Welcome to Lehigh University’s Web page for Pre-Professional Counseling for the Health Professions. Many factors impact students’ decisions to pursue graduate study in health-related disciplines. We at Lehigh aim to empower students to make thoughtful choices about their future journey in the health professions and to work fruitfully to achieve their goals. Students, at any point throughout their Lehigh career, are encouraged to meet with the Pre-Professional Counselor to explore their interests and aspirations and to formulate plans.
Health Profession Facts
Who falls into the category of "pre-health?"
Pre-health students demonstrate a potential interest in pursuing graduate-level study in one of the health professions: allopathic (M.D.) or osteopathic (D.O.) medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, physician assistant, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, etc.
Are there "premed" or "predent" majors?
Because health professional schools are looking for students who have a well-rounded liberal arts background, there are no “premed” or “predent” majors at Lehigh for our traditional four-year students. Students have the opportunity to major in any area, provided they complete the necessary core prerequisites set forth by the medical, dental, and other professional programs. Choosing a major is an individual decision. Students must demonstrate proficiency and an aptitude for science, the basis of the curriculum at health professional schools, but should choose majors they enjoy and in which they can demonstrate scholarship.
What about students who are interested in the allied health careers such as physical therapy, physician assistant, occupational therapy, etc.?
Allied health schools also have specific prerequisites. They typically require at least one year of biology and chemistry, but the remaining prerequisites are not as standardized across programs. You must check the requirements of each individual program in which you are interested and determine how they fit in with your major. Resources are available on-line and in the Career Services Library to help you clarify each school’s requirements for admission.
What else do I need to be thinking about?
As a pre-health professions student, it is important to be academically successful early on---and throughout---your career at Lehigh. This means learning and implementing effective time management skills to balance your academics and your personal life. Students should also plan to participate in meaningful experiences relevant to health care, such as research, independent study, volunteering, and community service.
Who can I contact for more information?
Mary Ellen Raposa, M.Ed., Assistant Director, Counselor for Pre-Professional and Graduate Studies, Career Services, at (610) 758-3710.
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Is a Health-Related Career for Me?
Medicine, dentistry, and other health-related career have long been attractive and respected career choices in the United States. They offer practitioners the ability to serve others and have a positive impact not only on the lives of individuals but also on society. The health professions include a broad range of careers at the doctoral and master’s degree levels, from medicine and dentistry to physical therapy and physician assistant to genetic counseling and pharmacy.
Preparing for a career in the health professions is a process that begins with career exploration. When considering a career path in health care, consider several points:
- Am I a people person? Many careers within the health professions deal with direct patient contact, and interpersonal skills are very important to the job. As a health care professional, you must also be able to work on a team with others providing health-related services.
- Do I perform well in science coursework? Courses in the basic sciences of biology, chemistry, and physics form the foundation for medicine. Therefore, students must have an aptitude for the sciences.
- Am I prepared to become a life-long learner? Because the health professions are continuously advancing with new technology and information, studying throughout your career will be necessary to provide the best patient care.
- Do I have a real interest in helping others? Health professionals are committed to making a difference in the lives of their patients and in their community.
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Choosing a Major
Obviously, health professional schools seek well-rounded students with a strong foundation in the natural sciences (as demonstrated by mastery of the prerequisite coursework). They also seek out students who demonstrate intellectual breadth and who have chosen challenging and engaging majors. Admissions committees understand that students can obtain the skills necessary to be an effective health professional (i.e., able to acquire, synthesize, apply, and communicate information successfully) through the study of a wide range of disciplines, from philosophy to mechanical engineering to behavioral neuroscience. Committees look for demonstration in applicants of such attributes as intellectual curiosity, self-disciplined study, and a willingness to accept challenging academic material. So, choose a major in the discipline that interests and engages you the most, while also attending to the necessary prerequisite coursework.
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Prerequisite Coursework
The core prerequisites for medical and dental schools and their Lehigh equivalents are as follows:
| 1 year General Chemistry/Labs |
Chm 25/31 or Chm 75/76 |
| 1 year General Biology/Labs |
BioS 41/42 and BioS 115/116 |
| 1 year Organic Chemistry/Labs |
Chm 51/53 and Chm 52/58 |
| 1 year Physics/Labs |
Phy 10/12 and 13/22 or 11/12 and 21/22
|
| 1 year English |
Engl 1/2 |
| 1 year Calculus (preferred) |
Math 21/22 or 51/52 |
English must include composition. A student who has AP credit in any of the above required courses should take an additional advanced course in that area. Some schools require one or two semesters of calculus, whereas others recommend it. Many medical schools recommend a course in Biochemistry, and others require it.
Keep in mind that the above courses may not be part of your core requirements for your major. Please check the Lehigh catalog for major requirements and preferred course sequencing.
