East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine prerequisites

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. The single most universal prerequisite: essentially every MD and DO program asks for it, and it is the foundation the MCAT assumes.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. Take it early: organic chemistry, biochemistry, and most upper-division biology all sit behind it, so a late start pushes the whole sequence past your MCAT date.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab at most schools. A meaningful and growing minority accept one semester of organic plus one of biochemistry. Do not drop the second semester on that assumption until you have checked the schools you actually want.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester, lab rarely required. Roughly two thirds of schools require it outright and the MCAT tests it heavily, so treat it as required even where it technically is not, and take it before you sit the exam.

2 semesters · 8 credits · lab

Two semesters with lab. Algebra-based is accepted almost everywhere; take the calculus-based sequence only if your major needs it or a target school names it.

2 semesters · 6 credits

Two semesters of English or writing-intensive coursework. Many schools accept writing-intensive courses from any department, but a few name English specifically. If your writing credits come from elsewhere, confirm before you count them.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Most schools with a math requirement accept statistics or calculus; statistics is the more widely accepted of the two and the more useful for reading clinical research, so the baseline tracks it here. If a target school names calculus, its own requirements will say so.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Required outright at a minority of schools (several of them highly selective) and accepted in place of statistics at most of the rest. Take it if calculus is already in your major's path.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. A minority of schools require it, but a quarter of the MCAT is psychological and social foundations: this is the cheapest points on the exam.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Same reasoning as psychology: required by fewer schools, tested directly on the MCAT.

1 semester · 3 credits

One semester. Required by a small number of schools and a common way to fill the upper-division science coursework that strengthens a science GPA.

150+ hours

Most medical schools ask for 150+ hours and list it as recommended.

Unambiguous: "All applicants to BSOM must have patient-facing experiences at the time of application." Two consequences. The letters have to match (Brody wants "letters of recommendation from evaluators who have spent time with the applicant during patient-facing experiences"), and the timing is fixed, because "during the review process, BSOM only considers experiences that were submitted at the time of application". Hours accrued after you submit do not count. No minimum figure is published.

50+ hours

Aim for 40-50 across more than one specialty, including primary care. DO programs weigh shadowing more heavily and several ask for hours with a DO specifically. If DO schools are on your list, get those hours and the letter early.

150+ hours

Most medical schools ask for 150+ hours and list it as recommended.

"All applicants to BSOM should have volunteer experience listed on their application. While we do not require any specific type of volunteering, we encourage applicants to pursue experiences that are meaningful to them and their community." The expectation is that something is there; the kind is up to you, and no hours figure is given.

100+ hours

"While research is not required, we encourage all applicants to pursue well-rounded experiences, which can include research." Stated plainly as not required.

No published minimum

"We strongly recommend that at least one of the clinical letters is written by a physician, but all letters must be written by a member of the clinical team." A physician is preferred, not mandated: a nurse or other clinical team member can write it. Letters must come to AMCAS from the writer; Brody accepts no other method and no letters of intent.

No published minimum

Brody's letters must match its patient-facing requirement: "BSOM requires a letter of recommendation from evaluators who have spent time with the applicant during patient-facing experiences... all letters must be written by a member of the clinical team." And it closes the research door explicitly: "letters from research or professional mentors cannot be used to meet this requirement." The writer need not have formally supervised you, but they must have been on the clinical team and watched you with patients.