Pre-Professional FAQ

Academic Foundations

What should my ACT/SAT scores be?
What do I major in at Marshall University?
What are the science requirements for admission to a professional school?
What should I expect from the required courses at Marshall?
Is there a suggested order to taking the science requirements?
What GPA is required for admission?
What if my GPA is not high enough for admission?
Is it true that only my science GPA is reviewed?
What are some common attributes of pre-professional students?

Professional Admissions Exams

Can I prepare for my professional exam?
When should I take my professional exam?
When and how do I register for my professional exam?
Should I retake my professional exam?
How many times may I take my professional exam?
Should I release my test scores to the pre-professional advisor?

Improving Your Application

Do I need practical experience?
Do I need to be involved with extracurricular activities?
What are application submission services?
When should I begin the application process to professional school?
Do WV residents have a better chance of being admitted to a WV state school than a non-resident?
Are there special opportunities for minorities in the health care professions?

What should my ACT/SAT scores be?

Studies indicate a student who has an ACT Composite and Mathematics of 21 or higher (SAT 500 or higher) has a reasonable chance of getting into and graduating from a professional school.

Students with lower ACT/SAT scores may still work towards a professional school. The College of Science can help students with a range of abilities become accepted to a professional school.

What do I major in at Marshall University?

No specific major or minor is required, only certain courses are required. Most students who apply to professional schools are Biology majors. The next highest percentage are Chemistry or Biochemistry majors. More rigorous majors have higher admission rates into professional health care schools and are crucial for excelling on entrance exams for professional programs.

At Marshall University, Biology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry majors are very rigorous and include most or all of the required courses.

What are the science requirements for admission to a professional school?

Although not every professional school or entrance exam will require every course listed below, the following is a reasonable summary of what you might expect to take. These courses may be part of or in addition to your major requirements.

Two semester’s of:

Biology with labs
English composition
General chemistry with labs
Organic chemistry with labs
Physics with labs

One semester of:

Anatomy
Biochemistry
Calculus
Cell biology
Medical terminology
Microbiology
Physiology
Psychology
Sociology
Statistics

Professional exams specifically test the content from the above; more advanced courses will give you an admission advantage.

You must identify additional admission requirements of the professional school you want to attend early and incorporate them into the graduation requirements for your major. Work with your Medical Professions Pathways advisor to develop your academic plan.

Through careful planning, all of the requirements for professional school can be included within the courses needed for graduation from Marshall University without taking extra courses or spending unnecessary time.

What should I expect from the required courses at Marshall?

You should expect the course work to be much more difficult than your high school courses, even if you are a high school honor student. From the beginning, you must hold yourself to tough standards. Successful pre-professionals (medical, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary, etc.) must possess both the intellectual ability and drive required to achieve academically. Realistically, you should spend two to three hours studying for each hour spent in class.

Consider taking more challenging courses. Admissions committees are seeking students who push themselves and excel!

Is there a suggested order to taking the science requirements?

Most science courses have certain exam scores or pre-requisite courses required to get into the class. You should begin working on your required science courses as soon as you have met these requirements so that you are well prepared to take the entrance exam. Work with your Medical Professions Pathways advisor to develop a customized academic plan.

What GPA is required for admission?

There are several factors that collectively determine the admission decision: GPA, your professional exam score, outside activities, and the admission interview. The decision rests on the overall application.

Here are some recent average GPAs for accepted students, out of 4:

Chiropractic 3.38
Dental 3.58
Medical 3.71
Optometry 3.55
Pharmacy 3.35
Physician Assistant 3.60
Veterinary 3.55

For the 2024 class, the Marshall University School of Medicine had average acceptance GPA of 3.91.

What if my GPA is not high enough for admission?

If your GPA is not high enough for admission to the program of you choice, there are several options.

You can complete more course work in order to increase your GPA and strengthen your science fundamentals.

There are several different professional medical fields, each of which has different entrance standards. Even if your GPA is not sufficient for your first choice, you should explore some of the other professional medical fields. You may find another one is a good fit.

