How to Succeed as a UMich Premed
/Everything you need to know about premed at the University of Michigan, including premed requirements, the best premed extracurriculars, and the UMich premed acceptance rate
Learn how to get into medical school as a university of michigan premed
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Part 1: Introduction
The University of Michigan lies in the leafy city of Ann Arbor, where it is home to a stunning campus, booming athletic program, and one of the most distinguished public universities when it comes to academic prestige. And while UMich offers its students top programs in many disciplines, as a premed student you will quickly find that you are not alone in your aspirations. Although the university consists of nineteen schools and colleges across three locations (with satellite campuses located in Dearborn and Flint), many incoming undergraduate students identify as “premed.”
Not only is UMich a top-5 producer of medical school applicants nationally, it also ranks among the 10 best premed colleges in the country, making it an academically robust location not only for general undergraduate education, but also for the premed path specifically.
While the University of Michigan provides an unbeatable foundation for success, it requires you as a student to be diligent, organized, and driven to succeed. As a premed, your goal will be to create a balanced transcript and CV that will impress admission committees—all while enjoying some of the most exciting years of your life. This preparation begins early in your undergraduate career, especially if you already know that a medical career is the dream you have for your future.
However, there are many factors that make a premed path demanding at UMich. The core courses required for medical school admission are considered some of the most difficult to succeed in due to their large class sizes and challenging subject matter. In addition to your academic work, there are many obligations when applying to medical school, such as volunteering, research, and other extracurriculars, that can make managing your schedule overwhelming. And while UMich offers an endless list of opportunities, the sheer range of possibilities can make choosing the right ones even harder.
In this guide, we will help you navigate all these decisions and more. Our goal is to help you flourish in the exciting—and challenging—four years leading up to medical school and your future career as a physician.
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Part 2: UMich premed requirements
The table below provides a recommended list of basic pre-medicine courses offered at the University of Michigan. By fulfilling these suggested courses, you’ll be well-equipped to apply to most U.S. medical schools. However, it is important to check individual medical schools’ requirements as each school has slightly different expectations when it comes to prerequisite undergraduate classes.
Depending on the availability of Advanced Placement (AP) courses at your high school, you may have started your college career having already completed introductory course requirements. Again, medical schools will vary in regard to whether AP credits are accepted, so you’ll want to research the policy of each school that interests you.
| Biology: 2 lectures + 2 labs* | Biology 171, 172, 173, and one additional lab | Biology 305 (Genetics) may be required by some schools. Some schools may also require biology courses at the 300-level or higher. | ||||
| Inorganic chemistry: 2 lectures + 2 labs | Chemistry 130, 125/126, and 230 or 260 | Chemistry 230/260 may be replaced by: Biophysics 370 Biomedical Engineering 221 Chemical Engineering 331 + Chemistry 261 |
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| Organic chemistry: 2 lectures + 2 labs | Chemistry 210 + 211 and 215 + 216 | |||||
| Biochemistry: 1 lecture | One of the following: Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology 310 Chemistry 351 Biological Chemistry 415 |
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| Physics: 2 lectures + 2 labs | One of the following (Physics 1): Physics 150 + 151 Physics 140 + 141 Physics 160 + 161 Plus one of the following (Physics 2): Physics 250 + 251 Physics 240 + 241 Physics 260 + 261 |
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| Math: 1 course** | Math 115 and 116 (Calculus) A statistics course is recommended for the MCAT. |
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| English/intensive writing: 2 courses | English 124 or 125, plus one other composition or English literature course | |||||
| Courses helpful for MCAT prep: | Psychology 111 Sociology 100 |
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**Math requirements vary widely by school.
To get a better idea of the all-around expectations, visit the website for the Newnan Academic Advising Center for a more detailed explanation of each subject requirement. We also recommend that you meet with a pre-health advisor early on, as the scheduling process requires time and patience. An advisor can help map out your future semesters to make the scheduling process less stressful.
Another resource to supplement or prepare for your pre-health advisor appointment is the advising office's checklist for UMich premed courses. This can be combined with your personal academic goals, whether you plan to major in English or something more traditional for premeds, like biology.
