Preprofessional Studies

General

Professional schools' admissions officers look at courses taken, the degree of difficulty of each course, the sequence in which the courses were taken and extracurricular activities. Any science courses required should be those courses designed for the major in that particular field and include laboratory. Courses designed for nursing and allied health, including clinical courses, are usually not considered in the admissions process. In general, the bachelor's degree is required. Exceptions are Chiropractic Medicine,  pharmacy, optometry and dentistry. To enter the Purdue Pharmacy School requires at least two years (60 credit hours) of study for admission. The Chicago College of Pharmacy requires two years (60 credit hours). Chiropractic Medicine, optometry and dentistry require three years (90 credit hours) of study for admission. Most medical and podiatry schools do not state they "require" the bachelor's degree. Over 99% of people admitted have the degree. Professional schools do not care what the major was at the undergraduate level. The required courses must be taken. The fact many students may not be aware of, is that the requirements listed in the professional school catalog are absolute. They will not be varied for ANY reason. When asked what pre-professional students should major in as an undergraduate, most professional schools reply that students should major in the area where they are the happiest. The question has been asked regarding how applicants from IUN are looked at by professional schools. The professional schools state that an applicant from IUN is looked at just like an applicant from Bloomington---each is an applicant from Indiana University.

The key word for students to think about while doing pre-professional studies is "competitive". For example, for the 1997 entering class, Indiana University School of Medicine received 2310 applications for 280 places in the freshman class. At the Indiana University School of Dentistry, 1373 applications were received for 100 places in the freshman class. Indiana University School of Optometry reports they had 426 applicants for 79 places in their entering class. Admittedly, most applications are coming from out-of-state applicants. Each student is judged as to how competitive they are. The main reason for this selection process is that the professional school program is equivalent to 25 credit hours a semester. The student is in class 40-45 hours per week. A college student usually takes 15-16 credit hours per semester and is in class only about 20 hours a week including laboratories. Therefore, the professional schools get very selective on who they admit. No professional school wants a failure. Students are selected for their ability to complete the program.

Many students, while undergraduates, especially here at Indiana University Northwest, often have part-time to full-time jobs. A question often encountered is what about the possibility of working while in professional school, as the cost of schooling will be higher. The answer is an emphatic "NO". With the hours of class work required at professional school, plus the amount of time needed to do the required work, there is no time for outside activities. In dental school, students will begin seeing patients the second or third week of their first semester. In other professional schools, students see patients starting in the second or third year of the program. These clinical rotations may occur at any time of the day. Therefore, there is no time for other "work". As for money to cover school and living costs, professional schools have excellent financial aid people that work closely with students to help solve their problems. Often, professional schools will suggest that students take one night per week to go the movies, see a play or do something outside of schoolwork. But, once that evening is over, it is back to the books. Sticking with schoolwork 100% of the time will lead to psychological problems. One topic that medical schools would rather not discuss is the rate of suicide in the freshman class.

In order to be a competitive applicant for professional school, the student must start right at the beginning of the freshman year. In a state-supported institution, like Indiana or Purdue, statistics point out that 50% of the freshman class do NOT complete the freshman year of study. Statistics also point out that, by the time of application to professional school, the applicant pool has dropped as much as an additional 80%. This lowers the applicant pool to about 10% of the original class. Professional school statistics for Indiana point out that only 33% of the applicant pool will be accepted. Some private medical schools only accept about 10% of the applicant pool. Interestingly, the 33% figure for Indiana remains very constant for all applicant pools---White, Black, Hispanic, etc. Minority students need to understand that they are not guaranteed admission due to their minority status. They must have the academic grades and standardized test scores to demonstrate that they are competitive. In 1996-97, 306 of 690 in-state applicants were offered spaces in the 1997 entering class at Indiana University School of Medicine. Of these, 260 matriculated. Of 1620 out-of-state applicants, 44 were offered spaces in the class and 20 matriculated. These statistics are not meant to alarm anyone. They are meant to clearly point out the determination and drive a student will need to be a successful professional school applicant. The numbers also demonstrate acceptance differences between in-state and out-of-state applicants at a state-supported institution. It is very obvious that competition for admittance is exceedingly keen.

