How to Succeed as a Rochester Premed

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Everything you need to know about Rochester premed, including premed requirements, the best extracurriculars, and the University of Rochester premed acceptance rate

University of Rochester campus buildings

LEARN HOW TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AS A rochester PREMED

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Part 1: Introduction

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare professions is expected to grow by as much as 13% between 2021 and 2031, resulting in approximately 2 million new jobs. Job openings—roughly 1.9 million annually—also arise from the need to replace individuals who permanently leave the profession. None of these positions can be filled without the proper training, however. If you’re from the northeast part of the United States and think you’d enjoy changing the face of medicine for those in and around the Rochester, New York area, then succeeding as a premed student at the University of Rochester may be the ideal path for you. 

With a population of just over 4,500 undergraduate students, the University of Rochester remains one of the smallest of the top research universities in the country. Currently ranked #36 in National Universities and #25 in Best Value Schools by US News, it boasts an acceptance rate of 41%. If you have your sights set on attending here, you’ll need to be a high achiever, though; most students coming in have a high school GPA of at least 3.8 and have scored at least 1370 on the SAT. 

But don’t let these stats intimidate you. While Rochester has much to offer premed hopefuls, it isn’t the only way to successfully become a changemaker in medicine. Still, there’s quite a bit to be said for attending one of the nation’s top research universities. 

Whether you plan to one day attend the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry or some other med school, your time at the University of Rochester as a premed will serve you well. In this guide, we’ll show you what being a successful premed student at UR means.  We’ll cover the typical premed requirements and how you might fulfill them, how to get those crucial extracurricular hours, and discuss exactly how to gain entry into med school as a University of Rochester premed.

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Part 2: Rochester premed requirements

For any average college student, getting good grades should be important. For premed students, doing so is mandatory. Since it’s vital that premed students do well, it’s important that they choose a course of study they can do well in. 

At times, students are under the impression that particular majors (such as one in the sciences) somehow “look better” to medical schools. The truth is that it’s not about what your major is; it’s about how well you do in that major and the grades you’re able to achieve. 

Many of the courses you take as an undergrad will be premed requirements that will provide you with the content knowledge to do well on the MCAT exam. While the exact courses and number of semesters or quarters you need to take those courses will depend on the med school you’re interested in, all medical schools have similar requirements. 

As such, the Healthcare Community Advisors at the University of Rochester have developed a list of prerequisite courses you’ll need to take, along with UR courses that fulfill those requirements. We’ve summarized those courses in the table below for your convenience. 

University of Rochester Premed Requirements
Medical school requirement
Required courses
Optional courses
Biology: Two semesters with lab One of the following sequences:
BIOL 110L-BIOL 111L
BIOL 112L-BIOL 113L
BIOL 110L-BME 258		 One semester of Genetics is highly recommended.
Chemistry:
1. Intro chemistry: Two semesters with lab
2. Organic chemistry: Two semesters with lab
3. Biochemistry: One semester 		One of the following sequences:
CHEM 131-CHEM 132-CHEM 171-CHEM 172-BIOL 250 (with optional lab)
CHEM 137-CHEM 211-CHEM 203-CHEM 204-CHEM 262
Calculus: Students will need to meet the Calculus requirement for Physics at UR. One of the following:
Math 141
Math 142
Math 143
Math 161
Math 162
Math 171
Statistics: One semester STAT 212 or STAT 262 or BME 221
Physics: Two semesters with lab One of the following sequences:
PHYS 113-PHYS 114
PHYS 121 - PHYS 122
College-level English/writing: 6 credit hours One of the following sequences:
WRTG 105 - WRTG 105A
WRTG 105 - WRTG 105B
Psychology: One course PSYC 101 PSYC 171
Sociology: One course MHB 210 PHIL 225

It’s not unusual for students to begin college with credit already earned from AP courses, and high-achieving premed students are no exception to this. While AP credit will typically count toward degree requirements, it doesn’t generally count toward satisfying the medical school prerequisite requirements. Therefore, you’ll still need to complete the required number of courses (e.g., “two semesters with lab”) as outlined above. 

AP credits will help as you make the selection and narrow down the actual courses you take. Whereas many students will want to take BIOL 110L in the Fall and BIOL 111L in the Spring, those who earned either a 4 or 5 on the AP Bio exam should consider taking BIOL 112L in the Fall and BIOL 113L in the Spring. Either way, students will complete two semesters of Biology at the college level. 

To help assist you as you plan out your class schedule, we’ve put together one way you might complete the first three years of your undergraduate program while taking care of the prereqs:

Sample University of Rochester Three-Year Course Plan
Semester
Courses
Freshman Fall BIOL 110L
CHEM 131
STAT 212
Freshman Spring BIOL 111L
CHEM 132
MATH 142
Sophomore Fall CHEM 171
WRTG 105
Sophomore Spring CHEM 172
WRTG 105A
Junior Fall BIOL 250 (with optional lab)
PSYC 101
PHYS 113
Junior Spring MHB 210
PHYS 114

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Part 3: Rochester premed extracurriculars

In addition to completing academic coursework in specific subject areas, all premed students will be required to complete extracurricular activities. Typically, those in pre-health programs complete these requirements by exploring their interests through in-depth research, shadowing physicians, performing community service, and participating in patient care opportunities in a clinical setting. 

