Kenyon College
Medicine and the Health Professions


Information for First-year Students


Admission to health-related professional schools requires more than good grades. Preparation for the admission process takes foresight and diligent prior planning. Kenyon's Health Professions Advising Committee (HPAC) is here to help. First-year students considering medicine or other health careers should contact Maureen Tobin, Health Professions Advising Coordinator, at the Career Development Center, X5165 Email: TOBINM@kenyon.edu. Receive all the latest information by having your name placed on our e-mail distribution lists.

Advising. Members of the 2009-2010 HPAC include:

Harry Itagaki (Biology), Chair - Email: ITAGAKI, PBX 5394

Scott Cummings (Chemistry) - Email:CUMMINGS, PBX 5355

John Hofferberth (Chemistry) - Email: HOFFERBERTHJ, PBX 5359

Wade Powell (Biology) - Email: POWELLW, PBX 5396

Maureen Tobin (CDC) Health Professions Advising Coordinator - Email: TOBINM, PBX 5165.

 

Minimum course requirements for medical school can be met at Kenyon as follows:

Required Courses

Equivalent Kenyon Courses

Introductory Biology BIOL 115,116 (lectures) plus BIOL 109,110 (labs) (info)
Introductory Physics PHYS 130, 135 or 140, 145 (either lecture series; how to choose) plus PHYS 141,146 (labs)
Introductory Chemistry Fall: CHEM 121 or 122 (lectures; how to choose)
plus CHEM 123 (lab)
Spring: CHEM 124 or 125 (lectures) plus CHEM 126 (a corresponding lab section)
Organic Chemistry CHEM 231,232 (lectures) plus CHEM 233,234 (labs)
College Mathematics At least two of: MATH 106, MATH 110, MATH 111, MATH 112, or MATH 213
English ENGL 103 -104; or 111Y -112Y; or IPHS 113 -114
   

Highly Recommended

Equivalent Kenyon Course

Biochemistry CHEM 256

**Additional courses in physiology, cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, and microbiology offer valuable preparation for the MCAT and medical school curricula.

 

In order to apply to medical schools by Senior year, First-year Students should enroll in courses from at least TWO of the following three categories:

(1) Chemistry

(2) Biology or Physics

(3) English or Foreign Language

General Chemistry:
CHEM 121(Fall), 124 or 125 (Spring)
plus CHEM 123 ( Fall lab), 126 (Spring lab);
or
Honors General Chemistry:
CHEM 122 (Fall), 124 or 125 (Spring)
plus CHEM 123 ( Fall lab), 126 (Spring lab).		 Introductory Biology:
BIOL 115, 116 plus BIOL 109,110 (lab);
or
Introductory Physics:
PHYS 140,145; plus PHYS 141,146		 English: ENGL 103-104;
or
English: ENGL 111Y-112Y;
or
IPHS: IPHS 113-114
or
Get started on a foreign language (to meet Kenyon graduation requirements).

Below, you will find some ways to fulfill your Pre-Med requirements during your four years at Kenyon. What courses you take when will depend on whether you will be going to med school right out of college and/or if you want to do a semester abroad. Please remember that you will also need to fulfill both the College's distribution requirements and the requirements for your major.

Some Possible Ways of Fulfilling Pre-Med Requirements


Going to Med School Right After Kenyon

Going Abroad Junior Year (1 Semester)

 

Fall

Spring

Frosh

Intro Bio +Lab
Intro Chem + Lab
English or IPHS

Intro Bio+ Lab
Intro Chem + Lab
English or IPHS

Sophomore

Orgo + Lab
Intro Physics + Lab
Math

Orgo + Lab
Intro Physics + Lab
Math

Junior

Abroad

Biochem
Other Courses
MCAT

Senior

Other Courses

Other Courses


NOT Going Abroad Junior Year

 

Fall

Spring

Frosh

Intro Bio +Lab
English or IPHS
Other Courses

Intro Bio+ Lab
English or IPHS
Other Courses

Sophomore

Intro Chem + Lab
Math
Other Courses

Intro Chem + Lab
Math
Other Courses

Junior

Orgo + Lab
Intro Physics + Lab
Other Courses

Orgo + Lab
Intro Physics + Lab
Other Courses
MCAT

Senior

Other Courses

Biochem
Other Courses


Deferring Medical School for at Least a Year

Going Abroad Junior Year (1 Semester)

 

Fall

Spring

Frosh

Intro Chem +Lab
English or IPHS
Other Courses

Intro Chem + Lab
English or IPHS
Other Courses

Sophomore

Orgo + Lab
Intro Bio + Lab
Other Courses

Orgo+ Lab
Intro Bio + Lab
Other Courses

Junior

Abroad

Biochem
Math
Other Courses

Senior

Intro Physics + Lab
Math
Other Courses

Intro Physics + Lab
Other Courses
MCAT



NOT Going Abroad Junior Year

 

Fall

Spring

Frosh

Intro Bio + Lab
English or IPHS
Other Courses

Intro Bio + Lab
English or IPHS
Other Courses

Sophomore

Intro Chem + Lab
Math
Other Courses

Intro Chem+ Lab
Math
Other Courses

Junior

Orgo + Lab
Other Courses

Orgo + Lab
Other Courses

Senior

Intro Physics + Lab
Other Courses

Intro Physics + Lab
Biochem
Other Courses
MCAT

If you have questions regarding courses for medical school, you should contact Maureen Tobin or any faculty member of the committee. Non-science majors in particular are encouraged to meet with the premedical advisors to determine if additional courses would enhance their applications.

Health Professions-Related Extracurricular Opportunities


Rolla Dyer Society: You can become a member of the Rolla Dyer Society, a student group named for a distinguished alumnus who cured typhus and discovered the link between cigarettes and cancer. The Dyer Society sponsors guest speakers on medical issues, meets with admissions directors from medical schools, and implements an MCAT prep course.


KCMeds: A student-run group that places Kenyon students to shadow local physicians.

Useful Links: