How to Succeed as a University of Southern California Premed
/Everything you need to know about University of Southern California premed, including premed requirements, the best premed extracurriculars, and the USC premed acceptance rate
Learn how to succeed as a university of southern california premed
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Part 1: Introduction
As one of the premier private research universities in the United States, the University of Southern California is well-known for producing groundbreaking discoveries. In fiscal year 2020-2021, they attracted $955.6 million in sponsored research for studies in biotechnology, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and more. Funding like that isn’t awarded to institutions that don’t generate results.
Add to that its ranking in the top-30 universities nationally and it’s no wonder ambitious premeds with dreams of delving into exciting subjects wish to attend the University of Southern California. With so many avenues for engagement in exciting cutting-edge research, USC offers the potential for premeds to gain impressive extracurricular accolades in the process.
But the premed journey at a top-tier school demands top-tier effort, and those accolades will not come easy. As a USC premed, you’ll have your hands full managing med school prerequisites, and extracurricular activities, finding shadowing and volunteering opportunities, as well as carving out time to study for the MCAT.
With so much on your plate, it’s crucial to have a plan of attack in place to help you navigate the stormy seas of premed life as smoothly as possible.
In this guide, we’ll detail the exact prerequisites you’ll need at USC and the courses that will satisfy them. We’ll also cover how to find the best extracurricular, shadowing, and research opportunities at your disposal at USC.
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Part 2: USC premed requirements
Satisfying the requirements for medical school admission can seem like a daunting task, and with so many interesting classes to delve into at USC it’s easy to get caught up in the exhilaration of new things to learn. However, it’s important to remain laser-focused on achieving your goal of med school admission. As a USC premed, you will have particular courses to take and should do so at particular times if you want to graduate and matriculate within four years.
Unfortunately, all medical schools in the US don’t follow the same requirements for admission, so many premeds experience a bit of confusion around which classes to take to ensure they’ve met these requirements.
As a USC premed, you do have some flexibility regarding the classes you can take and when, but you will first need to know exactly what your options are. We’ve placed the prerequisites in the table below for your reference.
| Biology: Two semesters with lab | BISC 120L and BISC 220L
OR BISC 121L and BISC 221L | |||||
| General Chemistry: Two semesters with lab |
CHEM 105aL and CHEM 105bL
OR CHEM 107L and CHEM 108L OR CHEM 115aL and CHEM 115bL |
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| Organic Chemistry: Two semesters with lab |
CHEM 322aL and CHEM 322bL
OR CHEM 325aL and CHEM 325bL |
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| Biochemistry: One course |
Science Majors: BISC 330L
Non-Science Majors: CHEM 350g (Fall only) OR BISC 312 (Spring only) |
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| Math: One semester | Calculus: MATH 125 OR MATH 126 (Math 118 will suffice for Business Administration majors) |
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| Statistics: One semester |
MATH 208x OR QBIO 305g OR HP 340Lg OR PSYC 274g OR Business Administration Majors: BUAD 310g |
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| Physics: Two semesters with lab |
PHYS 135aL and PHYS 135bL OR PHYS 151L and PHYS 152L |
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| College Level English/Writing: | WRIT 150 and WRIT 340 | |||||
| Social/Behavioral Sciences: | Psychology: PSYC 100Lg
Sociology: SOCI 200 OR SOCI 210 OR SOCI 242 |
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From the table above, we can see the prerequisites are very science-heavy. You might need to take many of these classes in addition to your major requirements, depending on which track you choose. Many students find that balancing their major courses along with med school prerequisites is too much all at once and opt for satisfying their prerequisites via a post-bacc program.
Assuming you’re determined to get to medical school without going that route, you’ll need a plan of action for your four years of undergrad that will see you successfully complete your classes on time. To this end, we’ve created a potential three-year course plan in the table below. Keep in mind, this assumes that you won’t take a gap year.
| Freshman Fall | BISC 120L
CHEM 105aL MATH 125 |
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| Freshman Spring | BISC 220L
CHEM 105bL WRIT 150 |
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| Freshman Summer | Psych 100Lg
SOCI 200 |
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| Sophomore Fall | PHYS 135aL
MATH 208x CHEM 322aL |
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| Sophomore Spring | PHYS 135bL
CHEM 322bL WRIT 340 |
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| Sophomore Summer | Use this time for extracurriculars or if you need to, spread out some of the above courses | |||||
| Junior Fall | BISC 330L
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| Junior Spring | MCAT | |||||
How to maintain a high GPA as a USC premed
Your GPA is one of the first things adcoms will notice on your application to medical school. When it comes to making a great first impression—even just on paper—you’ll want this number to be an accurate reflection of your true abilities.
