Pre-Health Advisor: Dr. Darrel R. Falk

dfalk@pointloma.edu
(619) 849-2272

Background

Like most colleges and universities, Point Loma does not have a major that is called the pre-med major. Medical schools generally prefer that a student interested in proceeding to the M.D. degree major in a specific discipline. In general, pre-med students at Point Loma major in either Biology, Chemistry or both (Biology/Chemistry joint major). The majority of pre-med students take the joint major.

The following gives an indication of the program that a student might pursue if he or she were to choose the Biology/Chemistry joint major. There is great flexibility as to when a student would take the various non-science courses. Also, some students come to Point Loma with AP credit and thus frequently several of these courses are waived. Nevertheless the following table depicts a program for a typical pre-med student.

Sample Schedule:

The above program is that of a Biology/Chemistry joint major. A pre-med student who chose to major only in Biology would take fewer Chemistry courses and more Biology, but other than that the courses would be very similar. Similarly a pre-med student who chose to major in Chemistry would take fewer Biology and more Chemistry courses, but again except for that, the program would be similar.

Post-Graduation

Since 1989, 78 students have applied for entry into a doctorate level health professions school. 63 (81%) were admitted. The national average for admission into medical school during this same period is approximately 40%. Point Loma is very proud of the success of its students. Our pre-med program is very rigorous and as a result Point Loma students score well above the national average on the MCAT exam (especially the biological sciences portion), which is the test taken by all students prior to entry into medical school. The rigor of the courses, together with the amount of personal attention that students receive from faculty is probably the basis of student success. Point Loma is especially proud of its success given that its admissions policy is not as selective as that of many other colleges and universities.

The following is a list of universities in which the 63 students have enrolled since 1989 broken down by specific health disciplines:

Medical Schools :

Creighton University Dartmouth University Harvard University Jefferson University Loma Linda University Loyola University (Chicago) Medical University of South Carolina Ross University St. Louis University

SUNY, Syracuse Uniformed Services University UCLA UCSD University of Georgia University of Kansas University of Oklahoma University of Southern California Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara

Osteopathic Medical Schools:

• Western University of the Health Sciences

Dental Schools:

• Harvard University
• Loma Linda University
• University of Missouri, Kansas City
• University of Southern California
• UCLA

Optometry Schools:

• Southwestern College of Optometry

Podiatry Schools:

• Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine (Chicago)

Veterinary Medical Schools:

• Michigan State University
• University of Tennessee