Prospective Students
Prospective Students
Thinking about a career in the medical or dental fields?
Start your journey with T-I-G-E-R-S.
- Have conversations geared toward finding out what healthcare providers do on a daily basis.
- Talk to different types of healthcare providers (i.e. medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, physician assistants, nurses, chiropractors, etc).
- Ask sample questions:
- What do you like/dislike about your job?
- What’s the hardest/easiest part of your job?
- How did you get into this field?
- Read articles, journals, and books related to your career path.
- Learn about how research impacts the medical and dental fields.
- Look up a few medical/dental schools to find out more information (i.e. mission, vision, current admissions requirements- which may change by the time you apply, etc)
- This demonstrates your ability to master a subject and gives snap shot of your work ethic.
- Volunteer/work in medical/dental and non-medical/dental areas. Medical and dental schools are looking for well-rounded individuals.
- “Why do you want to be a _____________?� Think carefully about your answer because it will be asked of you many times for the rest of your career journey.
- Think about what you want in a physician or dentist. Work to develop those types of skills.
- After any volunteer, shadowing, or medically related experience, take a few minutes to reflect by writing your thoughts, feelings, reactions, and what you learned. This will be helpful later when applying to medical/dental school and working with future patients.
- This is your first look into what the medical/dental field is like and may help you decide if the medical/dental field is the career path for you.
- Start with your personal healthcare providers, or look at websites for local healthcare facilities (some have established programs).
Premedical & Predental Program FAQs
A career in the health professions is a rewarding and challenging opportunity. Professional health care careers require:
- Rigorous academic preparation
- Intellectual curiosity
- Motivation for learning
- Commitment to service
- Demonstrated integrity and leadership
Ways to prepare while still in high school:
- Complete as many math and science courses as possible (especially advanced level).
- Focus on English and writing courses.
- Read, read, read! Reading will prepare you for college study and professional school admission tests.
- Volunteer at a clinic/hospital/healthcare facility.
- Engage in extracurricular activities to help develop leadership and communication skills.
Ä¢¹½tv provides students with a range of opportunities to prepare for admission to medical and dental schools:
- Engage in challenging courses.
- Develop clinical skills through roles as lab or research assistants.
- Access counselors who are members of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions.
- Attend annual information meetings specifically designed for first-year students and sophomores.
- Follow a four-year plan specifically crafted for admission to medical/dental schools.
- Use the Premedical/Predental Review Committee to secure letters of evaluation.
- Participate in numerous health profession student organizations and attend an annual Health Professions Career Fair.
- Benefit from nationally competitive acceptance rates and grade point averages.
Graduates from the College of Science make up nearly half of the students accepted into Ä¢¹½tv’s medical and dental schools. Additionally, recent graduates have gained admission to Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Duke, Baylor, Vanderbilt, Columbia, Stanford, UT Houston, and Washington University.
At Ä¢¹½tv, premed and predent are not designated as majors but rather represent professional career goals. When choosing a major, consider the following:
- No specific major is required for medical/dental admission.
- Most students choose a science major, but you can also opt for one outside of science.
- Choose a major that aligns with your interests.
- All majors must complete prerequisite coursework for medical/dental schools.
- Boost competitiveness by taking advanced science courses.
View a snapshot of a successful Ä¢¹½tv Medical school and dental school applicant
More medical and dental career path resources: