How to Succeed in the MIT Premed Track

When you think of MIT, medicine probably isn’t the first thing that pops into your head. Known worldwide with 101 affiliated Nobel Prize laureates and amazing facilities like the Lincoln Laboratory, the Bates Center, and the Haystack Observatory, MIT is a leader in groundbreaking scientific research across many fields. But here’s the thing: even though medicine isn’t its main focus, the rigorous and innovative atmosphere at MIT can help you develop into a well-rounded physician. So if you’re considering the MIT premed path, you’re in a place that’s perfect for building the skills you need.

In this blog, we provide an overview of what to expect at MIT if you wish to pursue your premed degree there. We list all of the MIT premed requirements, recommended courses, and the required GPA for each student.

• Premed Requirements at MIT
• How to Keep a High GPA at MIT Premed
• What’s the Best Premed Major at MIT?
• When is the Best Time to Take the MCAT?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Premed Requirements at MIT

MIT doesn’t offer a dedicated premed major. Instead, you can choose any major and complete the necessary courses to meet medical school prerequisites. This flexibility allows you to pursue your academic interests while preparing for a medical career.

With an undergrad population of 4,657, MIT saw 77 students apply to med school during the 2023-2024 cycle. That means around 6-7% of MIT undergrads decide to go the premed route. While 77 might sound like a small number, it’s actually a higher percentage than what you’d see at many other schools. However, it’s still much smaller compared to some of MIT’s most popular majors—like computer science, which makes up a solid 28% of graduating seniors.

Altough there is no specific premed track at MIT, MIT provides resources like Prehealth Advising, which offers guidance on course selection, gaining clinical experience, and navigating the medical school application process.

One big perk of being an MIT premed is that 9 out of the 12 required premed courses overlap with MIT’s General Institute Requirements (GIRs), which all students need to complete to graduate. This overlap covers most of the courses med schools look for, so it gives you a solid foundation.

While you’ll still need to check specific course requirements for each medical school you apply to (since they can vary), this list of courses should cover the basics for almost all of them. You’ll see that some classes are must-haves for every premed, while for others, you have options to pick from a range of courses. MIT’s Career Advising & Professional Development Department provides helpful guidance for navigating these choices.

Here are the MIT premed requirements as advised by the school:

Looking at this table, you can see that MIT premed students have a lot of unique science courses to choose from to meet their requirements. Not every school offers five different introductory biology courses, each with its own specific focus.

Plus, where else can you take a course like “Synthesis of Coordination Compounds and Kinetics” to check off a general chemistry requirement? The variety and depth of science classes here are one of the big perks of MIT and a big reason why it’s so highly regarded!

Pro tip: If you’re planning to head straight to med school after graduation, without a gap year, it’s a good idea to finish your MIT premed requirements by the end of junior year. This way, you’ll have all your key courses done before taking the MCAT, which can give you a big advantage.

MIT’s Career Advising and Professional Development Department even has a list of recommended courses to take before the MCAT. Getting these requirements out of the way early also frees up your senior year, so you can focus on building up your application with extracurriculars, preparing for interviews, and wrapping up any remaining major requirements.

MIT premed recommended courses

Along with the required courses listed above, many medical and health professional schools suggest that applicants take a few extra classes. It’s a smart idea to check the admissions requirements for each school you’re interested in so you don’t miss any recommended courses. You can find this info on the schools’ websites or in the Medical School Admissions Requirement (MSAR) book.

Recommended courses for all MIT premed students:

• Statistics: Besides Calculus, many medical and health profession schools recommend taking a statistics course. Popular choices at MIT include Introduction to Probability and Statistics (18.05), Statistics for Brain and Cognitive Science (9.07), and Modern Biostatistics (7.093), but there are other options you can explore on campus.

Grade point averages (GPA)

For MIT premed students, medical and health profession schools generally accept a range of GPAs, but it’s recommended to aim for a 4.5 or higher on a 5.0 scale. Med schools pay special attention to two main GPAs: your Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (BCPM) GPA, which carries the most weight, and your Cumulative GPA, which is secondary.

If your GPA isn’t a perfect 5.0, don’t stress! Med schools use a holistic admissions process, which means they look at a variety of factors beyond grades—things like your volunteer and clinical experiences, recommendations, MCAT scores, GPA trends, leadership roles, and more.

To keep your GPA strong, try to manage your time well. Don’t overload yourself with too many tough courses at once, and find a good balance between research, extracurriculars, and social activities.

And remember, support is available! Reach out to TAs, faculty, and peers if you need help. If you’re worried about your grades, talk to Prehealth Advising, or your academic advisors, or check out Tutoring@MIT for extra support.

How to Keep a High GPA at MIT Premed

Even though med school admissions committees like to emphasize their “holistic” approach, your GPA and MCAT scores still form the backbone of any strong application. With so many applicants and limited spots, these numbers help admission committees decide if your application moves past the first round. Keeping a high GPA is crucial for getting into your dream med school.

As an MIT premed student, keeping your GPA up will be a challenge, even if you cruised through high school. MIT is known for its rigorous academics, thanks to its high-achieving students and intense coursework. But with this challenge comes a big reward—MIT gives you a chance to really push yourself and dive deep into subjects you’re passionate about.

Admissions committees understand the difficulty of an MIT education, and they’ll take that into account when evaluating your application. While the MIT name won’t completely make up for a low GPA, a 4.8 GPA on MIT’s 5.0 scale definitely carries more weight than a 4.8 from most other schools.

As an MIT premed student, having a plan for your undergrad years (with some flexibility built in) is key to managing your workload. Some semesters will be tougher than others, but aiming to balance things out as much as possible will give you a better shot at success. Here are some tips to help keep your GPA on track:

Plan ahead and manage your time well.

