PreHealth-Advisement

HEALTH PROFESSIONS INFORMATION OFFICE
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT CARBONDALE
MAY 2007

Table of Contents:
Health Professions Information
Introduction
Who Will Be Accepted?
How Do You Know?
Planning Your Curriculum
Your Four-Year Plan
Choosing Extra-Curricular Activities
Requirements

  Dentistry & Medicine
  Pharmacy
  Podiatry
  Optometry
  Physician Assistant
  Veterinary

Sample Curriculum
Admissions Tests
Where Do I Take The Tests?  How Do I Prepare?
Applications To Professional Schools
Preprofessional Evaluations
Students’ Rights Concerning Professional Evaluations
That Busy Third Year
After The Application
If Not Accepted, Then What?

HEALTH PROFESSIONS INFORMATION

Health Preprofessional Committee:

Dr. Brooks M. Burr (Chair), Zoology
Dr. David L. Dilalla, Psychology
Dr. Daniel Dyer, Chemistry & Biochemistry
Dr. Douglas F. Fix, Microbiology
Dr. Jodi Huggenvik, Physiology
Dr. J. Thomas Masden, Physics
Dr. W. Todd Pierson, Physiology
Gail B. Robinson, Health Professions Advisor
Dr. Kathleen J. Welshimer, Health Education
Dr. Mary H. Wright, Mathematics

Health Professions Information Office:

Gail Robinson, M.S.Ed.
Health Professions Advisor
College of Science Advisement
Neckers A185
618-536-2147
grobin@siu.edu

            There are several hours each week when you may see the Health Professions Advisor without an appointment.  This schedule is available at the Advisement Center’s reception desk.

Health Professions On-line Listserv:

Purpose: To receive information about events and application information, and exchange information with other Pre-Health students. (Open only to SIUC Pre-Health Students).

To subscribe, send an e-mail to: listserv@siu.edu.  The subject line can be ignored. The text of the note should contain the following listserv command: SUB PREHEALTH-L firstname lastname. To send an e-mail to the list: PREHEALTH-L@siu.edu


INTRODUCTION

If you are planning to apply to one of the following:

Dental School
Medical School
Optometry School
Pharmacy School
Physician Assistant School
Podiatry School
Veterinary School

read through this page or get a hard copy from our office.  This will answer a lot of your questions about admission requirements, when to do what, and where to find additional information.

Also visit the Health Professions Information Office (HPIO) in the College of Science Advisement if you need to ask other questions.

            One of the requirements of any medical school will be a letter of evaluation from the Health Preprofessional Committee.  How the Committee makes that evaluation is outlined in this Handbook.  Evaluations will need to be collected from professors, professional mentors, and employers on a timely basis.  It is recommended that students start this process in advance, as students typically interview during the spring of their junior year with this committee.

WHO WILL BE ACCEPTED?

The following is a summary of national average test scores and GPA’s for students accepted to a professional program in 2005 (unless otherwise stated):

 

 

(M.D.)

(D.O.)

 

 

Pharmacy

Allopathic

Osteopathic

Podiatric

 

 

Medicine

Medicine

Medicine

 

 

 

2004

 

GPA

 

 

 

 

science

3.37

3.56

3.36

3.00

non-science

3.61

3.70

3.54

N/A

overall

3.47

3.63

3.45

3.20

 

 

 

 

 

MCAT

 

 

 

 

verbal

 

9.57

8.24

7.30

physical science

 

10.1

7.89

6.80

writing sample

 

P

M

N/A

biological science

 

10.24

8.53

7.10

 

 

 

 

 

PCAT

78th perentile

 

 

 

 

 

P.A.

Dental

Optometry

Veterinary

 

 

2004

 

 

GPA

 

 

 

 

science

3.29

3.35

N/A

N/A

non-science

 

N/A

N/A

N/A

overall

3.29

3.44

 

3.55

 

 

 

 

 

DAT

 

 

 

 

academic

 

18.7

 

 

perceptual ability

 

17.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OAT

 

 

322.30

 

HOW DO YOU KNOW?

            How do you know you want to be a dentist, physician, optometrist, podiatrist, veterinarian, etc.?  Before you make a career decision, ask yourself the following questions:

1.  How much do you know about this profession?

2.  How much do you know about the educational demands of this profession?


3.  If you have answered all those questions, it is time for these:

Along with continued thinking about all those questions, let’s look at the curriculum.