Your four-year degree from Marshall University will be a valuable background for many different career paths. You should consider whether a career path outside of health care, or graduate school, is right for you.

Is it true that only my science GPA is reviewed?

Professional schools calculate the GPA for each applicant in three ways: science, non-science, and overall. Also, which courses are used in the calculation also varies, especially if you retake a course. It is a good idea to check with the professional school admissions office, or consult the institution’s web site, to learn how the GPA calculation is handled.

Students who have sought academic forgiveness may not be eligible for professional school.

What are some common attributes of pre-professional students?

Academically Honest
Caring
Communicative
Community Minded
Grit
Intellectually Curious
Passionate
Respectful of Authority

Can I prepare for my professional exam?

Yes, you can and should prepare for your professional exam. The MCAT, DAT, PCAT, CCAT, OAT, and GRE are very difficult (and expensive) exams.

Your first step should be to excel in the required courses. These are selected to help prepare you for the professional exam and for the professional school courses. Also, find and take practice exams. Finally, consider a professional test taking course, such as those offered by Kaplan Course and Princeton Review.

When should I take my professional exam?

You should normally take the exam approximately 18 months prior to the date you plan to enroll in medical school. Typically, you take the professional exam near the end of your junior year.

When and how do I register for my professional exam?

You must pre-register for the professional exam. There are no walk in arrangements. The pre-registration dates are listed on the professional exam’s web site.

You should familiarize yourself with the expectations of exam admittance by reviewing information given on each professional exam’s web site.

Should I retake my professional exam?

If you feel that your scores are low, or that they do not accurately reflect your abilities, you may wish to retake the exam again.

Some considerations for retaking the exam include:

1. Is there an unusual discrepancy between your college grades and the exam scores?
2. Was your coursework in the areas covered on the test inadequate?
3. Did you misunderstand the directions or incorrectly recorded your answers?
4, Were you seriously ill at the time of the test?
5. Has a member of a professional school admission committee recommended that you retest?

Remember that poor scores will probably prevent acceptance, but excellent scores do not guarantee acceptance.

How many times may I take my professional exam?

Exam	Retake Options
DAT	Three times without special permission. You must wait 90 days between testing dates.
GRE	As many times as you want. You need to find out from the professional school of your choice which set of scores are accepted.
MCAT	Three times per year, four times over two years, and seven times in your lifetime.
OAT	Three times without special permission. You must wait 90 days between testing dates.
PCAT	As many times as you want. You need to find out from the pharmacy school of your choice which set of scores are accepted.

Should I release my test scores to the pre-professional advisor?

When filling out the test application you will be asked to select the schools you wish to receive your test scores. Additionally, you may be asked whether you wish to release your scores to your pre-professional advisor. Releasing your scores to your medical professions pathway advisor will let them provide you the best guidance on your curricular and co-curricular paths, as well as shaping your application materials. Most students release the scores. It is your choice.

Do I need practical experience?

Practical experience is highly recommended. Admissions committees are looking for students who push themselves and excel both in and out of the classroom! Also, this is an opportunity for you to decide if professional health care is the right career path for you. Identify opportunities to shadow, volunteer, or work in the health care field.

Do I need to be involved in extracurricular activities?

Yes, outside activities can play a crucial role in admission to professional school. Marshall University offers student clubs focused on professional health care. Connect with these student clubs focused on health care fields and pursue leadership opportunities with them.

What are application submission services?

Most professional health care schools require the submission of application materials via a web-based service. Applicants should consult the web page of all schools they wish to apply to be certain they are meeting all requirements for admission and are submitting credentials properly. These services also connect with the faculty who will write your letters of recommendation.

Profession	Submission Service
Allopathic Medicine (M.D.)	American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS)
Dental	Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS)
Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)	American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
Pharmacy	Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)
Veterinary	Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)

When should I begin the application process to professional school?

You should review the process of applying to professional schools in the summer after your second year of college. You should work on your application materials during your third academic year and submit your application during the summer of your third year, shortly after taking the professional exam.

