Health Care Professions FAQ

Who should I talk to if I'm interested in a health professions career? (pre-med, dental, optometry, pharmacy, physicians assistant, etc.)

Daniel White, Ph.D., is our health professions advisor.

Who should I talk to if I'm interested in an allied health profession? (physical therapy, occupational therapy, Speech Therapy, Nutrition etc.)

Eileen Martino is our allied health professions advisor.  

Is there a pre-med, pre-dental, or pre-health major at Siena?

There is no pre-med major. Students may enroll in any major provided they fulfill the course prerequisites for the graduate program in which they are interested. Most Siena College students who pursue careers in healthcare choose majors in the biological sciences, health studies/health science track, psychology, or biochemistry/chemistry. 

How can I find out about specific requirements for a specific medical/dental/PA school? 

Requirements are included in "Medical School Admissions Requirements" published by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), “Osteopathic Medical College Information Book” published by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), and "Admissions Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools" published by the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS). Students interested in physician assistant/associate programs should look at the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants site. Students are advised to purchase or obtain personal copies of application guides a few months before applying.

The basic requirement are: One year each of biology, chemistry (inorganic and organic), mathematics, physics and English. Some institutions may require a semester of psychology or additional biology courses.

Are Siena graduates well prepared for professional school?

The Siena graduate is highly regarded by professional schools. Our alumni are in medical, optometry, and dental programs around the state and country (for example LECOM, NYITCOM, PCOM, Touro, Albany Med, SUNY Upstate, SUNY Buffalo Dental Medicine, UConn (Dental and Med), University of Minnesota Dental, Albany Med PA program, College of Mount Saint Vincent PA program, Detroit Mercy Dental, NE College of Optometry). Many of our alumni practice in the Capital Region and return to support our current students with advice and guidance.

Is it difficult to gain admission to dental school? 

In 2019, there were 11,148 applicants and 6,231 first-time, first-year enrollees in dental school. In the past three years, 83% percent of Siena applicants have been accepted to dental school. There has been increased interest in the dental profession of late and the number applying continues to increase. The average DAT (Dental Admissions Test) score for students admitted to dental programs from Siena College is 20.5. The average cumulative GPA for students admitted to dental programs from Siena College is 3.5. The average number of dental programs Siena students apply to is 12.

Would Siena provide good training for the Allied Health Professions? 

Each year a number of our graduates enter physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, and speech/language pathology programs. Every year students majoring in health studies, biology, psychology and other majors are accepted into excellent graduate programs in allied health.