How to Apply to Life Sciences and Medicine-Related Majors at Wake Forest: Admission Without Choosing a Major, Declaring Around Sophomore Spring, Different Requirements in Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Neuroscience and Health and Exercise Science, for Domestic and International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

The life-science and health-related undergraduate majors at Wake Forest University sit in Wake Forest College and lead to a B.A. or B.S. This guide follows Wake Forest’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. There is no pre-medicine major in the United States, so the pre-med section only reports what Wake Forest’s Prehealth Professions website says.

1. Which related undergraduate majors exist

• Scale: the admissions office lists “50+ majors and 60+ minors”. The Bulletin says the B.S. is conferred in majors including biochemistry and molecular biology, biology, biophysics, chemistry, health and exercise science and neuroscience.
• Biology: a B.A. and a B.S. The B.A. needs at least 34 hours of biology and biology-approved courses plus 15–20 hours of co-requisites (five chosen from a list); the B.S. needs the same 34 hours plus 17–20 hours of co-requisites — CHM 111 with lab, statistics, and three more from a list. Both are built on BIO 150/150L and BIO 160/160L, then at least three 300-level four-hour biology courses and a research course (BIO 390 or 391; the B.A. may also use BIO 399). The Bulletin requires a 2.0 GPA in the courses of the major to graduate.
• Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB): B.S. only, offered jointly by Biology and Chemistry, with 48 credits of BIO, BMB or CHM courses; at least two semesters or summers of research and a senior research project; students choose a biochemistry or molecular biology concentration when declaring.
• Neuroscience: a B.A. and a B.S. The Bulletin says the B.S. is designed for students seeking careers in neuroscience research, medicine or similar natural-science careers, while the B.A. has a broader curriculum for students interested in teaching, counseling, advocacy, business, law, ethics, art and related fields. The B.S. requires NEU 391 research.
• Health and Exercise Science: a B.S. with 31 hours in the department — human physiology, anatomy, nutrition, epidemiology, exercise physiology and more — with BIO 150/150L and CHM 111/111L as co-requirements.
• Other related programs: the major list also includes biophysics (B.S.), chemistry (with biochemistry and medicinal chemistry concentrations) and environmental science, and the minors include Bioethics, Humanities & Medicine and Health Policy & Administration. Neither the Bulletin nor the admissions major list shows a nursing (BSN) degree or a public health major; there is a Health Policy & Administration minor and an introductory course, HPA 150.
• STEM designation: not stated on the pages we read.
• Honors and research: the Bulletin describes honors in biology (overall GPA 3.0 and 3.3 in biology, by department invitation in the fall of senior year) and an honors research program in health and exercise science (3.6 in the major and overall). We did not read the honors terms of the other majors.
• Combined programs such as BS/MD: not described on the pages we read.

2. Admission and choosing a major

• No admission by major: admissions says it asks for anticipated majors and minors but does not admit by major; you are not bound to what you list.
• When to declare: the Bulletin says students may declare after completing 40 hours and most declare in the spring of sophomore year; the department then provides an advisor. A department that rejects a student must file a written reason with the Dean of the College. The Bulletin states that the schools cannot guarantee space in any major or course, and that changing majors after declaring needs the approval of both departments. At least half the major must be completed at Wake Forest.
• Entry requirements: the pages we read state no extra GPA threshold or enrollment cap for biology and the other majors; ask the departments.
• Double majors: Biology (B.A. or B.S.) cannot be combined with Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Environment and Sustainability Studies B.A. or Neuroscience; Neuroscience cannot be combined with Biology or Psychology.
• First two years: the Prehealth site says you are assigned a lower-division advisor until you declare, who is often in an unrelated field.

3. Prerequisites and credit

• At application: admissions says it does not standardize applicants’ GPAs and has no minimum or average GPA and no minimum SAT/ACT score. The pages we read do not list required high school courses (math, biology, chemistry, physics); ask admissions.
• First two years (Biology): the Bulletin says to finish BIO 150, 150L, 160 and 160L by the end of the second year (offered every fall and spring). Students planning the B.S. or a health profession should take CHM 111 and 111L in the fall of the first year and STA 111 or equivalent in the first year, and consult a health professions advisor about further co-requisites.
• Neuroscience: take PSY 151 and BIO 150/150L, 160/160L, then begin the NEU core; NEU 200 is the first core course and must come before any other NEU course. The Bulletin recommends CHM 111 and 111L in the fall of the first year; B.S. students with a health-profession interest are also advised to take CHM 122 and 122L in the spring.
• BMB: the chemistry foundation (CHM 111, 280, 122 or 123, 223 with labs) and biology foundation (BIO 150, 160, 265) should be completed in the first two years; MTH 112 and a year of physics should be done by the end of the third year.
• Math and physics: the Prehealth site says physics at Wake Forest is calculus-based and calculus is a prerequisite for PHY 113/114 (or 123/124); plan to take it if you have no AP credit.
• Chemistry scheduling: the Prehealth site says the courses commonly used for pre-medicine are offered in only one semester a year, so a skipped semester means a summer course or a year’s wait.
• AP and IB: the Bulletin says AP, CLEP or IB cannot exempt divisional requirements, but qualifying exam credit counts toward the 120 hours needed to graduate; departments choose which courses satisfy divisional requirements. Which scores convert to which biology or chemistry courses is not described on the pages we read; check the departmental sections of the Bulletin or the registrar. The Prehealth site says most medical schools accept AP or IB credit for prerequisites but some do not, that Wake Forest School of Medicine accepts AP credit, and that credit must appear on your Wake Forest transcript.
• Foreign language rule: the Bulletin says students whose primary language (the language of instruction in their prior schooling) is not English are exempt from the basic foreign-language requirement with evidence; for Mandarin, evidence that middle-school instruction was entirely in Mandarin satisfies the requirement.

