How to Succeed as a UC Irvine Premed
/Everything you need to know about being a UCI premed, including detailed premed requirements, the best extracurriculars, and the UCI premed acceptance rate
Learn everything it takes to succeed as a UC irvine premed
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Part 1: Introduction
The University of California system is the largest state university system in the country and its schools rank among the most prestigious public universities. While UC Irvine (UCI) may not be as well known to out-of-state residents as schools such as UCLA and UC Berkeley, with around 4,000 fewer undergraduates than each of those schools, it is very highly regarded. US News and World Report named UCI the 10th best public school in the country and the 33rd best university overall.
In 2023, UC Irvine also produced the 19th most medical school applicants of any school in the U.S. With 412 applicants during the 2023 cycle, as a premed at UCI you won’t be alone in your quest to get into medical school. This reality comes with both positive and negative aspects. It’s true that you will likely feel the weight of competition (it’s difficult to get into medical school after all!), but at the same time, you will find examples of the many different paths that people have taken to become doctors. The premed track is more manageable when you accept its variability and take on its challenges with friends and mentors by your side.
UC Irvine also provides significant opportunities regarding the courses, extracurriculars, research and shadowing experiences they offer. This guide will help you navigate these options to find the premed path that works for you.
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Part 2: UC Irvine Premed Requirements
While it’s important to look into the academic requirements of each medical school you apply to, this list of required courses should satisfy the requirements for the majority of them. As you’ll see, there are certain classes that all premed students have to take. For some requirements, though, you are free to choose from a wide variety of courses. UCI uses a quarter term system (as opposed to the traditional semester system) that is broken up into fall, winter and spring terms that each last ten weeks. This schedule will offer the opportunity to fulfill your requirements with nontraditional premed courses, if that’s something you would like to explore.
Here is a table detailing premed requirements at UCI:
| Biology: Three quarters and one lab | BIO SCI 93, BIO SCI 93L BIO SCI 94, BIO SCI 94L BIO SCI 97 (Genetics) |
BIO SCI 99 (Molecular Biology) BIO SCI 100 (Scientific Writing) |
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| General chemistry: Two quarters and one lab | CHEM 1A, CHEM 1AL CHEM 1B CHEM 1C, CHEM 1CL (prerequisite for Organic Chemistry) |
CHEM 100 (Special Topics in Chemistry) CHEM 101 (Writing in the Chemical Sciences) |
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| Organic chemistry: Three quarters and one lab | CHEM 51A CHEM 51B, CHEM 51LB CHEM 51C |
CHEM 51LC CHEM 125 (Advanced Topics in Organic Chemistry) |
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| Biochemistry: One course | BIO SCI 98 | BIO SCI M114 (Advanced Biochemistry) | ||||
| Math: Three quarters (must include calculus and statistics) | MATH 2A or 5A or 7A One statistics course One of the following: MATH 2B or 5B or 7B or any other math course |
MATH 2D (Multiple-Variable Calculus I) MATH 2E (Multiple-Variable Calculus II) |
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| Physics: Three quarters and one lab | PHYSICS 3A PHYSICS 3B PHYSICS 3C Plus: PHYSICS 3LB or PHYSICS 3LC |
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| College-level English/writing: One year (must include writing) | 3 English, Comparative Literature, or Writing courses | |||||
| Courses helpful for MCAT prep: Psychology and Sociology | PSYCH 7A SOCIOL 1 |
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When it comes to juggling these requirements, in addition to those of your major which may or may not overlap, it is a good idea to plan ahead. This way you won’t find yourself playing catch-up and subjecting yourself to an unmanageable course load.
(Suggested Reading: Medical School Requirements in 2023: The Definitive Guide)
Sample Three-Year Plan
Here is a sample three-year plan that demonstrates how you might complete all of your premed requirements by the end of your junior year which is essential if you are planning to go straight through from undergrad directly to medical school. If you are planning to apply to medical schools after your senior year, you may want to spread out these requirements over your full four-year course of study.
| Freshman Fall |
BIO SCI 93
BIO SCI 93L MATH 5A |
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| Freshman Winter |
BIO SCI 94
BIO SCI 94L MATH 5B |
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| Freshman Spring |
BIO SCI 97
STATS 8 English/Writing Course |
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| Sophomore Fall |
CHEM 1A CHEM 1AL PHYSICS 3A |
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| Sophomore Winter | CHEM 1B
PHYSICS 3B PHYSICS 3LB BIO SCI 98 |
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| Sophomore Spring |
CHEM 1C
CHEM 1CL PHYSICS 3C |
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| Junior Fall |
CHEM 51A
English/Writing Course |
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| Junior Winter | CHEM 51B
CHEM 51LB |
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| Junior Spring | CHEM 51C
English/Writing Course |
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While this plan means taking at least two required courses each quarter of your first three years at UC Irvine, it is still manageable. It can also be a great relief to get through your premed requirements with a year to spare. That said, if you don’t find yourself moving at this pace don’t despair. Taking a gap year can be valuable not only as life experience but also as a way to bolster your medical school application.
