How to Succeed as a Case Western Premed
/Everything you need to know about the premed path at Case Western Reserve University, including Case premed requirements and the best premed extracurriculars
LEARN HOW TO GET INTO MEDICAL SCHOOL AS A CASE WESTERN PREMED
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Part 1: Introduction
Located within walking distance to Lake Erie and bordered by a lush nature preserve, Case Western Reserve University is one of Cleveland’s most beautiful places.
Priding themselves on innovation and producing inventive students, Case Western has a lot to offer students interested in a hands-on learning experience. For those looking to begin their premed journey at Case, opportunities abound for clinical work and research projects, both of which will be required for med school. Plus, its proximity to some of the best medical research institutions in the U.S. means even more chances to excel ahead of medical school applications.
This small school may not be one of the most prestigious colleges you could attend, but the world-class facilities and the extra attention you’ll get is well worth the trade-off. Case has an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio and 62% of courses have fewer than 20 students in them.
At Case Western, you’ll be able to form relationships with professors, medical professionals, and people in leadership roles on a level that simply isn’t possible at bigger schools. Everything at Case Western is designed to help you be your best self and as a premed student, that means acing courses, the MCAT, and extracurriculars. By staying focused and taking advantage of the programs available at Case Western, you can graduate as an impressive med school candidate with an acceptance letter in hand!
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Part 2: Case Western premed requirements
Planning your premed journey is absolutely essential, and as such you’ll need to know exactly which courses to take during each semester.
Case Western’s premed advising site offers valuable information for students, which we’ve gathered in the tables below. In order to apply to med school, you’ll need to complete a number of math, science, and humanities courses in addition to the requirements for your chosen major. It’s a lot to balance, but you don’t need to go it alone. Let’s begin by taking a look at the basic requirements for medical school. You’ll need to research the specific requirements for your top med school choices—since different schools may have slightly different requirements—however, these guidelines should cover most U.S. allopathic (MD) medical schools and ensure that you’re well prepared for the MCAT.
| Inorganic chemistry: 2 semesters, with lab | Chem 311 & Chem 331 + Chem 412 & Chem 431 |
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| Organic chemistry: 2 semesters, with lab | Chem 223 & Chem 233 + Chem 224 & Chem 234 |
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| Biology: 3-4 semesters, with lab | Biol 214 & Biol 214L + Biol 215 & Biol 215L + Biol 216 & Biol 216L |
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| Physics: 2 semesters, with lab | Phys 123* + Phys 124* |
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| Biochemistry: 1 semester | Bioc 407 | |||||
| Calculus: 1-2 semesters | Math 121 +/- Math 122 |
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| Statistics: 1 semester | Stat 243 | |||||
| Behavioral Sciences: 1-2 semesters | Pscl 101 +/- Soci 443 |
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| English Composition: 2 semesters | Eng 217A + Eng 217B |
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This course list isn’t very long, but the content of each promises a challenge. You’ll want to have completed most of these courses before you take the MCAT, which will mean multiple, rigorous courses every semester.
Along with med school prerequisites, you’ll also need to fulfill the requirements for your major. Your choice of major matters much less than how you perform through its requirements. Choose a major that you are honestly excited about. The best major for medical school is the one that inspires you to share knowledge and grow as a student and as a professional. It’s almost impossible to fake passion in an application, so having a major that you’re happy to talk about will put you ahead of many high-achieving applicants.
Sample Case Western premed two-year course plan
Case Western has developed a number of sample course plans based on different types of majors. Let’s take a look at their sample for biological and chemical sciences majors.
| First-Year Fall | MATH 121/L CHEM 105/L BIOL 214 & BIOL 214L ENG 217A |
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| First-Year Spring | MATH 122 CHEM 106 BIOL 215 & 215L CHEM 113 |
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| Sophomore Fall | CHEM 223 & CHEM 233 BIOL 216 & 216L STAT 243 SOCI 443 |
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| Sophomore Spring | CHEM 224 & CHEM 234 ENG 217B BIOC 407 PHYS 123 |
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(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
We adjusted this schedule a bit compared to the one produced by Case Western so that you can have the option of taking the MCAT as your junior year begins rather than afterwards, which is how Case Western has their sample set up.
Taking the MCAT is a huge step and deserves a large chunk of your time. If you’re going to be taking a gap year, waiting until after junior year is certainly a good option. Otherwise, you’ll want to be prepared to take the test in the fall of your junior year so that you can begin planning your medical school applications.
