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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.
Who falls into the category of "pre-health?"
Are there "premed" or "predent" majors?
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?
Who can I contact for more information?
Is a Health-Related Career for Me?
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:
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.
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. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year
Combined-Degree Programs at Lehigh
Lehigh offers accelerated (combined-degree) programs with three health professional schools: Drexel University College of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and SUNY College of Optometry. Please read below for more information. For questions about curriculum/academics, please contact Mary Ellen Raposa, MEd, NCC, Pre-Professional Counselor (610-758-3710; mer2@lehigh.edu). For admissions-related questions, please contact Majed Dergham, MEd, Senior Assistant Director, Admissions (610-758-3100; mad305@lehigh.edu). Combined-Degree Program in Medicine In cooperation with Drexel University College of Medicine, the university offers an accelerated program that enables selected students to earn both the bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree in premedical science and the M.D. degree after seven years of study at the two institutions. Qualified high school seniors may apply directly to this program through the Lehigh Admissions Office. During their pre-professional years at Lehigh, students are expected to make satisfactory progress in academic areas as well as in the more subtle task of personal growth in those attributes ultimately needed as a physician. Drexel University College of Medicine receives student grades and monitors student progress through feedback from Lehigh. Students are expected to maintain a minimum overall and a science/math GPA of 3.5 or better (A = 4.0), with no grade in any course less than a "C," no withdrawals, and no repeats. This program also requires that students take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Scores of either 9 or better on the verbal section of the MCAT and 10 or better on the science sections or a total minimum score of 31 (with no individual section score less than 8) are required. Application for admission to the program is made through Lehigh Office of Admissions. Criteria for admission include a combined SAT score of 1360 (or minimum 31 ACT), a class rank in the top 5 percent of the high school class, and demonstrated maturity and strong motivation for medicine. Subject tests are highly recommended in Mathematics Level 1 or 2 and Chemistry. Application deadline is November 15. Combined-Degree Program in Dentistry The university, in cooperation with the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, offers an accelerated program that enables selected students to earn a combined baccalaureate (B.A.) and doctor of dental medicine (D.M.D.) degree after a minimum of seven years of study at the two institutions. Qualified high school seniors may apply directly to this program through the Lehigh Admissions Office. During their first three years at Lehigh, students are expected to make satisfactory progress in prescribed academic areas as well as in the area of personal growth, developing those attributes ultimately needed to become a dentist. Students are expected to maintain a minimum overall and science GPA of 3.5 throughout their three years at Lehigh. They must also take the Dental Admission Test (DAT). Minimum scores of 18 in all DAT subject areas are required. Application for admission to the program is made through Lehigh Office of Admissions. Admission is based on SAT scores (a minimum combined score of 1350 Math and Critical Reading), ranking in the top 10% of high school class, and demonstrated maturity and motivation for dental school. Application deadline is January 1. Combined-Degree Program in Optometry In cooperation with the State University of New York College of Optometry located in New York City, Lehigh offers a seven-year joint-degree program in which students may earn both the bachelor of arts (B.A.) degree and the doctor of optometry (O.D.) degree after seven years of study at the two institutions. Students accepted into this program are admitted simultaneously into the behavioral neuroscience major at Lehigh and to candidacy in the SUNY College of Optometry’s professional program of study. Students may apply to this program either during their initial application or during their enrollment at Lehigh. For high school students, criteria for selection include demonstrated maturity, an interest in (and basic understanding of) the optometric profession, a minimum combined SAT score of 1300, and a ranking in the top 10% of the high school class. For first- or second-year Lehigh students, a minimum overall and math/science GPA of 3.3 in prerequisite undergraduate coursework at the time of application is required, with no grade below a C. Students are expected to maintain a minimum overall and math/science 3.3 GPA, with no grade under a C. They are also required to take the Optometry Admission Test (OAT), attaining a score of 320 or above, and to participate in a personal interview.Application for admission to the program for incoming students is made through Lehigh Office of Admissions. Application deadline is January 1.
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