New College

Guidelines for Preprofessional Students

Health Professions Advisory Committee
Arizona State University West Campus

Many students at ASU’s West campus enroll at the university with aspirations of pursuing a career in one of the health professions. These careers normally require completion of an undergraduate baccalaureate degree as well as a graduate or professional degree in an area such as allopathic medicine (M.D.), osteopathic medicine (D.O.), dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, podiatry, chiropractic medicine, pharmacy, public health, physician assistant, or nursing. The Health Professions Advisory Committee at ASU’s West campus was established to help students pursue these careers by providing good academic advice and guidance through the admissions process.

For more specific advice, students are encouraged to consult with a member of the Committee. These members currently include:

Dr. Charles E. Deutch, Department of Integrated Natural Sciences (Chair)
Dr. Pamela A. Marshall, Department of Integrated Natural Sciences
Dr. Peter W. Jurutka, Department of Integrated Natural Sciences
Ms. Sue Lafond, Advisor, Department of Integrated Natural Sciences

Obtaining Information about Health Professions

All of the major health-related fields have professional organizations that can provide useful information about the unique features of each field, the steps needed to prepare for and apply to each professional program, and current career prospects. Early in their university studies, students should begin to investigate alternative programs and to identify those which best match their interests, academic abilities, and career and personal goals. The following web sites are suggested as sources of information:

Allopathic Medicine (M.D.)

American Medical Association (AMA) - http://www.ama-assn.org/

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) - http://www.aamc.org/

American Medical Student Association (AMSA) - http://www.amsa.org/

Audiology

American Academy of Audiology - http://www.audiology.org/store/viewcart.php

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association - http://www.asha.org/default.htm

Chiropractic Medicine (D.C.M.)

American Chiropractic Association (ACA) - http://www.chirocolleges.com/

Dentistry (D.D.S.)

American Dental Association ( ADA ) - http://www.ada.org/

American Dental Education Association (ADEA) - http://www.adea.org/

Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.)

American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) - http://www.naturopathic.org

Occupational Therapy

American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) - http://www.aota.org/

Optometry (O.D.)

The American Academy of Optometry (AAO) - http://www.aaopt.org/

The Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry (ASCO) - http://www.opted.org/

Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)

American Osteopathic Association (AOA) - http://www.aoa-net.org/

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) - http://www.aacom.org/

Pharmacy (D.Pharm.)

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy - http://www.nabp.net/

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) - http://www.aacp.org/

Arizona State Board of Pharmacy - http://www.pharmacy.state.az.us/

Physician Assistant (P.A.)

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) - http://www.aapa.org/

Physical Therapy

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) - http://www.apta.org/

Podiatry (D.P.M.)

American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine (AACPM) - http://www.aacpm.org/

Public Health (M.P.H.)

The American Public Health Association (APHA) - http://www.apha.org/

Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) - http://www.asph.org/

Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.)

Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) - http://www.aavmc.org/

In addition, the School of Life Sciences at ASU’s Tempe campus has a very good web site with a good deal useful information and additional links to other web sites - http://sols.asu.edu/prehealth/index.php

Preparation for a Career in the Health Professions

Students intending to apply for admission to a graduate or professional program need to complete a specific set of undergraduate courses. While there is some variation from program to program, these courses normally include:

1. General Biology I and II with laboratories - (BIO 187, 188) 8 credits
2. General Chemistry I and II with laboratories - (CHM 113, 116) 8-9 credits
3. Organic Chemistry I and II with laboratories - (CHM 233, 234, 237, 238) 8 credits
4. General Physics I and II with laboratories (PHY 111, 112, 113, 114) 8 credits

These courses require completion of a mathematics sequence through Precalculus (MAT 170) as a prerequisite or co-requisite. Some professional programs require calculus (MAT 210 or MAT 270, 271, 272) as well.

These required courses can be completed within the context of any undergraduate major. ASU’s West campus does not offer a specific "premed" major, and while a student could major in any field and be admitted to a desired program, most students choose to major in the sciences. Of the applicants to U.S. medical schools in 2005, 56% majored in the biological sciences, 12% majored in the physical sciences, 11% majored in the social sciences, 4% majored in the humanities, and the rest majored in other fields. The courses listed above represent the minimum exposure to the sciences that is required. Most applicants will have taken many additional courses, particularly in the areas of biology or chemistry. These courses commonly include:

• Microbiology (LSC 444, LSC 445)
• Genetics (LSC 347, LSC 348)
• Developmental Anatomy (LSC 351)
• Cell Biology (LSC 353, LSC 355)
• Animal Physiology (LSC 358, LSC 359)
• Biochemistry (LSC 366, LSC 367)
• Vertebrate Zoology (LSC 370)

All of the courses should include laboratories if at all possible. As the curriculum at ASU’s West campus develops, new courses suitable for students in the health professions will be offered. In addition to courses in the sciences, many professional programs also require courses in the social and behavioral sciences and in areas of the humanities such as ethics. Because extensive coursework in the natural and social sciences is required and because these courses usually must be taken in a particular order, it is essential that students begin taking the introductory biology, chemistry, and mathematics courses in their first year.

