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 guides
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 academic accomplishments and admission exam scores, acceptance
by a professional school is also dependent upon letters of recommendation
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 they 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, courses in chemistry and physics
and considerable background in literature and social science.