Overview of Premedical Advising at Xavier
The Premedical Office provides systematic and comprehensive application advice/support to Xavier students (regardless of major) who are interested in careers in the health professions (with the exception of pharmacy). The term "premed” is an internal designation which refers to a minimum schedule of commonly required/recommended courses for students who hope to gain admission into medical, dental, veterinary, optometry, podiatry, and other types of health professions schools.
Although most college students are not prepared to submit their health professions school applications until the summer between junior and senior years, the process of “building” a COMPETITIVE application should start day one of freshman year and continue until the student gains admission into professional school or changes career or educational paths. The advising activities conducted by the Premedical Office, starting with the Biomedical Honor Corps for first-year premeds, are informed by the following two (2) questions that many admission committees at medical, dental, and other types of health professions schools typically ask when reviewing applicants:
Question #1:
“Can the applicant handle the academic load (equivalent to a college course-load of about 40-semester hours/semester)?
Items typically used to answer:
- College grades (Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Math AND Overall)
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and similar entrance exam scores
- Letters of evaluation/recommendation (from individuals who taught you in college)
***IF THE ANSWER TO QUESTION #1 IS “YES”, PROCEED TO…***
Question #2:
“Will the applicant be a GOOD physician, dentist, or other health professional?”
Items typically used to answer:
- Post-secondary (post-high school) experiences demonstrating interest in the health professions;
- Personal statement and other written portions of applications; and
- Letters of evaluation/recommendation (from faculty, research mentors, health professionals, volunteer supervisors, etc.).
Advising activities conducted by the Premedical Office at Xavier are designed to assist students with Preparing their professional school applications, in a comprehensive and strategic manner, so that the answer to each of the above two (2) questions is a resounding “YES”!!!
Premedical Office’s Recommended General Timeline for Application to Health Professions Schools
Pre-College Years
- Keep grades up (rigorous college prep curriculum; be mindful of overall & core GPAs)
- Actively prepare to perform competitively on the ACT, SAT, or similar test
- Enhance vocabulary and critical thinking skills in preparation for health professions school entrance exams
- Engage in “shadowing” experiences with health and other professionals to determine what professions you like (and don’t like)
- Volunteer in a clinical setting where you have patient contact (e.g. hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc.)
- Explore summer opportunities for pre-college students at local colleges, hospitals, and health professions schools
- Apply to colleges and universities EARLY in the fall of senior year
- Explore local and national scholarship opportunities for college
Freshman Year
- Sign-in with the Premedical Office
- Keep grades up AND assess academic progress
- Complete at least 8 hours of basic required BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) courses
- Complete entrance exam-specific courses
- Plan future coursework, semester-by-semester, so that basic requirements are completed prior to taking the entrance exam and applying to health professions school
- Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds (including Biomedical Honor Corps meetings)
- Visit Premedical Office regularly throughout academic year
- Meet with health professions recruitment representatives who visit XU
- Cultivate thinking and reasoning competencies in preparation for entrance exam
- Begin developing personal statement and keeping a record of post-secondary experiences
- Engage in extra-curricular activities that help to develop the interpersonal and interpersonal competencies but NOT at the expense of your academic performance
- By December, apply to summer enrichment or research programs and/or explore summer options to engage in other relevant experiences that demonstrate your interest in your intended profession
Sophomore Year
- Keep grades up AND assess academic progress
- Complete at least 8 hours of basic required BCPM courses
- Complete entrance exam-specific courses
- Plan future coursework, semester-by-semester, so that basic requirements are completed prior to taking the entrance exam and applying to health professions school
- Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
- Visit Premedical Office regularly throughout academic year
- Meet with health professions recruitment representatives who visit XU
- Cultivate thinking and reasoning competencies in preparation for entrance exam
- Engage in extra-curricular activities that help to develop the interpersonal and interpersonal competencies but NOT at the expense of your academic performance
- By December, apply to summer enrichment or research programs and/or explore summer options to engage in other relevant experiences that demonstrate your interest in your intended profession
***NEW TASKS***
- Continue revising personal statement and updating post-secondary experiences
- Apply to early acceptance programs and other special programs, if eligible
- Join honor societies, such as Alpha Epsilon Delta, if eligible
- Plan to take NO MORE THAN 14 semester hours during spring of junior year
Junior Year
- Keep grades up AND assess academic progress
- Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
- Visit Premedical Office regularly throughout academic year
- Meet with health professions recruitment representatives who visit XU
- Cultivate thinking and reasoning competencies in preparation for entrance exam
- Engage in extra-curricular activities that help to develop the interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies but NOT at the expense of your academic performance
- By December, apply to summer enrichment or research programs and/or explore summer options to engage in other relevant experiences that demonstrate your interest in your intended profession (LAST opportunity if applying to professional school the summer between junior and senior years)
***NEW TASKS***
- Complete remaining basic required BCPM courses
- Complete remaining entrance exam-specific courses
- Complete Intro to Biochemistry in preparation for the MCAT
- Begin taking RECOMMENDED upper-level science courses (e.g. Intro Biochemistry, Histology, Developmental Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Comparative Anatomy, etc.)
- FINALIZE health professions school application components…
•Personal Statement
•Post-Secondary Experiences
•Letters of Evaluation
- Limit course-load to NO MORE THAN 14 HOURS during spring of junior year
- Limit/eliminate extra-curricular involvement during spring of junior year
- Enroll in entrance exam prep course + actively study for exam weekly outside of review course by reviewing content and doing LOTS of practice problems and full length tests
- Apply for the any application Fee Assistance Programs if eligible in January
- Register to take the MCAT by May; GRE, DAT and OAT between April-June
- Begin CAREFULLY researching the health professions schools to which you may apply
Summer between Junior and Senior Years
- Take MCAT no later than May; take DAT, OAT, and GRE no later than June
- Take professional head shot for secondary applications
- Remain in contact with Premedical Office throughout summer for assistance with health professions school application
- Start working on most health professions school application in early MAY and submit no later than JULY
- Participate in summer program and/or secure other relevant experience to demonstrate interest in your intended profession (LAST summer before submitting application)
- Study to retake the entrance exam, if applicable
Senior Year
- Keep grades up and assess progress
- Complete remaining required and recommended courses (check admission requirements!!)
- Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
- Visit Premedical Office regularly throughout academic year
- Meet with health professions recruitment representatives who visit XU
***NEW TASKS***
- Complete health professions school secondary applications
- Prepare for health professions school interviews
- Explore options for financing your professional school education
- Explore post-baccalaureate alternatives, if necessary
- Secure re-application assistance, if necessary
- Prepare for graduation and the next phase of your education!!!
Extra Advice #1:
XU’s Premedical Office encourages students who are interested in the health professions to attend at least one undergraduate summer enrichment or research program before APPLYING to professional school; additionally, clinically-related paid or volunteer work in a hospital, nursing home, clinic, etc. is also encouraged in an effort to express a sincere and demonstrated interest in the health professions.
Extra Advice #2:
The process of applying to health professions school is EXPENSIVE. Start saving NOW for test prep, test registration, application fees, interview expenses, etc.! FYI, summer research programs typically offer participants generous stipends that can be used to assist with the cost of applying to professional school.