Pre-Health is a Process
While many students may express an interest in pre-health, it is important for you to understand that it is not an actual major. Instead, your advisor will help you choose the major that best aligns with your interests and helps you become a competitive candidate for the many health-related graduate programs available. Some of these majors include Nutrition Science, Nutrition Dietetics, Human Development & Family Science or Global Studies.
Who We Are
While your academic advisor guides you through your degree coursework and helps you register for classes, your pre-health advisor guides you through all of the requirements outside of the classroom that will make you a well-rounded and competitive applicant to the professional program of your choice. Your pre-health advisor can:
- Assist you in fulfilling the pre-requisite courses for anesthesiology assistant, dental, medical, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, and optometry programs while completing your degree requirements
- Help identify and prioritize student organizations, community service, leadership roles, research positions, study abroad programs, job shadowing, and direct patient care hour experiences both on campus and in the Auburn/Opelika community that will enhance your resume and application
- Guide you through the centralized application service, selecting appropriate letters of recommendation, writing the personal statement, and interview preparation
Course Offering NTRI 1010
- 1 credit hour Intro to Health Professions course
- Taught by Pre-Health advisor
- Exposure to components of pre-professional application process
- Develop core competencies required for applicants
- Access to opportunities on and off campus to increase competitiveness
Pre-Health Timelines
Freshman Year:
- Visit the Career Center to explore your career options
- Schedule a job shadowing experience in your field of interest
- Become an associate member of AED and participate in the volunteer activities
- Attend CHS Health Professions Reception in Fall
- Identify research opportunities on campus
- Continue obtaining job shadowing experience
- Continue involvement with AED and strive to become a national member
- Attend CHS Health Professions Reception in Fall
- Stay on track with your course requirements for medical school
- Volunteer on campus and in the community
- Participate in mock interviews during Spring Semester
- Take practice MCATs offered each semester through AED
- Participate in Personal Statement Workshop in spring
- Participate in the PPAC process, which begins in November
- Inquire about taking SCMH 3890 Pre-Medical Preceptorship course
- Continue to job shadow
- Stay involved with AED
- Begin MCAT preparation by taking a review course or studying on your own
- Take multiple practice MCATs during spring semester
- Participate in mock interviews in spring
- Participate in Personal Statement Workshop in spring
- Take the MCAT by the end of May
- Complete AMCAS and other applications in June
- Complete all secondary applications
- Continue to achieve good grades
- Interview
- Graduate
Freshman Year:
- Visit the Career Center to explore your career options
- Shadow practicing dentists and record hours. Visit a variety of practice models
- Become an associate member of AED and participate in the volunteer activities
- Attend CHS Health Professions Reception in Fall
- Continue obtaining job shadowing experience
- Continue involvement with AED and strive to become a national member
- Attend CHS Health Professions Reception in Fall
- Stay on track with your course requirements for dental school
- Volunteer on campus and in the community
- Participate in mock interviews during spring semester
- Take practice DAT exam
- Participate in Personal Statement Workshop in spring
- Draft your personal statement about why you want to be a dentist
- Participate in the PPAC process, which begins in November
- Continue to job shadow
- Apply for leadership positions in organizations or clubs
- Begin DAT preparation by taking a review course or studying on your own
- Take multiple practice DATs during spring semester
- Participate in mock interviews in spring
- Participate in Personal Statement Workshop in spring
- Take the DAT by the end of June
- Apply with AADSAS late May or early June
- Apply to dental school over the summer
- Complete all secondary applications
- Continue to achieve good grades
- Interview
- Graduate
Freshman Year:
- Visit the Career Center to explore your career options
- Schedule a job shadowing experience in the field of optometry
- Become an associate member of AED and participate in the volunteer activities
- Attend CHS Health Professions Reception in fall
- Identify research opportunities on campus
- Research optometry schools to be aware of specific requirements
Sophomore Year:
- Continue obtaining job shadowing experience
- Continue involvement with AED and strive to become a national member
- Attend CHS Health Professions Reception in fall
- Stay on track with your course requirements for optometry school
- Volunteer on campus and in the community
- Participate in mock interviews during spring semester
- Take practice OATs
- Participate in Personal Statement Workshop in spring
Junior Year:
- Participate in the PPAC process, which begins in November
- Continue to job shadow
- Stay involved with AED
- Begin OAT preparation by taking a review course or studying on your own
- Take multiple practice OATs during spring semester
- Participate in mock interviews in spring
- Participate in Personal Statement Workshop in spring
- Take the OAT by the end of June
- Apply to schools of interest the summer after your junior year
Senior Year:
- Complete all secondary applications
- Continue to achieve good grades
- Interview
- Graduate
Freshman Year:
- Visit the Career Center to explore your career options
- Get involved with and join the Pre-Pharmacy Club
- Become an associate member of AED and participate in the volunteer activities
- Get registered as a pharmacy technician in order to volunteer, shadow, or work in a pharmacy
- Identify research opportunities on campus
Sophomore Year:
- Decide whether you want to complete a 4 year degree and then apply to pharmacy school or complete a 3 year program of undergraduate coursework and enter pharmacy school
- Continue obtaining job shadowing experience
- Continue involvement with AED and strive to become a national member
- Stay on track with your course requirements for pharmacy school
- Volunteer on campus and in the community
- Participate in mock interviews in March
- Take practice PCATs offered each semester
- If you believe you are ready for the PCAT, take it in June after your sophomore year of coursework and work on completing your PharmCAS application
Junior Year:
- If you have applied after 3 years of undergraduate coursework, interviews will take place during the fall of your junior year
- Continue to job shadow
- Stay involved with AED
- If you are pursuing a 4 year degree, you will take the PCAT after you have completed your junior year of coursework
- If you take the PCAT after your junior year, complete PharmCAS that same summer and apply to pharmacy school the following fall
Senior Year:
- Complete all secondary applications
- Continue to achieve good grades
- Interview
- Graduate
Freshman Year:
- Visit the Career Center to explore your career options
- Schedule a job shadowing experience in your field of interest
- Join AED as an associate member and participate in the volunteer activities
- Identify research opportunities on campus
- Research physician assistant programs to be aware of specific school requirements (i.e. direct patient hours)
Sophomore Year:
- Continue obtaining job shadowing experience
- Continue involvement with AED
- Stay on track with your course requirements for physician assistant school
- Volunteer on campus and in the community
- Seek out volunteer or work in health related settings to gain direct patient contact experience
Junior Year:
- Continue to shadow physician assistants
- Inquire about taking SCMH 3890 Pre-Medical Preceptorship course
- Participate in mock interviews in fall
- Take a GRE prep course or study on your own
- Take multiple practice GREs during spring semester
- Take the GRE by the end of May
- Check with PA schools regularly to meet application deadlines
- Begin CASPA application and complete it before fall semester of senior year
Senior Year:
- Complete all secondary applications
- Continue to achieve good grades
- Interview
- Graduate
Freshman Year:
- Visit the Career Center to explore your career options
- Schedule a job shadowing experience in your field of interest
- Join Physical Therapy/Occupational Therapy Club (PTOTC) and get involved with Physical Therapy Special Interest Group (PTSIG)
- Identify research opportunities on campus
- Research physical/occupational therapy programs to be aware of specific school requirements
Sophomore Year:
- Continue obtaining job shadowing experience
- Continue involvement with PTSIG
- Stay on track with your course requirements for physical/occupational therapy school
- Volunteer on campus and in the community
Junior Year:
- Check PT/OT schools’ sites regularly to meet application deadlines
- Inquire about taking the SCMH3910 Pre-Physical Therapy Practicum course
- Participate in mock interviews in fall
- Take a GRE prep course or study on your own
- Take multiple practice GREs during spring semester
- Take GRE end of May
Senior Year:
- Complete all secondary applications
- Continue to achieve good grades
- Interview
- Graduate
Additional Information
- Students have the opportunity to network with current healthcare professionals in the community
- Build connections for possible job shadowing experiences
- Obtain advice from healthcare practitioners
- Interact and build relationships with faculty
- Compare health professions to find the best fit
- Explore the challenges, rewards, and lifestyles of these profession
- Preparing a successful essay for your application
- Suggestions for writing your best story and securing your interview
- Special guest speakers including alumni, admissions, and program directors
- Access to a wealth of resources
- Professional Tips
- Interview Formats
- Possible Questions
- Key Points
- Gain shadowing experience abroad in a hospital (up to 40 hrs)
- Increase cultural awareness and humility
- Led by Pre-Health advisor
- Cultural excursions and exploration
- 2 hour course credit
Medical or DO School:
University of Alabama School of Medicine
University of South Alabama College of Medicine
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dental Schools:
University of Alabama School of Dentistry
Optometry Schools:
University of Alabama School of Optometry
Physical or Occupational Therapy Programs:
University of Alabama School of Health Professions Physical Therapy
University of South Alabama College of Allied Health Professions Physical Therapy
Alabama State University Physical Therapy
Accredited PT and PTA Programs
University of Alabama School of Health Professions Occupational Therapy
University of South Alabama College of Allied Health Professions Occupational Therapy
Alabama State University Occupational Therapy
Tuskegee University Occupational Therapy
Physician Assistant Programs:
University of Alabama School of Health Professions Physician Assistant Studies
University of South Alabama College of Allied Health Professions Physician Assistant Studies
CASPA Participating PA Programs
Pharmacy Schools:
Auburn University Harrison School of Pharmacy
Pre-Health Advisors
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