Increased interest in science and medicine is drawing a new generation of students to a career in medicine since the Covid-19 pandemic began. The healthcare workforce is in the spotlight, as are other issues such as low access to doctors in rural areas and in underrepresented communities and the dire shortage of physicians to tackle future public health crises. A report from the Association of American Medical Colleges projects that the United States will face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians by 2033.
Enrollment in Oregon State's pre-med program has remained high despite the pandemic, with numbers averaging 90-100 pre-med students annually since 2019. Students from Oregon and beyond interested in pursuing a career in medicine are drawn to the strong reputation of the pre-med track in the College of Science at OSU, which has an enviable record of preparing successful applicants for medical schools across the country.
A part of the pre-health professions track for science majors, pre-medicine exists alongside pre-dental and pre-pharmacy programs in the College of Science, in addition to other pre-health programs. While not a major, students can declare a transcript-visible pre-medicine option in six College of Science majors: BioHealth Sciences, Biology, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Chemistry and Microbiology. Outside the College of Science, Kinesiology and Radiation Health Physics majors can also pursue a pre-medicine option. (OSU students in other majors can still follow a pre-med path, but can’t officially declare it as part of their major).
In recent years, pre-med science majors have gained admission to coveted medical programs at UCLA, Oregon Health and Science University, Western University, Ohio State University, Brown and Yale among others.
Oregon State University continues to maintain an exceptional medical school acceptance rate: In 2019-2020, a total of 59% of all COS majors and 65.5% of science majors who used the extensive pre-medicine committee services and resources in the College of Science gained admission to medical school. From 2016 to 2019, the total percentage of all OSU students gaining admission to medical schools with the help of pre-medicine program resources increased steadily from 59.15% to a striking 75.45%. These are impressive figures, especially in the context of national data. According to the Princeton Review, admission to medical school has continually remained fiercely competitive with low acceptance rates and in 2018-19, 41% of applicants were accepted to allopathic (MD) medical schools nationwide.
Editorial update: As of Fall 2024, the percent of science majors who gained admission to medical school after using Oregon State’s College of Science pre-medicine committee services and resources increased to 80%.