Students interested in other health professional programs such as physical therapy, physician assistant, and veterinarians will have prerequisites different from those listed above. Check with the individual programs for more information.
Biochemistry
Most of the U.S. medical schools list Biochemistry as a recommended undergraduate course. Twelve U.S. medical schools currently include Biochemistry as a required prerequisite course (USC-Keck, UC-Irvine, Florida, Florida State, Hawaii, Mayo, Michigan, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas-San Antonio, Wisconsin). Check carefully the requirements of the schools in which you are interested.
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Internships, Externships, and Volunteer Opportunities
Applicants to health professional schools are advised to engage in meaningful extracurricular work. Participation in health-related activities (such as clinical/research internships and externships, hospital/clinic volunteering, etc.) helps students clarify their interests in the health fields. Additionally, such work indicates to admissions committees the applicants’ motivation to pursue---and their ability to devote time to---such endeavors, along with their exposure to many aspects of the health care system. Clinical and volunteer work (whether health related or not) also demonstrates applicants’ willingness to serve others, a core foundation of the health professions.
Numerous volunteer opportunities are available for students at hospitals, nursing homes, and community service organizations throughout the Lehigh Valley and elsewhere.
- Visit Lehigh’s Community Service Office Web site to learn about opportunities to serve not only the South Bethlehem area but also our larger community.
- Check the binder “Summer Programs for Health Professions” in the Career Services Library. New listings are also posted on LUCIE
and advertised in DreamWeaver.
- Make inquiries in your hometown area for local programs as well.
- Network with Lehigh alumni through LUCAN. Many Lehigh alumni working in the health professions have offered to share their time and expertise with current Lehigh undergraduates.
- Click here for additional volunteer opportunity options.
Lehigh’s Biomedical Externship/St. Luke’s Shadow Program (BioS 202) is a three-credit course offered on a competitive basis to juniors and seniors each fall and spring semester. Students spend a minimum of 60 hours per semester at St. Luke’s Hospital, shadowing physicians, residents, and medical students in four rotations, and are able to attend medical conferences and rounds or even a night on-call. Academic requirements vary depending on the coordinating professor.
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Information Sessions
Information sessions are held throughout the academic year on topics pertaining to application to health professional schools. Students are also encouraged to attend lectures and programs related to the health professions, which are scheduled in both fall and spring semesters. Check the Events Calendar and DreamWeaver, the Career Services e-newsletter, for dates and times of these events.
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General Academic Timeline
First Year
- Attend information meeting during First Year Orientation.
- Meet the Pre-Professional Counselor. Visit Career Services to acquaint yourself with the resources here. Make sure you are on the health professions e-mail lists (contact mer2).
- Read DreamWeaver each week to obtain information about programs and workshops sponsored by Career Services related to the health professions.
- Begin to take appropriate prerequisite coursework in the sciences (chemistry and biology).
- Get to know your professors.
- Get involved in a community service project or volunteer in a health-related setting, especially during the summer.
- READ. Improve the quality of your education---along with your verbal skills on your future MCAT/DAT.
Sophomore Year
- Attend information session in the fall semester (check DreamWeaver for dates and time).
- Read DreamWeaver each week to obtain information about programs and workshops related to the health professions.
- Continue to take the prerequisite courses.
- Strengthen your relationships with your professors.
- Continue to gain experiences in the health fields through volunteer or paid positions (academic year or summer).
- Involve yourself in your own areas of interest, e.g., research, community service, etc. Seek out leadership roles.
- READ. Begin to familiarize yourself with local and global health care issues.
Junior Year
- Attend information session in the fall semester (check DreamWeaver for dates and time).
- Make sure you are on the health professions e-mail lists (contact mer2). Read DreamWeaver each week to obtain information about programs and workshops related to the health professions.
- Read the Application Guide for the Upcoming Admissions Cycle.
- Complete the Pre-Professional Form to open your official application file (see Application Guide; this process is also discussed at the fall information session).
- After submission of the Pre-Professional Form, schedule an appointment with the Pre-Professional Counselor.
- Determine how you will prepare for your entrance exam (MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE).
- Implement your plan by the end of the fall semester: sign up for a prep course, order self-study materials, etc.
- Meet with faculty to discuss obtaining letters of evaluation.
- Complete the Committee process by the end of April.
- Make plans for a summer experience in health care, community service, or research.
- Take your entrance exam during spring to early summer.
- Submit your online application from late spring through the summer.
- Begin to fill out supplemental applications when received.
Senior Year
- Attend information session on interviewing and financial aid in the fall (check DreamWeaver for dates and time).
- Continue to submit supplemental applications.
- Obtain a credit report on yourself.
- Schedule interviews promptly. Update schools with any new information.
- Keep in touch with the Pre-Professional Counselor.
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