Prerequisites
Students applying to medical school in the US must take this standardized exam covering biology, chemistry, physics, psychology, and critical reasoning
What is the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test)?
This is a medical career that includes four years of higher education followed by mandatory 3-7 year residency with the option of an additional fellowship for further specialization.
What is a physician?
Observing a healthcare professional during their daily work is called this.
What is shadowing?
This is when you need to have all of your pre-requisite coursework completed by.
What is when you submit your application?
Most professional schools require several of these written evaluations from professors or supervisors who can speak to your academic ability and character.
What are letters of recommendation?
Applicants to dental school take this exam that includes sections on biology, chemistry, reading comprehension, and a perceptual ability test that measures spatial reasoning
What is the DAT (Dental Admission Test)?
This is a career path that includes four years of training followed by immediate practice, or specializations in fields like orthodontics or oral surgery.
What is dentistry?
Working in clinics, hospitals, or community health settings where you are getting direct patient interaction is called this.
What is clinical experience?
Over 3/4 of medical students take this before they matriculate to medical schools, and many take more than one. It is a period of time that can allow you to strengthen your application by working a full time position that gives you clinical or research experience, getting a master's degree, or following another passion.
What is a gap year?
These are programs that allow you to receive two degrees in graduate school such as MD/MBA or MD/PhD.
What are dual-degree programs?
Many veterinary schools require this graduate admissions exam that tests verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing
What is the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)?
This is an additional period of training after graduate school, where you are trained in the specific field you want to pursue. This is required following medical school. For dentists, vets, and PAs, this is optional if you are considering a more specialized field.
What is residency?
This is an activity where you are giving back to the community whether in a healthcare context or not.
What is volunteering?
This is the length of most medical, dental, and veterinary schools.
What is four years?
This is the best major for being pre-health.
What is there is no best major?
Many PA programs require applicants to take this admissions test assessing applicant knowledge in key science prerequisites like Anatomy, Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, and Microbiology
What is the PA-CAT?
This is health careers position that has less training than a physician and works under the supervision of a physician, but can perform many of the same roles such as diagnosing patients, developing treatment plans, and even performing procedures.
What is a PA (Physician's Assistant)?
Helping perform scientific studies, conducting data analysis, or working in a laboratory are all types of this
What is research?
After submitting primary applications, many schools send an additional application called this with additional essays and school-specific questions.
This is a great resource for seeking advice or guidance about the health careers process while you are in college.
What is the Health Careers Advising Office?
These core science prerequisites are commonly required across many pre-health tracks
What are Biology, General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, Math/Statistics, and English?
This is a healthcare position trained in the nursing model that requires less training than a physician but can include diagnosis and treatment of illness, medication prescription, and even specialization.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Activities that show this skill are often valuable in applications. This can look like mentoring, TAing, being on the board of a club, or creating your own project.
What is leadership?
For medical, dental, and PA school, this is the spring/summer of the year before you want to matriculate (ex. May of Junior year to enter the fall after your senior year)
For vet school, this is in the fall of the year before you want to matriculate (ex. September of Senior year to enter the fall after your senior year)
What is the application timeline?
This is a type of medical degree other than an MD that emphasizes a more holistic approach to medicine with additional focus on the musculoskeletal system. They can work in the same residencies and specialties as MD, but are more likely to work in primary care fields.
What is a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)?