Hi all! I'm on the pre-med track and I was wondering if taking statistics courses is a requirement for medical school admission. Some people are saying it's necessary while others say it's not a big deal. Can anyone clarify this? Thanks!
Hello! While not all medical schools require a statistics course, an increasing number of schools do include it as a prerequisite or strongly recommended course for their applicants. Even if a specific medical school does not require a statistics course for admission, having such a course under your belt can still be valuable in preparing you for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), which does include statistical concepts in its testing material.
Furthermore, statistics knowledge can be beneficial once you're in medical school and later in your medical career, as it can help with the understanding and interpretation of data, research studies, and evidence-based medicine.
In general, it's a good idea to check the prerequisites of the medical schools you're interested in applying to, as requirements can vary from school to school. If the school you are interested in requires or recommends statistics, it's advisable to take a course during your undergraduate years. You can typically find this information on the medical school's admissions website or by contacting their admissions office.
In short, taking a statistics course can improve your application profile and prepare you for future elements of medical education and practice, even if it's not strictly required by all medical schools.
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.