How to Maintain a High GPA as a UC Irvine Premed
Maintaining a high GPA is key to getting into the medical school of your dreams. This will be a challenge for anyone at UCI, which is known for its rigorous academics. (This level of rigor, however, will also help you in your medical school application. Admissions committees are well aware that a particular GPA does not mean the same thing across all schools.) Creating an overall plan for your undergraduate studies while still allowing for flexibility will be an important way to balance your academic load. Some quarters will inevitably be more difficult than others, but balancing this difficulty as evenly as possible will raise your odds for success. Here are some additional guidelines to keep your GPA where you’d like it:
Time management is essential. While we’ve covered this on a broader scale (planning over the course of multiple years), we also need to think about time management on the monthly, weekly, and day-to-day scales. One of the best ways to manage your time is by creating work schedules and priority lists. If you can block out periods for coursework it will also help you enjoy your well-earned free time. Developing a consistent scheduling practice will also be hugely beneficial when it comes to balancing extracurriculars with your schoolwork.
Expect the premed track to be a challenge. If you cruised through high school, this will certainly not be the case as a UCI premed. Expect to put in more academic effort than you ever have before, studying hard and often. Adjusting your mindset will be essential to sustaining focus.
Take advantage of office hours and TA sessions. It’s important to ask questions when you don’t understand the course material. Everyone misses something here and there, and it won’t do any good to act as if you’re above needing assistance. The longer you wait to ask for help, the more likely it is that you will fall behind.
Join a study group. This is another place where you can ask questions, while also supporting one another’s commitment to the track that you’re on. If you can’t find a supportive study group consider organizing one of your own.
Finally, as touched upon above, remember to not overburden yourself with a heavy course load to the point that it adversely affects your GPA. Even a well-thought-out plan should always leave space for alterations. If you’re having trouble fitting all of your requirements into the fall, winter, and spring quarters, consider supplementing them with summer classes.
If you decide to join the premed track later on or if you find yourself falling behind, it’s also worth considering completing certain premed requirements as a postbaccalaureate. UC Irvine offers a Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program designed to help students complete the required basic core requirements for medical school admission. This is a year-round program that also offers the opportunity to pursue lab research with notable faculty while preparing for the MCAT.
(Suggested Reading: Postbaccalaureate Programs: How to Get In (Essay Examples Included))
What’s the Best Premed Major?
This is a common question and the short answer is that there is no universal best major for premeds. Although it may seem counterintuitive, majoring in biology does not give you a statistical advantage over someone who is majoring in philosophy.
That being said, there are certain majors that are most common for premed students, with the biological sciences topping the list. One advantage of choosing a STEM major is that there will likely be significant overlap between your premed requirements and your major requirements. STEM majors, however, can potentially be challenging when it comes to maintaining a high GPA.
In addition to these practical concerns, it is also important to choose a major that excites you. This will make school more enjoyable and, hopefully, your passion will provide motivation to engage with the material more deeply. Medical school admissions committees are looking for intellectual curiosity and your choice of major could be a way of demonstrating this. So, here are three questions to ask yourself when picking a major:
Does the major excite you?
Will you be able to maintain a high GPA?
How will it fit with your premed requirements?
When Should You Take the MCAT?
Determining when you should take the MCAT depends on a number of factors such as the premed classes you’ve completed and when you are planning to apply to medical school. If you are planning to apply to medical school straight through—without taking a gap year—we generally recommend taking the MCAT for the first time in the fall of your junior year. This will allow you to study in the summer after your sophomore year. It will also provide adequate time in case you need to retake the test.
It is important, however, to have completed most of your premed requirements before taking the MCAT, as they will be invaluable when it comes to prep. If you have not completed most of these requirements before the fall of your junior year, it would be smart to hold off on taking the test until later in the school year. You should also hold off if you are scoring poorly on the AAMC practice tests and need more time to study.
The biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry required courses are particularly important to take before the MCAT. Even though the biochemistry premed requirements are less than those of the other sciences, it is, in fact, one of the most important subjects to master for the MCAT. If you are planning to take one or more gap years before medical school we generally recommend waiting until your senior year or later to take the MCAT. This will allow you to complete all of your premed requirements and then prepare for the test to your greatest ability.
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Part 3: UC Irvine Premed Extracurriculars
When it comes to picking your extracurriculars, medical school admissions committees value meaningful, sustained engagement as opposed to merely checking off all of the boxes. So, your extracurriculars do not need to be explicitly medicine-related as much as they should engage your passions.
Regarding medicine more specifically, UCI administers the UCI Medical Center, a major research hospital and the teaching hospital for the UCI School of Medicine. Since 1965 the medical center has been home to the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated center for cancer treatment and research and since 2000 the medical center has been publishing the Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. Further, UCI Health programs in urology, gynecology, geriatrics, cancer, digestive disorders, nephrology, orthopedics, and ear, nose & throat rank among the top 50 nationwide. So, it’s evident that a great deal of cutting-edge medical care and research takes place right nearby.
(Suggested Reading: How to Choose the Right Extracurricular Activities for Medical School)
Research at UC Irvine
The Carnegie Classification System lists UCI as an “R-1: Doctoral University,” which connotes the highest level of research activity. This emphasis carries over to undergraduate studies, with a plethora of opportunities to get involved in research. The School of Biological Sciences, for instance, offers BIO SCI 199, an opportunity for undergraduates to conduct experimental laboratory, field, or clinical research alongside a mentor’s supervision. Each year approximately 1,000 students pursue this work in one of the more than 250 laboratories in the School of Biological Sciences or the School of Medicine. BIO SCI 199 will also teach you what it takes to publish your own research.
In a similar vein, the School of Biological Sciences hosts an Undergraduate Excellence in Research Program. This program will provide you with the opportunity to present your work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. Students who successfully complete this program will also have their research published in the Journal of Undergraduate Research in the Biological Sciences. Finally, the Minority Science Program at UCI seeks to increase the number of underrepresented groups in biomedical research careers.
The Office of Research at UCI provides a central hub bringing together the wide variety of work being conducted at the university. On their website, you will find information on the various research centers and institutes at UCI as well as funding and research development opportunities. Finally, other departments offer similar opportunities to those of the School of Biological Sciences listed above, and it will be a good idea to explore any research opportunities (including getting involved with your professors’ research) that are relevant to your major.
Shadowing
Finding shadowing opportunities as a premed can be a daunting task. It requires forming relationships with people you hope to learn from, and this often begins with cold-calling.
Shadowing is an extremely valuable experience, though, in that it will teach you what being a doctor entails. With such a wide variety of medical occupations out there, it is a good idea to seek a range of shadowing experiences.
The UCI Medical Center is, of course, a great place to start looking. The UCI Health Irvine Clinical Experience program is explicitly designed to provide UCI premeds with a wide variety of shadowing experiences. This program offers shadowing in departments ranging from emergency medicine to neuro-oncology to psychiatry and beyond.
You may also want to look into other hospitals and private practices in the area in order to gain a fuller understanding of the options available to you as a physician. A few other medical facilities to look into are:
Hoag Hospital – with locations in both Irvine, CA and Newport Beach, CA
Providence Mission Hospital – located in Mission Viejo, CA
Corona Regional Medical Center – located in Corona, CA
If you’re having trouble finding shadowing opportunities you can also reach out to alumni. Remember that UC Irvine alumni who are now working in the medical field have been through the same things you’re currently going through. They will likely be sympathetic to your plight.
Volunteering and Clinical Experience at UC Irvine
When it comes to volunteering and clinical experience, UC Irvine and the surrounding area offers a plethora of options. Here are some programs managed by UCI Health
Patient Experience Internship Program – this program revolves around enhancing patient-related care and students must commit to a minimum of 5 hours per week.
Music to Heal Program – this program invites volunteers to play music for or alongside patients in order to improve their well-being for a minimum of 2 hours per week.
Pet Therapy Program – this program involves working with therapy animals in order to improve patient well-being.
Cuddler Volunteer Program – in this program volunteers provide developmentally appropriate support to newborns whose families cannot visit the hospital each day to spend time with them.
Child Life Volunteer Program – in this program volunteers provide a therapeutic play program to help pediatric patients and their families cope with their medical experience for a minimum of 3 hours per week.
College Volunteers Program – in this program volunteers take part in a wide variety of tasks related to the medical field, committing to a minimum of 100 service hours.
UC Irvine also has a great number of student groups in which you will find a range of both volunteer and leadership opportunities. A number of these groups are related to medicine, such as the Sports Medicine Club, the Pre-Health Alliance, and the American Medical Students Association Chapter at UCI, to name just a few. Additionally, here is a list of volunteer opportunities for pre-health students compiled by UCI. It will be worthwhile to sort through these lists on your own and, again, to find the groups that you are passionate about.
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Part 4: Getting into Medical School from UC Irvine
As mentioned earlier, in 2023 412 students applied to medical school from UC Irvine. While we don’t have data specific to these applicants, overall in the 2023-2024 cycle about 45.7% of medical school applicants were accepted into at least one MD-granting medical school. This represents an improvement from especially difficult cycles in 2021-2022 (when only 38% were accepted) and 2022-2023 (when only 42.7% were accepted).
If you are considering remaining in Irvine and attending UCI Medical School, the overall acceptance rate is 3.4%. According to their most recent data, the 2021 entering class included 13 UCI undergraduates. It’s natural for this percentage, as well as those of other top medical schools, to give you pause. Know, however, that the prestige and rigor of a UCI undergraduate education will give you just about as good a chance as anyone.
Final Thoughts
Getting through premed at UC Irvine will undoubtedly be a challenge, however, it’s one that offers many opportunities for growth. At a school with such a wide range of offerings and a large segment of premeds, it will be important to find the path that works for you. Taking advantage of the opportunities mentioned in this guide will help you stand out among the competition. Be prepared to dive deeper as a UC Irvine premed on your journey to become a doctor.
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.
