A general timeline for preparing for admission to a health profession program:


It’s important to work with a Health Profession Advisor as soon as you begin to consider going onto a professional program.  You will need to meet requirements in three areas:
Academics, Background experiences and Confirming Clinicals. Here is a general timeline that may help you to get started, but working very closing with a Health Profession Advisor is the key to being a successful applicant.

Freshman year:

1. ACADEMICS

  • Meet with your major advisor* and Health Professions advisors to plan your academic program.
    • *If you haven’t decided on a major, make an appointment to meet with an advisor at the Center for Advising and Student Achievement  (970-491-7095) to explore majors
    • Visit the Career Center to learn about skill and interest assessments and to schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor.
  • Get to know faculty – you will need to know them as resources for major/career information and for future references and letters of recommendation.
  • Do your best academically – a strong grade point average (minimum 3.4) will provide you with more options.

2. BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES

  • Get involved in student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.
    • Student Health Professions clubs include Premedica, Pre-Physical Therapy, Pre-Dentistry, Pre-Occupational Therapy, Pre-Optometry, Pre-Pharmacy, and Pre-Veterinary

3. CONFIRMING CLINICALS

  • Investigate and apply for medical/health care related part time jobs and volunteer experiences and shadowing opportunities.

Sophomore year:

1. ACADEMICS

  • If you have not already done so: Choose a major and continue to refine your academic plan.
  • Meet with your major advisor to plan your program of study
    • You may want to explore a minor, interdisciplinary studies program, or a study abroad program. (Maybe even a double major!)
  • Meet with a Health Professions advisor to learn information on prerequisite courses, required entrance exams and deadlines.
    • Research specific Health Professions schools to which you want to apply and learn about specific courses required for admission
  • Keep your grades up!  Grades are key to being competitive for health profession programs!

2. BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES

  • Continue and/or expand your involvement with student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.

3. CONFIRMING CLINICALS

  • Continue to work/volunteer in medical/health care related settings. Shadow health professionals!
    • Schedule informational interviews with professionals in your area of interest to gain realistic perspectives of Health Professions careers from people in them.
    • Find a summer internship or career-enhancing part-time job.
  • Read books, journals, and magazines about the health profession that interests you.

Junior year:

1. ACADEMICS

  • Meet with your major advisor to review and continue your academic plan.
    • Take electives that are relevant to your career goals
  • Meet with your Health Professions advisor to be on track for admission exams, deadlines and course prerequisites.
    • Attend workshops: Personal Statement, Interviewing, Medical School Application
    • Begin to write your personal statement and to develop interviewing skills.
  • Study and prepare (prep courses or workshops) for the entrance exams required by the health profession schools to which you wish to apply
    • Attend workshops that will help you to prepare for the exams.
    • Take the test!!!
  • Keep your grades up!  REMEMBER—you will need minimum 3.4 GPA to be a competitive candidate

2. BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES

  • Continue and/or expand your involvement with student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.
  • Review application materials from the health profession schools to which you plan to apply.
    •  Visit or talk with admissions representatives at these schools.
  • Meet with professors, advisors and professionals who know of your academic skills and activities within a health profession field and ask them to write letters of recommendation that are required for Health Professions program applications.

3. CONFIRMING CLINICALS

  • Continue working/volunteering in medical/health care related settings. Shadow health professionals!  Find a summer internship!
  • Continue reading about the Health Professions of interest to you; learn about ethical issues and health care issues that directly affect this profession

Senior year:

1. ACADEMICS

  • Meet with your major advisor to complete your academic plan and to file your intent to graduate
  • Meet with your Health Professions advisor to review your applications
    • Attend workshops for Interviewing
    • Discuss  your "back up plans" if you do not get into a health profession program
  • Submit applications to health profession programs—be aware of individual deadlines!
  • Refine your interviewing skills and arrange a mock interview.
  • This is not the time to get “senioritis”---Keep your grades up!

2. BACKGROUND EXPERIENCES

  • Continue and/or expand your involvement with student clubs/organizations and community activities/volunteer programs.

3. CONFIRMING CLINICALS

  • Continue working/volunteering in medical/health care related settings.
  • Continue reading about the health profession you are interested in--having an abundance of knowledge about your specific health profession of interest will help you in an interview!