Getting Pre-Med Advising
Welcome to the L&S Pre-Health Advising Office
There is a great deal of information on these pages for Pre-Health students whether you intend to apply to Medical School, Dental School, or a program in Podiatry, Optometry, or Chiropractic Medicine.
As you are reading over this material, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, “pre-med” is not a major. Pre-medicine is a set of course requirements that prepares you for success on the MCAT and as a medical student. The requirements for preparing for other health professions besides medicine vary widely. Remember that while we can advise you on strong coursework preparation that will generally support your admission to medical, dental, optometry, or other health professional schools, we can not be familiar with the specific requirements of all the individual schools. Second, you do not have to major in the sciences in order to gain admission to medical school. As you select your major, you should consider an alternative career that you would find interesting and rewarding and major in a field that will prepare you to enter that career (or a graduate program towards that end). According to the AAMC, in 2008, only 50.5% of UW-Madison students who applied to medical school were admitted to any of the schools to which they applied. Moreover, Humanities and Social Sciences majors were admitted at a slightly higher rate than Biological Sciences majors.
If you are applying to medical or dental school this summer, our office can help. Call 262-5858 to make an appointment.
Preparation
- Pre-Medical Coursework/Pre-Dental Coursework
- Frequently Asked Questions about Pre-Med
- Understand the Profession: If you are unfamiliar with the different health professions, Explore Health Careers can help. Also, check out Choosing a Health Profession, and our list of Recommended Reading for pre-medicine students.
- Clinical Volunteering and Community Service
- Summer Programs/Summer Research Experience
- Summer Programs for Minority and Under-Represented Students
- Pre-Health Student Organizations
- Meet with a Pre-Med/Pre-Dental Advisor in 70 Bascom: To make an appointment for pre-health advising, contact us by phone at 262-5858. Understand that pre-professional advising is open to CURRENTLY ENROLLED STUDENTS ONLY. We do not have the capacity to advise prospective or incoming students at this time. You will have the option for pre-med advising once you have enrolled and begun classes at UW-Madison.
- Attend Campus Events: Check the Pre-Med Events page for pre-health workshops and medical school campus visits.
- Pre-Medicine at Wisconsin: Everything you need to know about getting into medical school.
Applying to Medical School
- Choosing Schools
- What Do Medical Schools Look for?
- The Application Process
- Taking the MCAT and MCAT Prep: L&S offers students a MCAT Prep course at reduced cost. The course runs each academic year, October – April. Fill out the application here
- Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statements for Pre-Health Students
- Med School Interviews: The National Association of Advisors in the Health Professions has published a very inexpensive ($4) brochure on interviewing. It can be ordered at www.naahp.org/publications.htm
- Post-Baccalaureate Programs and Reapplication:
Additional Information