To take it a step further, Wolverine Access (your UMich online hub) provides a helpful tool called “My Planner,” which allows you to explore classes in the course catalog and save and distribute them into future semesters to create your schedule ahead of time.
Sample UMich premed two-year course plan
To give you a sense of how to put it all together, below is a sample course plan for freshman and sophomore years designed to complete the MCAT prerequisites in a timely manner. Of course, your own schedule will vary depending on factors such as:
Requirements for your major
Prerequisites for certain premed classes
General education requirements, which will depend on which U of M school you are enrolled in (as an example, requirements for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts [LSA] can be viewed here)
When you want to take the MCAT (we’ll discuss this further below)
Note that the UMich calendar is structured with a Fall and Winter semester, with Spring and Summer semesters that can be utilized if needed. Typically, students will take around 16 credits’ worth of classes per semester.
| Freshman Fall | Biology 171 Chemistry 130 Chemistry 125/126 Math 115 |
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| Freshman Winter | Biology 172 Biology 173 Psychology 111 English 125 |
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| Sophomore Fall | Chemistry 210 + 211 Physics 150 + 151 Statistics 350 |
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| Sophomore Winter | Chemistry 215 + 216 Physics 250 + 251 Chemistry 230 |
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| Sophomore–Junior Spring | Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology 310 | |||||
How to maintain a high GPA as a UMich premed
As you can see from the common prerequisites listed above, not only can the quantity of courses be overwhelming, but the caliber of the courses are notoriously difficult and commonly referred to as “weeders.”
Take Organic Chemistry, for example. The class is held in a 500-person capacity lecture hall, and at the start of each year, you’ll be greeted with standing-room-only seating. As the year progresses, the room thins, and you’ll have not only a seat but also your choice of the front row if you so desire! All of this is to say: the core science courses are challenging and ultimately help distinguish students who are truly willing to go the distance for a medical career.
So, how do you succeed academically? One, it is important to know your limits and consider the transition you’re making from high school to college. If you come from a smaller school with less formal academic structure, your course load as a freshman may require spacing out the more difficult courses into a Fall, Winter, and Spring term schedule, rather than the typical two-semester year.
However, if your high school was a large, highly competitive academic environment, you likely have already developed the habits and study skills needed to take on more courses earlier in your college years. Nevertheless, in both scenarios, you will still be balancing a full load of extracurricular activities and social events with the need to maintain good mental health.
We recommend finding an organization system early on that is sustainable and helpful (rather than a hindrance) to keep you on track. Planners, wall calendars, or a nicely organized iCal are a few ways to get started. Once you identify a study system that works well for you, there are multiple resources that you can take advantage of on campus, especially for core science courses:
Professor/teaching assistant office hours: By being vigilant in class, taking notes, and marking questions you have regarding the material, these office hours can be extremely valuable to your learning and also increase face time with the professors, which may be helpful when it comes time to ask for letters of recommendation.
Math Lab: A walk-in resource for the intro and mid-level math courses with a very inviting environment. You can get one-on-one tutoring with UMich math whizzes or come in as a team from class to work on group projects.
Science Learning Center offers walk-in, peer-to-peer tutoring for chemistry and biology courses or appointment-based tutoring to get more individualized help.
Problem Roulette: A free access to a library of prior exam questions for various subjects offered at the University of Michigan.
(Suggested reading: How to Study as a Premed)
What’s the best premed major at UMich?
The University of Michigan does not have a dedicated premed major. Although some students are disappointed to hear that, this can work to your advantage based on your interests and future aspirations.
Even though all premed students are reaching for the same target of getting into medical school, becoming a physician has hundreds of paths with an infinite number of underlying end goals. Those goals could range from becoming a physician-scientist to focusing on healthcare policy while still being a practitioner.
Being a science major is not required to be accepted into medical school. In fact, if you have interests outside of the basic sciences, it makes you unique as an applicant and adds diversity to your future student body in medical school. Furthermore, there’s no statistical advantage to choosing one major over another when it comes to getting into medical school.
Some argue that the benefit of majoring in a core science (i.e., chemistry or biology) is that your prerequisites for medical school will also count toward the credits needed to fulfill your major. This may ultimately decrease your course load, but likely not by much since the university requires non-science courses to graduate either way. Again, discussing this with your pre-health advisor will help integrate your preferences into your college experience.
