1. Where do I start?

You've already started by coming to this web page to learn more about the health professions and what the Pre-Health Professions Advising Office has to offer you. It may be most helpful for you to know more about what applying to a health profession school is all about.

Health Professions schools will be looking for evidence of four specific characteristics:

1. Altruism
2. Motivation
3. Dutifulness
4. Knowledge

They find evidence of these qualities through the application process. Most students focus a great deal on the need to have top grades and high scores on admissions tests. While these are important to your application, they are only a part of a much larger picture.

How you do in class and on tests will demonstrate your knowledge and to some extent your motivation and dutifulness in the sense that if you were not motivated or if you do not have a sense of duty, you would not have finished your classes and/or earned high grades. Grades and test scores don’t show altruism. For that, you will need recommendations, an interview and a personal statement.

Not all health profession schools have this specific a list of criteria, but if you keep the comprehensive nature of the above list in mind, you will be headed in the right direction. All professional schools want to know that you are capable, dedicated, motivated and that you are a good person. Your application needs to reflect what’s unique about you and how well developed these qualities are in you.