PLANNING YOUR CURRICULUM

Premedical and Pre-Physician Assistant students must plan a baccalaureate (four-year) degree before entering medical school.  Most students entering dental, optometry, podiatry, and veterinary schools also have baccalaureate degrees but it is possible to be accepted earlier.  All must take the admissions tests and apply a year before they wish to enter a professional school.

Choose any major.

Choose the major in which you are most interested

For various reasons you may not go to professional school.  What would be your next choice?  It is always important to have a back-up plan.

While you are choosing, get acquainted with the SIUC Undergraduate Catalog.  In it you will find listed all of the SIUC majors and minors and their requirements.  Take a look at the individual college and university requirements, graduation requirements, general rules and regulations.  It is the responsibility of each student to be aware of these rules and requirements and to satisfy them.

See your advisor early each semester.  Appointments to be advised for the spring semester are given out about two weeks after the beginning of the fall semester.  Both summer and fall appointments are given out two weeks after the spring semester begins.  Be there!  The advisor will help you find your way through your four sets of requirements – university, college, major, and preprofessional.  Advisors know about substitutions that are allowed for some requirements and prerequisites that must be taken before certain courses, whether a particular course is taught every semester, rules about adding and dropping courses, and a long list
of general information helpful to you.

YOUR FOUR-YEAR PLAN

What advisors cannot do is create space for you in filled courses.  Make an appointment as early as possible and keep it.

            First year:  Begin preprofessional and university requirements and/or major courses if known.  Join and become an active member of the PPA (Pre-Health Professions Association).

            Second year:  Continue preprofessional and general education requirements and begin major requirements.  Begin to accumulate your file of preprofessional evaluations.  Obtain a copy of the MCAT Student Manual if you are a premedical student; the Student Center Bookstore has copies and it also can be found online at www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm.

            Third year:  Complete preprofessional course requirements and continue others as time is available.  BE READY TO TAKE THE ADMISSIONS TEST AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR.  See the Health Professions Advisor with questions you may have about test and application procedures.

            Depending on the type of professional school applied to, you will apply to schools either this summer or fall.

            Fourth year:  Continue application activity and complete graduation requirements.

*The Health Professions Advisor has a detailed timetable for pre-medical students.


CHOOSING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Choosing extra-curricular activities is a matter of personal preference, free time after giving priority to studies, and whether or not you are employed or have other responsibilities.  There is no magical activity that gives you preference in professional school admissions.  You will need exposure to the career field you are seeking.  Beyond that, schools want to know whether you use your time to your advantage, whether you relate well to other people, handle responsibility, and are a well-rounded person.  Being an active member of the Pre-Health Professions Association is an important extra-curricular activity.

            Information about how you use your non-academic time and the benefits you derive from extra-curricular activities is important to admissions committees when they consider your suitability for their program.  The following are suggestions:

            Southern Illinois University School of Medicine hand-screens all applications.  If your AMCAS form does not list a full complement of extra-curricular activities, SIU will not select you, no matter how high your grades and MCAT scores.

            The Pre-Health Professions Association provides speakers from various health fields, trips to professional schools and conferences, application information, social events, study sessions, workshops, and volunteer opportunities.

Web Site:  http://www.ppa.siu.edu

REQUIREMENTS:  DENTISTRY, MEDICINE AND PODIATRY

The University of Illinois College of Medicine requires three semesters of Social Sciences courses with an emphasis on behavioral sciences.  Two of these must be within the same discipline.  Consult your advisor about the additional advanced sciences courses required by UI.

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED

Biochemistry, (CHEM 350, 351).  Biological chemistry is required for some majors, and may be substituted for second-semester organic.

RECOMMENDED

Choose those best suited to your time schedule and other requirements.

Premedical students should be prepared to take the Medical College Admission Test in April of their junior year (14-16 months prior to entry date applied for).  Since the DAT is now a computer- only exam, students may take the exam when they wish, but must keep in mind the application timeframe.

Information concerning specific professional schools is available in the HP Information Office.

 

OPTOMETRY REQUIREMENTS

RECOMMENDED

PHARMACY REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the basic pre-medical requirements, pre-pharmacy students should take:

Pre-pharmacy students may apply to pharmacy schools after the required courses have been completed.  (UIC requires 60 hours.)  A bachelor’s degree is not needed to enter a PharmD program.

 

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

REQUIREMENTS

            Only grades of C or better are accepted, and the prerequisite course GPA must be at least a 3.0.  SIUC gives preference to students with health care experience, exceptional academic performance, and those from rural areas.  Prior medical experience is important, as many as 1000 to 2000 hours of direct patient experience, including paid employment and volunteer work.  Many applicants are nurses, EMT’s, medical technologists, respiratory therapists, etc.  Besides a Biological Sciences or Physiology major, consider obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (B.S.N.) and working as an R.N. before applying.  The GRE or MAT is required.

VETERINARY REQUIREMENTS

In addition to basic pre-medical requirements, pre-veterinary students should take:

Admission is competitive and is usually granted to the best-prepared students.  Most first-year veterinary students have four or more years of pre-veterinary education.  Experience with animals, preferably working for a veterinarian, is essential.  The University of Illinois requires a letter of recommendation from a veterinarian.

SAMPLE CURRICULUM

This is a sample curriculum which includes courses required (and some of those recommended) for Preprofessional students, plus courses to fulfill University requirements, and leaves hours open for you to choose courses to meet your college and departmental requirements.  Use this with modification based on your particular requirements and on the advice of your academic advisor.

 

First Year Course
Fall
Spring
BIOL 200A Cell and Molecular Biology
3
BIOL 200B Organismal and Ecological Biology
3
CHEM 200, 201 Introduction to Chemical Principles and General Chemistry Laboratory I
4
CHEM 210, 211 General and Inorganic Chemistry plus General Chemistry Laboratory II (4-summer)
ENGL 101, 102 English Composition I and English Composition II
3
3
MATH 108, 109 College Algebra plus Trigonometry and Analytic Geometry
3
3
PHIL 105 Elementary Logic
3
PSYC 102 Introduction to Psychology
3
select Humanities
3
   
15
16

 

Second Year  
Fall
Spring
PHSL 310 Principles of Physiology 
5
PHYS 203A, 253A College Physics I and College Physics Laboratory I
4
PHYS 203B, 253B College Physics II and College Physics Laboratory II
4
PHSL 301 Survey of Human Anatomy
4
BIOL 305 Genetics - Classical and Molecular
3
MATH 282 Introduction to Statistics
3
SPCM 101 Introduction to Oral Communications:  Speech, Self and Society
3
SCI 201 Career Preparation Seminar for Health Professions
1
HCP 105 Medical Terminology
2
   
15
14

 

Third Year  
Fall
Spring
CHEM 340, 341 Organic Chemistry I, Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
5
and CHEM 350 Introduction to Biological Chemistry
4
ENGL 290 or 391 Intermediate Expository Writing or Precision in Reading and Writing
3
MICR 301 Principles of Microbiology
4
MICR 302 Molecular Biology
3
SOC 108 Introduction to Sociology
3
major courses courses to complete the student’s major requirements
3
5
   
15
15

 

Forth Year  
Fall
Spring
select Fine Arts
3
select Multicultural: Diversity in the United States } Psyc or Soc for U of
3
select Interdisciplinary
3
major courses courses to complete the student’s major requirements
9
12
   
15
15

About mathematics courses - Students may begin at higher or lower level mathematics courses.  The academic advisor will guide you, based on your records.  Statistics is required for pre-optometry and pre-physician assistant students, and strongly recommended for others.

About chemistry courses - Students without high school chemistry must begin with CHEM 140A before taking 200, 201.  Chemistry majors and students planning to apply to dental, optometry, or podiatry schools with only three years of college must begin chemistry in the first year.  Some medical schools require a full year of organic chemistry, but most schools in Illinois will allow you to substitute Organic II with Biochemistry.

Microbiology is required for pre-optometry and pre-physician assistant students.

 

ADMISSIONS TESTS

Plan to take the appropriate admissions test in the spring of your junior year (or a year and a summer before you hope to enter the professional school).  This gives you the advantage of becoming an early applicant, or, if necessary, of having a second chance to take the test.

The Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) is required by schools of:

allopathic medicine (M.D.)
osteopathic medicine (D.O.)
podiatric medicine (D.P.M.)

and is given several times throughout the year at a Prometric Center.

