So you've chosen a professional healthcare field that you'd like to pursue... what next?

You need to have a plan. It won't be easy. There are a lot of classes you need to take, meetings you need to attend, skills you need to acquire. And you'll need to do them in a specific order to get the best results.

Overwhelmed? That's why the Office of Pre-Health Professions Advising is here — to help guide you so you can pursue your dreams.

Once you've registered for courses at UAH and enrolled as a Pre-Health Student, we recommend that you make an appointment with us. Below you'll find our year-by-year general guidance for what you need to do as a Pre-Health Student. Please also reference our recommended courses.

  • Bookmark the Pre-Health website.
  • Be aware of your prerequisite courses.
  • Take BYS 100 Intro to Health Professions.
  • Get started in Biology, Chemistry, and Math.
  • Get connected to your network (one day they will write about you). Get to know your faculty (use their office hours), your academic advisor, and your pre-health advisor.
  • Keep a journal of your accomplishments and what inspires you, take writing courses, and attend seminars or workshops. One day you'll have to write about yourself.
  • Pick some extracurricular activities, organizations, and volunteer opportunities that you'd like to join.
  • Begin volunteering and reaching out to professionals in your desired field for shadowing opportunities.
  • Attend one/some/all of the many seminars, guest speaker events, mock exam/personal statement/committee letter workshops offered by Pre-Health.
  • Pace yourself for success. You need to balance your schedule so that you are able maintain a high GPA.
  • Think about summer: perhaps a job in a research lab, a hospital, or a clinic.
  • Meet with your Pre-Health Advisor once a semester, at minimum.

  • Tackle organic chemistry.
  • Diversify your coursework; add courses that interest you. Develop a major that will serve you if you do not attend a professional healthcare school.
  • Attend one/some/all of the many seminars, guest speaker events, mock exam/personal statement/committee letter workshops offered by Pre-Health.
  • Practice speaking in front of a group and develop interview skills.
  • Keep up your GPA.
  • Continue to gain volunteer and shadowing hours as often as possible.
  • Apply to be a Pre-Health Ambassador if you want to serve as a leader on campus and mentor other Pre-Health students.
  • Think about summer: consider research, volunteer hours, and clinical experience.
  • Utilize our Pre-Health Library over the summer to check out books to help you study for your Professional Exams!
  • Meet with your Pre-Health Advisor once a semester, at minimum.

  • Concentrate on the hours you need in your Major (and your Minor).
  • Start writing your personal statement early.
  • Take Professional Exam practice tests.
  • Let the Pre-Health office know in the fall semester that you are wanting to apply in the upcoming application cycle. If you follow the application cycle schedule we give you, you will not fall behind on your application materials.
  • Take an exam prep course if you need the structure.
  • Take your respective professional school entrance exam during your spring semester.
  • Finalize and polish your application materials before applications open in the late Spring to early Summer. Utilize the Pre-Health office to help you with these items.
  • Apply to your professional school programs at the end of your Spring semester. Apply early!
  • Apply to be a Pre-Health Ambassador if you want to serve as a leader on campus and mentor other Pre-Health students.
  • Meet with your Pre-Health Advisor once a semester, at minimum.

  • Enjoy your senior year!
  • Prepare for interviews.
  • Complete and remaining coursework you need.
  • Continue volunteer and clinical experience.
  • Keep the Pre-Health office updated about your interviews and acceptances!
  • Let the Pre-Health office know where you decide to go!
  • Apply to be a Pre-Health Ambassador if you want to serve as a leader on campus and mentor other Pre-Health students.
  • Meet with your Pre-Health Advisor once a semester, at minimum.