Pre-Health program

Introduction

The Pre-Health Program is administered jointly by the Committee for the Health Professions and the Career Center. Students who are interested in a career in any of the health professions are welcome to be a part of the program.At the beginning of the academic year, First-Year students who have expressed an interest in a health-related career receive a notice to attend an informational meeting.These students will be included on a list of Pre-Health students. Any other students interested in pursuing a health career should contact Barb Redding in the Career Center to be assigned a Pre-Health advisor. The only requirement to stay in the Pre-Health Program is for the student to take the courses listed below and to maintain contact with his/her Pre-Health advisor each semester.

Committee for the Health Professions: Each student is assigned to one of the committee members who will advise the student on course requirements and who will draft the committee letter of recommendation when the student applies to professional schools.The committee provides advice and prepares evaluations for students interested in the health professions.

Advice to students preparing for the health professions

Minimum requirements
The following is a list of courses that are required by the majority of professional schools.These courses serve as matriculation requirements.Individual schools will have additional requirements for the 2015 application, so this list is no more than a general guide to the minimum requirements. In order to be considered for a recommendation by the Committee for the Health Professions, students must take 6 of the 8 lab science courses required by professional schools in at least two of the following departments: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Material covered in traditional introductory Psychology or Sociology course will be required for MCAT.

Chemistry: 4 courses; also CHEM/BIOL 342 is now highly recommended for MCAT preparation
CHEM 131, 132 General Chemistry I and II
CHEM 241, 242 Organic Chemistry I and II
or
CHEM 141, Accelerated General Chemistry
CHEM 241, 242 Organic Chemistry I and II
plus 1 additional course (Note: Chemistry 111 will not satisfy this requirement)
The Committee recommends: CHEM 244, Thermodynamics and Kinetics, or CHEM 243, Modern Chemical Analysis as the "additional course."

Biology: 2 courses
Any two of the introductory courses with laboratory (BIOL 120 level) will satisfy this requirement.
The Committee also recommends:
BIOL 216, Genetics
BIOL 333, Physiology
BIOL 334, Vertebrate Anatomy
CHEM/BIOL 342, Structure and Function of Biomolecules

Physics: 2 courses
PHYS 141, 142 Physics for the Life Sciences or
PHYS 131, 132 General Physics(Note: Although Physics 131, 132 is acceptable, some topics on MCAT exam are not covered in these courses)

Mathematics: 2 courses
MATH 170, 171, Calculus I and II (May need MATH 151 Intro. to Calculus prior to I & II)
Math 121, Statistics
Check early with medical schools of interest for their requirements in this department.

English: 2 courses
One composition course: NOTE: First-Year Seminar counts as one English composition course, plus a literature course (any will do)

Psychology and Sociology: Please consult with your Pre-Health Advisor when assigned.

Recommended courses
Professional schools may suggest or even require specific courses such as cell biology, humanities, sociology, psychology, physiology, vertebrate anatomy, advanced biology, or advanced chemistry, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, anthropology, genetics, immunology, embryology, and comparative anatomy.

Required tests

Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
All applicants to medical schools must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), which is offered annually on multiple dates and times.The preferred time to take this exam is early in the spring of the applicant's junior year, after completing the required science courses listed.

Dental Admissions Test (DAT)
Applicants to dental schools must take the Dental Admission Test, given on computer year-round.Spring of the junior year is the recommended time to take this test.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Most applicants to veterinary or DPT programs must take the Graduate Record Examination, given on computer year-round. The spring of or summer following the junior year is the recommended time to take this exam.

Tests in other health professions
Other health professions have similar testing programs.More information is available from the Career Center.

Admission factors

Five important factors in determining admission to professional school are:
1.the undergraduate overall grade point average and science grade point average,
2.the score achieved on the pre-professional exam (MCAT, DAT, GRE),
3.the letter, or letters, of evaluation from the undergraduate college,
4.relevant hands-on volunteer or work experiences as well as research
5.the outcome of a personal interview, offered by the school to applicants they select for the interview.

The relative importance of these factors varies from school to school and from case to case.Generally speaking, an overall academic average of 3.60 or better is needed to be a competitive medical school applicant and overall GPAs of at 3.30 are generally necessary to be a competitive candidate for other professional schools.

Committee for the Health Professions