The MCAT is a computer-based examination to measure skills needed for medical school and medical practice.  It contains four sections:

*    To solve some of the science problems you will need to use basic mathematical concepts, such as arithmetic, algebra, trigonometry, metric units, and simple statistics.

Essays are scored alphabetically from J (low) to T (high).  The other sections are scored from 1 (low) to 15 (high).  You will be given information on the percentile rankings of the numerical scores so that you can see where you rank among other students.  More detailed information is available in the MCAT Student Manual.

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is given at a Prometric testing center on computer.  Students must first apply through the Dental Admissions Testing Program.  There are separately scored sections on quantitative skills (arithmetic and algebra), reading comprehension, biology, natural sciences, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry; and one combined score on items in the Perceptual Ability Test:  form development, apertures, angles, cubes, and orthographic projections.  There is no physics on the DAT.  DAT scores are scaled from 1 to 30.  A standard score of 16 indicates average performance; a score of 18 (and higher) is more competitive.

The Optometry Admission Prometric Test (OAT) is also computer-based.  Like the DAT, it is given at a Prometric testing center.  The test includes subtests in reading comprehension, quantitative ability, biology, chemistry (inorganic and organic), and physics.  Scores range from 200 to 400, with 300 set as the mean score (46-55 percentile) of all participants.

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is given in January, April and October at Testing Services on campus.  This test includes verbal, quantitative math, biology, general chemistry, elementary organic chemistry, and reading comprehension. 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is computer-based and can be taken at the Prometric Testing Center in Carterville, IL.  It is required for Veterinary and Physician Assistant School.  The General Test measures critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills that have been acquired over a long period of time.

WHERE DO I TAKE THE TESTS?

HOW DO I PREPARE?

Registration for admission tests is by mail or online with deadlines approximately one month in advance of the test date.  MCAT has a second “late-registration” deadline.

You may take the test in any of the cities where it is offered.  The computer GRE is taken at SIU at your convenience.  Although the MCAT will be offered 22 times via computer testing, it is only offered on certain dates, and seating is limited.

You may repeat the test if necessary.  That is one reason for making your first attempt in late spring or early summer.

The PPA sponsors a workshop on the MCAT in late Fall or early Spring semester.  All students can benefit from attending this workshop.  PPA-organized study groups can be very helpful in preparing for all standardized tests.

Review for your test at least three months in advance.  Do not underestimate the importance or the difficulty of doing well.  Your best preparation is your own college course work - keep papers, books, and outlines from the relevant courses, and ideally, study for the MCAT/DAT as you go through your classes.

In addition, use the material available from the test administrators.  These sample examinations may be purchased at an earlier time if desired.  Medical applicants should obtain the Student Manual published by AAMC and use it as a reference while taking the premedical courses.  The MCAT Student Manual can be found at:  www.aamc.org.  It contains a list of topics you may need to know. There are also practice tests online and software available.

For other materials, check out the commercial books related to your particular test at the bookstore.  Several publishing companies print these.  CAUTION:  Since all three of these tests have made some changes, or are about to make changes, the commercial publications may not be current with the latest test.

Do not use practice questions as your only review.  Such questions are for use after you have conducted your own organized review.  They will spot-check some areas for you but may not cover all the topics you are expected to know.

The commercial courses are optional.  They are costly and although some are well organized, they cannot do anything for you that you cannot plan and do for yourself.  The MCAT Student Manual notes:  “The results of a study comparing the MCAT performance of students who had enrolled in commercial review courses with the performance of those who had not, involving over 20,000 students during a five-year period, indicate that gains derived from commercial review courses are small.  The gains do not support the contention that review courses provide increased knowledge and facility in test taking.  You should realize that the small differences in the scores of individuals receiving coaching may simply be due to the time devoted to reviewing relevant material.”  Therefore - structuring your study time is important if you do not take a course.

Absolutely do make conscious efforts to develop your reading, writing, and problem-solving skills.  Can you apply the information you are given?  Try those “Exercises” at the end of textbook chapters.  Make use of the graphs and charts in textbooks - can you interpret them?  Put down what you are reading at intervals and ask yourself what the author said.  Can you summarize it or argue for or against the conclusions?

Find some crossword puzzles or “brain teasers” meant for fun and make them practice for thinking and solving.

APPLICATIONS TO PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS

            Applications are expensive.  Application fees, plus travel expenses for an interview if you are seriously considered, can easily add up to several hundred dollars.  Spend your time (answering supplemental applications while carrying your senior course load can get to be a chore) and your money on schools where you are competitive, eligible, and truly interested.

            Information about professional schools is available in the HPIO.  Schools will send you brief information.  Talking to students who are enrolled there is a good source.  Visit the school if possible, but don’t expect them to have time to show you around if you go during their applicant-interview season or without an appointment.  The best time for visits is late spring or summer.  Call first!

            First of all, know specific requirements and residency restrictions.  This information is available annually in the Medical School Admissions Requirements, Admissions Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools, and Information for Applicants to Schools and Colleges of Optometry booklets.  These are available by mail, the first two are for sale and the optometry booklet is free.  They can also be seen in the HPIO where we get updated editions each year.

            Osteopathic and podiatric applicants will find similar information in booklets that come in the application packets.

There are two standard guides for medical and dental schools available online:

  These books are also available in the HPIO Office.  For other professional schools/ resources, check links on the HPIO Webpage: www.science.siu.edu/advisement/health-advise.html

The centralized application services are:

(Not currently in place for SIU’s program.)

            Most of the professional schools belong to their application service.  Information is readily available as to those who do or do not.  Except for Optometry, the on-line application is the preferred, and in some cases only, method.  Optometry School professional applications are made directly to each school.

            You must apply to University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine through VMCAS (VMCAS will also allow you to apply to 24 of 27 schools in the U.S.).

            When the central application service receives your completed application and your official transcript(s) from each college that you have attended, the service validates your application, and sends it to as many schools as you have chosen.  The fee depends on the number of schools to which you are applying. Individual schools will acknowledge receiving your information.  Some will screen your original application before asking for more material.  Others will immediately send a supplemental application to be completed and will request an additional fee and letters of recommendation.

            If you are applying to optometry schools or to schools not listed with the application service, you must write to each school and request applications.  Addresses are available in the HPIO.

            Transcripts must be furnished by the records office of each college or university you have attended—even if it was a one-hour course you took in summer while in high school.  Transcripts are only official if they are mailed directly from the college to the application office and are embossed with the school seal.  Most colleges will not release your transcript without a signed request from you. Many application services have transcript “matching” forms.

            APPLY EARLY!  Do not wait for deadlines.  An early application is a stronger application.  Even though some schools will not consider your application until they have scores from your Admissions Test, it is very important that you apply early.  The central application service will take several weeks to process your application before sending it out to the professional schools.  Take the test in the spring and take it seriously.  Application season begins in June for dental and medical schools.

            If you need to re-take the test, it is recommended that you apply early with your first set of scores, indicating on the application that you will take the test.  Waiting to apply until you get your second set of scores may put you behind by as much as five months (medical or dental school), weakening your application in the applicant pool.

PREPROFESSIONAL EVALUATIONS/HEALTH PREPROFESSIONAL COMMITTEE

            If you are applying to medical (including osteopathic medical) schools, you will need an evaluation from the Health Preprofessional Committee.  Most dental, optometry, and podiatry schools prefer a committee letter.  The College of Science has a Special Committee that will evaluate you in 3 areas:  academics, personal attributes, and time/organizational management.  You are then able to receive an in-depth, thorough letter of evaluation.

            Committee letters are composite letters based on individual evaluations, autobiographical material, your academic record, and a brief interview.

            Evaluation forms are in the Advisement office or online.  Request evaluations from:  (1) a biological sciences faculty member; (2) a chemistry, math, or physics faculty member; and (3) a non-science college faculty member.  Additional evaluations may be from faculty, teaching assistants, employers, volunteer service supervisors, or physicians you have shadowed.  To emphasize:  there must be three from college teachers of faculty rank (two must be from SIUC in case you have transferred from another college) and they must have taught you in a class where you could be compared with other students.

            The better the person knows you, the more helpful your evaluation will be.  You may need to make an appointment for a few minutes to talk with the teacher about yourself or your plans.  Most teachers have some routine of their own to handle the writing of evaluations.  Ask whether they are willing to do this for you and be guided by their response.

            Evaluations from your family doctor, your congressman, or your banker are not appropriate.  Evaluations from persons who are in a position to comment on your abilities to learn, to perform responsibly, to handle pressure, to be well organized and productive are the most helpful.

            Note:  Having five to six evaluations in your file is better than having the minimum of three.  There is no maximum. Provide your evaluators with plenty of time to complete evaluations, and also give them a deadline.

STUDENTS’ RIGHTS CONCERNING PREPROFESSIONAL EVALUATIONS

            The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, gives you the right to review and challenge the accuracy of any records that concern you as an individual and which are kept on file by an educational institution where you are enrolled.  Letters of recommendation kept on file on our campus come under this law.

            The amended law also permits you to waive your rights of access to these files.  The Health Preprofessional Committee will perform the same service on your behalf whether you do or do not waive your rights.  The reason for giving you the option of waiving your rights is that professional schools want to see frank and honest evaluations, and they may put more trust in confidential evaluations (those they know you have not seen).

            All evaluation forms from this office have an attached cover page on which you must (1) identify the person you are asking, and request her or him to complete the evaluation form; and (2) choose to waive or not waive your rights to see it after the evaluator has submitted it.  The evaluator knows while writing it whether it will be kept confidential, and we know when it reaches the HPIO whether it can be read by you.

            A similar request must be made to the Committee before we mail out your evaluation.  The professional schools receiving it will be informed that you did or did not waive your rights to examine the file before the evaluations were written.

THAT BUSY THIRD YEAR

            If you are completing your curriculum on a typical four-year schedule, the timetable for your junior year is as follows:

            If you are leaving campus for the summer, pick up a copy of your transcript or request one sent to yourself after spring grades are posted.  (1) You will need to complete information from your transcript in order to fill out application blanks; and (2) if there is any error on your transcript, you will know it and have the opportunity to have it corrected before it is sent to schools.

That kind of error happens very rarely but, when it does, it can cause a great deal of difficulty.  AMCAS has a transcript matching form, which will need to be dropped off or mailed to the Transcripts office.

After school is out (not while you are struggling with finals), read and follow directions carefully concerning your application.  Proofread your application thoroughly.  Errors cause delay in processing your application.  Any suspicion that you have deliberately given inaccurate information, or omitted information that you are required to give, will stop the process and, if a decision of fraud is reached, that fact will be circulated to all professional schools.  So, read and follow directions carefully.

Pre-Veterinary Students:  The GRE must be taken between October 1 and September 30th in the time period you are applying.  All GRE scores must be sent directly to each institution to which you apply.

SENDING YOUR COMMITTEE LETTER, INTERVIEWS, ETC.

            Keep a record of information submitted.  Read each piece of correspondence as it arrives and follow up as directed.

   ** When a school asks for evaluations or a committee letter:

            For each school that you would like an evaluation sent, bring the Health Professions Advisor postage (63 cents) plus one stamped, self-addressed postcard, which the school will return upon receipt. (A large 8-1/2” x 11” envelope is provided.)

            Interviews are the next step if the school is seriously considering you, except for a few dental schools.  These are arranged at the school’s request, not the applicant’s.  The HPIO has information to prepare you for an interview.

            Caution:  On your application you will have indicated courses to be completed in the year between applying and entering professional school.  If you change your plans, notify the schools (individually).  If admitted, your admission is conditional on your completing the curriculum indicated and maintaining your grade point average at the level at which you applied.

            Letters of admission may come any time from October until beginning of the next school year.  Most students will know their results by April.

IF NOT ACCEPTED, THEN WHAT?

            Perhaps you will apply again.  If you know where the weak points of your application were, and you are able to strengthen them, this may be appropriate.

            Try to be realistic about your chances of being accepted later and be very realistic about your own motivation.  Are you just in the habit of thinking about one career without having considered others?

            Reapplication means going all through the application process again.  We recommend updating your preprofessional file with at least one new evaluation.  Whether you want a new interview is up to you.  If nothing is added to the file, we will forward the same committee letter again.  Whether you retake the admissions test depends on whether that was a weak point you can improve.  Tests can be used a second year if you are content with your scores (except when the test changes between application years).

            Other options include graduate school or employment related to your major - another option may be some other health field.  Investigate and talk to people in the field or fields you are considering.  Make use of the information available from the HPIO, other advisors, the library, University Career Services, and the Internet.