School of Natural and Social Sciences

These courses help students who are matriculated at Purchase College acquire the scientific knowledge they will need for success on the appropriate entrance examinations and in the professional school application process. Students who choose to enroll in such courses can come from any major, including the social sciences, humanities, and the arts. That said, although not required to major in the sciences, many students seeking to apply to medical and health-related programs find majors such as biology, chemistry, and biochemistry to be a successful route.

Note: Students seeking premedical advising should ask a member of the Premedical Advisory Committee to serve as their premedical studies advisor.

Courses Recommended by Premedical Advisors

Students seeking to apply to medical or health-related programs may benefit from completing the following basic science courses:

• General Biology I and II with labs
• General Chemistry I and II with labs
• Organic Chemistry I and II with labs
• Introductory Physics I and II with labs
• Biochemistry lecture

 

Additional courses required by some graduate schools:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Introduction to Sociology
• Calculus
• Biochemistry lab
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Introductory Statistics
• Writing/Composition

In addition to the basic science courses, students may select advanced courses based on their interests and/or academic needs. Many medical schools either recommend or require certain advanced science courses.

Students are encouraged to peruse the requirements of schools where they plan to apply to ensure that all requirements and a suitable number of recommended courses are included in their academic plan.

NOTE: Transfer students who have not completed any pre-requisites at their previous institutions are encouraged to begin recommended course work with General Chemistry I and General Chemistry II over the summer sessions. Successful completion of these courses will satisfy the prerequisites needed to take Organic Chemistry l in the fall and continue to Organic Chemistry II in the spring.

If students cannot complete both General Chemistry courses in the summer sessions, those courses may be taken in fall and spring. However, doing so may prolong the time needed to complete all suggested courses, as Organic Chemistry I is only offered in fall semesters, and Organic Chemistry II is only offered in spring semesters. Please contact a member of the Premedical Advisory Committee for additional guidance.

Students applying to medical schools or other health professional programs are advised to gain extracurricular experience in a clinical setting. Off-campus internships, volunteer clinical experiences, or previous or current employment can serve this purpose. Students are responsible for securing their own clinical opportunities. Faculty advisors and the Career Development Center are available to offer guidance if necessary.

These faculty serve on the Premedical Advisory Committee. Click on their names to access their bios and contact information.

Biology Faculty

Elliot Abrams, PhD
Johns Hopkins University

James G. Daly, PhD
University of Guelph (Canada)

Jan Robert Factor, PhD
Cornell University

Stephen Harris, PhD
Graduate Center, City University of New York

Mark Jonas, PhD
Stony Brook University

Chemistry and Biochemistry Faculty

Stephen A. Cooke, PhD
University of Exeter (England)

Monika Eckenberg, PhD
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Germany)
Chair of the Premedical Advisory Committee

Elizabeth Middleton,PhD
Yale University

Joseph Skrivanek, PhD
Pennsylvania State University

The Premedical Advisory Committee conducts interviews that are designed to help students prepare for the medical school interview process. The Committee will also provide feedback and write a letter to support eligible students’ professional school applications.

To be eligible for an interview with the Premedical Advisory Committee, students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in all related coursework at Purchase College. Students who did not meet this average after graduating from Purchase College could become eligible for an interview if they earn a Master’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0.

Students must manage their files through Interfolio.com, a web-based credential service used by the Career Development Center (CDC). Students should schedule a meeting with a CDC counselor, who will assist in establishing and maintaining their Interfolio credential files. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the CDC about Interfolio requirements well before the deadline and make certain that all materials, including letters and transcripts, are received on time.

Before scheduling an interview with the Premedical Advisory Committee, students must have submitted the following materials to their Interfolio account:

1. Transcripts from all educational institutions:The Purchase College transcript must include at least four science courses. Either official or unofficial transcripts may be submitted.
2. Letters of recommendation:A minimum of four confidential letters; several should be from Purchase faculty. Students will be able to see if letters are submitted, but only the Premedical Advisory Committee can access the letters’ contents.
3. Entrance exam scores:These may be submitted after the committee interview, but must be received before the committee letter can be finalized.
4. Résumé
5. Autobiographical statement

Students with complete Interfolio files and acceptable GPAs will be interviewed by the Premedical Advisory Committee.

This interview offers students an opportunity to practice for the medical school interview process. The faculty aim to provide feedback and advise on ways to strengthen the students’ applications or interview skills. Interviews generally take place at the end of the spring and the beginning of the Fall semester. The Premedical Advisory Committee Chair and three other committee members interview the student.

Student files should be completed three weeks prior to the interview appointment. Students should contact the chair of the Premedical Advisory Committee to schedule an interview.

After the interview, if it went well and the student achieved above-average scores on the relevant standardized exams (MCT, DAT, etc.), they can then request a letter of recommendation from the Premedical Advisory Committee.

The School of Natural and Social Sciences also welcomes students who already hold a bachelor’s degree and who wish to complete their science preparation for medical school or other health-related graduate/professional programs. Students holding a bachelor’s can take the basic science courses needed to prepare for professional exams and applications, internships or research opportunities, and benefit from with expert advising through the Premedical Advisory Committee.

Students holding a bachelor’s are not required to take a prescribed group of classes, thus saving both time and money. If they have already completed some relevant coursework in their undergraduate career, they need only to take missing coursework required by their prospective medical schools. It generally takes 1-2 years to finish all the necessary courses, but students may go at their own pace.

To access pre-med courses and advising, interested students should contact the Natural and Social Science Administrative Assistant, Harrison McDonald.

For information about tuition and fees, please refer to Student Financial Services’ Tuition and Fees page. Students holding a bachelor’s should refer to the information pertaining to visiting students only. Please note that visiting students, including those taking pre-med courses, are not eligible for Financial Aid.

SUNY Upstate Medical University made the decision to conclude the UAS program and notified Purchase College of this decision in fall 2023. This program will not be accepting any new students.