While it’s great to have a big-picture plan for your entire college journey, effective time management on a monthly, weekly, and daily level is just as important. Create work schedules and priority lists to help you stay organized.

Blocking out dedicated time for coursework also lets you enjoy your downtime without stress. Developing good habits with “to-do lists,” detailed calendars, and daily agendas will make balancing extracurriculars with academics so much easier.

Use office hours and TA sessions.

Don’t hesitate to ask questions when you’re struggling with the material. Everyone misses something now and then, and going it alone won’t help. It’s totally normal to feel a little intimidated by smart classmates or professors, but remember—you’re at MIT for a reason, and your professors want to see you succeed. The sooner you seek help, the easier it’ll be to stay on track.

Join a study group or start one yourself.

Study groups are perfect for asking questions and keeping each other motivated on the premed journey. It’s refreshing to connect with people who understand the same challenges you’re facing. If you can’t find a supportive, non-competitive group, don’t hesitate to create your own.

Be ready for a challenge on the premed path.

Even if high school was smooth sailing for you (and many of your MIT classmates), MIT premed track is demanding and can make you question your abilities. Recognizing this mental hurdle—and the imposter syndrome that sometimes comes with it—is important.

You’re not alone; this is a common feeling. The best way to tackle it is to accept that you’ll need to work harder than before, studying consistently and with purpose. Shifting your mindset to embrace the challenge will keep you focused and steady for the long haul.

Pro tip: As an MIT premed, it’s important to avoid overloading yourself with so many courses that your GPA takes a hit. Stay on top of your assignments and keep an eye on what’s coming up each semester.

The last thing you want is to be swamped with midterms or finals in four classes all at once! Planning ahead is key, but remember to stay flexible. If squeezing in all your requirements during the fall and spring semesters feels overwhelming, think about taking a summer class or two to lighten the load.

Ultimately, if you join the premed track later on or need to catch up, completing some requirements as a post-bacc might be a good option. MIT offers a post-bacc opportunity through the Research Scholars Program in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Post-bacc studies can also help boost your GPA if you need it. Another great way to strengthen your GPA and gain valuable experience in medicine is by enrolling in a Special Master’s Program (SMP).

What’s the Best Premed Major at MIT?

A lot of MIT premed students wonder about the “best” major for getting into med school, but there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Believe it or not, majoring in biology doesn’t necessarily give you an edge over someone studying, say, architecture—as long as you can connect your major to your medical journey in your personal statement and essays.

That said, biology and other STEM majors are popular among premeds. One big plus with a STEM major is that many of the General Institute Requirements (GIRs), premed requirements, and major courses overlap. Plus, you’ll likely build connections with faculty who understand the medical path well. Just keep in mind that some STEM majors are tougher GPA-wise, so be prepared for that challenge.

Most importantly, choose a major that excites you! Loving what you study will make college much more enjoyable and keep you motivated. Med schools want to see intellectual curiosity and individuality—so pursuing what genuinely interests you can help your application stand out. When choosing a major as an MIT premed, consider these questions:

• Does this major excite you?
• How does it connect to your future in medicine?
• Can you keep a high GPA in this major?
• Will it work well with your premed requirements?

When Is the Best Time to Take the MCAT?

Figuring out the best time to take the MCAT as an MIT premed depends on a few things, like which premed classes you’ve completed and when you plan to apply to med school. If you’re aiming to go “straight through” without a gap year, it’s generally a good idea to take the MCAT for the first time in the fall of your junior year. This timing lets you study over the summer after sophomore year and gives you a buffer if you need to retake the test.

Before scheduling your MCAT, make sure you’ve completed key courses, especially in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry. Biochemistry, while sometimes less emphasized in premed coursework, is actually a big deal on the MCAT. If you haven’t finished these classes by junior year, or if you’re not hitting strong scores on AAMC practice tests, consider holding off until later to give yourself the best shot.

Med schools see every MCAT attempt, so it’s worth being fully prepared the first time. We recommend at least 300 hours of study time—that’s about three hours a day over three months.

If you’re taking a gap year or more before med school, you might want to wait until senior year or even later to take the MCAT. This will give you time to finish all your MIT premed requirements and fully focus on test prep to do your best.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does MIT have a specific premed track?

No, MIT doesn’t have a specific premed track. Students can choose any major and complete the necessary courses for medical school requirements, with support from MIT’s Prehealth Advising.

2. Does MIT have a medical school?

No, MIT does not have a medical school.

3. Is MIT good for pre-med?

Yes, MIT is highly regarded for premed. In recent years, MIT premed students have had an impressive medical school acceptance rate of around 95%, well above the national average of approximately 41%.

Takeaways

The MIT premed experience is a unique blend of flexibility, challenge, and opportunity. MIT offers premed students a chance to craft their own paths, drawing on intensive academics and extensive support resources.

• Unlike many schools, MIT doesn’t have a specific premed track, which means you can pursue any major while completing med school prerequisites.
• MIT’s Prehealth Advising and Career Development resources are tailored to help students navigate the med school path.
• A huge advantage for MIT premeds is that many General Institute Requirements (GIRs) overlap with med school prerequisites. This overlap helps streamline course loads and also builds a strong foundation in essential sciences.
• Maintaining a high GPA in MIT’s hyper challenging environment is a challenge, even for top students. To succeed, MIT premed students are encouraged to carefully balance their coursework, extracurriculars, and free time.
• An excellent premed track will set you up for success in med school. If you want to become a doctor, partner with an expert in college admissions to help you plan out your undergraduate course.