STRENGTHEN YOUR APPLICATION

If you realize that your application to a health related profession school is not competitive due to grade point average, entrance exam scores, and work or volunteer experience in your chosen field, then the wisest option may be to delay applying to professional school for a few years. This will give you time to rectify weaknesses in your application. Many students are now beginning their professional education several years after college. Most have indicated that they have greatly appreciated and benefited from taking a few years between two intensive academic experiences. Here are some options for strengthening your application.

A. Postbaccalaureate Study

Many graduates choose to pursue postbaccalaureate study to improve their chances of being accepted to their chosen professional school. Some students do this by taking advanced undergraduate-level science courses at a nearby college or university. Others enroll in one of the formal postbaccalaureate programs that are offered by institutions around the country, or earn graduate degrees in the sciences. Many students who have done well in course work after college have been accepted into professional schools at a later time. If this situation seems likely, discuss it more specifically with either Dr. Banisaukas (Chief Health Career Advisor) or Dr. Schammel (Pre-Health Internship Coordinator) during your senior year.

Postbaccalaureate programs tend to fall into one of the following categories:
1. Those for people who have completed few, if any, of the required premed science courses.
2. Other non-degree granting programs for students who need to improve their grades to be successful medical school applicants.
3. Those for individuals from minority groups that are underrepresented in medicine.
4. Degree-granting programs that differ in some respects from the standard graduate programs in university science departments.

The AAMC has a searchable database of U.S. postbaccalaureate premedical programs on their website at http://services.aamc.org/postbac/

B. Alternatives
If your GPA is below a “B” (3.0) and you did not do well on the MCAT (below a 27) or other professional exam, you may want to think of alternatives to applying to professional school. Struggling though the science prerequisites may mean that a career in the health sciences is not the best match for your talents.

There are many exciting and rewarding career alternatives, many of which offer opportunities for patient contact, scientific research, or community health activities. Consider the following:

Below are just a few of the links to these and other professions in the health sciences.
Biomedical Engineering
• Biomedical engineering is a discipline concerned with the development and manufacture of prostheses, medical devices, diagnostic devices, drugs and other therapies. It is a field that combines the expertise of engineering with medical needs for the progress of health care. It is more concerned with biological, safety and regulatory issues than other forms of engineering. It may be defined as "The application of engineering principles and techniques to the medical field".
• BMES - Biomedical Engineering Society
• The Biomedical Engineering Network
• BioMedical Engineering OnLine

Chiropractic Medicine
• Doctors of Chiropractic focus their attention on the biomechanics, structure and function of the spine, its effects on the musculoskeletal and neurological systems, and the role these systems play in preserving and restoring health.
• Federation of Chiropractic Licensing Boards
• American Chiropractic Association
• Association of Chiropractic Colleges
• Links to Chiropractic Colleges

Clinical Laboratory Sciences
• CLS is a health care profession with special expertise in laboratory medicine. Members of this challenging profession are responsible for providing accurate, reliable laboratory tests for monitoring health and diagnosing and treating disease.
• UW - Madison Clinical Science/Med Tech Program
• American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science

Clinical Psychology of Social Psychology
• Branch of psychology devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and behavior disorders; frequently clinical psychologists work in a medical setting with psychiatrists and other physicians, and usually have a PhD and additional training in a clinical setting.
• http://www.socialpsychology.org/
• http://www.socialpsychology.org/clinrank.htm

Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIH

Dentistry
• Dentists are primary care providers who take responsibility for the diagnosis, treatment and management of oral health needs.
• American Dental Education Association

Dietetics
• Dieticians translate the sciences of nutrition and food to promote good health. Dieticians may work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, public health agencies, the food industry, research labs, and clinics.
• UW-Madison Department of Nutritional Sciences
• American Dietetics Association

Genetic Counseling
• National Society of Genetic Counselors
• Links to Genetic Counseling Programs
• The National Human Genome Research Institute at the NIH

Health Administration
• Managing health care organizations is an exciting and challenging profession. The healthcare environment is dynamic and complex. There is a pressing need for qualified health care administrators to lead healthcare organizations in providing high quality patient care in the most cost-effective manner. These administrators find employment opportunities in a variety of settings -- hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, long-term care facilities, public health agencies, physician-based practices, and managed care organizations. Career opportunities abound for capable, highly skilled individuals.
• Association of University Programs in Health Administration
• Doctor in Health Adminstration at MUSC

Medical Illustration
• Association of Medical Illustrators

Medical Technology
• Medical technology refers to the use of novel technology to develop highly sophisticated electronic products or medical devices for application in healthcare markets.
• Careers in Medical Laboratory Technology
• Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
• Military Medical Technology

Medical Science Writing
• There are a number of careers in which people with a science background write as a major part of their job. What may spring to mind first when you hear the term "science writer" is a reporter covering science topics for a newspaper, but writing careers for scientists are very diverse and include not only traditional science journalism, but medical writing, technical writing/editing, marketing, and science textbook publishing (and the list is by no means complete!).
• National Association of Science Writers
• Careers in Science Writing

Naturopathic Medicine
• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
• Links to Naturopathic Medical Schools
• National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the NIH

Nutrition
• Dietitians and nutritionists plan food and nutrition programs and supervise the preparation and serving of meals. They help to prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modifications, such as the use of less salt for those with high blood pressure or the reduction of fat and sugar intake for those who are overweight.
• American Society for Nutritional Sciences (ASNS)
• Occupational Outlook - Dietitians and Nutritionists U.S. Department of Labor
o http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm
• Search for jobs in nutrition
o http://www.nutritionjobs.com
o http://www.nutritiononestop.com/jobs
• Certification for nutritionists
o http://www.cert-nutrition.org
o http://www.cncb.org
• State licensing for nutritionists
o http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/State_and_Territories.shtml
o NOTE: Each state has its own guidelines on licensing for nutritionists. Please check with your state to determine the licensing requirements.

Nursing
• Registered nurses (RNs) provide direct health care to patients in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, patients' homes and schools.
• American Association of Colleges of Nursing
• General Nursing Resources
• Links to Schools of Nursing
• Links to Nurse Practitioner Programs
• Links to Nurse Midwifery Programs

Occupational Therapy
• Occupational therapists help people with physical and mental challenges regain, develop, or master everyday skills in order to live independent, productive, and satisfying lives.
• American Occupational Therapy Association
• Occupational Therapy Programs

Optometry
• A Doctor of Optometry is an independent primary health care provider who examines, diagnoses, treats and manages diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures.
• Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
• Links to Schools of Optometry
• American Academy of Optometry (AAO)

Pharmacy
• Pharmacists provide a range of care for patients, from dispensing medications to monitoring response to the medication; they provide education on the use of prescriptions and over-the-counter medications, and advise physicians and other health professionals on drug decisions.
• American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
• Schools of Pharmacy
• Pharmacy College Application Service, the service used to apply to many pharmacy schools
• General Pharmacy Schools

Physical Therapy
• PTs specialize in understanding the interactions of body parts; they teach you how to do exercises and how to use your body properly to gain strength and mobility and prevent recurring injury.
• American Physical Therapy Association
• Links to Physical Therapist Schools

Physician Assistant Studies
• PAs are licensed professionals that practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. Physicians delegate almost every type of patient care duty to PAs and they work in virtually all specialty and practice settings.
• American Academy of Physicians Assistants
• UW Physician Assistant Program
• List of Physician Assistant Programs
• Central Application Service for Physical Assistannts (CASPA)

Podiatry
• Doctors of Podiatric Medicine are heath care providers who exclusively specialize in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of problems affecting the foot and ankle.
• American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
• Links to Schools of Podiatric Medicine
• AACPM Application Service, the service used to apply to most podiatric medical schools

Postbaccalaureate Programs
• Searchable Database of Postbaccalaureate Premedical Programs
• Links by Type of Program

Public Health
• Schools of Public Health and the field in general offers a wide variety of degree choices and career directions that focus on empowering people to live healthy lives, improving the quality of health care and protecting against threats to public health and safety.
• Association of Schools of Public Health
• American Public Health Association (APHA)
• Links to Public Health Schools and Programs
• Public Health Jobs Website

Sports Medicine
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• American Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM)

Speech-Language Pathology
• Speech-Language Pathology is the study of disorders that affect a person's speech or language. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) address people's speech production and language needs through speech therapy in a variety of different contexts including schools, hospitals, and through private practice.
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

Toxicology
• The study of the nature, effects and detection of poisons and the treatment of poisoning.
• Society of Toxicology
• Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Financial Planning/Aid
• AAMC Financial Aid webpage
• Monetary Decisions for Medical Doctors (AAMC), a comprehensive guide for premeds, medical students and beyond
• The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid, with links to most financial aid resources
• National Health Service Corps
• National Institutes of Health Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs
• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Allopathic Medicine (M.D.)
• Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
• Links to Allopathic Medical Schools
• American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the service used to apply to most allopathic medical schools
• Curriculum Directory for Allopathic Medical Schools
• Links to M.D./Ph.D. Programs
• Links to MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program) Institutions
• Combined Degree Programs - Find Schools by Program
• FAQs for MD-PhD Program Applicants

Dental Medicine
• American Dental Education Association (ADEA)
• Links to Dental Schools
• American Association of Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS), the service used to apply to most dental schools
• American Dental Association (ADA) Career Resources
• ADA Mentoring Program

Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM)
• Directory of Osteopathic Medical Schools
• American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), the service used to apply to most osteopathic medical schools

Veterinary Medicine
• Association of American Veterinary Medical Schools (AAVMC)
• Links to Veterinary Medical Schools
• Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS), the service used to apply to many veterinary medical schools