How to Succeed as an Ohio State Premed
/Everything you need to know about Ohio State premed, including premed requirements, the best extracurriculars, and the Ohio State premed acceptance rate
learn what it takes to succeed as an ohio state premed
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Part 1: Introduction
Founded in 1870 as the 9th university in Ohio, Ohio State (also known as OSU) is today recognized as #17 for Top Public Schools and #43 in National Universities (2022 rankings), according to US News. OSU is a medium-sized public school with around 47,000 students enrolled. While it has numerous campuses across the state of Ohio, its main campus is in Columbus, Ohio.
OSU has over 200 undergraduate degree programs and multiple graduate schools associated with it, one of which includes the Ohio State University College of Medicine (more on this later). As with most other colleges and universities, “premed” isn’t considered a distinct degree program at OSU. However, it is considered “an officially recognized area of academic interest.” With this in mind, you can rest assured knowing OSU is knowledgeable about how to prepare its students for medical school—especially its own med school! But how can you take the abundance of information available at OSU’s website and turn it into something digestible and understandable so you know you’re on the right track?
In this guide, we’ll review the requirements premed students at OSU must meet, and we’ll go over the specific prerequisite courses you’ll need to take to prepare you for the MCAT and med school). We even provide you with a sample three-year course plan, so you know how to accomplish those requirements realistically. Then, we’ll explore extracurricular options for an Ohio State premed. Finally, we’ll consider getting into med school as an OSU graduate.
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Part 2: Ohio State premed requirements
So what courses does an OSU premed student need to take in preparation for acceptance into med school? Typically, all premed students—regardless of where they attend for undergrad—need to complete a course of study that includes the following:
One year of biology (with labs)
One year of general chemistry (with labs)
One year of organic chemistry (with labs)
One year of physics (with labs)
One course in biochemistry
One year of math that includes calculus and statistics
One year of English courses with a heavy emphasis on writing
Additionally, to prepare for the MCAT, students should take at least one introductory psychology course and one introductory sociology course. (Since you only need an introductory level of instruction in psychology and sociology, some students pursue those two courses through self-study rather than formal college courses.)
Ohio State requires a similar list of courses for premed students. Note that they do not require a lab component with the required one year of biology. They also do not list English courses as required, though it is listed as part of Ohio State University College of Medicine’s recommended coursework. That said, we’ve included the required and recommended courses in the table below, and we’ve outlined the exact OSU courses you’d need to fulfill both.
| Biology:Two semesters with lab | BIOLOGY 1113 BIOLOGY 1114 |
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| Chemistry: 1. General chemistry: Two semesters (with lab) 2. Organic chemistry: Two semesters (with lab) 3. Biochemistry: One semester |
Choose from among the following:
General Chemistry: CHEM 1210 CHEM 1220 Organic Chemistry Lectures: CHEM 2510 CHEM 2520 Organic Chemistry Labs: CHEM 2540 CHEM 2550 Biochemistry: BIOCHEM 4511 |
BIOCHEM 5613 + 5614 | ||||
| Calculus: One semester | Students will need to complete Math 1148 as a pre-requisite for the other course sequences on this table.
MATH 1131 MATH 1151 |
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| Statistics: One semester | Any statistics course will suffice. Some options include:
STAT 1350.01 STAT 1450.01 |
STAT 1430H | ||||
| Physics: Two semesters with lab | Choose from among the following:
PHYSICS 1200 PHYSICS 1201 PHYSICS 1250 |
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| College-level English/writing: Two semesters | Choose from among the following:
ENGLISH 1110.01 COMM 2321 ENGLISH 1109 |
ENGLISH 3000 | ||||
| Psychology: One semester | PSYCH 1100 | |||||
| Sociology: One semester | SOCIOL 1101 | |||||
As noted in the table above, you’ll need to complete MATH 1148 as a prerequisite to most of the other courses in the table. Most students will complete that (or its equivalent) as well as some other math courses (such as MATH 1149, 1151, or 1152) as requirements for their degree program.
Sample Ohio State premed three-year course plan
Looking over the table above, it’s clear you’ll need to be ready for a challenging level of work as an Ohio State premed student. Adding to the challenge is the fact that you’ll need to take several of the above courses concurrently if you plan to fit them all into just four years. So how can you ensure that you take the appropriate courses without overburdening yourself?
The best way to accomplish this is by proactively planning your courses in such a way that it makes logical and educational sense. Some specific tactics you can employ include:
Pay attention to whether any of your major requirements overlap with your premed requirements. If so, you’re in luck! There is nothing better than knocking out two requirements in one swoop!
Note whether any premed requirements above have prerequisites and plan accordingly. We’ve already mentioned MATH 1148, but scope out the other courses to see whether you will have more classes to work into your schedule.
Think about when you want to take the MCAT.
Consider the difficulty levels of the required courses as you decide when to take them. It’s better to balance more challenging courses against those that are easier than it is to balance them against other difficult courses! For this reason, it’s extremely important that you register for classes as soon as you are permitted. While pre-health departments are often able to get students into classes that may be “full” if those classes are required for their major, that isn’t always the case. If you postpone registration, you may remove any choices you may have in the matter.
With these tips in mind, what does a well-balanced schedule look like? Below, we’ve put together a sample three-year course plan to consider. You’ll notice that we paired classes some students may feel are too difficult to take together. Of course, your mileage may vary!
| Freshman Fall | BIOLOGY 1113 CHEM 1210 MATH 1131 |
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| Freshman Spring | BIOLOGY 1114 CHEM 1220 MATH 1151 |
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| Sophomore Fall | CHEM 2510/2540 ENGLISH 1110.01 |
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| Sophomore Spring | CHEM 2520/2550 BIOCHEM 4511 |
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| Junior Fall | PSYCH 1100 PHYSICS 1200 |
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| Junior Spring | SOCIOL 1101 PHYSICS 1201 |
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How to maintain a high GPA as an Ohio State premed
Determining which courses to take (and when) is a necessary step in your journey as an OSU premed student, but that’s really just the beginning! Once you have that figured out, you’ll want to develop a plan of action to help you maintain your high GPA. But, what does that entail?
Stay organized. This is probably one of the most important strategies you’ll need to implement (which is why we’ve listed it first)! Between lectures, exams, extracurricular activities, research, MCAT prep, and—eventually—med school applications, you’ll have plenty of things on your plate. Failure to stay organized is a precursor to feeling overwhelmed which will likely result in losing focus and your hold on your high GPA.
Set clear goals. Define your academic goals and set a target you’d like to achieve. When you have a clear goal in mind, you’ll be more likely to adhere to it because you’ll (hopefully) catch yourself the moment you stray from those goals.
Regularly attend your classes. Although it may seem that this would go without saying, it needs to be reiterated. Missing classes unnecessarily will leave you feeling behind. Your required classes will be challenging, but they’ll be even more difficult if you miss lectures and have gaps in your learning.
Create a study schedule. Having a regular schedule or routine that is in line with your course load and personal preferences will go a long way toward helping you keep up your GPA.
Carve out time for MCAT prep. The MCAT is a huge part of any med school application as it’s weighed heavily by adcoms. . That said, you’ll want to be sure you devote enough time to prepare for it, from learning the content it covers to test-taking strategies. Need some help? Whether you’d prefer self-study materials that enable you to study for the MCAT on your own or would rather have an online MCAT tutor, we’ve got you covered!
Connect with a pre-health advisor. As early as you are able, you should connect with a pre-health advisor. Since admission to med school is very competitive, you’ll want the support of individuals who know not only med school admissions and you but also what it takes to succeed. As such, they’ll be ready to advise you and guide you along the way.
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Part 3: Ohio State premed extracurriculars
We’ve discussed the courses you’ll need to take and the fact that you’ll need to do well in them. We’ve also touched upon MCAT preparation and what that entails. With that in mind, you’ll also want to devote time and energy to choosing extracurricular activities that will benefit you as you apply to med school. As an Ohio State premed, you’ll be surrounded by options and opportunities!
For instance, you may want to join Alpha Epsilon Delta, which is the premed honor society at Ohio State. The group offers various activities and networking opportunities between their biweekly meetings and other events. They also participate in several fundraising events, as well as service projects. In particular, the group is known for having the Buckeye Tutor Team and for staffing a couple of free health clinics.
