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 nations 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 worlds 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 Bachelors degree at a four year institution
such as the University of Arizona, plus four more years at a professional
school.