(Further reading: How to Choose the Right Extracurricular Activities for Medical School)

UR students will find that they are at an advantage in fulfilling their extracurricular requirements. With this in mind, they may find the following opportunities lend themselves to providing meaningful experiences that future physicians need: 

Research  

Community service

  • Start by attending an Activity Fair at the beginning of any semester to gain a better understanding of the service-oriented opportunities available to UR students. 

  • Additionally, you can visit the Center for Community Engagement for ideas on how to get involved in local community service organizations. 

Patient care

  • Check out the University of Rochester’s Health and Human Services site. There, you’ll find the school’s Handshake link (think of that as a student-oriented version of LinkedIn that’s specifically tied to UR)

  • In the event that you have the opportunity to perform patient care in an international clinical setting, there are some extra considerations. In most cases, the experiences you’d have abroad would likely be similar to those you’d have in the U.S. However, at times, you may be asked—or even required—to engage in practices that are legal in one country but may be illegal in the U.S. To address this, the AAMC has put together Guidelines for Premedical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad which will help you think through the ethical considerations of such practices. You should also be prepared to explain your participation in a medical school interview. 

In addition to the above, premed students at the University of Rochester may be interested in becoming involved in the following student organizations: 

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Part 4: Getting into medical school as a Rochester premed

Ultimately, your goal is to enter medical school. Whether you’re interested in the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry or are considering other paths to a white coat, you’ll want to know that you’ve prepared properly for acceptance. But, what precisely is required? 

Regardless of where you attend for undergrad or which med school you apply to, every premed will need to supply an application composed of the following elements: 

  • An application - You’ll need to submit an AMCAS application if you’re interested in MD schools, an AACOMAS application if you’re interested in DO schools, and/or a TMDSAS application if you’re interested in a public medical school in Texas.

  • Competitive GPA and MCAT scores - Different schools have different averages for matriculants, so while there’s really no “standard” across the board, all medical schools will expect you to have competitive grades and test scores. That said, it’s safe to say that you should be a high-achieving student and that your GPA—and especially your science GPA—should reflect that. 

  • Complete prerequisite coursework - We’ve provided a general list of med school prerequisites in Part 2 above, but to know which specific prerequisites you’ll need to complete for the precise medical school you want to attend, consult the MSAR database, which is a resource published by the AAMC and that lists each medical school’s specific requirements. 

  • Secondary applications - You may think the bulk of your application is complete once you submit the primary portion (which includes the personal statement and initial application). However, as you progress through the process, you’ll encounter the secondary application. Receiving an invitation to complete the secondary application happens in one of two ways: either everyone who submits a primary application will receive a secondary application or only select students who meet a particular GPA and MCAT requirement will receive the invitation.  This depends on the medical school in question. If you do receive an invitation to complete a secondary application,  aim to complete it as quickly as possible (without sacrificing quality). The secondary application involves writing a set of essays—known as secondary essays—and submitting the required letters of recommendation. 

  • Letters of recommendation - Whereas most components of your med school application will come from you, letters of recommendation are the one opportunity for others to speak highly of you. In terms of how many you will need or whom you should ask to write them on your behalf, it varies based on the med school you apply to, so check the requirements for each school. Generally speaking, three letters are the most common requirement. As a University of Rochester student, you’ll also have the benefit of having the Health Committee Letter prepared for you. This is a letter developed by the Gwen M. Greene Center for Career Education and Connections that includes a cover letter as well as a letter outlining your accomplishments during your time at UR. 

  • Extracurriculars - We already listed some of the extracurricular activities you can become involved in as a UR student, so all we’ll mention at this point is that these experiences will be used to complete the Work and Activities section of your AMCAS application. 

(Further reading: Average GPA and MCAT Score for Every Medical School) 

Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program

If the above requirements sound daunting, keep in mind that as a future physician, you’re in a unique position to change the face of medicine, conduct life-changing medical research, and ultimately be on the frontlines of powerful breakthroughs in healthcare. It’s not for the faint of heart! 

Still, there’s at least one other pathway you may embark upon to realize your dream of becoming a physician. Through Rochester’s own combined degree program known as the Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program (REMS), you’ll be enrolled in an eight-year BS/BA + MD program that will provide you with assurance and a guaranteed spot in medical school as soon as you complete your undergraduate degree and the premed coursework. There’ll be no need to stress and wonder if you’ll get in as you anxiously await application decisions. While this program may sound like a student’s dream, it’s also a highly competitive program— the most competitive program at the University of Rochester. But if you’re dedicated and have the grades to prove it, then it’s certainly an option to consider. 

Final thoughts

The University of Rochester provides students with excellent preparation for medical school, as evidenced by its students’ accomplishments. The motto at the University of Rochester is “Meliora” (which means "ever better"), and this is especially true with its premed students who continue to prove that they are taking those accomplishments to the next level. As a UR premed student, you can have the unique opportunity to join this group of individuals and push medicine to further heights. 

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian headshot

About the Author

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school using his exclusive approach.

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Dr. Shemmassian

Dr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and well-known expert on college admissions, medical school admissions, and graduate school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into elite institutions.