Delbert L. Kilgore (Professor
of Biological Sciences), Director
Health care continues to be one of the most rapidly expanding areas
of our society. Careers in the health professions have expanded, both
in numbers and in the variety of opportunities. The rewards of a career
in health care include excellent salaries, stability of employment,
geographic mobility, and the opportunity to help other people. The
pre-medical sciences program is an advising program that helps students
become well-informed, well-prepared applicants to programs in allopathic
medicine, chiropractic medicine, dentistry, naturopathic medicine,
optometry, osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, podiatry and
veterinary medicine.
Students may select any major as a field of study which must include
specific preprofessional courses. When selecting a major consider
that your undergraduate years may be your last opportunity to pursue
in depth a nonscience subject of interest. Professional schools are
most concerned with the overall quality, scope and difficulty of undergraduate
work and not the major.
Preprofessional courses are designed to provide a strong foundation
in the sciences, highly developed communicative skills and a solid
background in the social sciences and humanities. Curriculum guide
outlining minimal course requirements established by professional
schools are available from the Pre-medical Sciences Director.
The minimal requirements should be completed by the end of the third
year of study or prior to taking the admission test required by professional
schools. Since specific subject requirements vary among institutions,
students should discuss their academic plans with the Pre medical
Sciences Director. Individuals with weak math and science preparation
should consider a five year undergraduate program beginning with remedial
courses in math, English, and reading skills.
Admission to a professional school is very competitive. Students must
maintain a B plus grade point average in college if they expect to
be admitted. All required courses must be taken for letter grades.
In addition, the applicant must place high on an admissions test which
has been designed to measure basic academic ability in the natural
sciences, reading ability and problem solving skills. These examinations
are ordinarily taken during the junior year.
Besides their academic accomplishments and admission exam scores,
acceptance by a professional school is also dependent upon letters
of recommendation by the University's Pre professional Advisory Committee
and personal interviews conducted by the professional school. It is
important that students consult with the Pre medical Sciences Director
and with an academic advisor in their major each year to make sure
that he or she can satisfy the necessary requirements for graduation
within the time available. The Director can also discuss procedures,
counsel and support the student during the process of applying to
a professional school.
High School Preparation: High school students contemplating
a career in the health professions should have three to four years
of mathematics, experience in chemistry and physics and considerable
background in literature and social science.