Students may seek advice regarding their preparation for a health professions career from Professor Nancy Waters, the Health Professions Chair and Academic Advisor, or Ms. Simona Glaus, the Health Professions Program Director, throughout their time at Lafayette.
Every fall we hold a series of meetings designed: (a) to introduce students, particularly first and second year students, to our health professions program; and (b) to provide a “heads up” reminder of what will be expected of students who will be applying to a health professions school the summer after their junior or senior year.
Our orientation meeting for first and second year students is designed (a) to introduce students to the expectations of the various health professions programs, and (b) to advise them of the opportunities available to them for academic and career guidance.
Our “heads up” meeting for juniors and seniors is designed to introduce prospective applicants to health professions schools about (a) our campus application process, and (b) the actual application process when they apply to the health professions schools themselves. In addition to our fall meetings, we offer a series of other events and meetings throughout the fall and spring semesters.
These meetings are open to all students, although announcements are generally sent only to those students who have asked to be on our health professions email list. If you would like to be put on this list, please be sure to let us know by contacting us either in person at 101 Scott Hall or via email at healthprofessions@lafayette.edu. At these meetings, we often have presentations from Lafayette alumni who are currently attending health professions schools, health professions school admissions representatives, and speakers discussing current topics/issues relevant to the health professions.
In addition to the programming offered through our Health Professions Program itself, students are able to participate in programming and other events available through the student run Health Professions Clubs. In all, students with an interest in the health professions are able to explore their interests in greater depth by engaging in related internships/externships available through the Gateway Career Center, community service through the Landis Center and leadership opportunities through their involvement in student club organizations.
Did you know?
- Only one third of medical school students actually matriculate directly after graduation.
- The average age of students entering medical school is 24.
- You don’t have to be a science major to attend a health professions school! In fact, many successful physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and the like majored in the humanities or social sciences.
- By doing something meaningful related to the health professions after you graduate, you become a stronger, more focused candidate for admission.
- To be a strong candidate requires more than good grades. It is more advantageous to apply when you are ready and able to make a convincing case for admission rather than to apply during your junior or senior years.
Want to enter a health professional school right after Lafayette?
- Plan to complete all required courses by the end of your junior year
- Take the required admissions test (i.e., MCAT, DAT, OAT, or GRE) in the spring or summer of your junior year
- Submit your applications to health professional schools during the summer between your junior and senior years
What should you study at Lafayette?
- Choose any major or minor offered at Lafayette College
- Follow your own intellectual and academic interests
- Ensure you have a strong foundation in the natural sciences (i.e., biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics)
What makes a strong candidate?
- Academic preparation
- Health-related experiences
- Research experiences
- Community service and volunteer work
- Admissions tests/entrance exams
- Letters of recommendation
- The health professional school application essay and interview
- Evident passion for a health professions career
- Leadership and teamwork
- People skills-interpersonal skills-communication skills-compassion