Undoubtedly, as an OSU premed student, you’ll want to join the pre-medicine club. There, you’ll find resources for premed students (including MCAT prep) as well as service opportunities. They also hold fundraising events, volunteer events, and social events for networking. Additionally, they’re known for making arrangements to have guest speakers come to share information with those in attendance.
Some of the other student organizations that may interest Ohio State premed students include:
Black Men In Medicine - a group dedicated to helping minority men navigate the path toward becoming physicians
Buckeyes Raising Awareness in Neuroscience - a nonprofit organization devoted to raising awareness about neurological diseases, brain injuries, and mental health
Health-Link Society - an organization that exists to unite those with an interest in medicine with others in the community
Medical Innovations - a group whose mission is to connect those with an interest in student-led projects in medicine (This would also be a great resource for finding research opportunities!)
National Alzheimer's Buddies - as a social organization, this group exists to connect students with individuals who have dementia
STEM2TORS at Ohio State - a student group that strongly supports OSU students majoring in STEM-related fields and that seeks to help those students achieve their goals
Research as an Ohio State premed
In addition to stacking your schedule with extracurricular activities, you’ll need to make space for a few research opportunities. As an OSU premed, you’ll be in good hands as there are many avenues to achieve this. For instance, the Research Postings page lists updated research opportunities you may be interested in becoming involved with.
However, if you’re unable to find something of interest there, why not begin your own research project? You’d need to identify a professor or faculty member you think would be interested in supporting your research (so choose one whose teachings align with your learning style). From there, have a look at several of the college’s department review pages and consider attending a research forum. You can also explore the research theses of previous undergraduate students. Once you’ve decided on a faculty mentor, connect with them in a meeting to discuss your ideas and research proposal(s).
If you’re still feeling unsure of the direction in which you should head, consider reaching out to the Office of Academic Enrichment’s Undergraduate Research & Creative Inquiry section. They exist to help students find research opportunities and mentors while also providing support for those mentors.
Shadowing as an Ohio State premed
As a premed student, you’ll also need to participate in shadowing opportunities which will put you on the frontline of patient care while showing you the ropes of physician life. It can be difficult to find doctors willing to allow students to shadow, though. For this reason, the Buckeye Shadowing Club exists as a group that helps students find shadowing opportunities. In addition to having doctors teach students in person, they also meet online (via Zoom) to collaborate. These interactive sessions enable students to ask questions and learn from experienced physician-mentors who are eager to have a part in training the next generation of physicians!
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Part 4: Getting into medical school as an Ohio State premed
Naturally, the ultimate goal behind everything we’ve been discussing is to see you accepted into med school! Whether your goal is to enroll in the Ohio State University College of Medicine or elsewhere, you’ll want to know that all the hard work you’ve put in up to this point was worth it.
Regardless of where you’d like to attend medical school, you’ll need similar components as you complete your application. You’ll need to put together a personal statement, complete a secondary application that includes secondary essays, gather letters of recommendation, and fill out the primary AMCAS application, including the AMCAS Work & Activities section.
It’s one thing to attend a school that’s prepared you for the next step, but it’s another to take that next step. How do OSU students do in terms of applying to med school following graduation? Looking at the stats for the most recent entering class (2023), of the 50,186 applicants who hoped to gain acceptance, approximately 7,229 applicants came from Ohio State.
While we don’t have data on every applicant hailing from OSU or every single medical school, we do have some information on Ohio State University College of Medicine. At this time (October 2023), precise details for the entering class of 2023 have not been released. However, looking at the entering class of 2022, we can see that the average MCAT score was 514 and the average (cumulative) GPA was 3.81. For both years (e.g., the entering class of 2022 and the entering class of 2023), the enrollment rate was 0.3%. No doubt, this is a competitive school. Nonetheless, you can rest assured that Ohio State University takes great pride in preparing premeds to continue their educational journey. It’s safe to assume that they would especially prepare students for enrollment into their own medical school.
Final thoughts
Moving through your undergrad years as an Ohio State premed will be challenging, but it’s far from impossible. With proper planning, sufficient guidance, and solid determination, you can successfully come away from OSU as a med school enrollee!
Remember: while time management is key, you’ll still need to study hard and keep up your grades, all while preparing for the MCAT and juggling extracurricular activities. In the end, you’ll have paved the way for a thriving career in medicine—but it all starts with succeeding as a premed student.
About the Author
Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.
