Pre-Medical Program

There are three possible pathways for students to complete pre-requistie courses for the professional school of their choice at WCU. Each option comes with support of the Pre-Med Program and access to additional opportunities exclusive to WCU's Pre-Medical Program.

1. Post-baccalaureate Certificate Option

This option will classify you as an upper classmen undergraduate student. You will receive earlier registration and be eligible to apply for federal financial aid, though you are not eligible for pell grants. With this option, you will earn a post-baccalaureate certificate upon completion and you will pay undergraduate tuition rates and fees instead of the higher graduate tuition rates. You will need to apply through the graduate school for this option.

• To apply for WCU's Post Baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program, you should meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum 3.20 GPA in your college course work (submit all undergraduate transcripts)

  • Your undergraduate degree is in a non-science major (preferably) 

  • Submit 2 letters of recommendations (preferably from a faculty member and a medical professional)  The letters should speak of your academic abilities and reason for pursuing a post-bac degree

  • You have not taken all the required science courses 

  • Apply through WCU admissions at  https://www.wcupa.edu/_admissions/SCH_DGR/applyNow.aspx

2. Second degree option

This option will classify you as an undergraduate pursuing a second degree (typically in a Natural sciences like Biology or Chemistry). The goal will be to complete your prerequisite courses along with a second degree major requirements. The second degree will help to expand your science knowledge and improve your chances of getting into professional school. With this option, you will be eligible for financial aid but not pell grants. You have to apply to WCU admissions like other undergraduates for this option and pay the admissions fee. Students that already have one bachelor's degree have a lot of undergraduate credits, therefore you will be able to register for classes early with other upper-classmen.

• To apply for the WCU's Pre-Medical Program with this option, you should meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum 3.20 GPA in your college course work

  • Apply to WCU Undergraduate Admissions  https://www.wcupa.edu/_admissions/sch_adm/admissionApp.aspx

  • Upon acceptance, contact the Pre-Medical Program and fill out the supplemental application.

 3. Non-degree option

This option allows students to just take classes without paying the initial admissions fees. You will pay undergrad tuition rates and fees but you will have to wait to register for classes till late in the enrollment period. You will not be eligible for federal financial aid in this option either and any existing loans will not go into deferment.

• To apply for the WCU's Pre-Medical Program with this non-degree option, you should meet the following requirements:

  • Minimum 3.20 GPA in your college course work

  • Apply to WCU Undergraduate Admissions Non-degree seeking student https://www.wcupa.edu/_admissions/sch_adm/admissionApp.aspx

  • Upon acceptance, contact the Pre-Medical Program and fill out the supplemental application.

Feel free to contact the Director, Dr. Teresa Donze-Reiner to schedule an appointment to discuss these options and plan the next step in your career path.

While there is no deadline to apply to the program, but in order to schedule classes you should plan to apply by the following dates:

• To begin classes in the spring semester, you should submit all materials prior to September 15th
• To begin classes in the summer or fall semesters, you should submit all materials prior to January 15th

Applying after these dates will not affect acceptance, but may affect your ability to gain entrance into the required classes that first semester.