<p>Hi,
I stumbled along this site in a google search and I wish I would have had access when I was applying to college. Anyways, I am a senior at Notre Dame, and have been accepted to six medical schools so far: Vanderbilt, University of Chicago, Michigan, Washington in St. Louis, NYU, and Indiana University. If you have any questions about pre-med at Notre Dame, please post. </p>
<p>Good luck to all of you prospective Domers!</p>
<p>wow congratulations on all your acceptances! i got into ND EA as a biochem major planning to go to med school. what did you major in? would you suggest the preprofessional major? how difficult were the classes? is it hard to get all the classes you need to stay on track for pre-med? thanks in advance</p>
<p>Hi Ihaterunning,
I would suggest doing whatever you love in college. I did Arts and Letters Preprofessional (ALPP) and majored in anthropology and have done really well in the application process. As ALPP, you still take all of the required courses (plus some science electives) needed for med school. I have found that interviewers find it refreshing that I'm not just the typical science major, and I think it really comes across in interviews that I'm passionate about what I've learned in anthropology. In fact, 97% of ND's anthropology majors that apply to med school get in! That's not to say that you don't need to do well in your science courses; med schools like to see that students are well rounded, so you should spend college developing yourself into the full package. </p>
<p>There are several different pre-med tracks at ND that students take: ALPP (which I am), SCPP (which is like ALPP with more science electives and no Arts and Letters major), Biology, Biochemistry, and other science tracks. In any of these majors you will have excellent odds of getting into med school (ND's acceptance rate is right around 80%), so really it's all about quality of life for you and what you love to do and what you do well. An ALPP with a 3.8 GPA will probably do better in the med school admissions than a biology major with a 3.4. (They do split your GPA into science and non-science, but the ALPP generally has fewer per semester, and so has more time to focus on each course.)</p>
<p>A word of caution: biochemistry is a notoriously tough major at Notre Dame. Student generally study much more than all other science/pre-prof majors combined. So if you love it and are willing to work hard at it (and forgo some of those parties on football weekend) go for it. But make sure you're going to have time for extracurriculars and service because med schools see those as really important too. At the end of the day it's about doing what makes you happiest.</p>
<p>Sorry forgot to answer one of your questions: ND is a relatively small school so you will never have a problem getting into any required science course. They will make room for all of the premed/science majors, so this isn't a worry. Also, if you're thinking about med school, I would suggest meeting with Father Foster or Dean Kolberg in the preprofessional office during your freshman year so that you understand the process as soon as possible. </p>
<p>Also, ND's premed program ranks pretty high. Three years ago it was 6th in the nation (higher than Princeton and Stanford).</p>
<p>PrincessND, I'm a future pre-dent here.</p>
<p>I know that Notre Dame has a preprofessional program for dental school, and it is in my plan if I get into Notre Dame. I'll decide whether I want to go with a normal major or not.</p>
<p>If this whole process is the same fore pre-dents, then I'm left with ALPP and SCPP. </p>
<p>Could you explain both of them in detail?</p>
<p>One of my plans is to take the preprofessional program and focus on either biology or psychology.</p>
<p>wow.. congrats on all of your acceptances</p>
<p>hey i was wondering if one can major in business, but yet still have the time to get all of the pre med reqs /???</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Princess - Happy you stumbled upon this site and we are so glad to happen upon your post! Congratulations on all your medical school acceptances - great work!!
Daughter was accepted to Notre Dame EA and plans on visiting next month. She has varied interests (plays the violin, is artistic, would like to continue studying German, but really likes science) and is not sure what she wants her major to be in college. She is really looking to have college be an exploration time, which sometimes seems like a difficult thing to do. We had not heard of the ALPP program, but it sounds like it might be something that would allow D to study what she wants, while still being able to keep the door open to medical school (she is entertaining the idea - her dad is a physician). Would you agree with that?</p>
<p>ManUtd2001e,
ND doesn't have a specific pre-dent program. They have created the pre-professional programs for students wishing to attend some kind of health professions graduate school, whether that be med school, dental school, PT school, etc. </p>
<p>Also, you don't have to have a specific major to go to any of those schools as long as you have the necessary requirements. For instance, most med schools require a year of Gen. Chem with lab, a year of Organic with lab, a year of physics with lab, and a year of general biology with lab. Some schools have special requirements (like genetics, biochem, and English), but generally those are it. I do know, because a friend of mine was applying to dental school, that many dental schools require anatomy. Also worth noting is that calculus is required because pre-med physics is calculus-based. </p>
<p>Now for the possible options at Notre Dame:
1. Arts and Letters Pre-Professional (ALPP)
-You choose an Arts and Letters major (anything from theology to psychology to philosophy to design, etc.); you may also elect to choose more than one major or elect to take a minor (I thought about Peace Studies for awhile)
-You take all of the typical med school pre-reqs (Gen. Chem, Organic, Physics, and Bio) with labs
-You take 3 additional 1 semester science courses of your choosing. Usually students take physiology (great prep for the MCAT), biochemistry, cell biology, or genetics</p>
<ol>
<li><p>SCPP
-You take all of the typical med school pre-reqs (Gen. Chem, Organic, Physics, and Bio) with labs
-You take 8 additional 1 semester science courses of your choosing.
-Some SCPP students also add in a major in the College of Arts and Letters if they have enough AP credit to meet requirements elsewhere</p></li>
<li><p>Biology
-The biology program at Notre Dame is similar to the typical bio program at other schools. Lots of science classes and a TON of labs. Biology majors are also required to take the more in depth and difficult classes that prepare you for a career in research.
