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Preparing yourself as early as you can is the key to getting accepted into med school.

If you're based in Indiana (or interested in going to school there), choosing one of the best pre-med schools in the state can also help.

In this article we'll cover:

The best pre-med schools in Indiana (based on reputation and alumni)
How important it is to attend a good pre-med school in the state
What pre-meds in the state can do to be more competitive

Getting into med school is tough, the right information can help give you a small advantage.

Ready to learn more? Let's go!

Before we get into the best pre-med schools in Indiana, you might be interested in what's on offer in the surrounding states. Check out our guide; Best Pre-Med Schools in the USA for more information.

Best Pre-Med Schools in Indiana

1. Indiana State University

Location:	Terre Haute, IN
National University Rank:	299-391
Average SAT score:	910-1120
Acceptance Rate:	89%
Tuition:	$9,466 in-state; $20,570 out-of-state
Private/Public	Public

Since the Indiana University School of Medicine-Terre Haute is located at Indiana State, it makes sense that Indiana State has a Pre-Medicine program. They specify, however, that it is a program for students applying to medical school, NOT Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner programs.

The school provides pre-professional advisors to help students select majors, plan a course of study, and navigate the med school application process. The school also has relatively small classes in addition to research and shadowing opportunities. The presence of the medical school in Terre Haute provides an excellent chance to interact with med students and faculty.

There are volunteer and community service options available through St. Anne's Clinic and the Area Health Center. Indiana State also has a Premedical Student Society to help provide guidance and insight.

A tremendous opportunity for in-state students is the Rural Health Program. Successful applicants to this program receive undergraduate tuition waivers, summer programs and internships, Mini Med School, and acceptance to Indiana University School of Medicine in return for practicing medicine in rural Indiana upon completion of medical school.

Sarah Rae has a neat video discussing pre-med life at ISU, check it out below…

Details

Name: Indiana State University
Location: 102 Gillum Hall,Terre Haute, IN 47809
Phone: (812) 237-3773
Website: indstate.edu

2. Indiana Wesleyan University

Location:	Marion, IN
National University Rank:	#13 Best Colleges in Indiana
Average SAT score:	1130, but SAT not required for admission
Acceptance Rate:	67%
Tuition:	$39,532
Private/Public	Private

IWU is the largest private university in Indiana and offers in-residence, online, regional, and seminary programs.

The PreMed program is not a major but a "program label" that allows faculty to help guide and track your progress toward being a successful applicant to any allopathic or osteopathic medical program. IWU has a "great record" of placing students in graduate programs, and "many graduate in the top 10%" of those programs.

As their website says, if you feel called to the medical profession and you are "searching premed schools in Indiana for a Christian university," contact them for more information.

See the promo vid below for more in the school…

Details

Name: Indiana Wesleyan University
Location: 4201 S. Washington St., Marion IN 46953
Phone: (866) 468-6498
Website: indwes.edu

3. University of Notre Dame

Location:	South Bend/Notre Dame, IN
National University Rank:	19
Average SAT score:	1475
Acceptance Rate:	15.8%
Tuition:	$58,843
Private/Public	Private

The University of Notre Dame takes pride in preparing medical students through their "Pre-health supplementary major" – 84% of pre-med graduates are accepted into medical school.

All Pre-Health students have access to specialized advising through the Center for Health Sciences Advising, which helps students find research, internship, and service experiences to best fit their individual goals.

Notre Dame also values the "Arts and Letters" preparation – students get 49 hours of science classes along with 70 hours of humanities, which helps prepare better-rounded, better-prepared medical students.

This approach to the humanities helps prepare students for the new MCAT, which includes social and behavioral science and critical reasoning, and produces the type of student recruited by medical schools: "Medical schools are now increasingly seeking applicants with a broad, liberal arts education who have developed the interpersonal skills necessary for a successful career in medicine."

Notre Dame offers many unique opportunities for pre-health students: the Kellogg/Kroc Undergraduate Research Grants; the fall semester study abroad in Puebla, Mexico featuring hospital rotations and job shadowing; and the Medicine and the Liberal Arts Program, featuring lectures, conferences, and internship support.

Yoora Jung has a nice video on YouTube detailing a "day in the life" of a pre-med student at Notre Dame…

Details

Name: University of Notre Dame
Location: Notre Dame, IN 46556
Phone: (574) 631-5000
Website: nd.edu

4. Ball State University

Location:	Muncie, IN
National University Rank:	202
Average SAT score:	1150
Acceptance Rate:	77%
Tuition:	$10,428 in state; $27,046 out-of-state
Private/Public	Public

Ball State has a Pre-Med major (it also has Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Vet, and a host of others specializations in the Department of Biology). The program is rigorous in its preparation for medical school and encourages you to learn systematic study habits, and a curriculum that gives you "a rich, strong foundation in the sciences and other academic areas, hands-on research experiences, and clinical opportunities."

