There is no specific major that a student needs in order to continue on in a medical training program after graduation. The biochemistry major most closely tracks with the admission requirements for MD training programs; however, we routinely work with students that are majoring in other areas or double majoring. 

In addition to completing a major, students interested in MD training need:

• Two semester-long courses in Biology with lab [BIOL 111, 121, 172, or 208; and BIOL 237, 256, 257, 260, or 289]
• Two semester-long courses in Chemistry with lab [CHEM 117 and 220]
• Two semester-long courses in Organic Chemistry with lab [CHEM 230 and 235]
• Two semester-long courses in Physics with lab [PHYS 101 and 102]
• Two semester-long courses in English with intensive writing
• One semester-long course in Biochemistry [BIOL/CHEM 260 or 300]
• One semester-long course in Math or Statistics 

The following are suggestions to more fully prepare for the MCAT and a future career as a physician:

• One semester-long course in Psychology [PSYC 100]
• One semester-long course in Sociology [SOCI 100]
• As many chemistry and biology courses that fit into a schedule.
• Learn a language that helps you serve diverse people and communities. 

The process for formally applying to MD training programs begins 18 months before you intend to start a training program. Your initial application should be completed in June of the year before you intend to start a training program.

1. Request a committee letter from the Health Professions Advisory Committee by emailing the following materials to HPAC@beloit.edu by February 1.
   • Unofficial transcript
   • Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Math GPA
   • Provide the names the individual evaluation letter writers from whom you have requested letters of rec. Internal letters (two science and one non-science faculty) should be sent to HPAC (hpac@beloit.edu) by March 15. See AMCAS Guidelines for Letter Writers.
   • MCAT score or a list of practice exam scores and test date. 
   • Draft of your Personal Statement
   • Resume
2. Complete the MCAT exam no later than mid-April of your application year.
3. The AMCAS application system opens at the beginning of May. Completed applications can and should be submitted at the beginning of June.
4. The AMCAS processing fee is $170 for the first school and $43 for each additional school.
5. Secondary applications begin in July with an additional cost of up to $200 each. These contain several essays to write and need to be submitted with two weeks of receipt. 
6. On-site interviews will occur in the late summer and fall of the application cycle. The applicant most cover all the travel costs for these interviews.

Important considerations:

• MD training programs will review your overall GPA, as well as, your Biology/Chemistry/Physics/Math GPA. To be a competitive applicant these two GPA values should be similar and above 3.7. 
• MD training programs will look to your personal statement to understand how your experiences inside and outside the classroom have prepared you to be successful in medical school and as a future physician. Strive for sustained, high engagement patient care and research experiences.
• MD training programs require a competitive score on the MCAT which is around 515. Sitting for the MCAT costs $330.
• MD schools will conduct a criminal background check and sometimes a credit check.