Back
to Table of Contents |
Section 1 | Section 2 |
Section 3 |
Section 4 |
Section 5 |
AAC Home Page
PREPROFESSIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
Students planning on entering a post-baccalaureate health
profession,
such as allopathic or osteopathic medicine, veterinary medicine,
dentistry,
podiatry, optometry, chiropractic or pharmacy should plan to
complete
the following courses by one year before graduating. Some health
professions
do not require all of the courses, and some require more. Also,
requirements
vary from school to school, so students should carefully investigate
the
requirements of the schools to which they plan to apply.
Mathematics: At least 2 semesters of college-level
mathematics; one semester of calculus (MAC 2311 or 3472) and one
semester of statistics (STA 2023) is recommended. Some
medical schools stipulate additional calculus courses.
General Chemistry: CHM 2045-2046 and
2045L-2046L, or
CHM
2047 and 2047L.
Organic Chemistry: CHM 2210-2211 and 2211L or CHM
3217-CHM
3218 and CHM 2211L . Some professional schools may
not accept the CHM 3217-CHM 3218 (Organic chemistry and Biochemistry
combined sequence). You should check with the schools you are
interested in to see if such a sequence will
be acceptable. The CHM 3217-3218 sequence does not satisy
some school's pre-requisite credit hour requirement. UF's College
of Dentistry will recommend to UF students who have completed this
sequence to also complete BCH 4024 to satisfy the credit hour
pre-requisite for organic chemistry and biochemistry.
Biochemistry: 1 semester is recommended by most
professional
schools and required by many medical schools. BCH 4024 or CHM 3218 or
BCH 3025.
Physics: PHY 2053-2054 and PHY 2053L-2054L or PHY
2048-2049
and PHY 2048L-2049L, or PHY 2060-PHY2061 and PHY 2048L-PHY2049L
Biology: BSC 2010-2011 and BSC 2010L-2011L.
English: At least 2 semesters at the college level.
Some
medical schools require 3 courses in English with emphasis on
composition. Many medical schools do not stipulate whether their
English requirements are for composition or literature courses, but
composition courses are recommended to strengthen communication skills
and help prepare for admission tests.
The above courses will meet the basic requirements for most
schools
of allopathic, chiropractic, optometric, osteopathic, podiatric,
veterinary medicine and pharmacy. The prescribed course requirements
for admission to dental, medical, and optometric schools in the United
States are very similar. However, requirements can vary slightly and
should be carefully investigated. The detailed requirements for any
school can be found in the school catalogs, the schools' websites or in
the following books:
You can purchase them
directly from the their respective websites. These books are also
available in the Office of Health and Legal Professions Advising,
Academic Advising Center, Room 204. Students wishing to view
these books should request them from the OHLPA assistant.
ADDITIONAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS or
RECOMMENDATIONS
Premedical students are encouraged to take the
following
courses in order to meet the recommendations for some
medical schools.
Statistics: STA 2023
Immunology: PCB 5235 (prerequisite, MCB 3020-3020L)
Microbiology: MCB 3020-3020L (prerequisite, BSC
2011-2011L
& CHM 2010 or CHM 3217)
Genetics: PCB 3063 (prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L,
General
Chemistry)
Anatomy: ZOO
3713C (Functional Vertebrate Anatomy, prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L)
Physiology: PCB 4723C (Animal
Physiology, prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L, CHM 2046-2046L & PHY
2054-2054L or instructor permission)
Predental students are encouraged to take additional
courses in
the following (courses in italics are required for the University of
Florida School of Dentistry). In addition, the University of
Florida College of Dentistry requires BCH 4024 or CHM 4207.
Microbiology: MCB
3020-3020L (prerequisite, BSC
2011-2011L & CHM 2010 or CHM 3217)
Psychology: PSY 2012
Genetics: PCB 3063
(prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L,
General Chemistry) or AGR 3303 (requires
basic course in biology, botany or zoology).
** Microbiology majors may satisfy the
genetics requirement by completing MCB 4304 or PCB 4522)
Other Social and Behavioral Sciences
Immunology: PCB 5235 (prerequisite, MCB 3020-3020L)
Preoptometry students should take the following
courses:
Psychology: PSY 2013, plus an additional psychology
course
Microbiology: MCB 3020-3020L (prerequisite, BSC
2011-2011L & CHM 2010 or CHM 3217)
Statistics: STA 2023
Also recommended are:
Animal Physiology: PCB 4723C (prerequisite, BSC
2011-2011L,
general physics, or instructor's permission) &
Functional Vertebrate Anatomy: ZOO 3713C (prerequsite,
BSC
2011-2011L)
or
Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory: PET 2320C &
Applied Human Physiology: PET 2350C
Preveterinary students should take the following:
Introduction to Animal Science: ANS 3006C
(prerequisite,
APB
2150 or higher biological science)
Principles of Animal Nutrition: ANS 3440 (prerequisite,
CHM
2045-2045L)
Genetics: PCB 3063 (prerequsite, BSC 2011-2011L, general
chemistry) or AGR 3303 (requires basic course in biology, botany or
zoology).
