Information for High School Students

If you are considering a career as a physician, a dentist, or other health care professional, you need to have a high degree of commitment and compassion, as well as intellectual curiosity and stamina. Volunteering at a clinic, hospital, or other health care program during the summer, after school, or on weekends will help you decide if a medical career is for you.

High School Preparation

You should take all the math offered at your high school, as well as all biology, chemistry, and physics courses. Pay particular attention to English or writing classes, as a good preparation in these significantly improves your overall performance at the University.

University of Arizona Education

The University of Arizona has a reputation for producing not only well-educated, but well-adjusted, well-rounded medical students. The Pre-health Professions Program fosters cooperation, support and information sharing and seeks to minimize destructive competition among students. Because the University is among the nation’s top 20 research institutions, your education is enhanced by the opportunity to participate in laboratory research as an undergraduate, while supervised by some of the world’s leading scientists.

Major

It is not necessary to select a major before coming to the University. Freshmen and sophomores may explore, within the limits of the pre-health curriculum and the General Education requirements, several fields before settling on a major. Furthermore, you need not be a science major so long as you complete the science requirements with strong grades. Many students are accepted to professional schools with biochemistry, chemistry, physiology, or biology degrees, but acceptance rates are also very high for those with degrees in areas such as English, psychology, anthropology, or economics. Most pre-professional students enroll in the College of Science, but Physiology in the College of Medicine, Nutrition in the College of Agriculture, and the Biomedical option in the College of Engineering, also offer excellent preparation.

Curriculum

Your first year has a fairly structured curriculum, no matter which major you select, and will be a variation of the following:

You should take only four courses your first semester, so that you can have a smooth and successful transition to academic life on a large campus; 12 to 15 units are enough. It is better to take a lighter class load and earn better grades than to find yourself overloaded and struggling your first semester. After you are confident that you have made the adjustment to the University, you will be ready to take a heavier class load.

The Health Professions

There are a number of options in the health care field for you to consider. The following require a Bachelor’s degree at a four year institution such as the University of Arizona, plus four more years at a professional school.

Arizona’s medical school is at the University of Arizona. For education in the other specialties, students must go out of state after receiving their Bachelor’s degree.

Medical/Dental School Admission Requirements: