Swarthmore College Faculty Committee on the Pre-Medical Program records

Swarthmore College has never offered a formal “premed” major for students planning to pursue graduate degrees in medicine, but in the past, faculty members offered advice and guidance on an informal basis. In 1945, upon the retirement of Professor of Zoology Frank Kille, who used to serve as the de facto pre-medical advisor, a Pre-medical Advisory Committee was formed. The committee offered curriculum planning guidance and advice to students.

In the 1949/1950 school year, this assistance expanded with the formation of a Faculty Committee on the Pre-Medical Program. The committee coordinated student applications and prepared comprehensive letters of recommendation to medical schools, based on faculty evaluations, test scores, and grade transcripts. The committee also provided guidance to pre-medical students, particularly in planning their Swarthmore curriculum and in identifying medical schools to which to apply.

Later, Swarthmore formed a Health Sciences Office, with a staff advisor to offer information and advising to students and alums interested in careers in the health sciences. There is also a Health Sciences Advisory Committee, composed of faculty members, deans and the Health Sciences Advisor. The primary responsibility of this group is to prepare a committee letter of recommendation for students applying to medical school, which is an important part of their application.