One of the biggest selling points for Ball State Pre-Med is the small class size and access to individualized attention in the classroom and lab. They also collaborate with other regional health programs and medical schools to ensure that their graduates will meet all med school admissions requirements.

This program helps students participate in research through credit classes and/or applying for undergraduate research grants. There are also summer research opportunities, fellowship programs, and opportunities to shadow physicians.

The Pre-health Professions Club will connect you with like-minded students to help support your changing needs and connect with peers studying pre-health subjects.

The video below showcases the facilities and programs you'll have on offer as a pre-med at Ball State…

Details

Name: Ball State University
Location: 2000 West University Ave, Muncie IN 47306
Phone: (765) 289-1241
Website: bsu.edu

5. Purdue University

Location:	West Lafayette, IN
National University Rank:	49
Average SAT score:	1315
Acceptance Rate:	60%
Tuition:	$9,992 in state; $28,794 out-of-state
Private/Public	Public

Like most large universities, Purdue offers Pre-Med and the assurance that you will be well-prepared for medical school and the "rigors of a professional program."

Beyond the classroom, Purdue offers some unique research options, including a weekly seminar highlighting current research in the Health Sciences department. Students can partner with faculty to work on projects in Toxicology, Imaging Sciences, and Medical Physics.

Purdue also has a number of Pre-Med student organizations including Lambda Tau (Clinical Laboratory), Medical Student Association, and Global Medical Brigades. The Purdue MEDLIFE Chapter is a great way to get clinical experience through mobile clinics and providing education on public and preventive health.

Purdue offers two study abroad programs for Pre-Med/Pre-Health students in conjunction with the Dublin Institute of Technology: the Maymester program and the Semester Exchange.

Check out the video below for an introduction to Purdue's School of Health Sciences and learn more about what they have to offer aspiring pre-meds…

Details

Name: Purdue University
Location: 610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone: (765) 494-4600
Website: purdue.edu

Is It Important To Attend A Good Pre-Med School In Indiana?

Having a reputable school on your med school application can look good. Performing well during undergrad, at any of the colleges recommended above, is a strong indicator you'll fit in studying medicine.

How much an individual school actually contributes to your chances of becoming a doctor is open for debate, however.

The biggest factors, in terms of competitiveness, are your GPA score, your clinical experience (shadowing, working, etc), and extracurriculars, and how well you present yourself in application essays and interviews.

To say the strength of your candidacy comes solely down to where you studied for pre-med would be a stretch!

What College In Indiana Has The Best Medical Program?

The best medical school in the state, according to U.S. News Ranking, is The School of Medicine at Indiana University–Indianapolis. You'll need an average GPA of 3.8 and an average MCAT of 509.

How To Improve Your Medicine Application As A Pre-Med In School In Indiana

A great way to make your med school application as competitive as possible is through extracurriculars.

In Indiana, you have a lot of clinically relevant medical/hospital volunteering opportunities to take advantage of.

Related: 5 Physician Shadowing Programs In Indianapolis

These positions are organized and very useful for obtaining letters of recommendation (LOR's), shadowing, and other important networking connections.

You can also look into relevant pre-med jobs like scribing, EMT, and phlebotomy available in the state for extra clinical experience.

What Is The Hardest/Easiest College In Indiana To Get Into For Pre-Med?

Based on the data above, Indiana Wesleyan University appears easiest to gain admission into as an undergrad. Their admission rate is one of the highest and the SAT is not required.

The University of Notre Dame appears the most competitive.

What Major Should I Choose As A Pre-Med?

The standard advice is to choose a major you feel you can do well in. Your GPA will be possibly the biggest differentiator between you and other pre-med candidates.

Here's what you should consider:

How motivated you'll be to study (choose something you'll enjoy)
How "suitable" you are to the subject (maximize your chance of a high GPA)

Related: What's The Easiest Pre Med Major? (Read This First!)

If you did well in a particular subject in high school, or find something relatively easy to get good grades in, that could make for a good pick.

Something else to think about is the MCAT. Sometimes life science subjects can be a good fit as they'll help you in the preparation for this key med school exam. They also may cover many of the prerequisites.

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He's into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more.