Can I take Mechanical engineering as a pre-medicine and then apply for medical school?

Hi Ahmed,

My general understanding is that yes, you can get a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and then go to medical school.  I think (but I don't know for certain) that it does not matter what your bachelor's degree is in, it only matters that you have taken the required classes.  Each medical school has their own unique requirements, but in general they would require that by the time you apply, you have already taken advanced biology and chemistry courses like cell biology, physiology, physical chemistry, organic chemistry (a whole year of it), etc.  These are classes that you would not normally take if you're a mechanical engineering student, so these would be additional work load besides your engineering requisites.  Obviously medical schools would also require physics and math, but by doing a mechanical engineering degree, you would normally have taken enough of those classes, so they would not be adding to your school load.  Don't forget about the social sciences such as history, economics, philosophy, etc., but I would imagine that your mechanical engineering degree already require you to take enough of those classes.  Last but certainly not the least, you may choose to take GRE Subject Tests, in particular if your MCAT scores are a little less than ideal.  But GRE Subject Tests are only secondary considerations, so spend your energy on the real MCAT.  Additional requirements for a typical medical school include volunteer experiences in healthcare/medical facility, scientific research projects, a great essay, and excellent recommendation letters from your university professors.

Susan