Pre-Med / Pre-health in Berkeley United States | University of California, Berkeley

Pre-med/pre-health is not an official major or minor at UC Berkeley, but rather an academic track students pursue when aiming for careers in advanced healthcare fields. Our pre-med/pre-health undergraduates represent diverse academic backgrounds—ranging from biology to humanities—and should select a degree program they find engaging and can perform well in. While most medical school applicants traditionally study biological sciences, admissions committees don't favor specific majors during selection. All students must complete necessary prerequisite courses for their intended healthcare field, regardless of their chosen major.UC Berkeley graduates enjoy exceptional acceptance rates into medical schools and various health professional programs, spanning dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, and veterinary medicine. High-achieving pre-med/pre-health students at Berkeley typically maintain excellent academic records while managing demanding coursework alongside extracurriculars like volunteer work and research projects. Healthcare graduate programs value applicants who show comprehensive understanding of their desired profession and genuine commitment to serving others in multiple environments. Students are encouraged to nurture their personal interests and hobbies alongside their pre-med/pre-health studies.Berkeley boasts a vibrant pre-med/pre-health community with extensive resources. The university provides exceptional academic and research opportunities (including both clinical and laboratory settings) to study under leading faculty, plus numerous chances to gain hands-on experience through more than 50 health-focused student groups and various nearby healthcare facilities.