Are you considering becoming a nurse, physician, pharmacist, dentist or medical lab technician? What about an occupational therapist, public health educator or health administrator? Or becoming the person who discovers a new treatment for asthma or heart disease or discovers what makes a normal cell become a cancer cell?
The innovative and modern curriculum at UC Merced provides excellent academic preparation for health professional schools. Research experiences and opportunities for leadership in the first American research university of the 21st century provide competitive advantages for all students interested in careers as health professionals.
There is rarely a "pre-med," "pre-dental" or "pre-pharmacy" major at any college. When a student is "pre-med," that usually means he or she is taking the classes required for admission to medical school.
When deciding which undergraduate institution to attend, we recommend prospective students consider the quality of the educational experiences, research and community involvement opportunities, and academic and pre-professional support and advising available to students. We suggest that you ask these questions of each college you are considering:
How does this university advise and support students who are considering careers in healthcare?
UC Merced offers a variety of resources across campus to support students interested in health-related careers—whether they’re just starting to explore or preparing to apply. Students can access a dedicated pre-health advising website and mailing list for guidance, and benefit from resources like practice interviews and application support. When possible, alumni in health professions connect with students through campus events, and students may have opportunities to attend regional health career fairs. Professional school admissions representatives also visit campus, providing valuable insights into the application process.
What will I need to do in order to get into a health-related professional school?
- Take the required courses and do well;
- Prepare for the standardized exams (MCAT, DAT, PCAT, GRE) and do well;
- Have a consistent record of good work in human service internships or volunteer experiences;
- Get some exposure to healthcare work while in college;
- Apply in a timely manner to a reasonable mix of schools matching your interests and accomplishments;
- Develop the kinds of relationships with your professors and others that will enable you to get good recommendations;
- Practice your interviewing skills until you can interview well;
- Have a clear understanding of your motivations for choosing a healthcare profession and the ability to articulate this in writing and in interviews
Pre-Health Listserve
All pre-health students are encouraged to subscribe to the Health Professions Advising Listserv (mailing list) to stay up to date with what's happening on campus and elsewhere.This service is free and is open to anyone. Sign up and receive monthly newsletters on upcoming events, announcements, information and useful advice.
Join the Health Professions Advising listserv (mailing list) here!
