美國本科不設立臨床醫學專業，其醫學院是碩博連讀的。想在美國讀醫，在本科階段需修讀滿足醫學院申請要求的先修課程，除此以外，醫學院還需要評估學生的課外活動經歷和與醫學相關的工作經歷，然後再參加MCAT（Medical College Admission Test）考試，通過醫學院的面試後，才能成為正式的醫學院學生。
實際上醫學預科對美國大多數學校來說並不被認為是一個確切的專業。醫學預科是學校為了幫助和指導學生申請醫學院而設立的課程計劃。在此課程計劃裡，學校會跟據醫學院的申請要求，指導學生進行相關的準備。
看到這裡，或許有學生會認為只要按照相關醫學院的申請要求來選課就可以了，為什麼要選擇醫學預科項目呢？沒錯，只要修讀滿醫學院的先修課程就能達到申請醫學院的基本申請要求，但是在美國，很多學校的實驗室課程能容納學生的數目是非常有限的，而這些實驗室課程卻是醫學院非常重視的。如果選擇醫學預科課程計劃，學校能為學生優先安排實驗室課程、醫院實習和與醫學有關的課外活動，並為學生提供醫學院申請指導，這樣能讓學生更順利地申請醫學院，具備更強的競爭力。
所以一般想要學醫的學生會主修一個專業，同時諮詢學校的顧問，選擇修讀醫學預科課程，獲取更好的學業規劃。通常來說，這些預備役醫學生比較青睞的專業是：生物、化學、物理。
接下來將依次以約翰霍普金斯、布朗大學和西北大學的Pre-Med/Health Advising Track為例。
約翰霍普金斯大學
John Hopkins University
約翰霍普金斯大學的醫學預科諮詢指導由它的the Office of Pre-Professional Advising提供。官網介紹：
Advisors in the Office of Pre-Professional Advising help pre-health students prepare for a career in the health professions, make informed decisions in their pre-health course planning, secure relevant and meaningful experience, overcome obstacles, and navigate the application process. As stated in our mission, we advise students to 「pursue a holistic approach to their education, to be reflective about their learning and decision-making, and to demonstrate social responsibility and a commitment to voluntarism in preparation for a career of service.」
職前諮詢辦公室的顧問幫助醫學預科的學生在醫學領域的職業作準備，在醫學預科課程計劃中作出明智的選擇，幫助其獲得相關的、有意義的經驗，克服障礙，並引導學生申請醫學院的過程。正如我們的使命所言，我們建議學生「追求全面的教育，為了能夠反思他們的學習和決策，並能展示社會責任感和志願為服務事業做準備的承諾。」
For many pre-health students, the most important challenge is deciding what health profession is right for them and assessing the implications of that decision. The Pre-Professional Programs and Advising Office has compiled information into a series of medical and dental planning guides which will help students to understand the process of preparing for and applying to the various medical and dental schools. These guides will help you to put together the best possible presentation of yourself when applying to medical and dental schools.
對許多醫學預科學生來說，最重要的挑戰就是決定哪一個醫學領域是最適合自己的，並評估該決定的影響。職前項目和諮詢辦公室整理了一系列醫學和牙醫學的規劃指南，用於幫助學生理解準備和申請不同的醫學院和牙醫學院的過程。這些指南會幫助你集合自己最佳的表現以用於申請這些醫學院和牙醫學院。
根據該指導，有幾個重點需要學生注意：
1. Varying requirements across medical schools 醫學院的要求不盡相同
Course requirements often vary among medical schools. Therefore, it is simply not possible for you to meet every pre-med requirement for every medical school in the U.S. What is most important is to consider the coursework and academic background necessary to best prepare for medical school and to perform well on the MCAT. You must research individual medical school requirements to ensure you have completed all prerequisite coursework.
各所醫學院的課程要求通常有所區別。因此，你不可能滿足美國每一所醫學院的醫學預科要求。最重要的是要考慮更能為進入醫學院作充分準備並能在MCAT考試中取得優勢的課程和學術背景。你必須研究分別的醫學院的要求，來確保你已經完成了所有的先修課程。
2. Find balance 尋求平衡
Do not allow extra-curricular activities to distract you from fulfilling your academic commitments. On the other hand, you should not obsess over earning 「perfect」 grades. Although you need a strong GPA to be admitted to medical school, trying to maintain a perfect GPA may prevent you from pursuing experiences outside of the classroom that will help set you apart from other medical school candidates. The key is to find balance between your academics and extra-curricular activities.
不要讓課外活動分散你完成學業的注意力。另一方面，你也不應該沉迷於獲得「完美」的成績。儘管你需要一個漂亮的GPA以進入醫學院，但保持這樣一個GPA可能會使你失去獲得課外相關經驗的機會，這些經驗本將可以使你從其他醫學院申請者中脫穎而出。其中的關鍵還是要在你的學業和課外活動中尋找一個平衡點。
3. The English/writing requirement 英語/書寫要求
Ultimately, it is at the discretion of a medical or dental school to determine whether a particular course meets their English requirement, and it is your responsibility to be familiar with the English requirement for each medical/dental school to which you will apply. However, we offer the following general guidelines for choosing classes to fulfill the requirement:
最終都是由醫學院或者牙醫學院來決定一門課程是否符合他們的英語要求，而你的責任在於需熟悉你所申請的學校的不同英語要求。不過在這裡我們提供了以下指導，以便學生選擇符合他們要求的課程：
At least one introductory level 「writing intensive」 course . Although any introductory level course is acceptable, we recommend Expository Writing as one of your two courses. 至少一門初級「寫作強化」課程。儘管任何入門課程都是可以接受的，但是我們推薦說明性寫作作為你的兩門課程之一。
A second humanities or social sciences class that fulfills the JHU writing intensive requirement. 人文或社科類課程，需符合JHU寫作強化要求。
布朗大學的醫學預科相關指導歸於Health Careers Advising醫學職業建議。官網介紹：
Brown offers you many ways to develop the skills and earn the credentials you need for successful application to schools of the health professions. One of your main goals as an undergraduate should be to find a balance between pursuing your broader interests and meeting admission requirements during your years in college and following graduation. Admission committees look for applicants who demonstrate competence, self-awareness, dedication, as well as a track record of academic success, clinical and research experience, and broader interests.
布朗大學提供了很多方式以便發展你的技能和獲取申請醫學院所需的證書。作為一名本科生，你的其中一個目標應該是於追求更廣闊的興趣和滿足錄取要求之間尋求一個平衡，在你的四年本科學習和接下來的研究生階段中。招生委員會尋找的是展示出能力，自我意識，風險精神，並具有學術成就，臨床和研究經驗以及廣泛興趣的申請者。
根據該建議計劃：
1. Academic Preparation 學術準備
Successful applicants to medical school generally have a science GPA of 3.5 or higher (average GPAs vary for admitted applicants to other health professions). Note that strong grade point averages and test scores alone are not enough to gain admission to any health profession training program.
成功申請醫學院的學生通常GPA在3.5及以上（其他醫學專業不盡相同）。值得注意的是，僅僅有很高的GPA和標化成績並不足以獲得任何醫學訓練項目的錄取。
2. Clinical Experience 臨床經歷
All health profession training programs require you to gain some knowledge of the profession you aspire to join before applying. In the case of medical school, there is no particular time commitment that you must make, though we recommend volunteering or working in a clinical setting at least once per week over the span of a year or more.
所有的醫學培訓項目都要求你在申請之前對你想學習的專業具有一定的了解。在醫學院，沒有一定的時間要求，不過我們建議你在臨床環境中志願服務或者工作至少一年內每周一次，或者更多。
3. Research Experience 研究經歷
Although research is not strictly required by the great majority of medical and other health professions schools, most applicants have one or more experiences that expose them to the practice of scholarly inquiry before they apply for admission.
儘管絕大多數醫學和其他衛生專業學校並不嚴格要求進行研究，但大多數申請者都有一個或多個經歷，使他們在申請入學前接受學術調查。
西北大學
Northwestern University
西北大學的醫學預科指導在它的Health Professions Advising(HPA)中，官網介紹：
If you decide you're ready to pursue medical school, let us help you pick classes, find opportunities to boost your resume, and plan for your future career.
如果你決定好了你想進入醫學院，那麼讓我們來幫助你選課，尋求提升你簡歷的機會，並為你的未來職業生涯出謀劃策。
6個學生可能處於的起始階段：
I'm just starting my pre-med path 我才剛開始我的醫學預科之路
I’m a first-year student and I'm not sure my grades are good enough 我是一年級學生，並且我不清楚我的成績是否足夠好
I want to take a year off before attending medical school 我想在進入醫學院前休息一年
I’m a currently an undergrad, but I haven’t taken any pre-med courses 我現在是一名本科畢業生，不過我沒修讀過任何醫學預科課程
I’m a Northwestern alum and recently decided to pursue a medical career 我是西北大學的校友，最近想要追求醫學事業
I want to go straight into medical school after graduation 我想在畢業之後至今進入醫學院
詳細解答和對策見官網：
https://www.northwestern.edu/health-professions-advising/pre-med/path-to-med-school/index.html
學術準備
類似於前兩所學校的建議，即修讀要求的課程；完成MCAT考試；選擇自己感興趣的專業。
非學術類的活動
臨床經歷；研究經歷；社區參與活動等
建議修讀課程：
1. General Chemistry（普通化學）:
Most schools require one year with lab.
Northwestern course sequences that satisfy this requirement:
CHEM 110, CHEM 131 + lab (141), and CHEM 132 + lab (142)
OR
CHEM 151 + lab (161) and CHEM 152 + lab (162)
OR
CHEM 171 + lab (181) and CHEM 172 + lab (182)
Organic Chemistry（有機化學）:
Most schools require one year with lab.
Northwestern classes that fill this requirement:
CHEM 210-1,2,3 + labs
OR
CHEM 212-1,2,3 + labs (chemistry majors and ISP students only)
2. Biology（生物）:
Most schools require one year with lab. Labs do not need to be taken concurrently with lectures, but must be taken in order.
Northwestern courses that fill this requirement:
BIOL SCI 215 (Genetics & Molecular Biology; offered spring quarter)
BIOL SCI 217 (Physiology; offered fall quarter)
BIOL SCI 219 (Cell Biology; offered winter quarter)
BIOL SCI 301 (Biochemistry; offered spring quarter)
Northwestern labs that fill this requirement:
BIOL SCI 220 (Genetic & Molecular Processes Lab; offered fall quarter)
BIOL SCI 221 (Cellular Processes Lab; offered winter quarter)
BIOL SCI 222 (Investigative Lab; offered spring quarter)
ISP Students should take Bio 240 and 241 with labs 220, 221, and 222.
3. Physics（物理）：
Most schools require one year with lab.
Northwestern classes that fulfill this requirement:
PHYSICS130-1,2,3 + labs (Algebra-based)
PHYSICS135-1,2,3 + labs (Calculus-based; engineering majors can skip 135-1 as it is covered in Engineering Analysis sequence)
4. Math（數學）：
Mathematics requirements vary among medical schools. We recommend one year of mathematics and/or statistics coursework, typically two quarters of calculus and one quarter of statistics. We strongly recommended a statistics course in preparation for the MCAT.
Northwestern courses that typically fulfill these requirements:
MATH 218-1,2,3 (Department permission required)
MATH 220-1,2
MATH 226-0
MATH 228-1,2 or MATH 230-1,2 (formerly MATH 230-0 and MATH 234-0)
MATH 290-1,2,3 or MATH 291-1,2,3
Any statistics course
5. English（英語）：
Schools typically required one year of English/writing intensive courses.
Northwestern classes that fulfill this requirement:
2 WCAS freshman seminars + 1 course in English or Comparative Literature
3 courses in English or Comparative Literature
Engineering students: ENGLISH 106-1 & 106-2, plus 2 courses in English or Comparative Literature
Behavioral and Social Sciences（行為與社會科學）:
Introductory courses in psychology and sociology are recommended for MCAT preparation. Some medical schools may also require courses in the behavioral and social sciences and/or the humanities.
6. Common Additional Requirements（常見的額外要求）:
The following schools require these additional courses. See their websites for more information.
UIC: one upper level biology course; three courses in psychology, anthropology, sociology, economics, gender studies (two must be from the same area)
UC-Irvine: Five quarters of biology
Texas Schools: Two years of biology
Hopkins: Nine courses in humanities, social and/or behavioral sciences
畢業生可以選擇繼續本專業的研究生階段學習，或者醫學院，還可以從事他們專業的入門級職業，比如生物學和化學。
以下是一些本科學位可從事的職業：
Chemist 化學家
Wildlife biologist 野生動物生物學家
Zoologist 動物學家
Geoscientist 地球科學家
Forensic science technician 法醫學技術員
Environmental scientist or specialist 環境科學家或專家
碩士和博士可從事的職業：
Physician 內科醫生
Surgeon外科醫生
Pharmacist 藥劑師
Dentist 牙醫
Veterinarian 獸醫
Optometrist 驗光師
Psychologist 心理學家
1. Physicians and Surgeons 內科和外科醫生
Aspiring physicians or surgeons would need to complete medical school and a residency program in order to obtain state licensure to practice, all after finishing a pre-med program. Physicians and surgeons examine and care for patients with a wide range of illnesses and injuries. Surgeons use surgery to treat these conditions, while physicians usually use medications and other treatment methods. Typically these doctors specialize in a particular area of the medical field, such as pathology, cardiology, dermatology, and more.
有追求的內科醫生或外科醫生將需要完成醫學院和住院醫師課程，以獲得國家執業執照，當然所有這些都是在完成了醫學預科課程之後。內科醫生和外科醫生負責檢查和護理病人的各種疾病和傷口。外科醫生使用手術來治療這些疾病，而內科醫生通常使用藥物和其他治療方法。這些醫生通常專注於醫學領域的特定領域，如病理學、心臟病學、皮膚病學等等。
2. Pharmacists 藥劑師
After a pre-med degree, aspiring pharmacists must go on to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree and they may need to complete additional training in order to obtain state licensure. Pharmacists fill prescriptions for patients and educate patients on how to properly use the medications.
取得醫學預科學位後，有追求的藥劑師必須繼續攻讀藥學博士學位，他們可能需要完成額外的培訓才能獲得國家執照。藥劑師為病人配藥並教導病人如何正確使用藥物。
3. Chemists 化學家
Chemists can begin their career with a bachelor's degree, such as one earned after completing a pre-med program, but more advanced research positions may require a master's or doctoral degree. Chemists study materials at the foundational levels, such as the atoms or molecules that make up a substance, and observe how different materials interact with one another. Usually their work is applied to improving some kinds of product or testing current products for quality and safety. Some chemists may specialize in a particular area of chemistry, like organic chemistry, forensic chemistry, or theoretical chemistry.
化學家可以從學士學位開始他們的職業生涯，比如完成醫學預科課程後獲得的學位，但更高級的研究職位可能需要碩士學位或博士學位。化學家在基礎水平上研究材料，例如組成物質的原子或分子，觀察不同的材料之間如何相互作用。他們的工作通常用於改進某些產品或測試現有產品的質量和安全。有些化學家可能專門研究化學的某一特定領域，如有機化學、法醫化學或理論化學。