4. Pre-med and the health professions

• No pre-med major: the Prehealth site says you choose a major by the end of the second year; “for almost all of the health professions, including medicine, what is important is that you complete the prerequisite courses”; “majoring in a science may not offer an advantage”; major in what you enjoy.
• Common medicine prerequisites: four semesters of chemistry (CHM 111, 122 or 123, 223, 280); two semesters of biology (BIO 150/L, 160/L), with HES 350 Human Physiology and a cell and molecular biology course also recommended; two semesters of physics; at least one social science; biochemistry; statistics (recommended by many schools); English (required by some). The site calls these the traditional requirements and says each school’s requirements differ.
• Suggested first-year plan: the FAQ says students interested in medicine, PA or dentistry take CHM 111 with lab in the fall and CHM 122 in the spring; those not majoring in biology start BIO 150/L in the spring; those majoring in biology may start it in the fall alongside chemistry, but only if confident in handling two college lab courses.
• Advising and committee letter: besides your academic advisor there are eight health professions advisors; the Health Professions Committee evaluates and writes committee letters for medical and dental applicants.
• Early Assurance Program: Wake Forest undergraduates may apply to the Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Early Assurance Program after sophomore year, with a 3.2 overall GPA and a 3.2 science GPA, half of the listed prerequisites completed and a Pre-Health Committee recommendation, through AMCAS (AMCAS deadline October 15; school secondary November 30); the MCAT is required before matriculation at the minimum score for that cycle. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, so international students are not eligible.
• International students and pre-health: the Prehealth site has no section for international students applying to U.S. medical schools; email prehealth@wfu.edu. This guide does not cover applying to medical school itself.

5. Deadlines, materials and fees

• Rounds: Early Decision I (binding) is due November 15 with rolling notification; Early Action for first-generation students (non-binding) is due November 15, with decisions by January 15 and a May 1 reply; Early Decision II (binding) is due January 1 with decisions by February 15; Regular Decision is due January 1 with decisions around April 1. Admissions says it tends to enroll just over half the class through Early Decision. The pages show no year; check that the dates are for fall 2027 entry.
• Platforms: the Common App or the Coalition App (Scoir); a printed application can be mailed but is “not recommended” and adds a two-week processing delay.
• Required (first-year): $85 application fee (fee waivers available), application, official high school transcript, Secondary School Report and one letter of recommendation (counselor or teacher); international applicants add TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; Early Decision applicants add the Early Decision Agreement. Optional: counselor recommendation, supplemental questions, video or virtual interview, SAT/ACT, mid-year report.
• Testing: test-optional since 2008; scores are superscored; applicants who choose to submit must send official scores before enrolling.
• Interviews: the virtual interview and video answer are optional; the international page says they are not required but strongly recommended.
• Essay: the page lists only optional supplemental questions; the required essay length and prompts are not stated on the pages we read.

6. U.S. domestic applicants

• Cost: the 2026–27 estimated cost of attendance is $98,730: tuition $71,894, housing $12,900, food $7,396, books and supplies $1,720, fees and other expenses $4,820. The pages show no in-state/out-of-state split and no extra fees for life-science majors.
• North Carolina: the site says that beginning fall 2026 North Carolina undergraduates from families earning under $200,000 a year attend tuition-free (North Carolina Gateway); under $100,000, aid also covers standard living expenses; families between $200,000 and $300,000 are eligible for aid covering 50% of tuition. The pages we read describe no admission preference for North Carolina residents.
• Aid: Wake Forest says it meets 100% of demonstrated need for eligible students and limits loans; apply with the FAFSA (school code 002978) and CSS Profile (code 5885). The site gives two sets of aid deadlines: the first-year page says aid applications are due with your application round (November 15 for Early Decision I and Early Action, January 1 otherwise), while the affordability page says December 1 for Early Decision I and Early Action and January 1 for the others. Confirm with the financial aid office.
• Scholarships: merit scholarships are very selective; applying by November 15 automatically considers you for most of them.

