Why Premed at Florida Tech?
As Florida's STEM University™, Florida Tech is one of the best schools for premed preparation.
At Florida Tech, you will find the right major for you—and the engaging coursework, exceptional research opportunities, and specialized advising you need to be ready to apply to medical, dental or other medical professional school.
Florida Tech also offers special direct admission pathways into select programs through our partnerships with Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
What is Premed at Florida Tech?
When you decide to pursue a career as a physician, dentist, pharmacist, vet or other medical professional, it's exciting to start planning and preparing.
As you work toward your goals, premed is a pathway you can pursue in order to meet medical, veterinary, dental and pharmacy school admission requirements.
Premed at Florida Tech is not itself a major nor a minor. Think of it as part academic track and part advising/mentorship program, all designed to help you gain admission to the graduate school of your dreams.
Your Choice of Major
As a premed student at Florida Tech, you will select your major, then follow the premedical pathway within or alongside that major. Most courses required for medical school admission are in the sciences, so premed students often select one of the following premed-oriented major programs:
Whether you choose one of these or another major, our premed advisor will help you plan your coursework to ensure you fulfill requirements for the type of postgraduate school you would like to attend.
Outstanding Pathway Opportunities
As a university with a strong premedical pathway, Florida Tech partners with Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine to offer the Osteopathic Medicine Pathway Program (OMPP) for students who wish to pursue a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree.
For students who want to purse a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), we offer the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine LECOM Early Acceptance Program.
Qualified Florida Tech premedical students who enroll in these programs have a special direct route to admission and enjoy that assurance while others are still working through the regular application process.
Hands-on Education
Your education will be hands-on, with courses, labs and projects led by active research scientists and engineers in state-of-the-art facilities. Expert faculty will teach your classes, involve you in research and serve as mentors. By combining the scientific laboratories and resources of a large research university with the smaller size and personal attention possible at a private college, Florida Tech provides an ideal learning environment.
Our curriculum is designed to provide you with an excellent premedical education—and to help you get admitted to medical, dental, pharmacy or veterinary school. Once you are there, you will find it also makes your professional school courses easier.
Research Experience
Premed students at Florida Tech enjoy research opportunities that stand out on medical school applications. You will find students conducting meaningful research alongside faculty, participating in local and national academic conferences, publishing papers in major research journals with faculty advisors, and building and demonstrating biomedical device prototypes.
Research is central to Florida Tech’s culture. It is built into every one of our majors, and we offer specialized courses that allow you to earn credit toward your degree by engaging in original research and design projects.
Premed Advising
As a premed student, you will receive specialized advising from premedical advisor and associate professor Kenia Nunes, Ph.D.. She will mentor you throughout your time at Florida Tech, helping you select electives and research activities to strengthen your applications and bolster your chances of getting accepted to medical school.
Dr. Nunes maintains up-to-date information about medical school admission requirements, admission tests and professional school application procedures, and guides premed students throughout the process.
Your Premed Journey
Premed isn’t just a box you check; it’s a path you choose—and it requires focus and determination. As a Florida Tech premed student, you will establish the basis for your future success in medical school and beyond.
Preparing to apply to medical school means taking the right courses, earning good grades and performing well on your admission exam, but it also involves gaining research and other experience and building relationships.
To stay on track, you should work closely with your undergraduate advisors and premed advisor and take advantage of the opportunities you will have throughout your time as a Florida Tech premed student.
Plan your program.
Your premed advisor will work with you to build your program plan. Some of the courses you will take depend on your major and others fulfill medical school admission requirements.
- For biomedical sciences students, there are lectures and laboratories in anatomy, microbiology, genetics, biochemistry, physiology, developmental biology and immunology.
- In chemistry, students explore analytical and physical chemistry.
- Physics students take advanced courses in modern physics, thermodynamics and optics.
- Biomedical engineering majors explore biomechanics, biomedical measurements and instrumentation. They take classes in biomedical engineering design, anatomy and physiology.
Students in all majors take courses in the humanities and social sciences to round out their background.
Medical School Admission Requirements
Medical school admission requirements can vary. However, no matter what your major, you can generally expect to need at least the following:
- Biology – 2 semesters with lab
- General chemistry – 2 semesters with lab
- Organic chemistry – 2 semesters with lab
- Physics – 2 semesters with lab
Some schools require only one semester of organic chemistry with lab but have an additional requirement of biochemistry (with lab highly recommended).
Other courses typically required or recommended by medical schools:
- Cell and molecular biology
- Additional biology courses, such as immunology
- Two courses in psychology/sociology
Some recommend a course in computer science, as well.
Build research experience.
Research is essential to the field of medicine, and research experience will give you a first-hand understanding of its methods and value. Medically related research can strengthen your medical school application, and it is desirable for many institutions.
As a research university, Florida Tech builds hands-on research into every major. A university-wide scholarly inquiry requirement means all undergraduate students plan, undertake and report on a research project as part of specially designated courses during their junior and/or senior years. In addition, all engineering and science students at Florida Tech participate in a year-end research and design showcase to present their projects.
Premedical students will also find remarkable research opportunities through faculty labs, where undergraduates often work alongside graduate students and faculty to conduct cutting-edge, significant research.
Prepare for admission tests.
The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT) is a standardized test required by medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. The MCAT assesses your knowledge and problem-solving abilities in areas related to the study of medicine. Overall, an MCAT score of 496-500 is the minimum recommended to apply for medical school.
Taking the proper courses in the appropriate sequence should prepare you to take the MCAT at the earliest possible time. Optimally, students will prepare to take the MCAT during the spring of their junior year in college. However, if you elect to take a "gap year," (a year between undergraduate and medical school) then it can be taken during your senior year. Learn more about the MCAT.
Dental schools require the Dental Admission Test (DAT), administered by the American Dental Association. DAT scores range from 1-30; an average score is around 20-21. Learn more about the DAT.
Get involved.
Medical schools do not look only at academics, research and test scores. They look for well-rounded individuals who demonstrate commitment, responsibility and initiative in other areas, as well.
As a premed student, you should:
- Build medically related experience that aligns with your career interests. Volunteering at local hospitals and spending time shadowing physicians is strongly advised. Many medical schools require 100 hours of interaction with patients.
- Engage in extracurricular activities and employment both during the academic year and summers. This is seen as a significant contribution to an individual’s development and strengthens the application.
- Volunteer—it's a great way to demonstrate character and compassion. Some institutions expect to see community volunteer work.
- Join the Pre-med Club, our campus chapter of the American Medical Student Association. It’s a great way to demonstrate commitment, build your network and get involved. Planning to go into animal medicine? Check out the Pre-Veterinary Medicine Club.
Build relationships.
Letters of recommendation will be an important part of your medical school application. Requirements vary, but typically, some will come from your professors and some from research, clinical and/or extracurricular sources.
Establish a good basis for these recommendations during your time as a premed student through your engagement with faculty, supervisors and medical professionals.
- Get to know your faculty, and stay in touch! Interact, show interest in course subjects and activities, go to see them during office hours. They need to know you if you plan to ask them for a recommendation letter.
- Be mindful of your conduct and demonstrate good character in your classes, labs, research, extracurricular activities and in the community.
Learn the admission process.
Regular application to medical, veterinary, dental and pharmacy schools is through centralized application services. It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the information provided for the type of school you plan to attend.
Allopathic Medical School (MD): Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
Osteopathic Medical School (DO): American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
Dental School: American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
Podiatric Medical School: American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM)
Veterinary School: American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)
Pharmacy School: Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS)