Pre-Health Undergraduate, Four-Year Plan
Department of Biological Sciences,
College of Arts and Sciences
May be combined with any major.
Year One
Year One: Fall
- ABIO 130 (DP-NATSCI)
- ACHM 115 or 130
- AMAT 100 or 108 or 112 (MATH)
- English Class
Year One: Spring
- ABIO 131
- ACHM 116
- AMAT 108 or 112
- Writing and Critical Inquiry (WCI)
Supplemental Information
Academics
- Join the pre-health newsletter.
- Establish good study habits.
- Meet with a pre-health advisor during group advising sessions.
- In the spring semester, attend the "Freshman Pre-Health Workshop" to hear from UAlbany upperclassmen who have already been accepted to health professional school.
- Extensive reading in both science and non-science areas will help to develop your vocabulary, speed and comprehension.
Health Care Experience
- Gather information on health-care professions.
- Consider health care-related experience, such as volunteer work or job shadowing.
- Consider attending an information meeting to learn more about Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service on campus.
- Utilize the summer to begin or continue gaining health care experience (e.g., volunteer, job shadow, or consider an EMT training course, etc.)
- Keep a diary of your health profession and related activities.
Extra-Curricular Activities
- Attend guest speaking events hosted by a pre-health advisor and student organizations, etc.
- Participate in activities that you enjoy and are meaningful to you (e.g., clubs, sports, community service activities, hobbies, etc.)
Year Two
Year Two: Fall
- ABIO 212 or 217
- ABIO 201
- ACHM 220
- ACHM 222
- APSY 101or ASOC 115 (DP-SOCSCI)
- AMAT 108 (If AMAT 100 and 112 taken in 1st year)
Year Two: Spring
- ABIO 217 or 212
- ABIO 202
- ACHM 221
- ACHM 223
- APSY 101 or ASOC 115
Supplemental Information
Academics
- Work on study habits and time-management skills that allow your grades to improve even as courses get more challenging.
- Research health professional programs to learn about specific requirements.
- Continue to meet with a pre-health advisor during group advising sessions.
- Get to know your faculty, raise questions in class and visit during office hours. Faculty are a great resource for major and career information and for future letters of recommendation.
- In the spring semester, attend the "Sophomore Pre-Health Workshop" which focuses on resume and personal statement writing.
- Begin to explore research opportunities, especially if you're interested in pursuing a MD or PhD degree.
- Continue to read as this will help you prepare for the MCAT, DAT, GRE, etc.
Health Care Experience
- Continue to gain meaningful health care experience that allows for direct patient contact.
- Consider performing community service for credit through the UAlbany Community and Public Service Program.
- Investigate opportunities for health care programs during the summer and on breaks from school.
Extra-Curricular Activities
- Continue to expand your involvement with student clubs and groups and community service or volunteer programs.
- Regular participation in extra-curricular activities shows commitment, and these activities will help you develop good time management and interpersonal skills.
- Take a good look at yourself. Are you an excellent student? Do you thrive on patient contact? Do you like a hectic, challenging lifestyle? If not, perhaps you should reassess your goals now. If you answered "yes," then continue reading.
Year Three
Year Three: Fall
- APHY 105
- APHY 106
- ABIO 365
Year Three: Spring
- APHY 108
- APHY 109
- ABIO 410
Supplemental Information
Academics
- Continue to excel in your academic coursework.
- In the fall, attend the information session for students who plan to interview with the pre-health advisory committee.
- In the spring, interview with the pre-health advisory committee. This includes students who plan to apply to medical, dental, and optometry schools.
- Prepare a study plan for your MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, etc.
- Plan to take the MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, etc. as early as the spring of your junior year.
- Discuss letters of recommendation with faculty who know you well.
- Draft, revise, and edit your personal statement.
Health Care Experience
- Continue and expand your involvement in healthcare-related activities. Health professional schools are looking for students with a depth and breadth of experience in healthcare.
Extra-Curricular Activities
- Continue and expand your involvement with student groups and community service and volunteer programs.
- Consider a leadership role within a group or organization.
Note: Pre-health students should begin their primary applications to health professional schools in the early summer (May-July). Many health professions have a common application. Also, students should complete their personal statement, secondary applications and send letters of recommendation by late summer.
Year Four
Supplemental Information
- Fine-tune your interviewing skills
- Go on professional school interviews
- Graduate from UAlbany
Notes
You should incorporate academics, health care experience, and extra-curricular activities at each stage of your college careers to prepare yourself for admission to health professional school. Please reach out to a pre-health advisor for any questions.
The following courses are required for most medical, dental, optometry and veterinary schools: AMAT 100, ABIO 212 or 217, ABIO 217 or 212, ABIO 365 and ABIO 410 are recommended to prepare for MCAT 2015 and beyond.
- MS Mathematics and Quantitative Reasoning
- WCI Writing and Critical Inquiry
- AR Arts
- HU Humanities
- NS Natural Sciences and Scientific Reasoning
- SS Social Sciences
- US U.S. History and Civic Engagement
- IP World History and International Perspectives
- LANG Languages Other than English (one semester of collegiate study, or the equivalent, of a language other than English)
- DEISJ Diversity: Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice
Credit bearing Professional Development Options
- Research within major
- University internship
- Departmental Internship
- Community Engaged Coursework
- Study Abroad
- Tutoring opportunities