Most professional programs also look for co-curricular activities that demonstrate an interest in and understanding of the health professions. These activities may include undergraduate seminars, internships in a hospital or professional office, volunteer work in a health care setting such as a nursing home or hospice, or other community activities. Letters from a physician with whom a student has worked are often helpful, and in particular, they may be required for D.O. programs. Participation in these activities, however, cannot substitute for a rigorous program of academic course work.

The Health Professions Advisory Committee will offer regular information sessions each semester in order to provide students with useful information through their undergraduate program. In addition, ASU’s West campus has a health professions club (American Medical Student Association) that holds regular meetings and social events and that sponsors periodic seminars by representatives of different professional programs.

Applying to a Graduate or Professional Program

Applying to a graduate or professional program is a long, complex, and expensive process. Most professional programs begin in the Fall Term of each academic year, and the group of students in the entering class is selected in the preceding spring. Applications, therefore, need to be submitted in the summer or early fall of the year before a student hopes to start the program. This means that most of the coursework needed to submit a competitive application and to do well on the standardized admissions exams must be completed by the end of the junior (third) year.

The application process normally includes:

1. Submission of a primary application, which will include transcripts of all college/university work and test scores from standardized admissions exams.
2. Submission of a secondary application, which will include additional personal statements and letters of recommendation.
3. An interview at the school with various faculty and admissions personnel.

Many of the professional programs admit students through a centralized admissions service and require specific admissions tests. These are described at the following web sites. Other programs or schools may have individualized systems, and so students will need to find out exactly what is required for each program to which they wish to apply well in advance of the application process.

Allopathic Medicine

AMCAS application service - http://www.aamc.org/audienceamcas.htm

MCAT exam - http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

Dentistry

ADEA application service - http://www.adea/org/links/

DAT exam - http://www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing/dat/

Osteopathic Medicine

AACOMAS application service - http://www.aacom.org/home-applicant/home

MCAT exam - http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

Pharmacy (D.Pharm.)

AACP admissions -http://www.aacp.org/site/page.asp?TRACKID=&VID=1&CID=687&DID=4741

PCAT exam - http://www.aacp.org/site/page.asp?TRACKID=&VID=1&CID=991&DID=5958

Veterinary Medicine

VMCAS application service - http://www.aavmc.org/vmcas

GRE exam - http://www.gre.org/

Several aspects of the admissions process should be noted:

Admission to professional programs is highly competitive. For example, in 2006, there were 39,108 applicants for 17,370 positions in different U.S. allopathic (M.D.) medical programs. This ratio varies from year to year, and while the number of applicants dropped in late 1990s, it has begun to increase again. This ratio only reflects the number of students who actually apply to M.D. programs. It does not include all of those students who entered a college or university with aspirations of a career in medicine but who subsequently did not even apply. For students admitted to M.D. programs in 2006, the mean overall GPA was 3.64, with a mean GPA for science courses of 3.57. For students admitted to M.D. programs in 2006, the average score on the Verbal Reasoning section of the MCAT was 9.8, the average score on the Physical Sciences section of the MCAT was 10.1, and the average score on the Biological Sciences section of the MCAT was 10.5, fp r a total of 30.4.

While medical schools are among the most competitive programs, other programs are equally difficult to get into. For students admitted to D.O. programs in 2001, the average score on the Verbal Reasoning section for the MCAT was 8.2, the average score on the Physical Science was 8.1, and the average score on the Biological Science section was 8.5, for a total of 24.8. The overall GPA was 3.43 and the Science GPA was 3.36. In 2002 for the programs at Midwestern University in Glendale, there were 2200 applications for 140 positions in the D.O. program, 550 applications for 84 positions in the P.A. program, and 600 applications for 125 positions in the Pharm.D. program.

Students in Arizona are at a disadvantage because the number of state-supported professional programs is very limited. There are two M.D. programs at the University of Arizona, which only admits Arizona residents. In 2006, there were 574 applicants for 134 positions at the University of Arizona School of Medicine, Tucson & Phoenix campuses. The University of Arizona also has a Pharm.D. and a M.E.P.H. program, but there are no state-supported programs in dentistry or veterinary medicine. Northern Arizona University offers both entry-level and post-professional doctoral degrees in physical therapy (D.P.T.). The other programs in the state are operated by private universities such as Midwestern University (D.O., P.A., Pharm.D., O.T., M.S. C.V., D.M.D., D.P.M. programs) and A.T. Still University - Arizona School of Health Sciences (P.A., P.T., O.T., D.P.T., D.H. Ed., D.D.S. programs). While these private schools do admit some Arizona residents, they are under no obligation to do so. In 2006, of the 574 Arizona residents who applied to medical school, 19.2% enrolled in a medical school program in state and 19.7% enrolled in a medical school program out of state. 61.1% of the applicants did not enroll at all. It is also important to remember that many Arizona residents complete their undergraduate degrees at another public or private institution out of state and might not even attend ASU or the University of Arizona.

Students should plan on applying to graduate or professional programs both in-state and out-of-state. Because of the small number of programs in the state of Arizona, students will need to apply to schools out of state. A new University of Arizona College of Medicine Campus opened in Downtown Phoenix in 2007 accepting 24 students. However, because most other state-supported programs (like Arizona) give strong preference to applicants from their own state, they admit very few students from another state unless their program is part of a multi-state consortium. As a consequence, students will need to look at programs at private and international universities. These programs are often very good, but they are typically two-three times more expensive than in-state programs. They also receive a very large number of applicants (a ratio of applicants:matriculants of 20:1 is not unusual) because students from other states apply to them as well. The Health Professions Advisory Com mittee recommends that most students apply to 8-12 programs in order to have a reasonable chance of admission. Some students may want to consider applying to programs outside of the continental United States. There are professional programs in Mexico, Canada, Latin America, and Europe that take some American students. There are also private universities that operate professional schools in the Caribbean. While many students succeed in these foreign/off-site programs, some do not. The attrition rates for these schools are usually higher than those for traditional programs and not all students successfully pass the standardized competency exams which are required to practice a profession in the United States.

Students will need letters of recommendation of faculty members who know them well. All graduate and professional programs require letters of recommendation. While letters from health professionals and community members often are important, those from faculty in the sciences are of primary importance because they can address the ability of a student to do well in the rigorous academic work required of a professional program. The best letters are those that can say more than that a student enrolled in a particular class and earned a certain grade. Letters that reflect more concrete interactions (active participation in class or labs, work in several courses, research, or internships) are usually taken more seriously.

Many medical school programs prefer to have a "committee letter" that summarizes and evaluates individual letters of recommendation. The way that we do "committee letters" here is as follows. There is a “Student Recommendation Form” in the Department office (CLCC 217) which you can fill out and give to each of your references. The form indicates who you are and whether you waive or do not waive your right to see the letter. It also contains some suggestions about what the references might include in their letters. The references can then send their letters to the Health Professions Advisory Committee along with the forms. Each letter can simply be addressed "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Admissions Committee," but it should be on institutional letterhead stationary and be signed by the reference. As the letters come in, the Chair of the committee (currently Dr. Deutch) will set up a folder for you with all of the original letters. Once all of the letters are in, the Chair will write a general cover letter that briefly summarizes the individual letters. We do not review, edit, or modify the original letters but simply state (in a positive way) what they say. Later, as you need letters of recommendation sent out to different medical school programs as part of a secondary application, we ask that you give printed mailing labels with the schools' addresses to the Chair of the Health Professions Advisory Committee. We can then put together a package with the cover letter and photocopies of the original letters and send it out. The advantage of doing it this way is that your references only need to write and send in a letter to the Committee once. Once your file and cover letter are set up, it is not much trouble to send out as many letters you need when the medical schools ask for them.

Being a Successful Applicant

The information in the preceding sections is meant to be realistic, but not discouraging. As indicated, however, admission to graduate and professional programs in the health professions is highly competitive and requires a significant commitment both in time and money. Students who aspire to a career in one of these fields need to plan early and to work consistently. Here are some suggestions:

Choose a rigorous academic program and pursue it aggressively. Taking the minimum number of courses needed to apply will usually not be sufficient. It is best to take as many science courses as you can, including laboratories. Actively participate in the classes rather than simply showing up. While many students may begin their education at a community college, courses taken at the university are generally given greater weight. A high GPA that is based on low-content courses at an easy school will be seen as such by the admissions committee and discounted.

