General Background

Welcome to the Premedical Program at Goucher College. The goal of our successful and comprehensive program is to help Goucher students gain admission to medical, veterinary and dental schools. Traditionally, a college education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences well prepares students for the academic and personal rigors of a medical or professional education. At Goucher we provide the comprehensive coursework and scientific background necessary for professional and graduate school in the health professions, but we also stress the intellectual discipline and problem solving skills necessary for careers that require life-long learning. In addition, we believe it is important to place our pre-professional education in the context of the humanities and social sciences. This context not only helps to develop an appreciation of the human experience and cultural differences, but also develops compassionate practitioners who communicate effectively and deliver the best care to patients from a wide variety of backgrounds, cultures and family situations. We believe our success in placing Goucher students into professional schools, at rates two or three times the national average, is based on a number of factors. The ingredients for success include motivated, capable students, a dedicated teaching faculty, timely and rigorous coursework, and a knowledgeable Premedical Committee that advises and supports the pre-professional students.

To become a competitive candidate for admission, you will need to work closely with your academic or premedical advisor, who will help you select the courses required for application to the professional programs. You will need to complete a challenging major and the required pre-professional courses in a timely manner, demonstrating that you can successfully handle a rigorous academic schedule. You will also need to pursue advanced coursework to show that you can do sustained scholarly work and develop the academic skills required for independent, life-long learning. Finally, your participation in volunteer and other extracurricular activities will demonstrate that you can balance intellectual development with social and interpersonal growth. These tasks may, at first, seem daunting, but realize that you have at least three years to become a competitive candidate for medical or professional school.

You should be aware that your journey into one of these professions certainly will be one of delayed gratification. For example, a student pursuing medicine will spend fours years at an undergraduate institution, four years in medical school, three years as a resident, and then may spend 1 to 6 years specializing in a particular area. Thus, it is especially important that you enjoy the educational journey!

The Premedical Program is directed by the Premedical Committee. We will provide all of the information and advice you need regarding your academic program and application to professional schools. We are an important resource for you! And it is important for us to know our students well so please feel free to seek our advice at any time while you are at Goucher A more detailed description of what you will need to do is provided in the following pages.