To achieve this, you’ll need to play the long game. This comes down to managing your class schedule and extracurriculars so that you don’t get burned out along the way. If your grades fall in one class, it’s possible to make this up, but if there’s a noticeable dip prolonged over a semester, it can be very hard to correct this before it’s time to apply to medical schools. And with the average GPA and MCAT scores for medical school acceptees remaining high, your competition will be stiff.
From the premed requirements in the tables above, it’s obvious that your schedule will be full from the very beginning. Juggling these responsibilities effectively can seem like a full-time job, so we’ve listed some of our best pieces of advice to help keep that GPA among the stars during your undergraduate years.
Plan for success. No one ended up where they wanted to be without a plan in place. Before the start of each year, plan out which classes you will take and when. It’s a good idea to reach out to upperclassmen or students who have taken particular courses before. This way, you can get an idea of the difficulty and workload of courses before you enroll. Additionally, map out when you’ll have time for extracurricular activities as these can make all the difference to the success of your med school application.
Spread out your commitments. Most USC premeds will have a packed schedule every semester, and getting everything done while keeping your GPA in the stratosphere can be challenging, to say the least. Consider spreading out your classes in the summer to allow yourself more time to focus on individual courses. If you’re overwhelmed, even in one semester, your GPA is likely to suffer.
Don’t be afraid to change. Looking back to the first piece of advice, a plan for success is crucial, but that doesn’t mean you should stick to it at all costs. Take time during each semester to evaluate what’s working and what’s not, and allow yourself to make changes where necessary.
Use the resources available to you. The best piece of advice we can offer is to take full advantage of all the resources available at USC. If you’re struggling in a course, be sure to reach out for tutoring. For engineering courses, you can schedule tutoring here. If a writing assignment is causing you anxiety, book an appointment at the USC Writing Center.
What is the best USC premed major?
Choosing your major as a USC premed is one of the most important decisions you will make during your undergraduate career, but it may not be for the reasons you think.
Most premeds want to know which major will grant them the biggest advantage when it comes to getting accepted into medical school. The simple fact is, no one major is preferred over others in adcoms’ eyes. While the most recent data from the AAMC shows that biological sciences majors make up the largest group of applicants, they’re not necessarily more likely to get in based on the major alone. Roughly 43% of biological sciences majors matriculated in the 2023-2024 cycle. When compared to other majors, this rate comes in at about 51% for humanities majors, 49% for physical sciences majors, and 42% for social sciences majors. All in all, these percentages are in line with the roughly 45% overall acceptance rate to med school.
However, your major could have a significant impact on your workload as well as your planning regarding which courses to take and when. For instance, if you choose to major in biological sciences at USC, many of the courses for your major will overlap with the premed prerequisites mentioned above. But your coursework is likely to be intense, and with fewer humanities courses to hone your writing skills, you may need to factor in more time to work on your application essays.
That said, choosing a major for purely practical reasons often leads to diminished work quality, which negatively impacts your GPA. While many premeds are fascinated by biology, there may be another major you find more exciting such as engineering or even English. Majoring in the sciences is not a requirement to get into medical school. What is most important is that you spend these four years pursuing something you’re passionate about. It’s much easier to do well when you enjoy your work than when you consider it a chore!
When should you take the MCAT at USC?
Premeds across the nation shudder at the thought of sitting a more than seven-hour exam that can make or break their chances of getting into med school. But if you’re determined to wear a white coat, this hurdle must be overcome. One of the simplest ways to ensure you achieve your highest score is scheduling your MCAT test date at the right time.
As with most everything else along the premed path, this takes planning and forethought. You’ll want to have taken as many of your prerequisite courses as possible so that you have the necessary content knowledge at hand. You’ll also want to factor in your individual circumstances such as when you’ll be able to set aside dedicated study time and whether you plan to take a gap year.
If you’re planning to go straight through to medical school, our recommendation is to take the MCAT sometime during the fall semester or early spring of junior year. Scheduling your test this way will give you enough time to take the classes you need for the exam while also factoring in the possibility of a retake without delaying your admission to med school.
It’s also crucial to make sure you’ve gotten the most important prerequisites for the exam out of the way before taking it. As a premed at USC, you should check off the following:
BISC 120L and BISC 220L
CHEM 105aL and CHEM 105bL
PHYS 135aL and PHYS 135bL
CHEM 322aL and CHEM 322bL
Furthermore, the exam features increasing amounts of biochemistry questions, so if you are able, taking BISC 330L before the exam will certainly help. You might also want to consider taking PSYC 100Lg and SOCI 200. There are students who self-study for this portion of the exam, but USC notes taking them is highly recommended.
