The medical profession offers a wide variety of exciting, challenging, and rewarding career options. Although the environment in which medical services are provided has been changing rapidly and will continue to evolve, the physician's role as diagnostician, healer, and patient advocate remains central to the provision of health care in our country. Although most physicians provide direct patient care, some M.D./D.O. degree recipients concentrate on basic applied research, medical education or administration, or some combination of these areas.
Plan Your Path to Medical School
View Health School Application Timeline
- Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to create a comprehensive academic and co-curricular plan
- Research application requirements
- See specific school websites for any specific application requirements which may vary by program.
- Meet with a representative of the program for specific questions and guidance
- Take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
- Apply to medical schools
- For MD programs, schools use the American College Application Service (AMCAS)
- Schools in Texas require application through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS)
- For DO programs, schools use the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service
M.D. versus D.O. programs
- An M.D. is awarded to students who graduate from an allopathic medical school while a D.O. is awarded to students who graduate from an osteopathic medical school
- Osteopathic medical education includes training in hands-on manipulative therapy
- Both can work in one or more specialties (family and general medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, surgery, etc.)
- Both can work in various medical environments ((clinics, hospitals, healthcare organizations, etc.)
- Both diagnose illnesses, prescribe medication, and perform surgery
- Both consist of 4 years of academic coursework and clinical experiences followed by a residency
Suggested Academic Preparation
- Bachelor’s degree –any UNL major is a great option
- Completion of pre-requisite courses
- Competitive academic record
- GPA in both science and non-science courses
- Heavy course loads of 17-18 credit hours by junior year
Explore this Career
- Shadow physicians
- American Medical Association website
- Association of American Medical Colleges website
- AAMC’s Aspiring Docs Website
- American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
- Meet with a Pre-Health or Career Advisor in the Explore Center
- Meet with a professional school to learn more about their program
- Research Medicine programs
Local Professional Schools
Current Students
Current students: Meet with a Pre-Health advisor to talk more about your Pre-Health goals.
Are you a non-UNL student looking for information about Pre-Health? Click here