Pre-Med
Drake is one of the best schools for pre-med studies. We have a proven track record of guiding students through the exploration of various fields of medicine, preparing them for the MCAT, offering an extensive curriculum covering all medical prerequisites, and providing opportunities for student research, leadership, and organizational involvement.
What are your goals for a pre-medicine program? We’ll help you get there.
Multiple Pathways to Success
The medical field offers a wide array of career opportunities—that’s why you need a university that transforms your interests into an individualized path to success. Drake University offers many pre-med programs that will exceptionally prepare you for postgraduate study and a rewarding career in medicine.
Drake's liberal arts curriculum allows you to have the autonomy to choose a major in subjects that you are interested in and passionate about and build a robust 4-year plan to complete medical school admissions requirements. Our expert faculty mentors and academic advising specialists will guide you through meeting and exceeding the requirements for medical school admission.
While you can pursue any major as a pre-med student, our students often choose one of these majors.
Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology (BCMB)
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Biology
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Chemistry
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Health Sciences
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Kinesiology
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Neuroscience
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Psychology
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Cutting Edge Technology
As a pre-med student at Drake University, you will have the opportunity to engage in learning and completing research. Each pre-med pathway has technology specific to that discipline like state-of-the-art digital visualization systems and advanced sampling equipment allows our students to fully immerse themselves in real-world experiences.
Des Moines Healthcare Opportunities
Located in Des Moines, Drake has connections with regional healthcare systems, including Broadlawns Medical Center, The Iowa Clinic, MercyOne Medical Center, ChildServe, Blank Children’s Hospital, and UnityPoint Health, which provide opportunities for you to engage with local healthcare professionals just minutes from campus.
Drake Liberal Arts Curriculum
To achieve success as a pre-med student and future clinician, it is crucial to develop a diverse set of skills, including the capacity to communicate persuasively through both written and oral means; analyze and evaluate peer-reviewed research; construct arguments with supporting evidence; conduct research; and work independently, as well as, collaboratively in teams. These proficiencies are valued by medical schools and are refined by all Drake students regardless of major.
Student Organizations
You can engage with other like-minded students in the pre-medical club, Phi Delta Epsilon (PhiDE) medical fraternity, and HOSA-Future Health Professionals organization.
Why Drake?
Regardless of your area of study, you’ll benefit from small class sizes, leading-edge curriculum, individual mentorships with professors, hands-on learning experiences, undergraduate research opportunities, access to internships, and other advantages that a larger university simply can’t match. Drake’s faculty personally guide students through the pre-med process, helping select appropriate courses and assisting in obtaining relevant experiences beyond campus. Plus, Drake is in Des Moines, the healthcare center of Iowa.
“I had an incredible foundation from which I could excel in medical school.”
“My pre-medicine experience at Drake was beyond what I could have ever hoped for. Between the challenging coursework, early research opportunities, and access to multiple major hospital systems in Des Moines, I was not only a competitive applicant, but I had an incredible foundation from which I could excel in medical school. The faculty at Drake are truly one of a kind and supported me throughout every step of my pre-medicine journey.”
—Andy Kosharek, Drake Class of 2021
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Class of 2025
Track record of post-graduate success
Our pre-med students are admitted to some of the best medical schools around the Midwest and country. Over the past three years, Drake’s acceptance rate has been consistently higher than the national average of 42.4%.
87.3%
Drake’s student acceptance rate to medical school is much higher than the national average for pre-med universities at 40.8%.
509
Average Drake student score on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Acceptance to top U.S. medical schools: University of Iowa, Yale, Mayo Clinic, University of Wisconsin, Baylor, Chicago Medical, Northwestern, and University of Colorado.
Pre-Med Advising & Mentoring
From your first day, you will have a team of faculty mentors, academic advising specialists, and career services liaisons to help guide you through your four years at Drake. To learn more about how this process works, and to discuss what majors could work best for your career goals, please reach out to our experts.
College of Arts & Sciences
Heidi Sleister, PhD (she/her/hers)
Professor of Biology
Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives
heidi.sleister@drake.edu
515-271-3765
Gholam Mirafzal, Ph.D. (he/him/his)
Windsor Professor in Science
Professor of Chemistry
gholam.mirafzal@drake.edu
(515)271-4811
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Cassity Gutierrez, PhD (she/her/hers)
Chair & Associate Professor of Health Sciences
cassity.gutierrez@drake.edu
515-271-1886
Alisa Drapeaux, PhD, DPT, ATC (she/her/hers)
Interim Vice Chair and Assistant Professor of Health Sciences
alisa.drapeaux@drake.edu
515-271-1852
Request Information
Connect with our admission team to learn more about Drake, including the application process and scheduling a campus visit. Personalized campus visits are a great opportunity to speak with faculty one-on-one and see how Drake can help you reach your professional goals.
