How to Apply to Life Sciences and Pre-Health Study at Washington and Lee University: Biology (BA/BS), Neuroscience (BS), Chemistry and Biochemistry, No Pre-Med Major, and the Path for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Washington and Lee University (W&L, in Lexington, Virginia) is a private university centered on the liberal arts. Its life-science programs are mainly in The College. There is no pre-med major in the United States: W&L’s website says students interested in the health professions may choose any undergraduate major and are guided by the Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC). Below is what the website says for fall 2027 entry, written for U.S. applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students.

Note on sources: W&L’s full major requirements are in its university catalog (catalog.wlu.edu), a third-party-hosted catalog that I did not access; the website’s neuroscience “major requirements” page redirects there, and the biology page only links to catalog listings. So credit totals and required-course lists for the majors are not in the pages I read; I can quote the area-of-study pages and the pre-health guide.

1. Relevant undergraduate majors

• Biology: taught by the biology department. The area page lists degree types of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science, and the department page links a catalog listing for each. The difference between BA and BS is not stated on the pages I read. There are five biology minors (animal biology, ecology, molecular/cell biology, physiology, quantitative biology). Research routes include directed individual study (BIO 401–403), directed individual research (BIO 422–424), honors thesis (BIO 492–496), the Summer Research Scholars program and an HHMI Research Fellows program (the page dates it 2012–2016). The department also lists a fall semester at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and the Marine Science Educational Consortium with the Duke University Marine Laboratory; credits count toward the biology major.
• Neuroscience: an interdisciplinary program awarding the Bachelor of Science. The page says all neuroscience students do research with faculty and gain experience in systems, molecular, cognitive, behavioral and computational approaches; most majors go on to advanced study in medicine or science, and those aiming at medical school take additional courses such as organic chemistry and physics.
• Chemistry and Biochemistry: degree types are BA and BS; the “Biochemistry” area page redirects here. The page stresses laboratory and instrument training and summer research. A separate biochemistry major’s requirements are not on the pages I read.
• Other: cognitive and behavioral science and similar areas are outside this article. Biomedical engineering, health science, kinesiology, nutrition, nursing and public health bachelor’s degrees: not in the area-of-study list I read.
• STEM designation: not stated on the pages I read; ask admissions.

2. How admission works

• Applying: the application pages do not ask you to choose a major; you apply to the college through the Common App, Coalition App or QuestBridge. When a major is declared, any GPA or course-grade conditions for entering biology or neuroscience, and any caps are not stated on the pages I read; ask the department or admissions.
• Honors and research: biology offers an honors thesis. Neuroscience says every major completes research, with summer funding through the Summer Research Scholars program, the Levy Endowment for Neuroscience, the Rudolph Family Fund and the Dana Angels Research Trust (DART).
• Pre-health students: the pre-health page says students work with a pre-health advisor from the first year on course planning, summer opportunities and an application timeline, and are encouraged to choose any major.
• Examples: the pre-health page’s student stories include a neuroscience major and an American history major on the pre-med track.

3. The pre-med path

• Who advises: the Coordinator of the Health Professions Advisory Committee (assistant director of pre-health professions in Career and Professional Development) works with chemistry and biology faculty. If your assigned academic advisor is not an HPAC member, the timetable says to choose a supplemental HPAC advisor in the late winter term of the first year.
• Minimum science courses the guide lists for medical, dental and veterinary school: biology (8 credits: Biology 1111, 1112; 2220 Genetics with lab or 2110 Cell Biology with lab); general chemistry (Chemistry 1204); organic chemistry (Chemistry 2314, 2324); physics (8 credits: Physics 1101/1101A, 1102). Biochemistry (Chemistry 3413 or Biology 2150) is required for all veterinary and pharmacy schools and required or recommended for most medical and dental schools. Dental, veterinary, physical therapy and pharmacy schools still require a second semester of general chemistry. Many schools also keep Calculus I and/or statistics, English (6 credits; WRIT 1000 counts), social sciences or humanities in their lists. The guide says that with this minimum it is possible to major in any department.
• MCAT: normally taken in April or May of the junior year, so the courses must be scheduled before then. The MCAT includes a sociology and psychology section, so the guide advises relevant social-science courses. The guide also warns that some medical schools ask students to justify required courses taken in summer school elsewhere, so avoid it if possible.
• Timetable: explore professions through shadowing or clinical work after the first year; join pre-health clubs and HPAC sessions in the second year; meet the pre-health advisor about the application year in the third. The guide says W&L has no formal shadowing program, so you will likely need to find hours yourself; hours for dental, veterinary, PT, pharmacy and nursing programs may be 200–400, and more for physician assistant programs.
• Placement statistic (website): over the past ten years, over 91% of W&L students who applied to medical school secured placement.
• Direct BS/MD-type programs: not stated on the pages I read.
• Whether pre-health advising has separate guidance for international students: not stated; email the pre-health program advisor (bcarr@wlu.edu).

4. High school preparation and credit

• The applicant-review page recommends four or more years of English, math, lab sciences, social sciences and a world language, and the most challenging curriculum available to you. This is a recommendation, not a stated minimum.
• Specific high school biology, chemistry, physics or calculus courses are not listed on the pages I read; ask admissions (admissions@wlu.edu).
• AP / IB / A-Level credit and placement: not stated on the pages I read (it sits in the catalog and registrar pages, which I did not read).
• First two years: follow the minimum course list in section 3; the full sequence for each major was not read.

5. Rounds and materials

• Early Decision I (binding): application November 1, 2026; supplemental materials November 15; notification December 20.
• Early Decision II (binding): January 5, 2027; supplemental materials January 15; the application page says notification February 1, while the international page says late January (the two differ).
• Regular Decision: January 5, 2027; supplemental materials February 1; notification by April 1. Beginning with the 2026–27 cycle, Early Decision II and Regular Decision are due January 5 instead of January 1.
• Platforms and fee: Common App, Coalition App or QuestBridge. A fee waiver can be requested, but the first-year fee amount is not stated on the pages I read (the transfer fee is $60).
• Materials: official transcript, two high school teacher recommendations, a counselor letter and the school report; optional “Why W&L?” and one 250-word (or two-minute video) short answer. An interview is optional but recommended.
• Testing: optional for the 2026–27 cycle, which the university says applies to fall 2027 first-year and transfer entry. W&L superscores and does not require the ACT writing or science sections. Students from national curricula outside the U.S. are told to strongly consider submitting scores if testing is reasonably available.

6. U.S. applicants

• Cost: W&L is private and lists one price, with no in-state or out-of-state rates. 2026-27: tuition $73,575; activity fee $715; technology fee $320; health service fee $250; room $10,580; board $9,995; books and supplies estimated at $1,900 and personal expenses at $2,545; the site’s estimated cost of attendance without aid is $99,880. Any extra fee for biology or chemistry majors is not stated on the pages I read.
• Aid: the website says it meets 100% of every admitted student’s demonstrated need through grants, scholarships and guaranteed campus work without loans; last year 63% of the entering class received aid, with an average award of over $71,000. A need-based application is the FAFSA plus the CSS Profile; aid deadlines are December 1 (ED I), January 15 (ED II) and February 15 (Regular), 2027.
• Johnson Scholarship: the premier merit award, covering tuition, housing and meals plus $10,000 for summer experiences, for up to 10% of each incoming class (the costs page says up to 44 students each year). It is open to everyone, requires a supplemental essay, and is due December 1, 2026.
• In-state preference: not stated on the pages I read.
• Research: see section 1; places are not published.