For the most accurate information on the application process, contact the professional school of your choice or review information on the school’s website.

Do WV residents have a better chance of being admitted to a WV state school than a non-resident?

Yes. All three state medical schools (Marshall University Joan C Edwards School of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine) have a legislated mandate to admit state residents almost exclusively.

Private schools, such as the University of Charleston Pharmacy School, receive no state money, so they may admit anyone they choose.

Are there special opportunities for minorities in health care?

What is the Academic Common Market?

The Academic Common Market enables you to pursue out-of-state majors (like veterinary medicine) at in-state tuition rates, through agreements among the states and college and universities. Visit the Southern Regional Education Board’s website for a complete list of schools and programs offered.

Is completion of the baccalaureate degree required for admission to a professional school?

Medical and dental colleges tend to require four years of pre-professional preparation and for professional schools that do not require completion of a degree, preference is given to applicants having a four-year degree. Chiropractors must possess a baccalaureate degree in addition to the Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine in order to practice in West Virginia. If you are granted early admission to a doctorate level program, you may accept the offer and receive your degree from Marshall University after one year of study at the professional school. If you wish to study medicine or dentistry at a professional school, you may be granted a leave of absence during the senior year at Marshall University.

How do I request a leave of absence from my senior year at Marshall?

To secure this leave of absence you must file a written report in the College of Science’s Office of the Dean immediately after gaining admission to the professional school and before the termination of coursework at Marshall University. Failure to discharge this responsibility voids candidacy for the degree under this program. Please contact your academic advisor for the current leave of absence requirements and more information.

What can I do if I am not admitted to a professional school?

If you are not admitted to a professional school, there are several options.

Work on improving your application and reapply during the next application cycle. Things to do include completing more course work in order to increase your GPA and strengthen your science fundamentals, gaining experience through shadowing, volunteering, or working in the health care field, improving your entrance exam score, and revising your application materials.

Are there any outside resources available?

Marshall University does not endorse nor is affiliated with the companies listed below. Marshall University is not responsible for the content, cost, or claims of these outside resources. These outside resources are for informative purposes and should be viewed at the students discretion.

Associated American Dental Schools Application Service – Simplifies the application process for both applicants and schools by allowing applicants to complete only one dental school application form. Application processing fee associated with service.
AspiringDocs.org – American Association of Medical College advise for aspiring physicians.
Kaplan – Touts improved success on the MCAT of those who take the course. The courses are expensive, costing approximately $1400.
Princeton Review and Free MCAT Practice Test – Touts improved success on the MCAT of those who take the course. The courses are expensive, costing approximately $1400. Students can take a free practice MCAT. At the end of the exam, students will immediately see their score report detailing their strengths and weaknesses on the exam.
Pre-Medical Peer Association – Information from a peer organization.
Prospective Physician Assistant – A Summary profile for each and every PA program in the country so users may easily compare one program with another.
Student Doctor Network – Pre-Professional forums
TestPrepPractice.net – MCAT information and practice questions.
The WikiPremed MCAT course

Entrance exams

MCAT
PCAT
OAT
GRE

Entrance exam preparatory programs

Kaplan Course
Princeton Review

How can I obtain the best pre-professional advice?

The Marshall University College of Science Medical Professions Pathways advisors [link] can assist you with course selection and navigating the complex application process, including timelines, personal statements, and recommendation letters. The College of Science Office of Student Services will assist you with class selection based on your ACT/SAT scores, Advance Placement classes, and goals. Juniors and Seniors are assigned to a faculty mentor who can assist you with upper-level course choices as well as career paths.

Requirements vary among the professional programs. You need to discuss your options with your advisors in order to meet the requirements for your undergraduate degree and professional area of emphasis.

I’m a parent. How can I help?

Parents, as your student begins their undergraduate education, you are moving from a coach to a cheerleader. Your child is now the decision maker. You should be aware of their mental health, check-in with them regularly, provide healthy coping strategies, encourage them to find helpful resources, and be a safe place to land.