As you can see, being a science major does lead to a lot of overlap on the requirements side of things, but it also causes extremely heavy loads each semester. We don’t suggest taking more than two science classes during your first semester, but after that you’ll need to complete three science courses almost every semester in order to become a competitive med school applicant.
If you have an aptitude for the sciences and truly enjoy learning about them, a science major is perfect for you. However, if you’re only pursuing a science major because you think it will look good on an application, you may find yourself struggling with this kind of schedule.
At the end of the day, there are two things that matter more than anything when it comes to your premed major: completing all med school prerequisites and keeping your GPA up. The latter may be difficult to do if you’ve chosen a major because you think it’ll look good to med school admissions committees.
How to maintain a high GPA as a Case Western premed
In recent years, medical schools have begun using holistic admission processes, but this hasn’t reduced the importance of a strong GPA. A low GPA (below 3.5, generally speaking) remains one of the most common reasons students fail to be accepted to medical school, to the point that many students give up without even trying if they have a low GPA, often opting to take a gap year or gain additional degrees.
It’s important to remember that transitioning from high school to college presents its own set of challenges, regardless of whether you’re premed. Getting adjusted to a whole new world of self-sufficiency and demanding coursework is a journey all on its own. But again, it’s all about balance.
There are many strategies and resources available to you as a Case Western premed. Here are a few of the most important ones:
Be organized Use planners or scheduling apps to stay on top of your course, extracurriculars, and other activities. Especially important during your first year, being able to visualize your schedule will prevent you from over-burdening yourself or having to choose between events at the last minute.
Plan ample study time While you may have been able to study quickly and easily in high school, the same will probably not be true for your premed years. Give yourself dedicated study blocks throughout the week and, if you really do not need to study, use the time to apply to clinical experiences (like shadowing a doctor) or to study for the MCAT (which you can never do too much).
Utilize Case Western’s resources The Case Western premed advising office wants to support their students as much as possible, so you should take advantage of what they offer. From basic tutoring to help with the med school application process, the staff, students, and alumni at Case Western are invested in your future too.
Ask for help when you need it One thing that makes Case Western so special is its small average class size. Don’t take this for granted and make sure to ask questions before you find yourself struggling to maintain your grade. Most professors have open office hours and can take questions before or after class on occasion.
Consider taking a gap year Taking a gap year has become more popular than ever before, making it more than acceptable to medical schools. In fact, a gap year well spent can be a great boon on your application. By taking the MCAT and/or doing the bulk of your clinical experiences during a gap year, you can spread out difficult courses more, making it easier to manage your grades overall.
(Suggested reading: How to Study as a Premed)
What’s the best premed major at Case Western?
As we discussed earlier, there isn’t a “best” major for premeds. You should aim for a premed major that allows you to complete your premed coursework while still studying something you’re interested in.
You won’t gain any advantages on your med school application through your major alone. Students often think that the science majors (biology, chemistry, or biochemistry) are the best simply because they cover information needed for studying the MCAT. However, your med school prerequisites will cover what you need to know, regardless of your major.
Your major basically doesn’t matter to anyone but you. Are you interested in the subject? Can you keep your GPA high throughout the program? Can you complete your med school requirements while pursuing this major? Are you comfortable talking and writing about the subject to adcoms?
If you’re still unsure about which major to pursue, research other elements of the major. For example, computer science was the most popular major at Case as of 2021, meaning that you’d have plenty of peers to study with and ask for help from with this major.
When should you take the MCAT?
The simple answer to this question is that the best time to take the MCAT is once you’ve mastered your prerequisite courses and feel ready to tackle the test. What does that really entail though? Preparing for the MCAT is not simply studying for another tough exam. You’ll need to plan around your courses and your med school application timeline.
If you’re jumping right into medical school after undergrad instead of taking a gap year, the fall of your junior year is the optimal time to take the MCAT. By this time, you’ll have been able to take all the necessary prerequisite courses and will have ample time to study over the summer. Taking the MCAT in the fall of your junior year also leaves enough time before med school applications are due that you can retake the exam if you don’t score in your target range.
There are a number of study resources and tutoring options available to help you prepare for the MCAT, but nothing can replace a solid foundation in the subject matter. That’s why it’s critical that you take the MCAT after you've studied the following subjects:
Biology
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Physics
We also strongly encourage you to complete introductory courses in biochemistry, psychology, and sociology in order to maximize your chances of a high score. However, if you can’t fit these subjects into your schedule, simply studying them should provide you with enough information on these subjects.
