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Academic Preparation
Preparing for a health profession involves many
steps, but at the core is a set of courses that health
professions schools require. Successful applicants to
medical, dental, veterinary, occupational therapy and
all other clinical health professions graduate programs
must demonstrate that they have a foundation in science.
Your professional school curriculum will build on the
biology, chemistry and physics that you learned in
college. Demonstrated ability in science is critical.
But there is much more to being a health clinician
than science, and therefore a broad-based curriculum is
highly valued by professional schools. All will expect
an applicant to read critically and write well, and most
require 2 semesters of English to demonstrate that. An
appreciation of people, their behavior, their beliefs,
their perspectives is important and can be gained
through studies in the social sciences, languages and
cultures. Quantitative skills are necessary, and skills
in statistics and informatics are very beneficial.
Lastly but importantly, an appreciation of health and
health care issues will make you a better informed and
better prepared future clinician.
Overall, a strong student with broad interests and
ability in the sciences is a competitive candidate in
terms of academic credentials. To learn about the
specific academic courses required for a given
profession, please click on the link at the left. If you
are uncertain about the field that interests you, visit
the "Exploring Health Professions"
section of this site.
FAQs
Academic Preparation:
When should I take all of my required courses?
It is a good idea to spread these courses out, but you
should complete the requirements before you sit for the
MCAT or DAT. Do not avoid requirements; take them in due
course. After all, medical schools want you to have been
challenged. However, it is best to take only one
laboratory science course your first semester until you
adjust to the added demands of these courses and life at
Tufts.
Summer courses may not be the best route to pursue such
requirements as organic chemistry or physics. Some
medical schools feel that summer session courses are not
as competitive as regular semester courses (therefore
the grade may not mean as much) or that they are so
compressed that you will not learn as much. Also, summer
is often a time for much needed serious reflection about
your chosen career as well as important experience in
the field. However, sometimes scheduling demands a
summer course. If so, look for a quality course. Take it
at Tufts or seek transfer credit here through the
on-line "Transfer of Credit" process on the
http:\\studentservices.tufts.edu website.
When planning your schedule, do not overburden yourself
(i.e. by taking three science lab courses at once), and
keep in mind when courses are offered. For example,
Biology 13 is only offered in the fall, and certain
courses sometimes overlap in time blocks. Many first
year premeds prefer to begin college by taking general
chemistry instead of introductory biology, as a
chemistry background may be desirable for Biology 13.
Others come with excellent backgrounds in biology and
prefer to begin with biology. Less common, but still
possible, is starting with physics. In general, be
flexible, but also try to plan ahead.
What should I major in?
There is no "premed major" at Tufts, nor at most
selective colleges. Medical schools look for a
well-balanced college program, and do not favor one
major over another. Statistically, biology majors
comprise at least half of the applicant pool but
statistically they have a slightly lower rate of
admission than many other majors, including many
non-science majors. In fact, some Admissions officers
may find someone who has majored in a non-science area
and still done well in the premedical requirements to be
more interesting.
Major in what excites you; chances are you will do your
best and enjoy your time at Tufts more by concentrating
in an area you enjoy. If you do choose a science major,
remain well-rounded by taking a variety of courses
outside your major. If you major in a non-science, be
certain to demonstrate your science aptitude by
performing well in your premedical courses and/or by
taking science courses beyond the introductory level. If
you are inclined to double major, be aware it will
greatly reduce your freedom to take electives, and not
necessarily impress admissions officers.
Can I study abroad?
Students are strongly encouraged to investigate study
abroad options if they are so inclined. This experience
will enrich your education and your application. Many
students take time away from their science requirements
to study language, history, art, etc. while abroad. If
you do want to take sciences abroad, it is important to
check with the appropriate science department here to
insure that a given course is comparable and therefore
covers the material you need to know.
All Tufts students considering study abroad should
attend a General Information Session (offered by the
Study Abroad Office throughout the year at different
times and places), and should consult the publications
Explore the World with Tufts (Tufts programs) and/or
Tufts Guidelines for Study Abroad (non-Tufts programs).
Subsequent to that, there is a binder in the health
careers section of the Resource Library that provides
information on many programs offering science courses,
in addition to a study abroad section that offers a
broad array of information.
What if I do poorly in a course?
A "C" or "D" is not going to keep you out of medical
school but multiple ones may. The average successful
premed at Tufts has an overall and science GPA of 3.5.
While an average reflects both higher and lower GPAs,
very few medical schools seriously consider applicants
with less than a B+ average unless there are significant
disadvantages that the applicant has overcome. Programs
leading to an MD degree are currently the most
competitive; students interested in most of the other
health professions could be competitive with a lower
GPA. Obviously you do not have to have a 4.0. Attributes
other than grades are also important. However, if you
are getting a "D" or an "F" in a course, talk to your
instructor early to find out how you can turn around
your performance. If it is clear that your final grade
is going to be that poor, talk to your advisor (and your
parents) about dropping or withdrawing from the course.
A '"W" will always be on your transcript but it is still
better than a ''D" or an "F" in a single incident.
Multiple "W"'s are not ideal either, but again they are
generally preferable to a very low grade.
If you do earn a poor, but passing, final grade in a
course, it is sometimes difficult to determine whether
or not it is best to retake the course. At that point,
you should probably discuss it with your advisor and/or
the health professions advisor. Students who do not
perform well in their early science courses, but still
wish to pursue a medical degree, can take additional
science courses to strengthen their academic records and
become competitive candidates.
Should I remain premed if I am unhappy?
Keep in mind that being premed is not directly related
to medical school or the practice of medicine. If you
are frustrated by the long hours of study and your
requirements are not stimulating, do not just give up.
Determine for yourself whether you really want to become
a physician. This takes more than just saying you have
always wanted to be a doctor. Speak to doctors, work in
a health care setting, and if you really have your heart
set on medicine go for it! But be prepared for
sacrifices.
On the other hand, remember that medical students and
physicians work extremely hard (much harder than
premeds) and the first two years of medical school are
primarily very rigorous science courses. The lesson to
be learned is that if you want to be a physician, and
you can tolerate hard work, pressure and time
constraints, and can do the sciences, then you should
pursue your goal.
Remember that there are many other health professions
that may offer what you are seeking without some of the
drawbacks you are experiencing. Do yourself a favor and
seriously investigate the other health professions.
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