Sophomore Students
- Continue working on your volunteer program. Get involved in Collegiate Educational Service Corps (CESC) programs or other campus activities. CESC programs at the hospital are particularly helpful in ascertaining your interest and suitability for a career in one of the health professions. If you are proficient in the Spanish language, you may find working at the Northwest Crescent Free Clinic an excellent opportunity. If you plan to attend veterinary school, it is a requirement that you have experience working with a veterinarian.
- Students that complete a year and a half of college and have both an overall and science GPA of 3.0 or better are eligible to join Alpha Epsilon Delta (AED), the honorary premedical society. The Furman chapter of this national organization is known as AED-South Carolina Beta. The Chief Health Career Advisor compiles the eligibility list in late January.
- Declare your major and have your faculty advisor or the chairman of the department in which you wish to major fill out a major blank about the time of pre-registration during Spring Term. As you select your major and elective courses keep in mind preparations that would help you in alternate careers should you fail to achieve your first choice. If you have maintained a "B+" average in your science courses you can major in whatever discipline you have an interest. If you are struggling with science you are advised to major in one of the sciences in order to establish creditability in handling science, or seriously consider an career alternative.
- If you are planning a 2 + 2 program such as in the Allied Health areas, you should write or visit the schools in which you are interested and make application at the appropriate time, usually before February.
- If you are planning on a 2 + 2 or dual degree program in allied Health, Pharmacy or Nursing, be sure to check the course requirements of the schools to which you plan to apply. This can be done by checking the World Wide Web site for the schools in which you are interested. You must register your intent to do a 2+2 or dual degree program with the Furman University Registrar as well as the Chief Health Careers Advisor.
- A student who is seriously interested in medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine should have at least a 3.5 GPA by the end of the sophomore year if he or she expects to be accepted into these professional schools the first time applying.