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Part 3: Case Western premed extracurriculars
Case Western is deeply invested in hands-on learning, aiming to engage students from all majors in a plethora of extracurricular activities tailored to their education and career goals.
It’s no different for premed students, who can find opportunities for clinical experiences, research, and medicine-centered volunteer work. You’ll need to participate in all of these activities, plus get involved with student organizations, in order to round out your application.
For medical school applications, depth of involvement is more important than breadth, so try to pick organizations with which you can have meaningful involvement. Dedicating yourself to only one or two student organizations will allow you to take on more responsibilities and possibly gain some leadership experience.
Case Western’s many extracurriculars are easy to find and sign up for, so you’ll be able to coordinate activities and your studies without difficulty.
(Suggested reading: How to Choose the Right Extracurricular Activities for Medical School)
Case Western clinical experiences
Surrounded by their University Circle neighborhood and the greater Cleveland area, Case Western is able to hold partnerships with some of the best medical facilities in the nation.
Through these programs, you’ll be able to shadow doctors at prestigious hospitals, paving the way to great recommendation letters and possibly working as a medical assistant or a medical scribe. Some of the closest partnerships they have are with:
Case Western research programs
At Case Western, more than 80% of students are involved in research on campus and at top organizations throughout the country and internationally. There is a near constant stream of research opportunities for students, again perfect for fitting into the busy life of a premed student.
Case Western’s research facilities are consistently ranked within the top 25 and they have over 270 recent industry partners. The main program that can help students navigate all of these research options is SOURCE.
SOURCE, or Support of Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors, is the office that helps students who want to do research. The group connects students to research opportunities (or creative endeavors) and assists them through the whole process.
A unique element to conducting research at Case Western, is their LaunchNet program. Through this program, students can sign up for assistance launching a business idea or invention backed by research. They’ll guide students through understanding intellectual property protection, business plan creation, enterprise organization, market definition, and everything else a student would need to launch a new business venture.
(Suggested reading: How to Write a Great Research Assistant Cover Letter)
Case Western charity groups
Typically found among the other clubs and student organizations, the charity groups at Case Western offer creative approaches to awareness and fundraising campaigns. You’ll be able to use all of your skills while helping others in exciting ways.
In particular, Case Western students love to create standout charity events. As a premed student, you can join groups that will be involved in charity events related to medicine, such as the Anatomy Fashion Show, where bodysuits are painted by students to be anatomically correct and then walked down the runway by student models. The 12-hour dance marathon might not be totally about medicine, but it’s a large event that needs people with leadership skills to help execute, plus it supports the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.
Even outside of medicine-related volunteering, there are tons of fun events and important community engagements to be a part of, all while building up your med school admissions resume.
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Part 4: Getting into medical school from Case Western
Case Western’s focus on post-graduate success means that you’ll be extremely well-equipped for applying to medical school. The small class sizes should give you ample opportunity to get impressive letters of recommendation, there are plenty of experiential learning programs, and charitable student groups provide you with ways to give back.
All of these vital pieces of your education at Case Western will come together to create a picture that will draw the eyes of adcoms. It’s how 64% of applicants from Case Western were accepted into medical school during the last 5 years, compared with the overall medical school acceptance rate of around 42% during that same period.
In addition to providing as much support to students as possible before they move on to bigger things, Case Western also offers a path for students to do those bigger things at their own school of medicine.
Case Western pre-professional scholars program
The pre-professional scholars program is an annual program aimed at 15-20 exceptional high school seniors who plan to pursue medicine. This eight-year program awards students with admission to the University Program of the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, conditional upon the successful completion of a bachelor’s degree.
Although the program is highly competitive, if you’re accepted you’ll be able to skip the MCAT and won’t have to worry too much about getting into med school. You will be expected to maintain a high GPA and close out your undergraduate degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.63 or higher. You’ll still be expected to fill out the AMCAS and have all the rest of the requirements for med school completed, but entry into the pre-professional scholars program is likely preferable to the standard application process, if only for avoiding the MCAT.
Final thoughts
Case Western Reserve University is a place for students to really dig into whatever career goals they may have, and premed students are no different. If you stay organized and take advantage of every opportunity to engage in the various programs, you can meld together a high GPA, a great MCAT score, and impressive extracurriculars to create a robust med school application. Then, you just sit back and wait for the acceptance letters from your top choice schools to start rolling in!
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.
