UNCW Pre-Health Professions
Advising Program
FAQs: UNCW Pre-Health Professions Advising Program
What is the UNCW Pre-Health Professions Advising Program?
Who will be my pre-health professions advisor?
How do I contact my pre-health professions advisor?
What is the Pre-Health Professions Student e- Profile?
What is the Pre-Health Professions Admissions e-Portfolio?
What are the Pre-Health Cornerstone Learning Communities? Why should participate?
How can I meet other pre-health profession students?
FAQs: Preparing to Apply to Professional Schools of Health
(Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, etc.)
How do I get information about specific professional schools of health?
What requirements do I have to complete before applying to professional schools of
health? What else is recommended?
What specific courses should I take?
How do I choose a major? Are some majors preferred?
What factors do professional schools of health admissions committees consider?.
How can I get shadowing, volunteer, community service and leadership experience in
my health professions field?
Which admissions tests will I have to take before I apply to professional schools of
health?
Who will write letters of reference for me? Does UNCW provide committee letters?
What is a supplemental application? Why is it significant?
FAQs: UNCW Pre-Health Professions Advising Program
What is the UNCW Pre-Health Professions Advising Program?
Who will be my pre-health professions advisor?
You will have two pre-health professions advisors. Learn more about both your
University College and your College of Arts and Sciences pre-health professions
advisors and how you can work effectively with them.
How do I contact my pre-health professions advisor?
View photos of and access contact information for UNCW's pre-health professions
advisors.
What is the Pre-Health Professions Student e-Profile?
View information about and instructions concerning how to create and maintain your
Pre-Health Professions Student e-Profile
What is the Pre-Health Professions Admissions e-Portfolio?
View a detailed description of how to create and maintain the Pre-Health Professions
Admissions e-Portfolio
What are the Pre-Health Cornerstone Learning Communities? Why should I participate?
Read a detailed description of the Pre-Health Cornerstone Learning Communities & Integrative Freshman Seminar and how you will benefit from participating.
How can I meet other pre-health profession students?
You are strongly encouraged to become an active member of one of the pre-
Health clubs. They exist to facilitate your preparation to enter any of the health
professions and to introduce you to the variety of career opportunities available. As a
freshman you will meet students at various levels of their academic journey towards
application for admission to professional schools covering all of the health professions.
These students will be mentors to you, help you navigate the courses needed and
provide you with invaluable information related to the application process.
This interaction between the students will also help you to identify like-minded people in
your classes so you can put together study groups to help each other excel academically.
The club sponsors activities such as:
- Tours of area health professional schools
- Talks by area health care workers representing all of the professions
- Group attendance at seminars and lectures reserved for health professionals
- Opportunities for clinical research.
Your degree of participation in the club's activities can act as an indicator of your interest
in the health professions and also can give you an opportunity for demonstrating
leadership - both qualities highly valued by admissions committees. There are currently
three clubs on campus: the American Medical Student Association Chapter (AMSA) , Pre-Dental Student Organization and the Pre-Veterinary Student Association.
Another great way to meet other pre-health profession students is to sign up for the
Pre-Health Freshman Seminar. Like you, everyone in these sections has expressed
intent to study toward the goal of entering a professional school of health after graduation
and becoming a health practitioner. Many will also continue to pursue their goals through
participation in the UNCW-SEAHEC Clinical Seminar I and Clinical Seminar II
in their
sophomore and junior years.
FAQs: Preparing to Apply to Professional Schools of Health
(Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, etc.)
How do I get information about specific professional schools of
health?
visit their websites. You will find a listing of websites for professional schools of health
in North Carolina and the surrounding area in the Resources section of this web site.
Another way to gather information is from the U.S. News & World Report which
publishes an annual edition of the "Best Graduate Schools". The format makes it easy
for you to compare schools and see how they rank. Furthermore, you can use virtually
any search engine on the Internet to locate tremendous amounts of information about
schools in any health discipline of interest.
What requirements do I have to complete before applying to
professional schools of health? What else is recommended?
- Get to know and work closely with your pre-health professions academic advisors. They are your advocates and will make sure you take the appropriate courses in the proper sequences.
- Follow an appropriate course of study. Become knowledgeable about the specific pre-requisite courses required by the professional schools to which you plan to apply and follow a course of study that fits. This is especially important for your science and math courses. Your pre-health advisors can help you choose appropriate courses and to keep on track.
- Enroll in the Pre-Health Professions Freshman Seminar. Freshman Seminar is optional but highly recommended. You should sign up at Freshman Orientation for one of the freshman seminar sections designed especially for pre-health professions students. In addition to getting all of the information contained in a traditional freshman seminar, you will also be exposed to special health care topics and speakers. You will also get started on constructing and compiling information in your Pre-Health Professions Admissions e-Portfolio.