** Microbiology majors interested in UF's
College of Veterinary Medicine program should consult with the
admissions office to determine if MCB 4304 or PCB 4522 will satisfy the
genetics requirement. It is recommended microbiology majors
complete PCB 3603 in addition to MCB 4304 or PCB 4522.
Microbiology: MCB 3020-3020L (prerequisite, BSC 2011
-2011L
& CHM 2210 or CHM 3217)
Statistics: STA 2023
Recommended courses:
Speech Communication or Public
Speaking: COM 1000 or SPC 2600
Prepharmacy students should take the following:
Introduction to Public Speaking: SPC 2600
or
Effective Oral Communication: AEE 3030C
Animal Physiology: PCB 4723C (prerequisite, BSC
2011-2011L,
general physics, or instructor's permission)
Functional Vertebrate Anatomy: ZOO 3713C (prerequsite,
BSC
2011-2011L)
or
Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory: PET 2320C
Applied Human Physiology: PET 2350C
Microeconomics: ECO 2023
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OTHER HEALTH
RELATED PROFESSIONS
Pre-physician assistant students are encouraged to
take the
following courses in order to meet the recommendations
for most physician assistant programs.
Statistics: STA 2023
General Biology: BSC 2010-2011 & BSC 2010L-2011L
Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory: PET 2320C
Applied Human Physiology: PET 2350C
Microbiology: MCB 2000-2000L or MCB 3020-3020L
(prerequisite, BSC 2011-2011L & CHM 2010 or CHM 3217)
General Chemistry: CHM 2045-2046 & CHM 2045L-2046L
Organic Chemistry: CHM 2210 or CHM 3217 (not required
by most
programs, but a good class to take).
General Psychology: PSY 2012 and at least one
additional
social and
behavioral science course is recommended.
Speech Communication or
Public Speaking: COM 1000 or SPC 2600
Pre-physical therapy students are encouraged to take
the
following courses in order to meet the recommendations
for most physical therapy programs.
Statistics: STA 2023
General Biology: BSC 2010-2011 & BSC 2010L-2011L
Physics: PHY 2053-2054 & PHY 2053L-2054L or PHY
2004-2005
& PHY 2004L-2005L
General Chemistry: CHM 2045-2046 & CHM 2045L-2046L
Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory: PET 2320C
Applied Human Physiology: PET 2350C
General Psychology: PSY 2012 and at least one
additional
social and
behavioral science course is recommended.
Pre-occupational therapy students are encouraged to
take the
following courses in order to meet the recommendations for
most occupational therapy programs.
Statistics: STA 2023
General Biology: BSC 2010-2011 & BSC 2010L-2011L
or BSC
2007-2008 & BSC 2009L
Applied Human Anatomy with Laboratory: PET 2320C (not
required
by most occupational therapy programs, but a good class to take).
Applied Human Physiology: PET 2350C (recommended by
some
occupational therapy programs).
General Psychology: PSY 2012
Abnormal Psychology: PSY 3144 (prerequisite PSY 2012
and is
required by many occupational therapy programs).
Developmental Psychology: DEP 3053 (prerequisite PSY
2012 and
is recommended by many occupational therapy programs).
Sociology: SYG 2000 or SYG 2010
General Chemistry: CHM 2045-2046 & CHM 2045L-2046L
TIMING OF PRE-REQUISITE COURSES
Chemistry is the longest sequence of the preprofessional
courses,
and should be started as soon as possible since it is also a
prerequisite for the required organic chemistry courses. Therefore,
most students take chemistry and math in their first year. In the
second year, most students take biology and either organic chemistry or
physics. Transfer students who do not complete the entire general
chemistry sequence before transferring to UF will need to consult with
a Chemistry advisor at UF before attempting to register for a general
chemistry course. It is STRONGLY recommended that students who plan on
entering UF as a Transfer student to complete
the General Chemistry and General Biology sequence before matriculating
to UF. Students who have not taken any chemistry will have to
take
the Chemistry Readiness Assessment Test on Integrated Student
Information
System (ISIS) website at http://www.isis.ufl.edu.
TAKING REQUIRED COURSES AT OTHER
INSTITUTIONS
It is normally recommended that a student complete all of
his/her
science courses at UF. In particular, students should not split a
sequence of courses (such as general chemistry) between two
institutions. Because professors use different textbooks, teaching
styles and speeds, splitting a sequence between institutions can make
the transition very difficult. Taking
many prerequisites at another school might appear to admissions
committees that you are avoiding taking difficult classes at UF.