In recent years, there has been an attitude change in professional schools regarding the type student they are seeking. In the 1960's and 1970's, the emphasis was on grades and professional school test scores. Today, not only are schools concerned about the grades of the applicants, but also what are their personal qualities. More emphasis has been placed on selecting applicants who appear to have the greatest potential for`meeting society's needs and providing more accessible health services. Over the years, five general selection factors have developed regarding the professional school selection process. These include 1) academic preparation, or, what courses were taken, 2) academic competence, the grades received both in courses and preprofessional test scores, 3) demographic and biographic or background characteristics, as state-supported schools will favor applicants from the state, 4) assessment of personal qualities, including motivation, integrity, diligence and interpersonal skills, and 5) evidence of nonacademic achievements, as proof of being well-rounded. The major "problem" is that there is no evidence that selection committees use any statistically weighted combination of criteria. Most appear to use "clinical judgement" in making their selections. They primarily select those who they feel are likely to complete the program and become good health providers.

Statistically (68-70%), most pre-professional students are biology majors. Students wishing to get into a life science career often do so at the earliest possible time. At health professional schools, the program emphasizes human biology. The first two years usually include gross anatomy, histology, physiology, microbiology and immunology, pathology, and neuroanatomy. Studies in biochemistry and pharmacology also are part of the program. It becomes evident these courses are taught from the biologists' standpoint. Therefore, students entering a health professional program should be well-versed in biology. Optometry schools include courses in optics in the first year. In these courses, students will use all of the math required for entrance to optometry school. Being accepted is only the first part of the process of becoming a professional. The second part is successfully completing the program. Once accepted does not insure completing the program. Students can be dropped from professional programs, for a variety of reasons, at any time prior to graduation.

Standardized exams are part of the admissions process for most professional schools. None of the standardized exams have a math requirement. However, a math background will aid in solving problems encountered on the standardized exams. The MCAT is used by medical schools--both allopathic and osteopathic--and podiatry schools. Dental schools require the Dental Aptitude Test (DAT). Optometry schools require the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Most veterinary schools require the Veterinary College Aptitude Test (VCAT). Purdue's Veterinary School requires the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). The exam time for the VAT, GRE, OAT and DAT take half a day. The MCAT takes a complete day. These exams should not be taken lightly. They are not the type exam that can be casually studied for. Various study guides are suggested to students when they are identified as being pre-professional. These study guides should be obtained prior to or at the beginning of the freshman year and used (studied) as the required courses are taken. Study guides are available from a host of publishers, although there are two that stand out. The first is by Betz Publishing, which is an excellent all-around study guide and sells for about $50. The second is by Kaplan and includes a CD-ROM for study and medical school information. This retails for about $60. These are two of the various books available and their mention here does not constitute an endorsement.

The exams are based, in general, on the science courses required for professional school admission. The MCAT does add a section on writing. A topic is selected that will not provoke controversy. The topic is written up following specific guidelines. The DAT has sections on two-dimensional and three-dimensional visualization. A good study guide for these visualizations is an introductory mechanical drawing book. The non-science areas are very hard to prepare for, since they are based on general learning. Actual older exams are often available for nominal cost from select sources. The types of questions asked on the actual exams may then be examined by the student. The exams are EXTREMELY important for any successful application to professional school. The student should be so well prepared, that the exam itself is just another event in the application process.

At the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University, the mean GPA for the latest entering class was 3.4 and a MCAT total of 26. In this entering class, 50% were from out-of-state. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine had a mean GPA for their entering class of 3.32 with a science GPA of 3.15. The average MCAT score for each section was 7.98. At Indiana University School of Dentistry, the average GPA was 3.19 and the average GPA in the sciences was 3.11. The Dental Admission Test is scored from 1-30 with national average of 16. At Indiana's School of Dentistry, the average score in the Survey of Natural Sciences (SNS) was 17.3, in the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), which covers two-dimensional and three dimensional perception, the average score was 16.6 and for reading comprehension and quantitative reasoning, the average score was 16.81. At the Indiana University School of Optometry, the entering class had a mean GPA of 3.57. The Optometry Admission Test is scored 200-400 with an average of 300-310. At Indiana, the average was 330 for each section. In the section on Web Sites, there is a profile page listed where averages for each section of the exam are listed. Please be advised that all numbers do vary from year to year. Also be advised that the numbers given are means so there are numbers greater and numbers smaller for each group.

Regardless of grade point average, as well as standardized test scores, students are advised to be prepared for the worst. Each student should read the last portion of this introduction which covers the "Rejected Applicant". It is admitted that no one likes to think of this possibility, but students are cautioned to remember that applicants who were interviewed one year, but not accepted, have often found themselves not even interviewed in subsequent years.