- Select a major that you enjoy. You don't have to be a science major to be a competitive applicant to professional schools of health. If you love biology or chemistry, go for it! But, if history or psychology stimulate and challenges you, don't hesitate to declare a non-science major. You will learn more, earn higher grades, sleep better and be generally more content if you are studying a subject that excites you and feels like a good fit.
- Excel academically, no matter which major you choose. You should be prepared mentally, physically and emotionally to work hard enough and smart enough to earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 and a science/math GPA of 3.7 or higher. This is one of the key numbers used by admissions committees to screen applicants to professional schools of health.
- Develop your "soft skills" so you will be a competent and uniquely qualified applicant. Admission to professional schools of health is extremely competitive. At most schools, for every seat in the incoming class there are literally hundreds of highly academically qualified (i.e. high GPA, high entrance exam scores) applicants. To obtain one of these seats, you need to stand-out beyond the numbers. Admissions committees want to see evidence that you both understand the health profession you aspire to practice and that you are passionate about it. The best way to demonstrate these qualities is to acquire "soft skills" (i.e. communication, sensitivity, humanitarianism, compassion, commitment, etc.) is to participate in a variety of shadowing, volunteer, community service and leadership activities throughout your undergraduate years both on campus and in the community. Keep careful track of these experiences in your Pre-Health Professions Admissions e-Portfolio. They will be a rich source of material for composing your personal statement, compiling a "Spotlight Sheet" to assist your reference letter writers, and when preparing for your interviews.
- Apply to, prepare for and perform extremely well on the appropriate admissions test (e.g. MCAT, PCAT, DAT, etc.) for your chosen health field. This is the second number, along with your GPA, that admissions committees use to make the first cut. You will likely take the appropriate admissions test at the end of your junior year or during the summer before your senior year. Work with your pre-health advisor to craft a second semester junior year class schedule that will allow sufficient time for study. This test is critical to successful admission to professional schools of health. Don't fool yourself. You cannot study the night (or even the week!) before you take these tests. Consider forming a study group with others who are also preparing for the same admissions exam. Take full advantage of test prep courses and other study resources that are readily available if you think you need them.
- Thoroughly research and thoughtfully choose the professional schools of health to which you will apply. Visit as many of them as possible. Talk to current student and recent graduates. Typically, you will be spending the next four years of your life in this place while involved in intense and challenging study. It is important that the schools you apply to will help you reach your academic and professional goals but also fit your personality.
- Carefully prepare your applications and submit them on time. Preparing an outstanding application to professional schools of health - one that is likely to get you an interview - is both time consuming and tedious. You will have to fill out the application, submit a high GPA and exceptional admissions test scores, compose an eloquent personal statement and obtain strong letters of recommendation. Remember, the admissions committees are looking for uniquely qualified candidates. The application is your first opportunity both to present your academic qualifications and to demonstrate your well-developed "soft skills". Don't forget to review your Pre-Health Professions Admissions e-Portfolio for material to include in both your personal statement and your "Spotlight Sheet".
- Complete a supplemental application. It is a very good sign if you are asked to complete a supplemental application. You have made the first cut and are one step closer to your dream and reaping the reward for your years of diligence. Complete this task with the same care and attention to detail you brought to the initial application.
- Prepare for your interview. If you are asked to appear for a personal interview, you are in the finalist group. Prepare thoroughly. This is likely to be one of the most important interviews of your life. And, it is one of your best opportunities in the entire admissions process to demonstrate your uniqueness. Research the types of questions typically asked and compose thoughtful answers. This is a good time to mine your Pre-Health Professions Admissions e-Portfolio, yet again, for information to share about yourself and your experiences. Look at feedback from those who have gone through the interview process before you, especially at the same school. Determine what is considered to be accepted interview attire and dress appropriately. Brush up on your etiquette and table manners.
- Wait, wait, wait.then celebrate when your acceptance letter finally arrives! Don't forget to let your pre-health professions advisors know the happy news so your name can be added to the virtual "Wall of Fame".
What specific courses should I take?
Like all undergraduate students, you will need to complete your basic studies
requirements, the required courses for your major, and free elective hours to total
the 124 hours needed to graduate from UNC Wilmington. Since almost all health
professional programs are now at least Master's level academically (most are clinical
doctorates), you will likely be spending four years here before going on to professional
school. Some schools, like the medical, dental, and physical therapy schools, expect
you to graduate from college before attending. Other programs, like pharmacy, allow you
to apply in your sophomore year, and then move to their programs for another 4 years
leading to a doctoral degree, if accepted. For these reasons it is imperative that you
learn all you can about the programs that interest you and take the appropriate courses
at the right times. Your pre-health profession advisors will be immensely helpful in this
regard. In addition to courses required by the professional schools, there are other
classes that are recommended. You should also try to work these into your program.
