Answers from the Experts

Colleges With Pre-Med Programs "My daughter is interested in the medical field. How do we locate the best colleges that have really good pre-med programs?" Responses were sent from: Loyola University Chicago, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Georgia, Florida Institute of Technology, Seton Hill University, Drew University, Wesleyan University, and Susquehanna University. Member Institution and Association Answers:

From Loyola University Chicago: We do offer a pre-med track, and students still declare a major of their choice. Our advisors will help students with course planning, MCAT prep, and application processes for Med school. We have our own Loyola Medical School in Maywood, IL as well. Our acceptance rate into Med school is about 79%! Jamie Marsh Admission Counselor Loyola University Chicago Water Tower Campus 820 North Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60611 Phone: 312-915-6500 Email: jmars1@luc.edu

From Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Many schools, through their PRE-MED office post the number of medical school placements each year. However, this is not a consistent or reliable method. There is no one "best" school. The best is the quality of the EXPERIENCE - kind of courses, out of classroom activities, work experience, research relevant to medicine or health science, community service - well-rounded, quality undergraduate experience. This part of an education is very dependent on the individual and commitment to the medical profession. Another option, if eligible, is an accelerated medical program. Admission to both the undergraduate and affiliated medical school – 3 yrs undergraduate, then directly to medical school, years 4 - 8. Undergraduate degree awarded after the 4th year (1st year of medical school). Complicated and intense, but an option to consider. Mark Smith Dean of Students Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Academy Hall, 4th Floor 110 Eighth Street Troy, NY 12180-3590 Phone: 518.276-6266 Fax: 518.276-4839

From University of Georgia: Any college or university with strong biological science and organic chemistry programs should be a good place for pre- med majors to prepare for medical study, even if you don't major in science (some pre-med students major in English, foreign language, psychology, etc. but all take a full slate of biological science and chemistry courses). At the University of Georgia, students in our nationally recognized Honors program enjoy among the highest medical school admission rates in the nation at Washington University in St. Louis, the most competitive medical school in the USA.) J. Robert Spatig Senior Associate Director of Admissions Terrell Hall The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-1633 (706) 542-3982

From Florida Institute of Technology: With so many colleges and universities offering this field, have your daughter utilize other college choice factors first...size, location, type of school, etc. Then contact the pre-med advisors in those colleges and find out what each school does to prepare pre-med students and how successful they are in advising and placing students. Secondarily, find out what schools offer for students in their pre-med curricla , to prepare the student for work/a career if the student does nt succeed in enrolling in medical school. Judi Marino Director of Admissions Florida Institute of Technology jmarino@fit.edu 321-674-8030

From Seton Hill University: Thank you for your question. I believe that many institutions have strong medical programs. My suggestion would be to first find schools that your daughter likes, and if they have pre-med or a program that interests her, then visit that school and learn more about the program. I believe in a student finding a good fit at an institution first. Deciding on a small or large school, rural, urban, or suburban setting, or a liberal arts school can all be important first decisions. She can go online or contact schools that she likes to find out if they have any medical programs. At Seton Hill University, we have a pre-med program and a liberal arts core. A student will receive a broad base of foundation courses, as well as their major courses, creating a balance and lessons in creative and critical thinking. Best of luck. Kimberly A. McCarty Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Campus Visit Coordinator Seton Hill University 724-838-4201 kmccarty@setonhill.edu

From Drew University: There is a wealth of information out there on college pre-med programs and besides locating it, you will have to sift through it all to find what the right fit is for your daughter. I always suggest starting with a self-analysis of what matters most to the student. Besides the issue of curriculum and majors, are other questions such as size and location of the school, the presence of Greek life or not, class size and student to teacher ratios, medical school/graduate school acceptance rates, etc. Also, find out who does the teaching: faculty or graduate students? Do undergraduates have the opportunity to conduct research? Are there internship opportunities? As a starting point, I suggest your daughter begin with her own guidance counselor at her high school. Another great resource is your local library and the college search section at bookstores. Beyond that, there are numerous college search publications, directories, magazines and websites (CollegeBoard.com, uscollegesearch.org, Petersons.com, to name just a few) that you can explore. Within the Ventures Scholars Program website are listings of premedical programs as well. Once you have narrowed down your choices, do try to visit as many of the schools as you can. Get in contact with current students in the premed programs. Talk to alumni. Speak with admissions staff. Some schools have special interest open houses, like Drew University where we host an annual Science Day for students considering majoring in the sciences and health professions. This brings me to my last piece of advice. Do not narrow your focus to strictly science or health profession oriented schools. Many liberal arts schools offer wonderful premed curriculums and have great success rates with medical and graduate school placements. For example at Drew’s liberal arts college, there is a special pre-med program for students interested in the health professions. It includes tailored curriculum, pre-med advising, a dual-degree program option, and access to RISE, the Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti where undergraduate students engage in research under the supervision of industrial scientists. At a Center of Inquiry Conference in December 2002, Medical School deans maintained that medical school applicants should have broad undergraduate training and that undergraduates who have narrowly focused their academic careers in the sciences do not acquire good preparation for medical school. They also asserted that although their applicants are required to have a strong background in the sciences, medical schools do not have a strong preference for any specific undergraduate major. If you visit collegeboard.com, you will read that only about half of the medical school applicants major in a science as undergraduates. If you keep your mind open while conducting your college research and you will succeed in finding the best match for your daughter. Mary Beth Carey Dean of College Admissions and Financial Assistance Drew University Madison, NJ 973-408-DREW www.drew.edu

From Wesleyan University: In order to determine the best pre-med programs speak with a college counselor and/or review any of the numerous college guides on the market. Know that most of the top tier liberal arts schools do not offer pre-med programs per se. Instead, students interested in a career in the health professions take a set of math and science courses prescribed by medical school admission committees. Clifford Thornton Associate Dean of Admission Wesleyan University (CT) (860) 685-2984(ph) (860) 685-4890 (fax) http://www.admiss.wesleyan.edu

From Susquehanna University: As one of our nation's top medical school's states, "The Committee on Admissions seeks applicants who have demonstrated academic excellence, leadership qualities, intellectual curiosity and personal maturity. Applicants should be liberally educated men and women who have studied in some depth subjects beyond the conventional required premedical courses." (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine website) Many colleges and universities can prepare students well for entrance to medical school, so when considering undergraduate institutions inquire about the resources available to students interested in pre-med. Strong advising and access to research and internship opportunities are several key aspects students should look for in a school. These features as well as an overall fit with an institution should provide a student with the foundation necessary to embark on the path toward medical school. Chris Markle Director of Admissions Susquehanna University marklec@susqu.edu 570-372-4260