7. International applicants

• Materials: Common App, Coalition or QuestBridge application; internal school transcript; official results of completed external exams (such as IGCSE, CBSE, SSC, WASSCE) and predicted scores for upcoming ones (such as IB, A Level); proof of English proficiency; a counselor recommendation and school report; optional SAT or ACT (encouraged for national-curriculum students); and a scholarship or aid application. All school documents, including recommendations, must be in English.
• English: every student must show it, by completing all secondary years in English, an IBDP English A score of 6 or 7, the Duolingo English Test, IELTS, TOEFL iBT or an InitialView interview. Successful applicants typically report at least DET 130, IELTS 7 or TOEFL 100 (taken before January 2026) or 5 (taken after), read in context. W&L takes only official results, not self-reported scores, and does not accept TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL iTP or TOEFL Essentials. English documentation deadlines: ED I November 15, Johnson December 1, ED II January 15, Regular February 1.
• Aid and scholarships: international students are eligible for both need-based grants and merit scholarships (all merit aid goes through the Johnson Scholarship program). The site says W&L is need-blind in admission and meets 100% of demonstrated need without loans for every admitted student; awards range from several thousand dollars to the full cost, and admission does not guarantee aid. To be considered for need-based aid, submit the CSS Profile by the aid deadline, or request a CSS Profile fee waiver in the portal (the decision comes with admission, and the Profile must still be submitted within a week). Students who accept admission without a grant are not eligible later.
• Interview: an optional third-party recorded InitialView interview is encouraged, with the cost acknowledged; a few international applicants may be invited to interview.
• Limits for international students in lab or clinical-related placements: not stated; not published on the pages I read.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: W&L does not explain how it uses the Gaokao on the pages I read. The international page asks for final and/or predicted school-leaving exam results; whether this covers the Gaokao is not published. Contact admissions (admissions@wlu.edu).
• Transcript and proficiency-exam materials: an internal school transcript is required. The only translation rule on the pages I read is that all materials must be in English; credential evaluation requirements are not published there.
• English: see section 7; TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted.
• W&L gives no separate math or science expectations for the Chinese curriculum; confirm with admissions.

9. Transfer students

• Application: W&L does not accept the Common App for transfers and uses its own transfer application. Fall entry only; there is no January entry.
• Deadlines: the transfer page and the apply page print the dates for fall 2026 entry: priority March 1, 2026 and final May 15, 2026 (notification June 5 on the apply page); aid priority March 16 and final April 16. New dates for fall 2027 are not on the pages I read, so check the website. The apply page’s aid table shows April 15, 2027 on the transfer row, which should likewise be confirmed. Decisions are rolling, historically late April to late May and usually before June 1.
• Materials: the W&L transfer application, high school transcript (international students add a school leaving certificate or exam results), official transcripts from every college, SAT or ACT (“optional but recommended” for fall 2027 entry), two college professor recommendations, a college report form confirming good standing and a midterm report if currently enrolled; the application fee is $60.
• Eligibility and credit: successful applicants generally have a very strong high school record and college grades of B (3.0) or higher. At most 60 credits transfer; courses must be C (2.0) or higher from a U.S. regionally accredited institution, and grades do not transfer. You must complete at least six terms of full-time study at W&L. There is no formal credit evaluation before the deposit.
• Transferring into biology, neuroscience or chemistry: GPA and prerequisite sequences (chemistry, biology, calculus) are not stated on the pages I read; ask admissions and the registrar.
• Aid: transfer students are not eligible for merit aid but may apply for need-based aid.

Checklist

U.S. applicants:

• ED I November 1; ED II and Regular Decision January 5; SAT/ACT optional; Johnson Scholarship essay December 1
• After arriving, add an HPAC advisor and plan around the guide’s minimum science courses; avoid taking required courses in summer school elsewhere

International applicants (including China):

• English: DET 130, IELTS 7, TOEFL 100/5 are the “typical” levels the site cites; all documents in English
• Submit the CSS Profile by the aid deadline; confirm with admissions how the Gaokao is used

Transfer students:

• Use the W&L transfer application; confirm the fall 2027 deadlines; at most 60 credits, C or higher

Sources: Washington and Lee University, Biology area of study; Biology department; Neuroscience area of study; Chemistry and Biochemistry area of study; Health Professions (Pre-Med); Pre-Health Professions; Pre-health guide: planning first steps; Pre-health guide: course requirements overview; Pre-health guide: example timetable; Application options and deadlines; International applicants; English proficiency policy; Test-optional policy; Applicant review; Supplemental prompts; Transfer applicants; 2026-27 cost of attendance; International student aid. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures; the transfer page prints fall 2026 deadlines, so check for the 2027 dates). Check W&L’s website for the latest. Full major requirements are in the university catalog, which I did not read (see text).