Academic Preparation

Academic Planning

Aim to enroll in 12-16 units each quarter
Health professional schools like to see you can handle academic rigor but this does not mean you should overload credits each quarter
Lighter loads are acceptable with extra-curriculars/activities
Plan your long-term quarter-by-quarter path by using these advising resources to get started. Confirm your plan with your major and College academic advisors.

Choosing a Major

You do not have to be a science major to pursue a pre-health path. Choose a major that interests you! Even with a non-STEM major, you can still take professional program prerequisite courses you will need, and they may apply for your general education requirements or electives.

Minors are not necessary, but can complement your education

Double majors are not necessary, and you may be better served by spending time gaining experience instead of taking additional units.

Consider these alternatives majors:

Anthropology - Biological Anthropology major
Chemistry - Pharmacological Chemistry major
Human Developmental Sciences - specialization in Healthy Aging
Literature - Spanish Literature major
Philosophy - electives in Science, Technology, and Medicine
Political Science - Public Policy major
Psychology
Sociology - Science and Medicine concentration

Do I have to be a science major?

No. Generally, science-based majors may directly overlap with more prerequisite requirements of a health professional program. However, students should focus first on choosing a major they can perform well in and have strong interest in. Then, plan to include courses for admission requirements for the profession you are interested in.

Grades and Competitive GPA

Pass/Not Pass vs. Letter Grades

Courses for pre-health prerequisite requirements should always be taken for a Letter Grade.

GPA

Competitive Applicant GPAs
	Dentistry	Medicine	Nursing	Pharmacy	Physician Assistant	Physical Therapy	Public Health Administration
Application GPA	3.2-3.5	3.5-4.0	3.0-3.5	3.2-3.5	3.0-3.5	3.0-3.5	3.0+ (varies)

I have a 3.0 GPA. Should I just give up?

No! GPA is only part of the application narrative and academic history. For example, there is a large standard deviation of GPAs for many med school matriculants

You should evaluate what you can do to still be competitive and ask:

Are there opportunities to raise your GPA and how?
Can other aspects of your application be stronger?
What schools and programs are you looking at applying to?
What was your situation for not performing well, and what can you do now to show overcoming the challenges you face(d)?
Is there an opportunity to take additional classes or a post-baccalaureate program?

I got a C- in a prerequisite course. What should I do?

Per Academic Senate Policy 505.A, if you earn a C- or better, you cannot repeat the course at UCSD.

Always check the professional school’s admissions policy
Consider if you will be able to perform well in the next courses if it is part of a series
Understand retaking may not always be the solution
Consider retaking it at a community college

AP/IB Scores

If you have AP/IB credit for any coursework, review the UCSD AP chart or IB chart for credit awarded.

The exact course that is awarded (or not) is a UC San Diego decision only.
Review your Degree Audit to see the courses you have credit for and how they satisfy UC San Diego degree requirements.
AP/IB appears as P grades (Pass).

Should you repeat courses that you already have AP/IB credit for?

No. Per UC San Diego Academic Senate Policy 505.A, a student may not repeat a course for which a grade of A+, A, A‑, B+, B, B‑, C+, C, C‑, I, P, or S is recorded on their transcript. If you repeat transfer units, you will not earn duplicate credit. The grade you earn will not go in to your UC GPA.

Will professional schools accept AP/IB credit?

It depends. Some programs accept it; some do not. Sometimes it depends on which subject/course it is for. Students should always review the requirements for the professional schools interested in applying and consult their Admissions office directly.

What happens if the professional program does not accept AP/IB credit or Pass grades?

Some schools may require that you take additional upper division courses in that subject area. Others may suggest you take a similar course at a community college. Students should always review the requirements for the professional schools interested in applying and consult their Admissions office directly.

Community College Coursework

If you are satisfying pre-health prerequisites with courses from community colleges, use this guidance:

Always check with your academic advisors if you plan to take classes outside UCSD!
Be aware of UCSD unit limits on transfer coursework. Students can transfer a maximum of 105 lower division units to apply toward their UC San Diego bachelor’s degree.
If the course is a retake (e.g., you received a C- in the course at UCSD initially), most application systems for health professions will average the GPA’s together (not replace).
Schools are typical more interested in academic behavior over the origination of a course
If a course is online, you should refer to the admissions policy of the schools you are applying for about online course acceptability.

Should I take a prehealth prerequisite course at a community college?

UCSD advisors cannot definitively answer this for you. Please use the guidance above. Contact the admissions team at the health professions program you are specifically interested in for more information.