Can I major in Pre-Health at UAH? Pre-Health is not a major, but a declared interest that ensures a student is guided in taking prerequisite courses and gaining extracurricular experience necessary for professional school applications. Many Pre-Health students at UAH choose a Biology degree with a Chemistry minor and a Pre-Professional Concentration. Any degree can work for a Pre-Health student as long as they take the required prerequisite courses for the professional schools they intend to apply to. Majoring in something interesting often results in higher grades, which helps with the high GPA requirements for entrance to professional schools. In order to ensure that they get the right prerequisite classes, Pre-Health students work with a Pre-Health Advisor in addition to their Academic Advisor. KEY TAKEAWAY: Major in what interests you and connect with the Pre-Health Advisor! Is there a preferred major for pre-med students? There is no preferred major for pre-med students. Medical schools have certain prerequisite science, math, and other courses that applicants must complete. Students should work with their Academic Advisor and their Pre-Health Advisor to ensure that prerequisites are met correctly. While some majors (like Biology with a Chemistry minor and a Pre-Professional Concentration) already incorporate prerequisites for medical school in their requirements, students can major in any area of interest. Most healthcare professional schools are interested in candidates with diverse interests and backgrounds. What services does the Pre-Health Program at UAH provide? The Pre-Health Professions Advisor is available for personalized advising to all current, actively enrolled UAH Pre-Health students and alumni interested in pursuing a healthcare profession. Enrolled Pre-Health students receive access to an exclusive, updated online resource portal with general and specialized health professional school application information. Pre-Health students may enroll in specialized courses designed to guide the Pre-Health student in exploring, planning, and applying to professional schools. Pre-Health students receive help preparing for exams and interviews along with feedback on required materials during their application process. Pre-Health assistance includes resume and personal statement reviews, mock interviews, a mock exam, and a committee letter of evaluation for qualified students. What's the difference between my Pre-Health Advisor and my Academic Advisor? The Pre-Health Professions Advisor assists students in building a robust and competitive professional school application. The Pre-Health Professions Advisor provides resources for community service and clinical shadowing and assists with interviewing, personal statement writing, and resume skill development. Academic Advisors assist students in staying on track to graduate from UAH. They help students register for the correct courses and answer specific degree related questions. Academic Advisors work closely with the Pre-Health Professions Advisor to help students reach their goals by taking necessary prerequisite classes and maintaining a high GPA. What factors affect admission into professional schools? While different professions and professional schools have different specific requirements of applicants, most share the following general requirements: A high GPA as measured by grades from all college-level classes taken at all institutions Entrance exam scores (most important for pre-med and pre-dental students) Completion within the last 5-10 years of prerequisite science coursework with labs taken in person Completion of other prerequisite classes including English, math, and others For pre-med students, US citizenship and coursework completed at an accredited US institution Letters of evaluation and recommendation from professors and professionals Documented clinical shadowing hours, often involving direct patient interaction Sustained evidence of volunteerism and service to the community Documented leadership, teamwork, and/or research experience Evidence of opportunities taken to grow and challenge oneself Personal interview(s) Does the Pre-Health office set up volunteering or shadowing opportunities for students? The Pre-Health Office maintains a database of local professionals that have allowed students to shadow and volunteer in the past. Students are responsible for reaching out to professionals to coordinate and schedule opportunities for themselves. There may also be additional opportunities within the community that are available for students that are not listed in the database. Students are encouraged to reach out to professionals that they are interested in shadowing and to join the pre-health student organizations on campus to learn of more opportunities. When is the best time to apply to maximize my chances for admission? The best time to apply depends on the overall readiness of the individual student. This is something the Pre-Health Advisor can help the student assess. Many schools function under a rolling admissions policy and move quickly, which means they have a set number of interview slots or seats to fill. At the beginning of the admissions process, they can consider more students, while those applying at the end face greater competition for the few remaining slots and may not even have a chance to interview. Most health professional schools utilize a year-long application process. For instance, a student cannot apply to medical, dental, veterinary, or physician associate school during their last semester of undergrad and expect to be accepted and matriculate the next fall. Due to this fact, it may be necessary for a student to take a "gap year". Sometimes a gap year is the best choice for a student for a number of reasons, and it almost never hurts their chances of being accepted to health professional school.