Interested in Premed? Here’s What You Need to Know

If medical school is your goal, you’ll be advised to let your interests lead you there. At NYU, there is no designated premed major. Since medical schools seek to admit a diverse pool of applicants, NYU students are encouraged to focus on their interests during undergraduate study. They also work with advisers to ensure their curriculum is well-rounded and tailored to demonstrate their unique talents.

Dhruv Patel learned the power of following his passions during his first year at NYU. He started out on the prehealth track. Then a course on urban environmentalism led him to shift his focus. “I didn’t realize how much a city structure can lead to social injustice and that environmental racism can create public health crises for certain populations,” he says.

These revelations led Dhruv to major in Chemical and Bimolecular Engineering at Tandon School of Engineering. While studying abroad at NYU Abu Dhabi, he worked as a student researcher and explored tissue engineering in the Vijay Lab. In New York City, he works with Professor Graham Dove as a research assistant, investigating how data can be applied to create better health outcomes at a population level.

Today, Dhruv is on track to apply for medical school. He feels more prepared as an engineering major with extensive research projects under his belt. These projects will, no doubt, strengthen his application. “Engineering imparts a lot of problem-solving skills on students, which are applicable to both med school and other areas of life,” Dhruv concludes.

Students hoping to apply to medical school or other postgraduate medical programs will need to complete foundational prerequisites in biology, chemistry, physics, and math in order to submit a strong application, which is why advising is important for long-term planning. All NYU students have access to advisers who work with them side-by-side to ensure they build a strong application for postgraduate study.

Each NYU student’s path to postgraduate study, medical school, and a career in the health-care field is unique and self-directed. NYU offers a wide variety of resources and support to guide students along their journey. Here is a sampling of those resources.

The Wasserman Center for Career Development offers students specialized career coaching, internship opportunities, alumni and networking events, personalized CV and résumé reviews, and interviewing help.

The staff at the NYU Writing Center help students craft strong application letters and strengthen their writing skills. Also, they will review writing samples for graduate school or internship applications.

The NYU Abu Dhabi Career Development Center provides personalized guidance. They also offer advising and resources to support students during their time at NYU Abu Dhabi and beyond.

Staff at the Center for Career Development at NYU Shanghai host events, curate extensive job and internship lists, and provide individual guidance for students throughout their time on campus.

Alumni events and networking opportunities throughout the year offer current students access to working professionals. These give students exposure to unfiltered advice and valuable insights.

Internship and externship opportunities are available across all NYU campuses and global sites. These opportunities connect students to real-world experience and strengthen their postgraduate applications.

This story was originally published in the Spring 2025 issue of Meet NYU Magazine. It was a part of a larger story focused on professional pathways at NYU. To learn more about pursuing careers in other health-related fields, click here. Finally, if you’re interested in a prelaw track, you can learn more here.