Get to know your academic advisor and your faculty members. Good advice can be very beneficial in planning your program, so that you can complete courses in the required sequence on schedule. Since you are going to need letters of recommendation, be sure that faculty members know you (in a positive way) and can accurately evaluate your strengths and abilities.

Be realistic about your time commitments. The courses required for successful admission to a health-related professional program are hard and require a substantial effort, but they are nothing like those in a graduate or professional program. You should not expect to take a full academic load of 14-17 credits in 4-5 courses and work 30-40 hours a week at the same time. If you have family responsibilities that require a substantial time commitment, you will need to take that into account as well. It may be better to slow down your academic work and take only 2-3 courses in a term.

Find out as much as you can about your selected health profession. . Because there are so many different health professions, it is important to match your interests with those of each program. You should understand the differences between M.D. and D.O. programs, between P.A. and M.D programs, etc. One good way to do this is to make personal contact with your own health care providers and talk with them about your aspirations. Find out what they like and dislike about that profession, whether they would enter that career again, how the daily and weekly schedule works and so on. This is different than shadowing someone around and just observing their activities.

Understand the financial costs of the application process and a professional program. The standard tests are expensive, as are the individual school applications. It would not be unreasonable to spend $1,000 as part of the application process. Some students also may find it helpful to take a preparation course for a standardized test, such as one of those offered by Kaplan or Princeton Review. The Health Professions Advisory Committee does not endorse these courses, but recognizes they may be useful to some students. These courses typically cost $1,500-$2,000. The graduate and professional programs themselves are much more expensive than the state-supported undergraduate programs at ASU’s West campus. A state-supported medical school program can easily cost $50,000 over four years and a private program two to three times that amount. Also remember that you will not be able to work while completing most graduate or professional programs. Students who graduate from these programs often have significant debt. Nevertheless, most health care professionals make a good living and can pay off this debt in a reasonable period of time. An important aspect of planning your education will be consideration of the financial element.

Match your interests, academic abilities, and career and personal goals to the graduate or professional program. It is important for students to be realistic as they pursue a program in the health professions. If you find the undergraduate biology and chemistry courses at ASU’s West campus difficult and are able to earn only Cs or Bs in them, your prospects for certain professional programs (such as medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine) are limited. Likewise, if you take a standardized test and score below the mean, your prospects are not as good as if you scored well above the mean. For example, in 2006, the mean on the MCAT for all applicants was 9.0 on the Verbal Reasoning section of the MCAT, 9.1 on the Physical Sciences section, and 9.5 on the Biological Sciences section. The mean GPA for all applicants was 3.48 overall, with a mean in the sciences of 3.37 and a mean in non-science of 3.61. The admissions committees try to loo k at all of their applicants as individuals, but a strong interest or desire for a health-related career will not be able to compensate for low test scores or a low GPA. It would be preferable to find an alternative program for which you might be more competitive early on and pursue that instead.

Suggested Course Sequence

The courses needed to apply to graduate or professional programs in health-related fields and to prepare for the standardized admissions tests must be taken in a particular sequence. Unlike some curricula in the humanities or social sciences, curricula in the natural sciences are very hierarchical, with one tier of courses serving as prerequisites for the next tier of courses. The following is a list of the science and math courses most often taken by pre-professional students, using the current course numbers at ASU’s West campus.

First Tier Courses

Second Tier Courses

Third Tier Courses

Depending on whether a student starts at ASU’s West campus or transfers to ASU’s West campus from another university or community college, s/he may enter these tiers at different points. How rapidly a student progresses through these tiers also will depend on the number of credits s/he takes each semester. The following is a suggested course sequence for four years, assuming that a student is attending the university full time and takes 14-16 credits each semester. By taking the courses in this sequence, all of the essential courses will have been completed before a student takes the standardized admissions tests such as the MCAT, DAT, or GRE. Note that this sequence does not specify a particular major and does not include all of the university general education courses. In general, science classes beyond the first tier are not available during the summer session.

# - Cell Biology (LSC 353, LSC 355) and Fundamentals of Genetics (LSC 347, LSC 348) are normally available both fall and spring semesters and can be taken in either order.

* - Principles of Biochemistry (LSC 366, LSC 367) and Animal Physiology (LSC 358, LSC 359) are normally available both fall and spring semesters and can be taken in either order.