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Preparing for Professional Studies

For more information, email transfer@mccc.edu.


Pre-Medical Studies

  • Requires
    • Motivation, maturity, and compassion
    • Personal essay
    • Extra-curricular activities and community involvement
    • Recommendations of counselors and professors
  • Usually a broad-based education prepares students for a career in medicine.
  • Majoring in the natural sciences should be demonstrated through coursework.
  • Most medical schools require one year each of the following:
    • General biology
    • General chemistry
    • Organic chemistry
    • Physics
  • Must submit scores on the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). Students take it in the spring before applying and no later than the fall of the year the application is filed.


Pre-Law Studies

  • No particular major will open the way for success in the legal profession.
  • Some law school graduates will go on to careers in government service, banking, politics, or business and may want to select courses accordingly.
  • Some recommended courses are:
    • English literature and composition
    • Mathematics
    • American history
    • Psychology
    • Logic and ethics
    • Political science
    • Sociology
    • Latin and modern languages
  • Skills required include an aptitude for law and the ability to read and comprehend rapidly and accurately--to think precisely and logically, and to communicate clearly and correctly. Writing clearly is a critical skill for lawyers.


Pre-Physical Therapy

  • Basic education for entry level physical therapy practice may be through baccalaureate, certificate, or entry level master's degree programs.
  • Admission to physical therapy programs is competitive and requires specific pre-requisite courses and letters of recommendation.
  • Usually courses in general biology, general chemistry, general physics, anatomy, physiology, and several electives are required.
  • Some exposure to the work of a physical therapist is required. This may be in the form of an internship, volunteer work, paid work, etc.

Pre-Pharmacy

  • Approximately 50% of enrollees in pharmacy programs are females.
  • There are 128 schools of pharmacy in the United States: seven are in Pennsylvania and two are in New Jersey.
  • Admission criteria is competitive for most pharmacy schools.
  • Pre-requisites include: chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics, math (usually calculus), and English
  • American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

Pre-Veterinary

  • Applicants must have the equivalent of at least three full academic years in college. Most successful candidates have earned bachelor's degrees prior to enrolling.
  • Typical pre-requisites include: biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, genetics, mathematics (including calculus), English, social and behavioral sciences, and humanities and fine arts classes.
  • Some experience in a veterinary office is required.
  • Because of the limited number of programs nationally, admission is extremely competitive.

Note: Students who are interested in scientific or medical careers may want to apply to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey's (UMDNJ) Undergraduate Summer Research program in Biomedical Sciences. This program runs ten weeks and provides students with a $2,000 stipend. Undergraduates will have the opportunity to perform supervised research with faculty members. Information is available in SC 229.


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