ADVICE FOR MUW STUDENTS IN PRE-HEALTH PROFESSION PROGRAMS (those who want to be Doctors, Dentists, Physical and Occupational Therapists, Optometrists, etc.)  

• Freshman through Senior Students --

•  Indicate your interest in the health professions to your advisor (they don’t know what you want to do when you finish school by your major).  You DO NOT have to be a biology major to go into the health profession.  Humanities, Business, Fine Arts, and Health & Kinesiology majors have equal chances of gaining admission to their chosen professional school -- as long as they take the appropriate preparatory courses as electives.  For example:  an English major wishing to enter medical school would take General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Genetics/Biochemistry in addition to her major requirements.  These courses are either required for admission (General and Organic Chemistry) or preparatory for MCAT exam (Physics and Genetics/Biochemistry).

• Maximize your interaction with those instructors who teach classes basic to ALL health professions:  Mark Bean (H&K), David Carson (SM), Tim Causgrove (SM), Jon Fortman (SM), Nora Howell (SM), Bruce Lacey (SM), and Barry Posin (SM).  Interaction with BSB101-102 instructors is acceptable.  Interaction with instructors of upper level classes is a better idea.  Talking to instructors outside of class is a good idea -- especially when you DON’T actually need something from them.

•  Be active in the SM Division outside of class -- be active in AED or Tri-Beta or any of the other divisional honoraries, be a lab assistant, or do a summer internship.

•  Inquire about long range deadlines (for MCAT, admission, etc) so that you can have the proper academic preparation for exams and for program admission requirements.

•  Read.  Honestly evaluate your skills (comprehension and skill).  Then improve them.

•  Explore alternatives.  Keep your eyes open to news articles about different health professions.  Ask instructors for ideas about careers which suit your skills and interests.   Join AED and discuss ideas with others looking for alternatives.  Having Plan B is ALWAYS a good idea.

• Junior and Senior Students --

•  When you’re looking for that Letter of Recommendation, you should know this: Professional Schools most often demand a letter from the undergraduate school’s Pre-Health Professional Advisory Committee.  They know each school’s committee and have an established rapport with them.  If they do not receive a letter from the established Advisory Committee, this is viewed in a negative light.  Members of the Advisory Committee  participate in regular meetings at the Professional Schools to get to know their Admissions people and they receive regular updates on Professional School requirements and expectations.  The Advisory Committee solicits input from the appropriate professors (those who know you best) and writes a comprehensive letter incorporating all of the information into one body.  Circumventing this route established by the Professional Schools may very well hurt your chances of admission.

• The MUW Advisory Committee consists of:

Ms. Nora Howell (Chair), Dr. Tim Causgrove, Dr. Jon Fortman, Dr. Bruce Lacey, Dr. Barry Posin, and Dr. David Carson.