7. International applicants

• Who counts: status is based on citizenship; you are international if you need a Wake Forest–sponsored visa; permanent residents apply as U.S. citizens.
• Process: there is no separate international application — use the Common App or Coalition App and submit all documents through the platform. International applicants may apply Early Decision, Early Action (first-generation) or Regular Decision.
• Transcripts: certified transcripts from every secondary school or college; “a record of at least four years of schooling is needed”; translate into English if necessary, attaching the sealed originals.
• English tests: required if English is not your first language and/or your school’s medium of instruction is not English — TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. The requirement is waived for schools where English is the main language of instruction (3 years minimum). English tests are not superscored. TOEFL code 5885. Wake Forest notes that TOEFL iBT scoring changed on January 1, 2026 and still accepts scores from earlier tests. No minimum scores are stated; ask admissions.
• Testing and video: SAT/ACT are optional; the site strongly recommends (but does not require) the optional video question or a video interview through InitialView or Vericant.
• Funds and visa: the site says that unless an applicant is offered a merit scholarship, foreign-national applicants must show sufficient support with the Confidential Financial Information for International Applicants form before they are considered for admission; admitted students who pay the deposit receive an I-20 to apply for an F-1 visa.
• Aid: Wake Forest states that it does not offer need-based financial aid to foreign national students; international students are eligible for most merit scholarships, including several full-cost awards (Carswell, Gordon, Reynolds and Stamps); the regular application is the scholarship application; finalists for signature scholarships are notified by March 1. The affordability page, by contrast, says Wake Forest meets 100% of demonstrated need for “eligible students”; the two pages do not make clear how that applies to international students, so confirm with the financial aid office.
• Restrictions in life-science majors or clinical training for international students: not described on the pages we read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admissions pages we read do not mention the Gaokao and have no China-specific page; whether and how Gaokao results may be submitted is not published — ask admissions.
• Transcripts and credentials: submit certified transcripts from each school, translated into English as needed (see Section 7). The pages do not name a credential-evaluation agency or discuss the senior-year exams.
• English: if your schooling was not in English, submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo.
• Mandarin and the language requirement: the Bulletin says that for Mandarin, evidence that middle-school instruction was entirely in Mandarin satisfies the foreign-language exemption.
• Aid: as in Section 7 — no need-based aid, but merit scholarships are available.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: anyone who has taken college coursework after high school applies as a transfer. Applicants who attended another college must have at least a C average on all college work attempted and be a graduate of a standard junior college or provide a certificate of honorable dismissal. The number admitted varies by semester, and more are admitted for fall than spring.
• Deadlines: Spring 2027 — November 1, 2026 (decisions by mid-December); Fall 2027 — March 15, 2027 (decisions by mid-May).
• Materials: application and $85 fee, final high school transcript, transcripts from all colleges attended; a Dean’s Statement from each college is required upon enrollment (the Common App Transfer College Report may be used to verify standing); TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo for international students. No interviews are offered to transfer applicants.
• International transfers: any international student with post-secondary credit must apply as a transfer, even for first-year status or zero transfer credit; Wake Forest cannot offer any financial or scholarship assistance to international transfer applicants; transcripts must be translated into English and credit transfer is not guaranteed.
• Entering these majors: the pages we read give no special GPA or course requirement for transfers into biology or neuroscience. The Bulletin does say that at most 2 of the 10 required Health and Exercise Science courses may be transferred; that transfer and AP credit for non-NEU courses counted in neuroscience follows the biology and psychology policies, with NEU courses considered case by case; that enrolled students may not take biology elsewhere to satisfy the divisional requirement; and that at least half of the degree and half of the major must be completed at Wake Forest. The general transfer credit policy is not described on the pages we read.
• Second bachelor’s degree: apply as a transfer and complete all requirements for the new degree.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Apply by November 15 (Early Decision I / first-generation Early Action) or January 1 (Early Decision II / Regular) with transcript, school report and one recommendation; SAT/ACT are optional
• Take as much math (including calculus), biology, chemistry and physics as your school offers; declare a major around sophomore spring, and start CHM 111 in the first-year fall on the B.S. route
• If you need aid, submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile and confirm which deadline applies

International applicants (including China):

• Same timeline; no need-based aid, a financial information form is required, and merit scholarships are available
• If your schooling was not in English, submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; translate transcripts; ask admissions how the Gaokao may be used

Transfer students:

• Apply by November 1, 2026 (spring 2027) or March 15, 2027 (fall 2027); international transfer applicants receive no financial assistance

Sources: Wake Forest University, How to apply; First-year students; International students; Transfer students; Affordability; Majors and minors; Bulletin: Biology; Bulletin: Biology B.A.; Bulletin: Biology B.S.; Bulletin: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B.S.; Bulletin: Neuroscience; Bulletin: Neuroscience B.A.; Bulletin: Neuroscience B.S.; Bulletin: Health and Exercise Science B.S.; Bulletin: Requirements for degrees; Bulletin: Majors and minors policies; Prehealth home; Prehealth: academics; Prehealth: medicine course planning; Prehealth: Early Assurance Program; Prehealth: FAQs. The application deadlines do not show a year (admissions also has an “Info for the Class of 2031” page), while the transfer page names Spring 2027 and Fall 2027; check Wake Forest’s website to confirm the dates are for fall 2027 entry.