XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
Premedical Office
1 Drexel Drive
New Orleans, LA 70125-1098
Email: xupremed@yahoo.com; Website: www.xula.edu/premed
Phone: (504) 520-7437; Fax: (504) 520-7923
Applying to Health Professions School:
The Xavier Premedical Office Model
NOTE: The term “Health Professions” at Xavier typically refers to Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Optometry, and Podiatry;
the majority of “Premeds” at Xavier are interested in gaining admission into these health professions programs and are advised by the
Premedical Office. FYI, students at Xavier who are interested in PHARMACY are advised by the Pre-Pharmacy Office, not the Premedical
Office.
•When should students begin preparing their applications to medical,
dental, and other health professions schools?
•INFORMALLY:
•FORMALLY:
Throughout the Pre-College Years!!!
First Semester of Freshman Year in College!!!
Although most college students do not submit their health professions school applications until the
summer between junior and seniors years, the process of “building” an actively COMPETITIVE
application should start day one of freshman year and continue until the student gains admission into
health professions school.
•What two (2) questions are health professions school admissions
committees generally attempting to answer when reviewing applications
AND what do they use to answer each of these questions?
QUESTION #1:
“Can the applicant handle the academic load (equivalent to a college course-load of about 40semester hours/semester)?”----FYI----Xavier students generally take 14-18 hours/semester.
•Items used to answer:
-College Grades (Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Math AND Overall);
-Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and similar entrance exam scores; and
-Letters of Evaluation (from individuals who taught you in college).
***IF THE ANSWER TO QUESTION #1 IS “YES”, PROCEED TO…***
QUESTION #2:
“Will the applicant be a GOOD physician, dentist, or other health professional?”
•Items used to answer:
-Post-Secondary (post-high school) Experiences demonstrating interest;
-Personal Statement and Other Written Portions of Application; and
-Letters of Evaluation (from faculty, research mentors, supervisors, etc.).
BOTTOM LINE: DURING PRE-COLLEGE AND COLLEGE YEARS, THE
PREM EDICAL OFFICE AT XAVIER ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO BE PROACTIVE
(NOT REACTIVE) BY CONTINUALLY DEDICATING THEM SELVES TO M AKING
SURE THAT THE ANSW ER TO EACH OF THE ABOVE TW O (2) QUESTIONS IS
“YES”!!!!!!
(OVER)
XU Premedical Office’s Recommended Timeline for
Application to MOST Health Professions Schools
Pre-College Years
! Keep grades up (rigorous college prep curriculum; be mindful of overall & core GPAs)
! Actively prepare for the SAT and/or ACT
! Enhance vocabulary and critical thinking skills in preparation for health professions school entrance
exams (e.g. read a weekly publication like Newsweek, The Economist, etc. from cover-to-cover EACH
week to help develop the necessary skills to read and understand complex material in a limited amount
of time)
! Engage in “shadowing” experiences with health and other professionals to determine what professions
you like (and don’t like)
! Volunteer in a clinical setting where you have patient contact (e.g. hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, etc.)
! Explore summer opportunities for pre-college students at local colleges, hospitals, and health professions
schools
! Apply to colleges and universities EARLY in the fall of senior year
! Explore local and national scholarship opportunities for college NOW
Freshman Year
! Keep grades up AND assess academic progress
! Complete 8 hours of basic required BCPM (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) courses
! Complete entrance exam-specific courses
! Plan future coursework, semester-by-semester, so that basic requirements are completed prior to taking
the entrance exam and applying to health professions school
! Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
! Visit premed adviser regularly throughout academic year
! Meet with health professions recruitment representatives
! Cultivate thinking and reasoning competencies in preparation for entrance exam
! Begin developing personal statement and keeping a record of post-secondary experiences
! Engage in extra-curricular activities that help to develop the interpersonal and intrapersonal
competencies but NOT at the expense of your academic performance
! By December, apply to summer enrichment or research programs and/or explore summer options to
engage in other relevant experiences that demonstrate your interest in your intended profession
Sophomore Year
! Keep grades up AND assess academic progress
! Complete 8 hours of basic required BCPM courses
! Complete entrance exam-specific courses
! Plan future coursework, semester-by-semester, so that basic requirements are completed prior to taking
the entrance exam and applying to health professions school
! Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
! Visit premed adviser regularly throughout academic year
! Meet with health professions recruitment representatives
! Cultivate thinking and reasoning competencies in preparation for entrance exam
! Engage in extra-curricular activities that help to develop the interpersonal and intrapersonal
competencies but NOT at the expense of your academic performance
! By December, apply to summer enrichment or research programs and/or explore summer options to
engage in other relevant experiences that demonstrate your interest in your intended profession
***NEW TASKS***
! Continue revising personal statement and updating post-secondary experiences
! Apply to early acceptance programs, if available
! Join honor societies, such as Alpha Epsilon Delta, if eligible
! Plan to take NO MORE THAN 14 semester hours during spring of junior year
Junior Year
! Keep grades up AND assess academic progress
! Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
! Visit premed adviser regularly throughout academic year
! Meet with health professions recruitment representatives
! Cultivate thinking and reasoning competencies in preparation for entrance exam
! Engage in extra-curricular activities that help to develop the interpersonal and intrapersonal
competencies but NOT at the expense of your academic performance
! By December, apply to summer enrichment or research programs and/or explore summer options to
engage in other relevant experiences that demonstrate your interest in your intended profession (LAST
summer before applying!!)