Lastly, while grades earned at other institutions will not be factored
into your UF GPA, medical schools will compute your GPA based on work
from ALL institutions. Students who are
considering completing required courses at a community college should
speak with a pre-health professions advisor and an admissions
representative at the health professions school before doing so.
ELECTIVE COURSES
Most professional schools prefer candidates with broad
educational backgrounds. In addition to a strong science
background, professional schools require a solid foundation in basic
verbal and quantitative
skills. Nearly one-half of the MCAT focuses on writing skills and
reading
comprehension of non-scientific material. It is advisable for
preprofessional students to have more than the minimum number of
science
courses required for admission as well as several courses in the
humanities
and social sciences. Science majors will complete more than
the required science courses and should focus on non-science courses
while
non-science majors should select from zoology, microbiology,
biochemistry,
or immunology and other upper level science courses (see recommended
courses
above).
ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL
BACCALAUREATE CREDIT
To maintain your knowledge and demonstrate your academic
ability to
professional schools, you should plan on taking courses in areas in
which you have been granted AP or IB credit, especially in
English and the sciences. It is recommended that you follow your
IB or AP credit with higher level courses, although in some
circumstances a student may choose to take a course for which he/she
has earned AP or IB credit over again. There are many professional
schools who will not accept AP or IB credit as the SOLE fulfillment of
a requirement. If you have earned AP or IB credit for part of the
pre-requisite
requirement, taking the other half at UF will be sufficient if you
follow up with taking more advanced courses in the related area.
If
you earned credit for one term of General Physics or for the entrire
year
of General Physics, it is recommended that you still take the one year
sequence. However, if you should earn credit for all of
the biology or english you will need to take additional courses in
biology and english during your four years at UF.
SELECTING A MAJOR
There are no majors such as "premed", "prevet", or "predent"
at the
University of Florida. Professional schools define their requirements
as a group of courses rather than a major. All majors in the liberal
arts and sciences areas are acceptable to professional schools, and
admission rates do not differ significantly by major. For all health
professions, students majoring in professional
programs such as business, engineering, or education may have less
of an opportunity to gain a well-rounded education and may have
difficulty in fulfilling preprofessional requirements while taking
required courses for their majors. If you are interested in such a
major, you should discuss your schedule with an academic advisor in the
major department. Majors in baccalaureate health professions such
as nursing or pre-physical therapy, pre-occupational therapy or
pre-pharmacy is not recommended for students who intend to apply to
different post-baccalaureate health profession programs such as
medicine, dentistry, optometry,
podiatry, chiropractic or veterinary medicine.
Many preprofessional students major in biology, chemistry,
microbiology, or zoology as a matter of convenience because those
departments' major requirements often coincide with much of the
preprofessional course requirements. However, for most health
professions there is no specific need to major in a science.
It is important to realize that most students will do best in
a major that they enjoy. Also, your major should be something that
prepares you for an alternative career in case you change your mind or
are not accepted to a health profession program. In addition,
professional schools will often discuss choice of major in an interview
as one way of learning more about the applicant. Students capable
of superior work both in the sciences and the non-sciences
will have the best chance at admission to all professional schools,
regardless of major.
Your choice of major should be decided by:
(a) your abilities
(b) your interests
(c) the career alternatives available to you with the
educational
background provided by the major.
The Counseling Center in 301 Peabody Hall or the Career
Resource
Center in the Reitz Union can provide assistance with career testing or
major counseling.
Top |
Back to Table of Contents |
Section I |
Section II |
Section III |
Section IV |
Section V | AAC
Home Page
COURSE LOADS
Whether you are a first year or transfer student, in your
first term
you should allow time for adjustment to University life
and course demands. First year students will find that the
expectations placed on them in their college work is usually
much higher than in high school. Successful preprofessional students
usually have good study habits that include: reading assignments before
going to lecture, reviewing and/or recopying or summarizing
notes immediately after class, doing all problems before discussion
class, and asking questions of instructors in-class as well as
in their office hours. You should plan to spend 2-3 hours on homework
and study each week for every hour spent in class. A first-term
student (first year or transfer) normally takes 12 to 14 hours of
academic credit including one or two science or mathematics courses
A typical program for a first year student in the first
semester
might be a chemistry course, a math course, and two general education
courses.First year students with very strong
academic backgrounds might consider taking up to 15 hours
the first term by including an additional elective. Transfer students
should consult an advisor in their major and then meet
with the health professions advisor to plan a program.