Suggested courses that satisfy the minimum requirements of most of the professional
schools of health can be found in the Courses of Study section of this web site. You will
need to work closely with you pre-health professions advisors to determine which
UNCW courses fulfill requirements for the specific schools to which you plan to apply.
How do I choose a major? Are some majors preferred?
As a pre-health professions student, you will likely choose to major in a science field.
About 50 - 60% of students major in biology and another 20-25% major in chemistry or
physics. The balance of students chooses from any of the other majors on campus.
You should be aware that there is no specific pre-health major (i.e. pre-med, pre-dent,
pre-vet, pre-PT, etc.) at UNC Wilmington or any other undergraduate school. Working
with your pre-health professions advisors, you should create a curriculum that will
satisfy all of the prerequisites for your chosen field in the health professions as well as
take courses that will lead you to an alternative career should you not be accepted to a
professional school of health. You may be surprised to learn that nation-wide, students
in the humanities score better on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) than do
students in the sciences. Whatever course of study you choose, it is recommended that
you meet all of the minimum requirements for the professional schools of health to
which you plan to apply, follow a rigorous curriculum particularly rich in biology,
chemistry, physics, and mathematics, that you take at least 15 - 16 hours each
semester, and that you do as much upper-level course work within your major as
possible to demonstrate depth of understanding.
What factors do professional schools of health admissions
committees consider?
Professional schools of health do not routinely provide lists of criteria that must be met in
order to be accepted, but the following factors are usually considered when assessing
applicants:
- Superior college grades are critical, especially in those courses that are prerequisites for the school. All sciences courses are looked at carefully and a separate GPA for these courses is often calculated. In addition, how courses were taken (classroom vs. on-line), how many hours/semester were earned, etc. are all taken into consideration when looking at the GPA.
- Admission test scores weigh heavily in the selection process because they give impressions related to what you have learned during your college experience and the likelihood for your success in the professional school curriculum. Your score should be at least at the mean for all those taking the test nationwide, since they give the schools an opportunity to directly compare you with all other students.
- Indications of depth of understanding in your area of study, as evidenced by taking upper level courses beyond the minimum required for the major, special projects and independent study (Directed Independent Study or Honors) in your junior and senior years.
- Strength in other intellectual qualities such as motivation, ease of comprehension, curiosity, retention of information, ability to generalize, extend, and apply knowledge, ability to deal with abstract ideas, breadth of interests, oral expression, and writing ability. The letters of reference that you will request of faculty should address these issues, so you will want to get to know your faculty so they can learn these things about you.
- Laboratory ability, including organization, efficiency, resourcefulness, and manual dexterity. Again, this is addressed in letters of reference.
- Evidence of strong interest and high achievement in non-academic pursuits and active participation (leadership roles) in extracurricular activities. Admissions committees will look for these qualities in your personal statement and your admissions interviews. Suggestions for extracurricular and leadership opportunities can be found in the CommunityConnect section of this web site.
- Character and personal qualities such as integrity, responsibility, perseverance, leadership, ability to get along with others, self-confidence, consideration for and interest in others, emotional maturity, physical health, and personal appearance. These characteristics are often referred to as "soft skills". You will want these qualities highlighted in your letters of reference. To make sure this happens, you will want to compile a "Spotlight Sheet" listing how you have demonstrated these qualities. This list will also be an excellent resource as you prepare for your admissions interviews.
- Sincere interest in your professional field and in helping people. This is usually evidenced by shadowing in your chosen health care field as well as volunteer work and community service in both clinical and non-clinical settings over a period of several years. See the CommunityConnect section of this web site for opportunities both on-campus and in the Wilmington community.
- Awareness of current issues in health care (e.g., abortion, cloning, genetic manipulation, socialization of medical care, etc.). This knowledge is essential for doing well in your admissions interview.
- Letters of reference that address many of the topics listed above. You should be aware that letters can rarely get you into professional school, but they can easily be used to keep you out. You want to be certain that you allow your faculty to learn about you so that they can write glowing and wonderful things about you and your suitability for the profession. Don't forget to keep your "Spotlight Sheet" up-to-date.
How can I get shadowing, volunteer and community service
experience in my health professions field?
To become a uniquely qualified candidate for admission to professional schools of
health you will need to have a variety of carefully documented shadowing, volunteer,
community service and leadership experiences during your undergraduate years.