***NEW TASKS***
! Complete remaining basic required BCPM courses
! Complete remaining entrance exam-specific courses
! Complete Biochemistry I in preparation for the MCAT
! Begin taking RECOMMENDED upper-level science courses (e.g. Biochemistry I, Histology,
Embryology, Anatomy & Physiology, Comparative Anatomy, etc.)
! FINALIZE health professions school application components…
•Personal Statement
•Post-Secondary Experiences
•Letters of Evaluation
! Limit course-load to NO MORE THAN 14 HOURS during spring of junior year
! Limit/eliminate extra-curricular involvement during spring of junior year
! Enroll in entrance exam prep course + actively study for exam weekly outside of review course by
reviewing content and doing LOTS of practice problems and full length tests
! Apply for the any application Fee Assistance Programs if eligible in January
! Register to take the MCAT in April or May; DAT and OAT between April-June
! Begin CAREFULLY researching the health professions schools to which you may apply
Summer between Junior and Senior Years
! Take MCAT no later than May; take DAT and OAT no later than June
! Take professional head-and-shoulders photograph for secondary applications
! Remain in contact with Premed Adviser throughout summer for assistance with health professions
school application
! Start working on most health professions school application in early MAY and submit no later than
JULY
! Participate in summer program and/or secure other relevant experience to demonstrate interest in your
intended profession (LAST summer before submitting application)
! Study to retake the entrance exam, if applicable
Senior Year
! Keep grades up and assess progress
! Complete remaining required and recommended courses (check admission requirements!!)
! Attend ALL meetings scheduled for premeds
! Visit Premed Adviser regularly throughout academic year
! Meet with health professions recruitment representatives
***NEW TASKS (Senior Year continued)***
! Complete health professions schools secondary applications AS SOON AS THEY COME IN
! Prepare for health professions school interviews
! Explore options for financing your professional school education
! Explore post-baccalaureate alternatives, if necessary
! Secure re-application assistance, if necessary
! Prepare for graduation and the next phase of your education!!!
(OVER)
Extra Advice #1: XU’s Premedical Office encourages students who are interested in the health
professions to attend at least one undergraduate summer enrichment or research program before
APPLYING to professional school; additionally, clinically-related paid or volunteer work in a hospital,
nursing home, clinic, etc. is also encouraged in an effort to express a sincere and demonstrated interest
in the health professions.
Extra Advice #2: The process of applying to health professions school is EXPENSIVE. Start saving
NOW for test prep, test registration, application fees, interview expenses, etc!
Resources for Students Interested in the Health Professions
• Collegiate Pre-Health Adviser
• AAMC’s Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) and similar admission
requirements books for other health professions schools.
• www.aamc.org (Association of American Medical Colleges)
• www.aacom.org (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine)
• www.adea.org (American Dental Education Association)
• www.aavmc.org (Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges)
• www.opted.org (Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry)
• www.aacpm.org (American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine)
• www.aspiringdocs.org
• www.explorehealthcareers.org
• www.smdep.org
• XU’s Premed Office: www.xula.edu/premed; Email: Ms. Quo Vadis M. Webster, MA, LPC,
Premedical Adviser, xupremed@yahoo.com.
FINALLY, the road to gaining entry into AND
successfully completing health professions school
is NOT easy. However, with hard work,
determination, and a sincere commitment to
your intended profession, IT CAN BE DONE!!!