First Year Students
_____ Register with the Pre- Professional Health Programs Advising Office (HP) listserve at www.unh.edu/premed-advising
_____ Monitor HP list serve and attend meetings.
_____ Become familiar with the HP web site. Refer to it for information and to research the professions and answer questions. Explore the useful resources found here.
_____ Establish good study habits and a strong GPA (A.s and B.s)
_____ If undeclared, explore majors. Inform your academic advisor of your plan to include the HP pre- requisite courses.
_____ If declared, inform your academic advisor of your plan to include the HP pre-requisite courses and generate a four year academic program with your academic advisor
_____ Develop your reading (verbal reasoning) skills through courses and extracurricular reading.
_____ Get to know the faculty who are teaching you
_____ Investigate undergraduate activities but give academics priority.
_____ Explore activities/courses that expose you to people, cultures, and ideas that are less familiar to you.
_____ If you have an interest in studying abroad, attend a Center for International Education (www.unh.edu/cie) meeting. HP students will have to develop a 4 year plan to include the required courses.
_____ Complete Self-assessment check-list on HP website
Winter, Spring, Summer Break
_____ Start volunteer work ( Volunteer/Internship/Research Opportunities ) that provides patient contact. Shadow a health professional
_____ Talk to various health professionals about their careers (informational interviews).
Sophomore Year
_____ Monitor HP list serve and attend meetings.
_____ Get to know the faculty who are teaching you. You will be seeking recommendation letters next year.
_____ If undeclared, choose a major. If declared, plan the focus of your studies
_____ Continue to develop your reading (verbal reasoning) skills through courses and extracurricular reading
_____ Explore activities/courses that expose you to people, cultures, and ideas that are less familiar to you.
_____ Identify your motivations for pursuing a health professional career.
_____ Explore research or independent study opportunities for your junior year.
_____ Get involved in the community. Check out the possibilities on the HP website Resources & Link
_____ Become a peer tutor or teaching assistant in a class.
_____ Continue volunteer work, and exposure to the health care environment
_____ Investigate alternative health career options Health Professions Fact Sheets
_____ If you are intending to study abroad - start planning now
_____ Complete Self Assessment check list on HP website. Assess strengths/weaknesses
Winter, Spring, Summer Break
_____ Use the breaks for volunteering, research, work, classes, study abroad, summer programs
*Junior Year
_____ Monitor HP list serve and attend meetings
_____ *Attend Mandatory The Application Process Information Session in the fall
_____ *Open your Application File with the HP office
_____ Continue to participate in volunteer, research and other opportunities
_____ Identify your motivations for pursuing a health professions career
_____ *Prepare for MCAT, DAT, OAT, etc. Entrance Exams
_____ *Request Letters of Recommendation for Application File
_____ *Have Writing Center staff review personal essay
_____ *Complete HP Application File by end of winter break
_____ *Attend interview workshop at the University Advising and Career Center (UACC)
_____ *Sign up for a mock interview at UACC
_____ *Complete required coursework for admission tests
_____ *Sign up for HP Committee interviews during spring semester
_____ *Complete pre-requisite course work for admissions exams
_____ Study admission guide for relevant professional schools
_____ *Register for appropriate admission tests (MCAT, OAT, DAT) Take no later than end of JUNE
_____ *Take appropriate admission test
_____ Complete Self Assessment check list on HP website. Assess strengths/weaknesses, readiness to apply.
_____ *Submit Primary application to health professional school (begins May-June)
*Senior Year
_____ Complete secondary applications for professional schools (begins summer)
_____ Take additional upper level sciences as needed to strengthen application
_____ Prepare to travel to interviews
_____ Schedule mock interview with UACC
_____ Keep the HP office informed of your interview/acceptance/waitlist/rejection status (Possible Application Outcomes)
_____ If accepted begin financial aid paperwork
_____ Prepare for reapplication process if necessary
* Delayed Applications:
School admission committees do not penalize those who delay their application. Students planning to go directly in to a medical, dental or other health profession school directly after graduation will begin the application process in the fall of their junior year. All prerequisite course work must be completed by the end of that year. Many students consider delaying their application a year or more. Experience shows that admission committees value a well-thought out decision to delay and consider it a sign of a mature and thoughtful approach to reaching your goals. Common reasons for delay might include: participating in a study aboard experience, taking time between the undergraduate years and professional school to work, save money, volunteer, participate in research, or improve your academic record through additional upper level course work. The experience and insight you gain during this time can help distinguish you from traditional applicants. The median age for an individual joining a health professions graduate program is between 24 and 26, so there are many applicants who apply after they have completed their bachelor's degree.
Medicine
Chiropractic
Dental
Naturopathy
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physical Therapy
Physician Assistant
Podiatry