After you have adjusted to university life, you should take
15-17
hours of academic courses most semesters. The 15-17 hours
should include at least two science or math courses (biology,
chemistry, physics, or mathematics/statistics), but no
more than three science courses, if possible, and no more than two
laboratory courses in any one term. Science courses in
general require more time than non-science courses, and laboratory
courses require even more time for preparation, performance and
writing of reports. Although you can have a few semesters of less than
15 hours, it is best to have at least three terms of 15-17 hours
with two or three sciences - in which you attain good grades - to
demonstrate your ability to handle the rigorous demands of the
curriculum in a professional school. Course loads are considered
significantly by the admission committees during the selection process.
Additionally, a 14-hour load is required in order to be eligible for
placement on the Dean's List in the College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences.
Avoid padding your program with lighter courses just to
increase
your course load and raise your grade point average. Do not
take MCB 2000 or CHM 2200 which are intended only for students not
going on to health profession programs. Never use these courses to fill
out your course load to 15 hours since that will diminish the impact of
your academic performance. Admission committees can easily spot such
practices. Use your elective credits to enlarge your intellectual
horizons and sharpen your mind. Courses which improve your
communication skills or reading proficiency skills are especially
desirable.
You should BE CAUTIONED: carrying an excessively heavy
course load
or taking more difficult courses than other students does not
necessarily
give you an advantage if your grades or extracurricular activities are
reduced significantly. Professional schools are looking for candidates
who can consistently perform well pursuing a depth of experiences and
a breadth of education.
Top |
Back to Table of Contents |
Section I |
Section II |
Section III |
Section IV |
Section V | AAC
Home Page
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
College grades are probably the most important single
predictor of
performance in professional school! Therefore professional schools
consider academic performance as one of the most important factors in
making admissions decisions. Most professional
programs have many more qualified applicants than they have
space for.
Calculating GPA: For courses taken at UF, an A is 4
points,
B is 3 points, C is 2 points, D is 1 point, E is zero points, and plus
grades are an additional 0.5 point. Each grade is multiplied by the
number of semester hours credited for that course. All courses taken at
any accredited college or university, including repeated courses
(even those repeated under a school's forgiveness policy), are included
in the computation of the GPA for most professional programs. The
products of grade points times credit hours for each course are added
together, and then divided by the total number of credit hours to
arrive at the overall GPA. Professional schools will calculate a total
GPA as
well as a GPA for related science courses (for allopathic medical
programs:
BCPM, which combines grades in biology, chemistry, physics, and
math/stats
courses). Generally, admissions committees consider academic
performance
in related science courses to be very important in an applicant's
overall record.
Minimum GPA: There is no predetermined minimum GPA
for
applicants to have a realistic chance of admission to professional
schools. Naturally, applicants with the highest GPA and admission test
scores, and strongest overall record will
be given primary consideration. You may use
average GPA's of accepted applicants as a guide, but having
that GPA or higher in no way guarantees that you will be accepted. It
is important to be strong in all areas.
Course Difficulty and Grading Policies: The types of
courses
and the college in which they were taken is considered when a student's
GPA is evaluated. The admissions committees' evaluation will depend on
the reputation of the school as well as their previous experience with
students from that school. Consideration may be given to the level of
difficulty of a course. The grading policies of professors may be given
consideration only if such courses and grading policies are brought to
the attention of the admissions committee.
Honors Courses: Smaller enrollment in honors courses
enables
faculty to get to know you better and therefore write more
knowledgeable letters of evaluation. Honors courses should only be
taken by qualified students desiring a more challenging and in-depth
education in the subject area.
S/U Option: It is not advisable to take any courses
required
by professional schools on a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory
(S/U) basis. Professional schools are interested in an evaluation of
competence, and S/U grading does not allow a clear interpretation of
competence in a course. Use of S/U grades in subjects outside of the
preprofessional requirements should likewise be avoided, although a
number of students do use the option for foreign language courses, and
many research and individual work courses are only taught S/U.
W's and Withdrawals: It is not uncommon for students
to have
one or two drops in his/her academic record, especially during one's
freshman year. However, three or more indicate a pattern of not
being able to making good choices about one's courses and
also give the appearance of not being academically successful in the
courses. It also gives the appearance that you were failing
the course but managed not to allow the course to adversely affect
your overall GPA. Full term withdrawals are not uncommon if
it is a one time occurance. Many things can happen that you
will not have control over, such as a serious illness that you or a
close family member may have or a death in the family. Several
full term withdrawals will be detrimental to your academic record.
It would appear that you may not be up to the academic rigor and
the challenges required in the health professional programs.
Poor Grades and Repeating Classes: The manner in
which a
weakness in a particular required subject is viewed is dependent on the
extent of the weakness. A grade of D in a required
course is serious and may only be partially
compensated for by achieving an A or B in a retake of the course.
Additionally, you might want to take an advanced course in the
same subject. A grade of C is not so serious, provided it is an
isolated occurrence. Consecutive C's or worse in any preprofessional
courses should be considered as strong indicators of trouble with
a student's motivation, ability, interests, or career choice. A
course should not be repeated unless a higher grade is required
to progress to the next course in the sequence, is required to receive
credit for the course for graduation, or the amount of information
acquired in the first attempt was insufficient to permit satisfactory
progress in advanced courses or on standardized tests.
Naturally, continuous top performance is preferred and will
give a
student the most realistic chance of admission. The next best grade
trend is an upward progression without sacrificing course loads (two
hard science or math courses and at least 15-17 hours) or difficulty of
the courses taken. An erratic record of sharp peaks and valleys is to
be avoided. A continuously decreasing
performance record is, of course, a serious deterrent to admission. One
bad term will not completely destroy your chances for admission,
provided that you bounce back and consistently excel in successive
terms.
If you did poorly as a first year student but improved
greatly in
the following years, this improvement will help your chances of
admission.
But even a fine later record of performance cannot completely erase
previous records of low grades, failures, and withdrawals. Your overall
GPA must be competitive. Few students are accepted each year to
allopathic medical schools with relatively low GPA's. The records of
those that are accepted usually show a pronounced upward trend in
grades while an average or high number of credits in reasonably
demanding courses is maintained.
Even if you feel that your grades do not accurately reflect
your
true abilities, a poor academic record will definitely reduce your
chances of getting into professional school. Grades in college are a
very significant factor in admission decisions, and cannot be entirely
offset by test
scores or extracurricular activities. Finally, you should keep in mind
that for most health profession programs, you will be applying after
your
junior year, so the GPA calculated at the time of application will not
include your senior year. While the grades you receive your senior year
are important, do not rely on your senior year to raise your GPA!
Top |
Back to Table of Contents |
Section I |
Section II |
Section III |
Section IV |
Section V | AAC
Home Page
COLLEGES AND DEGREES
Bachelor's Degree: Most of the spaces available in
entering
professional classes seem to be reserved for qualified candidates
who will have their baccalaureate degree. Professional schools are
looking for mature, well-rounded, and liberally-educated applicants.
Some professional schools are slightly more willing to
accept applicants earlier than medical schools.
Typically, only students with exceptional credentials and backgrounds
are accepted earlier than their senior year. If you are planning
to apply to a professional school, you should plan on working toward a
baccalaureate degree.
Graduate School: Applicants having a master's or
doctoral
degree should realize that all of an applicant's credentials are
considered. If the advanced degree is in an area related to the
profession and is recent, it would be interpreted as
an asset. However, the mere acquisition of hours or degrees
does not automatically assure special consideration. While doing well
in a graduate program can help offset relatively low
undergraduate performance, past performance will still be considered.
You should not pursue a graduate degree in a field you are
not interested in studying. Graduate school should be used not
only as proof of academic ability for health profession programs, but
as preparation for an alternative career.
Top |
Back to Table of Contents |
Section I |
Section II |
Section III |
Section IV |
Section V | AAC
Home Page
PERSONAL EXPERIENCES AND
EXTRACURRICULAR
ACTIVITIES
HEALTH RELATED EXPERIENCE
Professional schools are looking for highly-motivated,
committed,
enthusiastic, thorough and well informed applicants. They strongly
prefer people who have looked into the details of the profession and
know the shortcomings, demands, and rewards of the profession through
direct experience. Such people will be more realistically motivated to
go through the preprofessional program, and are
more likely to be accepted, all other things being equal.
Find out for yourself what the doctor-patient relationship,
working
conditions, life-style, and nitty gritty of health care is like. In
other words, get some hands-on experience. There are several student
organizations that can assist you in obtaining this
kind of experience. Membership in these organizations can assist
in developing a thorough understanding of the health-care professions.
However, membership is not required . Pre-health students are
also encouraged to seek experience on their own. Ask yourself who you
would want for your personal physician. Most likely the answer is: a
thorough and thoughtful person who carefully looked into every aspect
of the profession before applying.
Involvement in any activity which develops and demonstrates
your
interest, motivation, and experience in your chosen professional field
will generally be helpful. Health-related jobs or
volunteer experiences may be found in hospitals, clinics,
dentist's or physician's offices, nursing homes, hospices, day care
centers, Alachua County Crisis Center, the SPARC shelter, or the Arts
in Medicine program at Shands Teaching Hospital.
They provide experience beyond the superficial aspects of the
profession. Pre-vet students should gain experience working with both
large and small animals. Pre-physician assistant students should
look into working in a healthcare facility in an official capacity
(certified
nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, etc). These
experiences, however, will not compensate for a weak GPA or poor
admission test scores.
We do not recommend these activities just to fill up your
application form. It is important that you participate in these
activities because
you are interested in them. If you find you do not enjoy this type of
work, you should take this as a serious indication that this
may not
be the right career for you.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Professional schools are looking for intellectually
enlightened
individuals who value learning and are willing to apply what they have
learned in the classroom to "real world" applications. Many of
the
new medications and treatment plans developed were the result of
research. Students should gain an appreciation for its value
and learn what is involved: from developing the hypothesis,
experimental
design, data analysis to clinical trials. Although professional
schools do not require you to perform research, they do expect you
to have at least attempted research before deciding it is not for you.
Research is an excellent way for you to know faculty members and
is the only way to learn first hand how labor-intensive it is.
Participating
in research sharpens one's critical thinking and problem solving skills
and promote innovative and creative thinkng as well. Research can also
teach students how to be focused, detail oriented and work as a member
of
a team. Keep in mind, that research experiences, however,
will not compensate for a weak GPA or poor admission test scores.
We do not recommend that you participate in research to
impress the
admissions committee. Rather it is important that you actively pursue
research if you truly enjoy it. Admissions committees will not be
impressed with mere research activities. However they will be
impressed
by how you share what you learn from your experiences.
COMMUNITY SERVICE/VOLUNTEER WORK
All health professions are service professions. Thus, it
should not
be surprising that professional schools expect applicants
to have found ways to be of service to others. There are many
opportunities available on campus, in Gainesville and in your hometown
to put yourself in the role of a helper. This may include tutoring
disadvantaged youth, volunteering at nursing homes, day care centers,
camps for the physically challenged, or in programs for the homeless or
hungry. You should be genuinely motivated to be involved in a service
effort and you should be able to articulate what the opportunity meant
to you. However, keep in mind that any extracurricular activities in
which you engage must be balanced with your academic demands. Do not
overextend yourself, particularly in your freshman year. Give yourself
time to adjust to the demands of college.
PREPROFESSIONAL STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
We are fortunate to have active preprofessional
student
organizations on campus that can assist you in gaining considerable
insight into the health professions:
Applications to A.E.D., P.S.O., Premed A.M.S.A., M.A.P.S. and other
student organizations are available in Room 327 of the Reitz Union.
These organizations' activities complement one another:
P.S.O. -- provides practical health-care experience in a clinical
setting.
A.E.D. -- provides academic orientation, research, forums, workshops,
etc. about the present concerns and future trends in health care.
M.A.P.S -- provides for special
activities, support, and orientation for minority pre-professional
students to help them adjust to the University and succeed
in the preprofessional program.
Premed A.M.S.A. -- provides practical health-care experience and a
variety of other special
activities, i.e. the Health Careers Convention for high school
students
OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT
Many times students cannot avoid having to work while
attending
college. You should know, however, that you need to demonstrate
that you can do well in at least two semesters of solid 15 to 17 hours
of credit, including 2 or 3 hard sciences. Otherwise the
admission committees will not be sure that you can handle the 23 to 36
hours of science courses in the first year of professional school. If
you must work to support your college education, it might be better to
work full-time for a term or
two, save some money, and then go to school full-time on your savings
or loans.
Naturally, you should point out your self-supporting
activities on
your application. If an applicant is working part/full time while
attending college, this may be taken into account
by admission committees when it is brought to their
attention. The amount of employment could account for
a slightly lower GPA and/or lack of extracurricular
activities; however it is unlikely to compensate for a weak GPA. In
addition,
work experience can offer evidence of your personal qualities - your
ability to work cooperatively with others, handle responsibility, etc.
Top |
Back to Table of Contents |
Section I |
Section II |
Section III |
Section IV |
Section V | AAC
Home Page
TIMELINE FOR PRE-HEALTH
PROFESSIONAL
STUDENTS
The following program of courses and recommended activities
is one
typically followed by pre-health professions students. You should plan
a program that meets your individual needs and goals. The pre-health
professions advisor is available to meet with students to review
tentative plans. The timeline below is designed to give you an idea of
how preprofessional and degree requirements may be met. You
should discuss your schedule with an advisor from your major department
to ensure progression toward graduation.
Many students reach a decision to prepare for a career in
the
post-baccalaureate health professions after attending one or more years
of college. Such students will usually have to complete
requirements at a more accelerated rate if they wish to graduate
on schedule. It is usually not advisable to accelerate through
this pre-health curriculum in attempts to enter early. Rather,
having extra time to increase your GPA, obtain health care experience
and develop maturity and leadership is the preferred route.
If you choose to accelerate through your pre-health studies, you
shoud discuss this plan with the pre-health professions advisor and
with the major advisor.
YEAR 1
ACADEMIC RECOMMENDATIONS:
In the first year, general chemistry and mathematics should
be
taken. At UF, you must take a placement exam to determine which
chemistry and
math courses in which you may enroll. Taking the courses
you place into is important because it prevents you from getting in
over your head and helps you complete the preprofessional requirements
at a pace that will allow you to do your best.
General chemistry (CHM2045 & CHM2045L) or Introduction
to
Chemistry (CHM1025) is acceptable. Precalculus (MAC1147) and/or
Calculus (MAC 2311) should be completed this year. Students with weak
backgrounds in mathematics should consider taking Precalculus Algebra
(MAC 1140) and Trigonometry (MAC 1114)
before attempting chemistry or calculus. General Education requirements
should be started, but do not need to be completed until graduation
(depending upon your intended major). In general, most students will
take chemistry, mathematics, a writing course, and a Gen Ed course
during each term of their first year. You should aim for strong
academic performance: B, B + and A grades. If you do not achieve
this, consult with an advisor about ways you can improve your
performance. First year students should begin considering and
exploring possible majors. Use your general education courses to
experiment with different subjects. In addition, you should begin
developing relationships with faculty who you may later be asking
for letters of recommendation. The easiest way to do so is to
participate
in class and visit the instructor's office hours to ask questions about
the course material.
****Introduction to Chemistry (CHM1025) is not apart of and
does not
fulfill the General Chemistry (CHM2045/L & CHM2046/L)
requirement. This course is meant for those with weaker but
satisfactory backgrounds in high school chemistry and algebra.
First Semester (usually Fall)
Chemistry (CHM 1025 or CHM 2045/L)
Math (MAC 1147 or MAC 2311 or MAC 3512)
Gordon Rule writing course
General Education/Major Courses
Second Semester (usually Spring)
Chemistry (CHM 2045/2045L or CHM 2046/L)
Math (MAC 2311 or MAC 2312)
Gordon Rule writing course
General Education/Major Courses
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: Attend a Health Professions
Workshop given by the pre-health professions advisor during the
Fall semester. If you achieve good
grades in your first semester and feel you can handle activities on top
of your course work and maintain strong academic performance, consider
participating in some sort of health experience, joining pre-health
organizations, or getting involved in other organizations during your
second semester. Don't overload yourself, but
gradually take on additional activities that you can handle.
YEAR 2
ACADEMIC RECOMMENDATIONS - If you have not finished general
chemistry, it should be completed in this year and the Organic
Chemistry sequence begun. Organic Chemistry CHM 2200 is
not acceptable. Qualified students are
advised to consider taking the honors organic chemistry sequence,
CHM 3217 and CHM 3218. It is recommended to
students who complete the CHM 3217, 3218 sequence to consider
completing BCH 4024, because that sequence may not satisfy some
school's prerequisite hours for organic chemistry and biochemistry.
You should take another science sequence along with
Chemistry.
Either Biology or Physics may be selected, depending on your intended
major. Additionally, calculus may be taken if not yet completed.
Second-year students should continue to develop relationships with
faculty. Sophomores should finalize major selection and take required
universal tracking courses.
Second year preprofessional students who have a 3.5 grade
point
average or higher and who have completed the core requirements
(completion of Physics is optional at this point), may
want to apply for admission to the Junior Honors Medical
Program. Interested students should consult the section in this
handbook called " Early Admission to Professional Schools
".
Third Semester
Chemistry or Organic Chemistry (CHM 2210 or CHM 3217)
Biology or Physics
General Education/Major Courses
Fourth Semester
Chemistry or Organic Chemistry (CHM 2211 & CHM 2211L or
CHM 3217
& CHM 2211L)
Biology or Physics
General Education/Major Courses
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: By your sophomore year you should
definitely
be participating in some sort of health experience, as well as in other
service activities of interest to you. You should meet with the health
professions advisor to review your progress, discuss plans, and, when
appropriate, consider alternative careers.
THIRD & FOURTH YEARS
ACADEMIC RECOMMENDATIONS: During your third year you should
complete
the preprofessional core requirements (General and Organic Chemistry,
Biology, English and Physics) in order to take admission tests in
the spring . Years three and four are also devoted to completion of
a departmental major, elective courses, and other degree requirements.
In fall
of your third year, you should review your degree audit with an
advisor in your major department to plan the completion of your degree
requirements.
Choice of Electives: Professional schools do not appear to
have any
significant bias towards elective courses chosen by students as long as
they are solid, academic courses. These schools, in
fact, look with favor upon students who have shown broad interests
and educational development during their college career. For
the student with a science major, electives should be chosen
from a variety of subjects, including English, speech and
communications, philosophy, psychology, religion, history, etc.
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: In addition to the activities you are
already
participating in, you should do the following to prepare for
application to professional school:
Fall of Third Year (2 years before beginning your
professional
program)
- Research the schools of your chosen profession so that
you may
begin to decide to which schools you wish to apply . Make sure you know
each school's requirements.
- Begin preparation of personal statement for application
- If preparing for an optometry program, register for the
February
OAT by December
- Decide how you intend to prepare for the admission test:
studying on your own versus taking a course
Spring of Third Year:
- Research the schools of your intended profession and
contact
them to request information
- Open
a file in OHLPA to compile letters of evaluation (medicine,
dentistry, pharmacy, podiatry, optometry, veterinary
medicine)
- Request letters of evaluation from faculty and/or
character
references early enough to give professors time to write them before
the end of the semester (many faculty leave for the summer).
- Request a copy of transcripts from all institutions you
have
attended and verify their accuracy by February
- Continue to work on the personal statement for application
- Obtain the preliminary application for the professional
school
through the WWW (see other
links ) - AMCAS (allopathic medical school), AACOMAS (osteopathic
medical school), AADSAS (dental school), VMCAS (veterinary medical
school), AACPMAS (podiatry), PharmCAS (pharmacy), CASPA (physician
assistant) - beginning in May or June (Note: If you are
applying to
a school that does not participate in a centralized application
service, contact the school directly for an application.)
- Register for standardized test before deadline.
- Make sure your letters of recommendation have ben
received by
OHLPA hopefully by June 30.
Summer (the year before starting your professional program):
- Submit preliminary application
- Complete secondary applications and return to schools - as
they come in
- Have recommendations sent - as they are requested
with
secondary applications
- If needed, register for fall standardized test
Fall of Fourth year (1 year before beginning your professional
program)
- Prepare for interviews . Sign up for the interview workshop
(in September) at the Academic
Advising Center. Have a mock interview at the Career Resource
Center or with a pre-health professions advisor.
- Take fall admission test, if necessary.
- Continue to maintain contact with each school to be sure
that
your application is complete.
- Advise the OHLPA of acceptance into Professional school
and thank all your recommenders for writing your letters.
Top |
Back to Table of Contents |
Section I |
Section II |
Section III |
Section IV |
Section V | AAC
Home Page
EARLY ADMISSION TO
PROFESSIONAL
SCHOOLS
Less than 10% of the students entering medical school are
admitted
without a bachelor's or graduate degree. Dental, optometry,
chiropractic, and podiatry schools are somewhat more inclined
to accept candidates early (after only 2 or 3 years of
college), though they are steadily accepting more and more students
with more undergraduate education. If you plan to
enter one of the post-baccalaureate health professions, you should
plan on receiving your bachelor's degree. Many pharmacy colleges
will accept students who have completed pre-pharamacy requirements
within two to three years of undergraduate education. Though
there is an increasing number of students who choose to have a
bachelor's degree before entering pharmacy school.
Some schools do have accelerated programs. The University of
Florida
Junior Honors Medical Program selects 12 highly qualified premedical
students each year for a special program that integrates the last two
years of undergraduate education with preclinical basic medical science
education (first year of medical school). If you qualify, you should
apply during the spring semester (February) of your second year.
Selection takes place in the spring (after grades in May). During the
third year, the selected students finish their prerequisites and
undergraduate degree requirements and take three seminars with the
College of Medicine faculty. In the fourth year, they enter their first
year of medical school. At the end
of this year, these students receive their bachelor's degrees from the
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in Interdisciplinary Studies, and
have three years of medical school left.
Admission to the Junior Honors Medical Program is extremely
competitive and requires early completion of most prerequisites.
These are biology, general chemistry, calculus one and
two, and organic two at application time. Physics can
be completed during the second OR third year. For further
information contact the College of Medicine at (352) 392-4569 or
view the Junior
Honors Medical Program website .
The University of Florida also offers a Honors Combined Degree,
B.S.-DMD
Dentistry Program. This is a cooperative program between the
University of Florida's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and
the College of Dentistry. Any student who is admitted to the
University of Florida as a freshman is eligiible to apply.
Interested students should choose from two majors within the
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Microbiology and Cell
Science or Food Science and Human Nutrition. The program is
somewhat similar to the the Junior Honors Medical Program. Students
will
complete the bachelor's degree within three years and begin their
dental education in the fourth year. For further information
contact the College of Dentistry at (352) 392-4866 or view the Early
Admissions to Dentistry Program website .
It is important that interested students keep in mind that they must
apply to this program by June 1st after completion of their freshman
year.
Information materials can be obtain by visiting the College of
Agricultural and Life Sciences office in McCarty C or the OHLPA office.