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Part 3: USC Premed Extracurriculars
Even with USC’s robust assistance, knowledge, and guidance from the Pre-Health Advisement Office, you’ll still be expected to strike out on your own and explore interests to bolster your application. In short, it’s vital to your success that you gain enough extracurricular experience to show adcoms not only that you’re committed to the profession of medicine, but also that you will add your own personal touch to their campus community.
That means you’ll need to seek out opportunities on and off campus where your personal qualities can shine. But what opportunities are available to you at USC and where should you look? Student groups are a fantastic place to start, and with over 800 recognized student organizations (RSOs) at USC you will have plenty to choose from.
A few student organizations of particular interest to premeds are:
Alpha Epsilon Delta - As the premedical honor society at USC Alpha Epsilon Delta is a great organization for finding like-minded individuals and getting support on your premed journey. To join, you’ll need to go through an application and interview process in which you’ll have the chance to highlight your communication skills as well as your passion for medicine. Becoming a full member means you’ll join a semester-long program delving into every aspect of the medical school application process—an invaluable opportunity for any premed!
Southern California Healthcare Outreach (SCHO) - SCHO is a student-run outreach organization at USC that focuses on educating the greater Los Angeles community about the importance of health insurance and how to enroll.
Synapse - If neuroscience fascinates you, this may be the club for you. Members can receive premed guidance and learn about current research opportunities in neuroscience around USC.
Trojan Health Interpretation Services (THIS) - If you happen to be bilingual, why not put those skills to good use helping others in need of translation for medical reasons? THIS grants students the opportunity to delve into medical vocabulary and learn skills necessary to interact with members of the community.
Volunteering at USC
In addition to joining student groups, you will also want to gain plenty of volunteering experience to put on your application to medical school. We recommend 500 hours of volunteering or community service over your four years of undergrad. This will put you above and beyond the ‘competitive’ range of most candidates.
There is no shortage of volunteer opportunities at USC and around southern California. If assisting the vulnerable is high on your list, then Violence Intervention Volunteers could be an organization you’d like to get involved in. As a student member, you’ll be able to participate in programs helping victims of family violence and sexual assault from the Violence Intervention Program (VIP) clinic and Mental Health Activities Center (MHAC).
In addition, the USC Campus Activities portal is a great first stop on your exploration of volunteer opportunities in southern California. Here, you can discover service-based student organizations at USC, learn about the USC Volunteer Center, and even get information on how to volunteer directly at the Keck School of Medicine.
If you’re interested in working with disadvantaged populations in the Los Angeles area, organizations are always in need of volunteers to help alleviate the problem of homelessness. Through Trojan Homelessness Response, you can join other volunteers connected to USC-affiliated organizations working on this issue. These organizations include the St. Francis Center, The Giving Spirit, and The Lux Project, a nonprofit organization attempting to bridge the gap between “houselessness and healthcare.”
For more opportunities in the greater LA area, as well as around the country, check out VolunteerMatch.
Research at USC
USC is known for being a research-focused institution, and as such there are plenty of ways you can get involved in research as a USC premed. Whether you intend to apply to an MD/PhD program or just wish to gain entry into the medical school of your choice, you should have some research experience under your belt. Depending on the program and school you wish to apply to, the amount you need will vary.
One great place to start is to find out what kinds of research are happening at USC. At the Office of Research and Innovation, you’ll find news regarding current research, university policies on conducting research, and information about funding for projects. The information here is aimed toward postgraduates, PhD candidates, faculty, and graduate students, but knowing what type of work is being done at USC (and which labs you might reach out to for assistant positions) can go a long way toward finding what interests you.
Specific undergraduate opportunities can be found at Undergraduate Research at Dornsife, where you’ll discover the Summer Undergraduate Research Fund (SURF) and Summer Humanities Undergraduate Research Experience (SHURE). These are both fantastic ways to bolster your research credentials between semesters, as either program will pair you with a faculty mentor to assist them in their research. Not only will you build relationships with faculty (think letters of recommendation!), but you may also be able to get funding up to $3,000 to help with the cost of your participation in this research.
Additionally, there’s the Student Opportunities for Academic Research (SOAR) program in which you will be placed as a research assistant on a faculty member’s project. Keep in mind, this program runs during the school year, not during the summer.
If you have an individual creative research project and you’d like to present it, you can do so as a USC premed at the Undergraduate Symposium for Scholarly and Creative Work. For this symposium, the categories of work are limited to the arts, life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, math, social sciences, and the humanities. Prizes are awarded in each category with $1,000 going to first place.
Other ways your individual project can be funded include the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowships. This fellowship will also pair you with a faculty member, but you will design the project yourself.
If you’re a female undergraduate, the Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) program may interest you. It’s especially good for USC premeds early on in their undergraduate years as its purpose is to help students find appropriate mentors, funding, and opportunities to pursue their interests.
