Can I major in Pre-Health at UAH? Pre-Health is not a major, but a declared area of interest that insures that a student is guided in taking the prerequisite courses necessary for their intended professional school. Often, a Pre-Health student at UAH will choose a "Pre-Professional Health Careers Concentration". This means they will have a Biology major and a Chemistry minor along with the Concentration. Most professional career areas do not have to major in something in particular to go your professional school of choice. Any major can work for a Pre-Health student as long as they take the required prerequisite science, math , and other courses for the profession they intend to pursue. Major in what interests you! 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. Is there a preferred major for pre-med students? No, as long as the prerequisite requirements of the professional schools the student will apply to are met. Students should work with their Academic Advisor and their Pre-Health Advisor to ensure these prerequisites are met. While some majors may already incorporate several prerequisites for medical school in their requirements, students can major in any area of interest. Many 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 one-on-one advising to all current UAH students interested in pursuing a healthcare professional school after graduating or completing their prerequisite science and math courses. Enrolled Pre-Health students receive access to an exclusive, updated online resource portal with general and specialized health profession school application information. Students are encouraged to enroll in BYS 100 in the fall of their freshman year and BYS 305 in the spring of their junior year. These timely courses 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 one-on-one advising and feedback during their application process. This assistance includes resume and personal statement reviews, mock interviews, and mock exams. 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 questions. Academic Advisors work closely with the Pre-Health Professions Advisor to help students reach their pre-health academic 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 Measured by grades from all college-level classes taken at all institutions, regardless of course repeat or forgiveness status Completion of prerequisite science classes taken in person Completion of other prerequisite classes including English, math, and others as outlined Entrance exam scores Personal interview(s) Letters of evaluation and recommendation Documented clinical shadowing hours Evidence of opportunities taken to grow and challenge oneself Information about personal history and background including interests, hobbies, motivation, dedication to the field, passion outside of the field, areas of service, knowledge of and involvement in the profession, extracurricular activities, and leadership skills Does the Pre-Health office set up volunteering/shadowing opportunities for students? The Pre-Health Office maintains a database of local professionals that allow students to shadow and/or volunteer. Students are responsible for reaching out to professionals in this database 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. When is the best time to apply to maximize my chances for admission? It is important to ask, "When is the earliest I can apply?" instead of "When is the deadline to apply?" 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.