Although the UMich website does not specify distributions of majors for premed students, the most overall common majors in recent years are as follows:
Computer and information sciences (10.5%)
Business administration and management (6.8%)
Economics (6.7%)
Experimental psychology (4.6%)
Physiological psychology/psychobiology (3.8%)
From an anecdotal perspective, while there isn’t a predominant major chosen by premed students at Michigan, common choices include cognitive science/psychology, biology, biochemistry, and chemistry. You can find a full list of majors here.
When should you take the MCAT?
Once you get closer to applying to medical school, don’t forget about the MCAT! Most students interested in the medical field are already familiar with this standardized test, which is required by all medical schools for admission.
There is a wide window in which you can take the MCAT, depending on your schedule and personal preference. Based on our large volume of advising experience, the earliest acceptable time frame is the summer between your sophomore and junior years, when you have completed most of your prerequisites.
The latest we recommend taking the test is January through April of junior year, assuming you are applying straight through. This allows ample time for studying without the stress of finals, personal statements, or other “to-do’s” that come along at the end of the academic year.
Another way of thinking about when to take the MCAT is whenever you’ve completed the following courses, which will serve as essential prep:
Chemistry 130, 125/126, and 230 or 260 (inorganic chemistry)
Chemistry 210/211, 215/216 (organic chemistry)
Biology 171, 172, and 173
Physics 1 and Physics 2 (any sequence)
One biochemistry course
As additions, coursework in statistics is highly recommended before taking the MCAT, and sociology and psychology can be helpful additions, too. That said, sociology and psychology can be self-studied effectively, so it’s not a major cause for concern if they don’t fit into your schedule.
Of note: your score is valid for three years, which is relevant if you are considering a gap year for any reason.
In general, the minimum amount of dedicated time spent studying for the MCAT should be two to three months, so it’s important to choose a time frame that will support the extra workload.
Outside of the SAT or ACT, this is likely the first standardized test you have been faced with, and where to start can seem daunting. The good news is that by the end of your sophomore year, your study habits and time management skills will have improved compared to the start of your freshman year.
When getting started, it is helpful to think of MCAT prep as just another class with deadlines and a curriculum. It is likely that you will even take a prep course that will help guide your studying.
Remember that the material on the test is information that you have already learned in your prerequisite courses. As long as you make the time and have a plan at the start of your study session, MCAT preparation will not feel like such a large undertaking.
For more details on how to accomplish this, check out our guides on the ideal MCAT timeline, the best MCAT study resources, and even individual content guides for each topic covered on the test.
(Suggested reading: How to Get a Perfect MCAT Score: Strategies From a 528 Scorer)
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Part 3: UMich premed extracurriculars
As if your extensive list of premed courses isn’t enough to keep you busy, medical schools expect undergraduate students to play an active role in extracurricular activities and the community on and around campus. The typical categories of these activities for medical school preparation fall under clinical experiences/shadowing, volunteering, research, and other health-related clubs.
Like other large universities, there is a plethora of choices when it comes to partaking in these activities at the University of Michigan. Although this will ultimately serve to benefit you as a student, it also takes organization and prioritization to find the right activities to fill your time and CV.
During your first weeks on campus, you will be invited to “Diag Day,” which is a yearly tradition that brings students together to show off the various organizations available on campus. This is a great way to meet your co-students and get more information about clubs or activities you are already interested in. You’ll also be exposed to clubs that are completely new to you (for example, the Squirrel Club).
Inevitably, you will put your name on too many sign-up sheets, but it’s a great place to start and gather ideas. The truth is: if you have a hobby coming into college, there is a club for it. You can also find a full list of student organizations online.
Additionally, there are endless opportunities to enhance your premed CV. Below, we’ll discuss some examples of how to get involved with the extracurricular categories mentioned previously.
Although a large organization, the Pre-Medical Club is a great general starting point for any of the following activities. It is also a club that you could be as involved in or distant to as you desire, making it a nice group to be a part of as a Michigan premed.