-You take all of the typical med school pre-reqs (Gen. Chem, Organic, Physics, and Bio) with labs
-I've never met a biology major who has doubled. </p></li>
<li><p>Biochemistry, Chemistry, and others
-Not many people at ND who intend to go to medschool major in these, but you will take the necessary courses for medical school. </p></li>
<li><p>Science Business (SCBU)
-Science business is an option that students wishing for experience in business and science and you take all of the requirements for med school (plus geology and 8 science electives).
-You'd also take several courses in marketing, economics, stats, and finance.</p></li>
<li><p>Plain-old Arts and Letters, Business, or other major
-You can take any major you want plus the core pre-med courses (gen chem, organic, bio, and physics, and in most cases calculus)</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Since you're interested in psych, I would recommend ALPP, with a major in psych. Of course you don't have to declare now anyway, so make your decision after exploring what's here at this great university!</p>
<p>Chillintil08,
Please see my message to Manutd2001e below.</p>
<p>Hi Midwest mom,
I would say that your daughter could choose the ALPP program, but she really has time to decide that. In order to keep her options open for medschool though, she needs to take Calculus and General Chemistry during her freshman year. If she decides to drop them during the second semester of freshman year because she decides medicine is not for her, no problem. If she wants to pursue medical school, she can declare ALPP. There is no hurry to do so, however. You will get a course selection book from First Year of Studies sometime during the summer before she begins at ND and it will provide all the information you need for planning your coursework for freshman year. </p>
<p>I would say that ALPP is a fantastic program, and definitely stands out (for me at least) from the rest of the pre-med options. You really get a well-rounded liberal arts education while developing a solid science background. </p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter and please ask any more questions!</p>
<p>Wow.</p>
<p>This is fantastic.</p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>Thank you Princess! You have been very helpful. It is obvious you are very knowledgable, but you also have the gift of being able to communicate information in a logical, organized way that people can understand. You will make an excellent physician!</p>
<p>You mentioned that some med schools also require biochem, genetics and English. Do you need to research which medical schools you might be interested in applying to WAY ahead and find out what they require to make sure you have time to take everything?</p>
<p>thanks for all your answers. since ND is not in a large city, have you found that is easy to find research/medically related service opportunities/EC's/hospital things to do to prepare for med school admissions?</p>
<p>Midwestparent,
Thank you for your kind words. There is a book at all students applying to med school should buy that contains all of the admissions information for every med school in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. </p>
<p>Here's the link
<a href="https://services.aamc.org/Publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.displayForm&prd_id=149&prv_id=175%5B/url%5D">https://services.aamc.org/Publications/index.cfm?fuseaction=Product.displayForm&prd_id=149&prv_id=175</a></p>
<p>The book comes out each year, so they usually encourage you to buy it the year you apply to medical school. It wouldn't hurt to have it now anyway though. </p>
<p>Also, I must say that you don't really need to worry about having time to complete everything. Most students finish all their requirements and still have PLENTY of time for electives and "fun classes".</p>
<p>Ihaterunning,
South Bend is a smaller metropolitan area, but there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. It all depends on whether or not students actively seek those opportunities. I've had the unique opportunity to work closely with a family practice doctor at a homeless shelter clinic. I've given vaccines, can take a full patient history, and a full set of vitals on my own now. I also understand the unique medical needs of the indigent, which medical schools loved. </p>
<p>ND is a research institution, so you will have no problem finding a prof to research with, whether you want science bench research, or more social-science stuff. Also, students take advantage of their summers to do more in depth research either here or at other institutions. I did a clinical research project last year at a children's hospital and the summer before taught science education classes at a zoo. It's all up to you. With any school that you attend, your experience will be what you make of it, and medical schools realize that. </p>
<p>But no, I have had no problem getting involved at ND, and I would say that I spend as much time doing EC's and service as I spend going to class and studying. It definitely makes college more memorable. </p>
<p>Once you get here, ask to be placed on the Pre-med listserve. You will be emailed daily about service and clinical opportunities that will enhance your medical school profile. I can't say enough about how amazing our pre-med advisors are.</p>
<p>Princess, you are a gem! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to answer our questions. I am sure we have many more, they just aren't coming to mind right now! Thanks again!
P.S. You have us on the edge of our seat - please post and let us know where you decide to go to medical school!</p>
<p>One small question, if accepted. im having trouble deciding over whether to make my major Biology or Chemistry. Do you have any suggestions on the two of them, and which would be better?
Thanks alot,
Julie</p>
<p>Wow, congratulations on all of your acceptances, what I would do to be where you are right now! </p>
<p>Question: Is switching between majors/programs very hard? I believe I applied as a biochemistry major but now I'm considering going into the pre-professional program or SCPP. Do you recommend pre-prof over biochem?</p>
<p>lh2007,
If you are planning to go into medical school (and aren't interested in a research career in basic science), I absolutely recommend doing SCPP. Your life will be much happier. You can absolutely switch your major from the one you indicated on your application; actually, they only ask for that to get an estimate of which colleges people are interested in entering. No problem at all. You will get more information when you get your course selection packet during the summer before your freshman year. BTW, I would give anything to be where you are. ND was an amazing experience and I'm sad to go. Wish i could go back to freshman year! Good luck to you.</p>
<p>anglswings,
I'd say biology would be my personal choice, but you really just have to decide which you prefer. I'd say that Chem is probably more difficult, but ND has such a small number of Chem majors that you'd get excellent opportunities for research and some small class sizes once you get to the upper level stuff. If you are planning on med school I'd say bio's probably more relevant, but in the end it's up to you. Depends on what you like best.</p>