Another chance to get involved in summer research is available via the Bridge Undergraduate Science Program (BUGS). As a BUGS undergrad, you’ll again be mentored by a faculty member and you’ll formulate an individual project. However, for BUGS your research project must be related to human health—an amazing opportunity for USC premeds!
Most USC premeds will declare majors within the USC Dornsife School of Arts and Letters, however, if you’re an engineering major at the Viterbi School of Engineering, there will be other research options available to you. For example, there is the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) program as well as the Center for Undergraduate Research in Viterbi Engineering (CURVE) program.
Shadowing at USC
In order to paint yourself as entirely dedicated to the practice of medicine in your personal statement and secondary essays, you’ll need a solid idea of what practicing medicine truly entails. All medical schools are seeking candidates who know what they’re committing to, which is where clinical shadowing experience comes in.
We’ve found that you’ll need at least 50 shadowing hours to be considered competitive, but we highly recommend getting more than 100. That may seem like a high bar, but there are programs at USC to help you find these opportunities and get the required hours. The most important factor is that you start your search early on. It gets increasingly difficult (and stressful!) to cram hours in just before you apply to med school.
That aside, where should a USC premed look to find ways to shadow a doctor? Again, the Pre-Health Advisement office should be your first stop. Here, you’ll find the USC Dornsife/Keck Student Shadowing Program which pairs premeds at USC with physicians at the Keck School of Medicine. The program specifically notes that it provides up to 40 hours of shadowing per participant, so be aware that on its own, this won’t be enough hours to get you accepted into medical school.
There is also the Atlantis program through the USC Career Center. This summer program offers participants up to 20 hours of shadowing experience per week and is usually a program you’d have to pay to join, but there are currently some merit scholarships. Program locations are spread around the US, and even offered abroad in Spain, Italy, and Greece.
While these programs are undoubtedly valuable, remember that while you’re traversing your years as a premed, you should be proactive in reaching out to fellow students and faculty mentors who may know of shadowing opportunities to pursue. Letting others know what you’re seeking is often a great way to find what you need!
Furthermore, there’s no harm in following the old “cold call” or “cold email” approach. LinkedIn is a goldmine of potential contacts that may have some connection to you already. Start by looking for doctors who are alumni of USC and lead with that in your message. This shared connection can help break the ice. Don’t forget, any currently practicing doctor was once in your shoes!
If you need help striking the right tone with that first email when reaching out to doctors, don’t forget to take advantage of the USC Writing Center. Their feedback can prove critical in getting a response.
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Part 4: Getting into medical school from USC
Getting into medical school is tough, regardless of your alma mater. As we mentioned earlier, only 45% of all applicants were accepted into any medical school in 2023, meaning more than half were rejected.
However, don’t let those numbers discourage you. If you’ve maintained a high GPA, done well on the MCAT, and racked up enough extracurricular hours, you stand a good chance of acceptance—especially if you follow proper application strategies.
Working with the Pre-Health Advisement Office is a great way to boost your chances. In addition to the wealth of information they offer, they also provide services such as mentorship appointments with advisors, a personal statement review, and even a scholarship for taking the MCAT or other health professional exam.
USC premed acceptance rate and admissions statistics
What precisely are your chances of acceptance if you’re a USC premed? Unfortunately, USC doesn’t publish data noting exactly how many of their students gained entry into medical school, but we do know that as a premed at USC, you’re in good company.
In total, 348 applicants to med school called USC their undergraduate home in the 2023-2024 admissions cycle. This places USC in the top 30 schools for most medical school applicants in the nation.
Since USC produces so many applicants, it’s right to assume that they have many resources available to help them gain acceptance. Many of these premeds may wonder if their chances are greater at getting into USC’s associated med school, the Keck School of Medicine.
While there isn’t any hard data on the number of USC premeds matriculating into Keck, there may be some benefit to applying to an institution where you’ve already forged relationships with physicians. It should be noted that this is far from a certain strategy and that any amount of relationship isn’t enough to overcome a GPA or MCAT deficit. Among Keck’s most recently published stats for the class of 2025, the average MCAT at admission was 517 and the average GPA was 3.8. It appears that even as a USC premed, you will certainly have your work cut out for you.
Final thoughts
Navigating premed prerequisites, majors, the MCAT, and extracurriculars as a USC premed is a challenging exercise in endurance and determination—and rightly so. The process is meant to be difficult in order to weed out those incapable of committing to a respected career in which the lives of others will routinely be in their hands.
However, success on this journey is far from impossible. To gain acceptance to the medical school of your dreams, you will need an ironclad plan, the ability to stay the course, and the self-motivation to take advantage of the resources mentioned in this guide.
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.
