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Dentistry
Common Requirements:
- Biology w/ lab (2 semesters)
- Physics w/ lab (2 semesters)
- English (1-2 semesters)
- General Chemistry w/ lab (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry w/ lab (2 semesters)
- Statistics (1-2 semesters)
- Additional Courses:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Cell biology
- Anatomy
- Social sciences/humanities coursework
Common Admission Requirements:
- Dental Admissions Test (DAT) are required.
- 3-4 Letters of recommendation (at least one from a dentist)
- Minimum GPA of 3.5
- Community service and volunteer/work experience in a health care setting, including dental practice or clinic.
- Some schools require an interview.
Tips:
- Apply for admission at least a year in advance of the planned enrollment date (June- August). Application cycle opens in June and end in February.
- Utilize your health professions advisor throughout the process and meet with him or her as early as possible.
- Be honest about your qualifications. One of the worst things you can do on your dental school application is embellish your qualifications.
- Look at the ranking of possible dental schools.
Understand the success rates and the acceptance rate - Join the American Dental Association (ADA)
For more information about careers in dentistry
Medicine
Common Requirements:
2 Semester of the following.
- General biology
- Physics with lab
- General chemistry (inorganic chemistry) with lab
- Organic chemistry with lab
- Calculus
- English
- Sociology
- Psychology
Recommended Courses:
- Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2 with lab
- Cell Biology with lab
- Microbiology with lab
- Biochemistry with lab
Common Admission Requirements:
- Take the MCAT (http://offers.aamc.org/mcat-study)
- Have official transcripts sent right to centralized application
Letters of Recommendation and Committee Evaluation (Committee letter/ letter packet or three individual letters, two letters from science faculty and one additional letter.
Applying:
- Use the centralized application, AMCAS (MD schools) and/or AACOMAS (DO schools) to submit to colleges of choice
Tips:
- Shadow doctors. A recommended amount of hours to shadow is 100. Think about shadowing three different doctors, over three different specialties, over three different weeks.
- Volunteer at a hospital.
- Contact your advisor
- Attend career fairs
- Present in front of the health professions committee
Helpful planning worksheets for admission:
Med School Admission Questions
Occupational Therapy
Common Requirements
- General Biology w/ labs (2 Semesters)
- General Physics w/ lab (1 or 2 semesters)
- General Psychology (1 semester)
- Anatomy and Physiology w/labs (2 semesters)
- Psychology of Child Development (1 semester)
- Abnormal Psychology (1 semester)
- Statistics (1semester)
- Intro to Sociology (1 semester)
- Lifespan Development (1 semester)
- Possible requirements:
- Medical Terminology
- Ethics/ Philosophy
- English
- Exercise Physiology/ Kinesiology
- Research Methods
- General Chemistry
Common Admission Requirements:
- Take the GRE
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0
- 2-3 recommendation letters
- Depending on the school there is a required 40 - 100 hours of shadowing/volunteering/working
Applying:
Useful links:
Optometry
Common Course Requirements
- General Biology w/labs (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Physics w/labs (2 semesters)
- Statistics/Calculus (1-2 semesters)
- English Composition (1-2 semesters)
Additional Courses depending on the program:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Public Speaking
- Psychology
- Sociology
Common Admissions Requirements:
- OAT (Optometry Admission Test) test scores are required
- 3-4 Letters of recommendation (at least one from an optometrist)
- Maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Community service and volunteer/work experience in a health care setting.
Guide to shadowing an Optometrist: - An interview.
Sneaky Questions
Applying:
Use OPTOMCAS (Optometry Centralized Application Service)
Helpful Websites:
Physician Assistant
Common Requirements
- General Biology w/labs (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry (1 semester)
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II w/labs (2 semesters)
- General Psychology (1 semester)
- Statistics (1 semester)
- Intro to Sociology (1 semester)
- Microbiology w/lab (1 semester)
- English Composition (1 semester)
Possible Requirements:
- College Algebra
- Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Other Social/Behavioral sciences
Common Admission requirements:
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores
- 2-3 letters of recommendation
- 1,000 - 3,000 hours of direct patient care experience BEFORE applying
- GPA of 3.0
Applying:
- Use CASPA central application.
Deadlines: November 1st and March 1st.
Tips:
- Start looking for schools early so you understand the requirements.
- Go to a community school and receive a certification to become a Certificated Nursing Assistant (CNA), Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Medical Assistant (MA), or EKG technician.
- Don’t take a break in the summer! Take classes, do some research, attend medical mission trips, become a medical or ER scribe.
- Know the Top PA schools:
- Apply early: four to six weeks before school’s deadline.
- Helpful GRE websites:
Kaplan
Discover Business
Physical Therapy
Common Course Requirements
- General Biology w/labs (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II w/labs (2 semesters)
- Physics w/labs (1-2 semesters)
- General Psychology (1 semester)
- Statistics (1 semester)
- English Composition (1 semester)
- Other Biology (Cell biology, Genetics) (1 semester)
- Other Psychology (child, abnormal, lifespan) (1 semester)
Possible requirements:
- Advanced Math (calculus, college algebra)
- Medical Terminology
- Exercise Physiology/Kinesiology
- Biochemistry
- Computer science
- Microbiology
Common Admissions Requirements:
- GRE (Graduate Record Exam) test scores
- 3-4 Letters of recommendation
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Significant physical therapy volunteer/work experience w/licensed physical therapist
Applying:
- Using Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)
Helpful Websites:
Podiatry
Common Course Requirements
- General Biology w/labs (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Physics w/labs ( 2 semesters)
- Statistics/Calculus (1-2 semesters)
- English Composition (1-2 semesters)
Possible requirements:
- Additional Biology coursework such as Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetics
- Communication courses
- Psychology
- Sociology
Common Admissions Requirements:
- MCAT test scores are accepted by most podiatry schools but some schools will accept GRE (Graduate Record Exam) or DAT test scores.
- 3-4 Letters of recommendation (at least one from a podiatrist)
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Community service and volunteer/work experience in a health care setting
Applying:
- Use AACPMAS (American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine Application Service) which is the central application service
Helpful Websites:
Podiatric Medical College Information Book
Veterinary Medicine
Common Course Requirements
- General Biology w/labs (2 semesters)
- General Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Organic Chemistry w/labs (2 semesters)
- Physics w/labs (2 semesters)
- Statistics/Calculus (1-2 semesters)
- English Composition (1-2 semesters)
Possible requirements:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Public Speaking
- Humanities/Social Sciences
Common Admissions Requirements:
- GRE (Graduate Record Exam) test scores
- 3-4 Letters of recommendation (at least one from a veterinarian or research scientist)
- Minimum GPA of 3.00 +
- Significant volunteer/work experience w/animals in a hospital, clinic, kennel, shelter, lab,zoo,etc.
How to Apply:
- Use Veterinary Medicine College Application Service (VMCAS) is the central application service
Tips:
- You don’t have to be a pre-vet major to get into Veterinary school. You just need to complete all the prerequisites of your desired Veterinary school.
- Get experience! Being apart of the FFA or 4-H is a great addition to your application. Volunteer at the local shelter and/or work with a Veterinarian.
- Gain leadership and communication skills.
- Get a recommendation letter from a professor who knows you. Not just from a professor that taught a class you got an “A” in.
- Is Veterinary school for you?
- Job outlook
- Jobs similar to a Veterinarian