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PRE-PROFESSIONAL HEALTH SCIENCE

GRADUATE SCHOOL ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST

Checklist: Third or Fourth SPU Years

Checklist: Application (Fourth or Post-Graduate) SPU Years

Back to Pre-Professional Health Programs

First and Second SPU Years

• Select a course schedule that will challenge your abilities and interests in the liberal arts and the basic sciences and will fulfill more than the minimum requirements for your program. Be sure that the courses taken are interesting, will lead to good academic performance, and will enhance your liberal arts background.

There is no required or recommended major. But a solid set of undergraduate science courses is required (the exact courses vary by intended profession). Exceeding the minimum is expected by most graduate school admissions committees. Select a major in the field that interests you the most, and keep an open mind as to which career is the best match for you. Make a genuine choice and be prepared to possibly spend extra time in school to pursue a non-science major as well as complete all required science courses.

• Take PPHS 1200 (Introduction to the Health Professions) in the Autumn Quarter of your first year at SPU to learn about a variety of health care professions. See course descriptions and time schedule for more information.

• Get to know the PPHS coordinator and the Advisory Committee faculty. Speak with students who are juniors and seniors and learn of their experiences. Join the student pre-health sciences club () and select and shadow a clinical mentor or volunteer program.

• Involve yourself with extracurricular commitments that interest you, reflect your interests in health care, and demonstrate service to the community. Seek to become a leader in that activity.

• Develop friendships with faculty members who share common interests with you. Ask for their mentorship and guidance. This will enable them to better function in a support capacity and provide letters of recommendation during your application process.

• Learn as much as you can about your particular health care career choice from a provider in that field. Volunteer in local hospitals and clinics, etc. It is common for professional schools to expect and even require a letter of recommendation from one of these health care providers.

• Arrange with the PPHS coordinator, the SPU mentorship program, and/or an appropriate clinician to observe a health care practice first hand. These observations will probably be volunteer hours. Admissions committees expect a significant number of hours to demonstrate that you clearly understand the demands of the profession.

• Plan to achieve an outstanding undergraduate academic record and grade-point average. Especially important is to achieve an upward-trending GPA over the course of your college studies. Should you do poorly in one area, repeat the course and take a similar upper-level course to demonstrate your ability.

• In Spring Quarter of your first year and/or during your second or third year, take PPHS 1800 (Health Care Career Seminar). This course can be taken multiple times. PPHS 1800 is a general pre-health advising course as well as an opportunity to meet admissions personnel and clinicians and to get to know the PPHS coordinator, faculty, staff members, and upper-division student leaders. Completion of this course is required for participation in the SPU mentorship program and for taking PPHS 2400.

Checklist: Third or Fourth SPU Years

Checklist: Application (Fourth or Post-Graduate) SPU Years

Back to Pre-Professional Health Programs

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