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Pre-Professional Programs

Students interested in medical, veterinary, or law school can pursue any of the majors offered in the college while at the same time completing preparatory coursework for graduate programs in human and veterinary medicine or law.

Pre-Med & Pre-Vet

One in six Cornell undergraduate students intends to pursue a career in human or veterinary medicine. These students can be found in all seven colleges studying myriad subjects, such as: English, textile science, physics, biology, chemistry, computer science, government, philosophy, and entomology. Like all CALS students, those who wish to pursue advanced degrees in medicine are encouraged to choose the undergraduate major that best suits their interests and goals. The flexibility within the CALS curriculum allows motivated students to complete all of their major coursework, while at the same time completing the pre-professional courses required by medical or veterinary schools.

Learn more about Pre-Med & Pre-Vet Programs.

 

  • Business Minor for Life Sciences Majors

    Pre-med students (including pre-dental) can supplement their scientific studies with a strong foundation in business and entrepreneurship through the undergraduate business minor for life sciences majors in the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.
     
  • Cornell Accelerated B.S./DVM Program

    The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) have established a formal seven-year B.S./DVM program. This program gives exceptionally well-qualified CALS students the opportunity to obtain provisional admission to CVM after completing their freshman year.
     

Pre-Law

While there is no official pre-law major, there are always a number of CALS students who are interested in advancing on to law school after graduation. Law schools are primarily interested in students with sharp, critical minds, rather than those who have completed a specific list of courses; there is no ideal pre-law curriculum. When selecting a major, it is recommended to all CALS students to choose the course of study that is most interesting and useful. Pre-law students, in particular, will need to identify courses and activities that strengthen their skills in writing, public speaking, research, problem-solving and critical thinking, and analysis.

Learn more about preparing for law school.