The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine's Professional Option Program in Medicine permits undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding potential for success in medicine to begin medical school during their fourth year in the College. This is a highly competitive, merit-award program.

Because of the accelerated nature of the curriculum, applicants must have outstanding academic credentials as evidenced by a combination of GPA and MCAT scores that place them among the top nationwide candidates for medical school (i.e., GPA typically in the range of 3.7 and MCAT scores typically not less than 33 with no individual section score less than 8). Eligible students also have a clear understanding of their motivation for medicine; evidence of analytical thinking, effective communication skills, leadership, and engagement in the various communities in which they participate; and compelling reasons to attend Pritzker.

Candidates will apply to this program during their third year in the College. Eligible students must have completed 33 credits (of the 42 required for a degree in the College) by the end of their third year. These 33 credits must include all 15 general education requirements and one-half of the requirements for their major.

Through this program, students will, upon completion of the first year of medical school at Pritzker, be allowed to use credit from their medical school courses to fulfill the remaining nine credits for the undergraduate degree. At the successful conclusion of their first year of medical school, students completing their degree in this fashion will receive the Bachelor of Arts in Professional Option: Medicine. Because students pursuing a professional option program do not complete the requirements for a College major, they are not eligible for departmental honors upon receiving their bachelor's degree.

Interested students should schedule an appointment with a health professions adviser early in their second year. Consult the Office of Admissions at the Pritzker School of Medicine (pritzkeradmissions@bsd.uchicago.edu) for details.