Best Colleges for Premed (2023-2024)

If your goal is to be a doctor one day, you probably want to know what are the best colleges for premed. To give yourself the best odds of getting into a great medical school, you need to take care when selecting an undergraduate institution. As an aspiring physician, you want to consider a number of factors that go beyond the majors and academic programs available at the college question. Keep reading to learn about the best colleges for premed, along with tips on assessing your options.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Premed College

Before diving in to the specific “best colleges for premed,” it is important to first review the are several factors you need to consider when making your college list. The bottom line is that ANY college can be great for premeds and we have worked with successful applicants from a variety of collages. By the same token, your undergraduate college prestige will not guarantee a medical school acceptance which is why you must choose carefully where you want to go to college.

1) The Premed Track and Major Selection

The vast majority of top-tier colleges do not offer premed majors. If the college doesn’t have a designated premed major, students can choose to major in any discipline contrary to popular thinking that students must major in a STEM field. However, and not surprisingly, most admitted students majored in biological or physical sciences. 

Keep in mind, that major choice will not dictate your success in the medical school admissions process. At MedEdits, we have worked with successful applicants from a variety of majors including everything from biochemistry to art history.

2) Medical School Admissions Data

If you’re planning to apply to medical school, it’s only logical to evaluate undergraduate institutions based on their med school acceptance numbers. After all, if the college has historically been good at getting its graduates into medical school, then you can safely assume they’ll help you do the same. 

It’s worth noting that colleges sometimes post misleading claims about their admissions numbers. When researching a given school, be aware that they might be filling their premed track with tough courses (known as weeder classes) in order to disincentivize weaker students from pursuing a career as a doctor. As a result, their acceptance rate may seem higher than it actually is since many students may drop the premed track after enrolling in premed classes  they find too difficult.

3) Premed Advising

Aspiring med students have a lot going on, and it’s easy for important tasks to get lost in the shuffle. Fortunately, many top schools have helpful premed advising programs. Along with keeping students on the right track, these programs help them select courses that will help them satisfy medical school requirements, choose majors, and prepare their med school applications. Staff members may also be available to aid in interview preparation and advise you on taking the MCAT.

4) Clinical Experiences

Medical schools are competitive, and a great education isn’t necessarily enough to guarantee you admission to a great college. The most desirable students also possess clinical experience that helps them stand out from other applicants. When it comes to choosing a premed college, look for institutions that help students gain firsthand experience working or volunteering in clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes. Proximity to medical centers and hospitals is also something to focus on. As a bonus, these opportunities will help you determine whether or not a career in medicine really is right for you. 

5) Research Opportunities

Research is an essential part of a physician’s job, so it’s no surprise that medical schools look favorably upon students with experience in this field. The best colleges for premed offer opportunities for undergraduates to work in a lab or clinical setting, researching subjects of interest. If you think you want to be a doctor, consider how the school will help you further your education outside your classes.

Undergraduate Universities with the Most Premed Applicants

To some extent, the undergraduate colleges with the most premed applicants might be considered to be “the best” colleges for premeds as they will have the resources and opportunities that students need to be successful. Below you will find the top 20 universities with the number of premedical applicants they had last year.

Best Premed Colleges

We are often asked what colleges and universities we prefer for premeds. Please review this list with a grain of salt as students can do well in the premed process from any undergraduate college. Below you will find some of our personal favorite top 20 colleges and universities with the number of premedical applicants they had last year.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Premed

The reality is the liberal arts colleges, which don’t make “the list” of colleges providing the most premed students because they have such small student bodies, are often the ideal options for premeds. With more personalized attention, smaller class sizes, great premed advising, and great scholarly opportunities, liberal arts colleges can be a wonderful choice for premeds.

Best Honors Colleges for Premed

Any public university with an honors college can provide phenomenal resources for premeds. Honors college students often enjoy special perks such as early class registration, advising, and special housing/community building. Students also have access to special research and scholarly opportunities and career guidance. Honors colleges can offer the chance to get a great education and a more reasonable cost while pursuing a stellar premedical education. Some of our favorite honors colleges include:

Best Pre Med Colleges in New York

• Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• New York University, New York, NY *Related: How to get into NYU medical school
• State University of New York (SUNY) – Stony Brook
• Columbia University
• Fordham University
• Syracuse University
• University at Buffalo (SUNY)
• Binghamton University (SUNY)
• Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
• University of Rochester
• Hofstra University
• Colgate University
• Skidmore College
• Vassar College
• Hamilton College
• Union College

Best Pre Med Schools in California

• University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
• University of California-San Diego, La Jolla, CA
• University of California-Davis, Davis, CA
• University of California – Irvine, Irvine, CA
• Stanford University
• California Institute of Technology
• Occidental College
• Pomona College
• Claremont McKenna College
• Harvey Mudd College

As a premed, you must have a reliable and knowledgable premed advisor. If you don’t have one, consider working with us throughout your college years. Click Here for information.