(Suggested reading: How to Choose the Right Extracurricular Activities for Medical School)
UMich premed clinical and community volunteering
With the University of Michigan Hospital and Mott’s Children’s Hospital located just north of campus, becoming a hospital volunteer is a great way to get involved early in your college career and stay involved longitudinally during your time at school. This tactic also helps to spread your volunteer clinical hours out over many months or years, rather than cramming them in as a junior or senior just prior to applying to med school.
With such a large premed community within the University of Michigan, the hospital system has a designated Volunteer Services to help streamline the process of becoming a volunteer. The application process may seem arduous, including at least one interview (depending on your position), but we promise it’s worth it.
Once you’re in the system, you have the opportunity to work in various departments and roles, from holding newborn babies whose parents couldn’t be present in the nursery to becoming a radiology tech assistant. This is a “must have” experience that is recommended to any aspiring healthcare worker and one that will get you accustomed to the hospital environment.
Community volunteering is a much broader category that can take many forms depending on your interests. This may include blood drives, soup kitchens, environmental work in the community, and more. Diag Day and this list of volunteering opportunities from the University Career Center can spark interest in an outside activity that contributes to the community, enhances your future medical school application, and more importantly, brings you joy.
As far as other premed organizations and clubs go, here are a few popular ways to get involved:
HOSA (previously known as Health Occupations Students of America): A nationally recognized organization that provides “powerful instructional tools, recognition, leadership, networking, scholarships, and connections” to students interested in a future in healthcare.
American Medical Student Association (AMSA): A medical-student-run organization that gets undergraduates involved early in their premed path to help understand and improve patient advocacy and education amongst many other goals
Pre-health fraternities: There are a handful of pre-health fraternities at UMich that are well-established and a great way to access resources, start networking early, and get help with the application process in your later years of college. Here is a blog profiling the most prominent pre-health fraternities.
UMich premed shadowing
Shadowing opportunities can sometimes be hard to come by, no matter what school you attend. The benefit of Ann Arbor and the UMich community is, again, the proximity to the hospitals and all the providers associated with the health system. The University Hospital has a total of 550 beds and 11 stories, in addition to Mott’s Children’s Hospital, which has 12 stories, 348 beds and a Ronald McDonald House around the corner to assist families. By getting involved with the Pre-Medical Club, there are pre-existing posts that students have already created connections with and resources to help you get in touch with potential providers to shadow.
UMich premed students have also had luck with “cold calling” providers, especially if there is a particular sub-specialty of interest. The university offers a physician directory, which allows you to search and contact different providers. With 31 residency programs and 82 fellowships, the hospital network is designed to teach the next generation of physicians, which is typically helpful when seeking shadowing opportunities.
Shadowing experiences are always good to include on your medical school application. However, a tip with shadowing is to find a balance—you don’t want to spend too many hours shadowing when some of that time could be spent on studying, volunteer activities, or work if that pertains to you. We typically recommend 100+ hours of shadowing prior to applying, so keep that in mind when planning out your time.
(Suggested reading: How to Ask to Shadow a Doctor)
UMich premed research
One of the most attractive features of the University of Michigan as a premed student is the abundance of research opportunities. UMich was recently ranked as the #1 U.S. public university in research volume, with $1.62 billion spent in research expenditures in 2019.
Because research is so intimately integrated into the University of Michigan experience, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) was created to partner students with principal investigators (PIs). These PIs include lab scientists, professors, and clinical researchers who all specialize in different areas.
Again, the research world is your oyster. For experience purposes, becoming involved in bench research is beneficial to seeing how studies begin from the ground up and getting a better understanding of basic sciences. Alternatively, clinical or translational research is a great way to see the medical field from a different perspective that helps shape your understanding of various medical physiology and treatments.
The UROP track can be somewhat competitive, but there are many other avenues through which you can get involved with research early on. If you would like to find research opportunities on your own, the best way is to first identify what you’re interested in. Often, you can discover subjects of interest through the courses you’re currently taking. If this is the case, seek out the professor’s office hours and ask if they have any research projects that they are actively working on.
Additionally, most majors will have websites dedicated to research opportunities. Take the Psychology Department, for example. On their website, you will find various courses, labs, and tips on how to get connected with principle investigators within the field. In addition, here is a general “tip sheet” on how to start looking for research positions throughout the university.
If you are a student who needs to simultaneously have a job throughout college, don’t forget to look into work-study research opportunities, which can allow you to accomplish your research while getting paid.
Further information and helpful resources on research can be found here.
(Suggested reading: How to Write a Great Research Assistant Cover Letter)
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Part 4: Getting into medical school as a UMich premed
Finally, we will talk a bit about the resources available while applying to medical school, as well as some recent admissions statistics pertaining to UMich premeds. A few of these resources have been mentioned previously but are summarized below:
Newnan Advising Center: Through the Advising Center, you will get assigned a general college advisor at the start of your college career. They will offer overarching advice and likely link you in early to a pre-health advisor.
Pre-Health Advising: A great resource that will help tailor your college experience to maximize your chances of medical school acceptance. These advisors are very familiar with the premed track as well as the medical school application process
Health Track: A resource created through the Career Center, which gives information and updates about the health field. It also walks you through how to succeed throughout your premed journey in college, as well as the application process
University Career Center: Another crucial resource, especially in your later years. The Career Center is multifunctional and provides personal statement editing, interview prep, networking opportunities, and much more.
Med App Canvas Site: When you begin your application process, this site will follow along to provide you with tips, coaching, and important timeline information.
Make use of these valuable resources as you work on your medical school application materials, including your personal statement, AMCAS Work & Activities section, and secondary essays.
It is important to note that the University of Michigan does not provide a committee letter when it comes time to submit your application. Let this be a reminder to engage with your professors and/or mentors throughout your various classes and experiences. The stronger the bond, the stronger the letter of recommendation.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
UMich premed acceptance rate and admissions statistics
When looking at admissions statistics as they relate to UMich, there is a clear benefit to being an undergrad here if you work hard to accomplish the following marks.
The University of Michigan’s published medical school statistics show that, in 2020, there were 984 applicants to both allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medical schools, with an acceptance rate of 58% for MD and 53% for DO programs. In comparison, the national medical school acceptance rates were 44% and 48%, respectively.
The average GPA of Michigan undergrads who got into medical school in 2020 is as follows:
MD: Cumulative GPA 3.70, science GPA 3.62
DO: Cumulative GPA 3.53, science GPA 3.44
Although there is limited data available on where UMich premed students matriculate, the overall statistics are very promising if you are able to succeed academically as well as outside of the classroom.
Getting into University of Michigan Medical School as a UMich premed
Given the #15 ranking and 4.6% acceptance rate of the University of Michigan Medical School, it’s no surprise that plenty of Michigan premeds, especially those who are already involved in the U of M health system, wonder if their existing connections will provide them with a competitive edge.
38% of the medical school’s 2021 entering class were Michigan residents and 62% were out-of-state residents. UMich supplied the largest number of graduates of any institution nationally, with 47 students, or 28% of the class, having also attended the university as undergraduates. Past class profiles reveal that UMich grads consistently make up around 30% of each entering class.
While we cannot conclusively say that Michigan’s medical school favors UMich undergrads—it may also be case that UMich premeds apply in higher numbers—the large percentage of UMich grads in each class is certainly a good sign if you hope to remain a Wolverine for four more years.
Of course, you’ll also need competitive stats to get in—the University of Michigan Medical School’s average GPA is a 3.78 and its average MCAT is the 91st percentile, around a 515.
(Suggested reading: Medical Schools in Michigan: How to Get In)
Final thoughts
For those who decide to take on the path of a UMich premed student, remember: yes, this will be difficult, but these can be the best years of your life. Our final words of advice are, first, to find balance in the social, academic, and personal components of undergrad along your journey to medical school. If you get organized early, it’s very possible (and likely!) that you will enjoy the benefits rather than the constant stress of your future goals.
Second, let your interests guide your experiences. If you love working with children, for example, invest your time at Mott’s Hospital and find joy in the hours you spend helping others, while also marking it off your volunteering “to-do” list.
Finally, use those around you for guidance. If you know someone in the medical field or on the path to become a part of it, these people are truly invaluable resources. Learn from their mistakes and successes, and adjust your course as needed. You’ll be on your way to becoming a physician before you know it.
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.
