, and the Young Physicians Initiative help connect students with opportunities at:

  • Emory Healthcare
  • Grady Hospital
  • Northside Hospital
  • Shepherd Center
  • Wellstar Health System
  • Winship Cancer Institute
  • VA Atlanta Medical Center
  • Piedmont Hospital
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA)
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
              .... and many, many more!

A group of Explore LLC students take a photo outside a building with the College of Sciences DeanEXPLORE Living Learning Community (LLC)

The EXPLORE LLC is a first-year residential program for College of Sciences students, especially those on a pre-health track. Benefits include:

  • Shared academic schedules
  • Professional development activities
  • Networking with faculty and healthcare professionals
  • Social events to build community

Students in the EXPLORE LLC gain early exposure to pre-health career pathways and build lasting connections with peers and mentors.

Academic Excellence at Georgia Tech

A row of students sitting at a table listening to a lectureGeorgia Tech students are highly competitive applicants to health professional schools. Consider these benchmarks:

  • National average GPA for medical school admission: 3.74
  • Average top quartile GPA in the College of Sciences: 3.85

Georgia Tech students who are admitted to medical school consistently exceed national averages in GPA and entrance exam scores. Recent medical school acceptances include:

  • Medical College of Georgia
  • Emory University
  • Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Vanderbilt University
  • UNC-Chapel Hill
  • Duke University
  • Harvard University
  • Mercer University
  • Penn State University
  • Stanford University
  • Wake Forest University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Howard University