3 Mistakes to Avoid As a Future Pre-Med Student

Is pre-med your passion? Do you see yourself attending med school someday? In this article, we’ll highlight three key mistakes applicants make when starting the process. How do you avoid making these missteps? One way is to start your medical school education while still in high school by partnering with Prelum, powered by Kaplan. 

• Mistake one: Being in the dark about what is required
• Mistake two: Choosing a specialty without considering all the options
• Mistake three: Putting too many extracurriculars on your schedule

There are many mistakes applicants make when applying to a pre-med college program, like applying before you’ve done your homework, not determining which academic program fits you best, making your essay too emotional, or lacking sufficient research and clinical experience. It's vital for high school students who will ultimately need to know how to prepare for medical school. Preparing while in high school will help you succeed.

Mistake #1: Being in the dark about what is required

Enthusiasm can be a great motivator, but it’s not enough. Ask yourself, do you know the college courses you’ll need when you eventually apply to medical school? These include:

• 1 year of general biology with lab
• 1 year of general chemistry with lab
• 1 year of physics
• 1 year of organic chemistry with lab

You'll also need at least 1-2 semesters of English, math (usually calculus), and in some cases, statistics. How do you avoid missing out on these requirements? We suggest you sit down with your advisor early and plan when to take these classes. 

Another way to get ahead in your journey to pre-med and, one day, medical school? Start taking online pre-college courses now. Prelum by Kaplan partners with some of the top universities in the nation, such as Georgetown University, Wake Forest University, Dartmouth, and Rice University, to name a few. 

All Prelum partner schools offer lessons through dynamic videos with interactive tools. You can study whenever your schedule allows. You’ll even enjoy the support of a mentor who will guide you and answer your questions. And you’ll earn a Certificate of Completion that will bolster your college application. It proves you went the extra mile before applying to a pre-med program.

Think biology might be a good place to start? Here’s one option:

Georgetown University Pre-College Online Program: In addition to biology, this robust program also offers courses in medical research and surgery, among other subjects. Georgetown courses are delivered by renowned professors, and some courses even offer college credit. Ranked #24 among national universities by U.S. News & World Report, Georgetown is also ranked #50 for Best Value Schools. 

Mistake 2: Choosing a specialty without considering all the options

You may be a sophomore in high school with a parent or relative who is a brain surgeon. Sounds cool, doesn’t it? However, neurology and neurosurgery are some of the most rigorous and lengthy specialties. The neurological surgery residency alone is typically 7 years. Ask yourself, do you know what courses you’ll need to take in pre-med to prepare for a future specialty? Can you afford a lengthy specialty where very few actually make it? With medical school acceptance rates at about 41%, have you thought about taking some online courses that could help you get a better feel for what works best for you?

Now you can. Wake Forest pre-med college prep is a great place to start. Wake Forest University offers a popular pre-college online program, and courses are led by medical faculty with Wake Forest University professors. Ranked #46 by U.S. News & World Report, Wake Forest offers a wide range of medical courses, including medicine,  cancer medicine, sports medicine, and women’s medicine.

Remember, pre-med is an undergraduate track. Don’t deny yourself other interests. Wake Forest’s pre-college online program also offers courses in business, criminal law, finance, and psychology, among others. Remember, high school is the perfect time to explore a range of interests. Think of online pre-college courses as your on-ramp to the future.

Another popular pre-college program is offered by Dartmouth College. Their pre-college online program includes Regenerative Medicine: Healing with Science. This fascinating course explores tissue engineering, stem cell technology, and organ regeneration in modern medicine. Discover cutting-edge tools like 3D bioprinting and biomaterials that are shaping the future of medicine. Enjoy interactive lessons and real-world case studies. See what is revolutionizing healthcare today—an excellent program for anyone who is intrigued by the interface of science and medicine.

Mistake 3: Putting too many extracurriculars on your schedule

Let’s say you’ve been accepted into a pre-med program at the college of your choice. Way to go!  But keep in mind you have medical school in your target zone; you’ll need to focus a lot of attention on activities that really matter, such as:

• Scheduling enough time for classes
• Devoting time for research and labs
• Studying for the MCAT
• Volunteering in a medical setting
• Taking care to get enough sleep

As one source put it:

“When it comes to avoiding pre-med mistakes, it’s crucial that you start working on your medical school extracurricular profile early. MD programs are extremely competitive; simply joining common groups like MAPS or AMSA isn’t enough. To impress admissions committee members, you need to maintain sustained involvement in a medical setting or participate in an activity that conveys you have the characteristics that are highly desirable in future doctors. The goal? To portray passion in a way that helps you stand out from other applicants.”

Once again, many are choosing pre-college online programs. Another Prelum partner school is Rice University. Rice is acclaimed as a member of the New Ivy League, and its pre-med courses offer a diverse and interesting mix of disciplines. Through the Rice University Precollege Program, high school students can take medicine, physiology, and even genome engineering. 

Can pre-college online learning help prepare you for pre-med? Our students say it best:

“I was able to learn a lot as a high schooler that I would otherwise not be able to learn just yet. I am deeply grateful for this experience and the teachers who made it possible.” 

Maria M, New Jersey

“This program is truly exceptional. Not only is the material engaging and enjoyable, but it’s hands-on. I’m glad I had the opportunity to convene and discuss my ideas with other students. I learned so much and had fun doing so.” 

Mari Beth C., Illinois

Once you begin working on your application, carefully consider the list of pre-med mistakes above. You want to make sure you’re avoiding them. Building a successful application takes concentration and time. However, if you plan ahead, check in with your school counsellor regularly, and commit time to pre-college online courses, you will increase your chances of getting into the pre-med program of your choice. Be sure to peruse the Prelum partner schools; you’ll be amazed at the many courses available to motivated high school students. It’s a great way to see if pre-med is truly for you.

This was last reviewed by Ashley Simmons on 05/09/2025.