Check out CommunityConnect on this web site for opportunities both on campus and in
the greater Wilmington community. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but it is a
good starting point. You can also gain clinical shadowing and field experience during
sophomore and junior years if you participate in the UNCW-SEAHEC Pre-Health
Professions Clinical Seminar Series.
Which admissions tests will I have to take before I apply to
professional schools of health?
Most health professional schools require that applicants take a standardized test and
have their scores reported to the institution as part of the application procedure. In many
instances the test score constitutes the most important part of the application dossier,
because only through a standardized exam can fair comparisons be made between
applicants from different undergraduate institutions. The tests are different for each
health science profession. A summary of general information about admissions tests
and web sites for each can be found in the Resources section of this web site.
Who will write letters of reference for me? Does UNCW provide
committee letters?
At some point in the application process you will receive information regarding the
submission of letters of reference. In some cases these will be simple forms that the
professional school gives you. In others, you will be asked to have letters of reference
sent on your behalf. It is your responsibility to make sure your referees know exactly
what they are to do, what the deadlines are, and what the schools are looking for about
you. You can assist your referees by providing each one with a "Spotlight Sheet" all of
this information. Some schools will ask that you collect the recommendations from
your referees and send them in as a packet while others will want the referees to mail
the letters directly. The medical schools, in particular, may ask that a single composite
letter of reference be sent from the UNCW Premedical Advisory Committee. In this
case, you should have your referees send their letters (or forms) to the College of Arts
and Sciences Pre-Health Professions Advisor who will then write the composite letter
as chair of the committee.
It is important for you to give careful consideration about whom you ask to write on your
behalf. Rarely will a letter of reference get you into professional school, but they can
work quite easily against you. You want people to write about your suitability for the
profession, your academic prowess and the likelihood that you will be successful in
the professional curriculum, etc. The professional schools are not interested in how
often you came to class and what grade you made. They want to gain insights about
you that others may have, particularly your ability to handle the academic rigors of
professional school. Therefore, you want to choose referees who will write hot letters
about how wonderful you are. A tepid letter is a bad reference.
A final thought about
reference letters - almost all recommendations have a check-off box related to waiving
your right to review the letters in your application package. Be sure to check one of the
boxes and sign the form. You should give serious thought to waiving this right so that the
admissions committee of the professional school knows that the letter of reference was
written without fear of lawsuit at some point in the future and is, in fact, an accurate
reflection of you. The choice is yours.
What is a supplemental application? Why is it significant?
Some schools, particularly the medical and dental schools, require a supplemental
application. After review of the initial application, the school may request that you submit
a supplemental. Usually, getting this request is a positive sign that you have made the
first cut in the process. However, you need to realize that many more supplemental
applications are requested than there are spaces in entering classes. The supplemental
application should be completed with the same care as the initial application and should
be returned promptly. Feel free to seek the help of your College of Arts and Sciences
Pre-Health Professions Advisor.
How can I prepare for an admissions interview? What questions can I
anticipate? What should I wear?
If after reviewing your application the admissions committee is still interested in you,
you may be invited for an interview. In preparation for the interview you should know as
much about the school as possible, think about the types of questions that you may be
asked, and prepare written and mental notes of your responses. A workshop on
interviewing skills is offered each fall semester by Career Services. For additional
information on how to prepare for a successful interview, look in the Resources section
of this web site.
What is early decision? Will I be at a disadvantage if I choose this
option?
Some professional schools will give you an early decision option. If you choose this
option it means that you will not apply to any other schools until the early decision
school has notified you of its decision. If you are not accepted, you are then free to
make application to other schools, including re-applying to the one that rejected your
early decision application. You will be notified early enough in the fall to meet the
remaining deadlines. If your credentials are exceptional, this could be a good option
for you.
The University of North Carolina, through the UNC Academic Common Market (ACM),
participates in contract programs in medicine, dentistry, and optometry at certain
out-of-state institutions to provide North Carolina residents with training in these
health professions at in-state tuition rates. The number of students that the State
supports in this way is limited, however. A series of seminars explaining this program
in general and promoting careers in optometry specifically is held at several locations
around the State early each fall semester
How do I finance my education at a professional school of health?
Health professional schools are generally expensive, with obvious greater expenses
incurred at private schools. Most students finance their educations by relying on the
availability of low cost student loans and then enter their first years as health care
providers with a considerable amount of debt. Fortunately salaries are substantial
enough to accommodate repayment of the loan within a few years of graduation. The
best sources of information are the Financial Aid offices of the professional schools
themselves. Financial assistance tied to mandatory service is also offered through the US Army.