Students often inquire about review courses for the particular test in which they are interested. There are many different courses available. The best review course for any particular professional school exam is probably that of Kaplan. This concern was started by Stanley Kaplan, who started by tutoring students at CCNY in New York City. In the business, his concern was to get people with degrees in learning theory to run the courses so they could train applicants HOW to take an exam. Although the Kaplan organization is now owned by the Washington Post, the basic premise remains. These courses are expensive, ranging in price from $700 to $1000 for a 6-8 week course. If a student is considering such a course, they should set aside at least one day per week, other than the class day, to go to the Kaplan Center and use the time reviewing audio tapes, video tapes and other materials available. Science course content comes from the normal courses taken as an undergraduate. Review of this material is probably best done by spending time with an appropiate study guide. Betz Publishing tells the story of an individual who took Kaplan and scored 5's and 6's on the MCAT. After spending the summer with their MCAT review book, the individual got 10's and 12's on the MCAT. Books, like the Betz book, can supplement Kaplan. Kaplan will teach students how to take exams but the review books review actual content. MCAT and other professional exams have information available about topics to be covered on the exams. The books are based on these topics.

The application process for professional school is long, complicated and demanding of the student. Timewise, the process takes about a year. The required standardized exam should be taken in the Spring of the junior year. Exams are usually given in the Spring and in the late summer or Fall of each year, allowing a student to repeat the exam at the start of the senior year, if necessary. Not taking the exam for the first time until the Fall of the senior year places the applicant at a distinct disadvantage. Applications to professional schools should be submitted during the summer after the junior year. Some professional schools use application services to whom the initial application is mailed. In these cases, the applications are checked against official transcripts and other official documents from the college where the applicant is attending. After verification, the applications are copied and sent to the professional schools. Other professional schools must be applied to individually. In either case, the professional school then does an initial screening of the application. They want to know if the applicant meets residency requirements (if needed). They also look at the applicant's grade-point average, test scores and courses taken. If the applicant meets the initial requirements, the applicant may be sent a secondary application. Either at the time of the secondary application, or at the time of interview, many schools assess the applicant an additional application fee. For example, at Indiana University School of Medicine, the applicant must pay a $25 fee PRIOR to their interview. In this secondary application, more pertinent information about the applicant is requested. It is with this application that letters of evaluation are required. Each school has its requirements regarding the number of letters required and who they should be from. The student must request these be sent. After the secondary application is received, the application is again reviewed. Only this time, the conditions are more stringent. If the applicant passes this second review, they are invited to the professional school for an interview. Most professional schools use this time to see what type individual the applicant is on a personal level. This is NOT a time of putting the applicant under any undue stress. The interviewers are interested in how the applicant thinks, talks and behaves while being talked with. Following the interview, the admissions committee will meet sometime and decide if the applicant should be admitted to the program or not. It is at this meeting that all aspects of the applicant--comments on the application, grades, standardized test scores, letters of evaluation and interviewer's comments--are most closely reviewed.

Dr. Timothy A. Stabler, Associate Professor of Biology, serves as the Chief  Health Professions Advisor. He works very closely with students as soon as he is aware of their intentions. Dr. Stabler is a member of the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions and the Central Association of Advisors for the Health Professions and a former officer in both organizations. Many professional schools use the membership lists from these organizations to mail out information to advisors about their programs. Annual meetings offer a forum to discuss advising problems and solutions, as well as an opportunity to meet the deans of the various professional schools. It is at these meetings that people representing the standardized exams will come to inform advisors about impending changes in the exams, etc. All information from these annual meetings is then quickly made available to the students. The necessary applications for the standardized exams are sent to Dr. Stabler well in advance of the exam date. Applications for the various professional school application services are also maintained by Dr. Stabler so students may get them as necessary. Dr. Stabler's office is in Marram Hall, room 318. His phone number is (219) 980-6718. Calls may be made at any time with messages left on voice-mail. Please be advised that voice mail will not go on until after six rings. His FAX number is (219) 980-7125 and his Email address is: Tstabler@iunhaw1.iun.indiana.edu

Dr. Stabler has a form letter that can be used as a letter of evaluation. Completed letters are returned to Dr. Stabler and put into the student's file. When the student starts the application process, Dr. Stabler copies the letters on file and sends them to the schools applied to. Students need only request one letter from a professor, not several. Letters may be put on file anytime. Letters should be requested at the end of the semester in which courses were taken. At present, the most letters needed are required for admission to Indiana University School of Medicine. One letter from a science faculty member and one non-science faculty letter are required. One personal letter, such as an employer or someone that knows the applicant as a person, is required. A letter from the Dean of Students of the campus attended is also necessary. Most other professional schools require one or two total letters. Some schools will specifically request a letter from the health professions advisor in lieu of faculty letters.

Students often inquire about the opportunity of a tour at the professional school of their choice. Most schools have such tours and encourage them. Dr. Stabler can provide names and phone numbers for contact people at each professional school. These people are available for setting up tours for prospective students. Often it is advisable to take such a tour. Students see the actual physical plant of the school and become acquainted with the admissions people at that campus. The School of Medicine in Indianapolis does not usually encourage such tours due to the wide dispersal of the buildings on that campus. However, at the interview, held in Indianapolis, tours are arranged for all applicants. The medical school does send admissions people to the IUN campus each year to meet and talk with pre-medical students. Their purpose is to discuss the application process and answer any questions students might have. Tours of the Northwest Center are arranged on that day. Several other professional schools send admissions people to the campus each academic year to meet and talk with students about their particular programs. Other professional schools, including pharmacy, podiatry, dentistry, optometry and veterinary, do have tours of their facilities and encourage prospective applicants to go on such tours. Usually, a tour is only a phone call away.

The process of completing pre-professional work, either as an undergraduate or as a returning student, and successfully getting into professional school is really not that hard. There ARE many little pitfalls that can make it all appear unbearable. In the following section of web site, the requirements for admission to several types of professional schools are given. Some comments about listed requirements for each are also given. A suggested course of study originally designed for the undergraduate pre-medical or pre-podiatric student may be linked from this site. Pre-dental or pre-optometry students should add their other requirements in during the last one or two years of study. The additional requirements usually fit in either as electives, or as part of the major. The outline of proposed study is designed both for the B.A. or B.S. degrees. The information contained in this web site, including test scores and requirements, was the latest information available as of September, 1997. The GPA and test score numbers quoted in this document may vary slightly from year to year, depending upon the applicant pool. Each student must strive to do their very best in their pre-professional program.

A primary concern for the applicant should be paying the costs of professional school. Most professional schools will contact students soon after admission to ask the question on how the bills are going to be paid. Applicants should talk very seriously with the financial aids officers on what type aid is available unless, of course, they have the money in the bank to pay the bills. Applicants to any Indiana school will, of course, pay much lower fees than people from out-of-state. Actually, applicants need to think about professional school payment while an undergraduate. Many different awards are available. However, this area changes so much from year to year, it is best to talk with professional school financial aid people. There are a number of loans available which should be looked at only with the guidance of the professional school's financial aid office. Not all of these are that good. The HEAL Loan is probably the most infamous, especially for medical school applicants. An applicant may borrow $20,000-25,000 per year for professional school. However, the payback interest percentage is in the 20-25% range. So, a $80,000 loan will cost nearly $300,000 to pay off in the 10 years alloted. The first payment is due 30 days after graduation from professional school. A medical graduate, who is starting residency at about $3,000/month will be asked for about $2700/month for payment. The loan is set up so that filing bankruptcy means nothing. The loan must still be paid. Also, the loan starts accruing interest from the time the first check is sent. If an applicant gets such a loan and has a check sent, and then decides not to take the loan, and returns the check, the applicant will be responsible for interest accrued while the check was in the mail. And, the amount MUST be paid. An applicant, not going to an Indiana school, will probably be going to a private school, where the cost per year approaches or exceeds $30,000 per year. For example, at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, the cost is estimated at $32,180 per year. Anyone thinking of professional school should start asking questions now about financing their professional school education. In the Web Sites section, financial web sites for medical and dental schools are given. A lot of the information is broad enough to be used by any professional school applicant.

The Armed Services offer, in certain instances, to pay for professional schooling. In general, they require a time equal to that spent in professional school to be spent in one of the Armed Services. IUN has had the Army, Air Force and Navy pay for students in medical school and dental school. Their tuition and fees have been paid for as well as their books. And, they get a monthly stipend to live on. They, on graduation, enter the service they agreed on as a doctor (and an officer) and in many instances, the time spent here serves as their residency (if needed).

A new piece of information for applicants to Indiana University professional schools and, perhaps, for certain undergraduate majors. Applicants will be checked against the sex offenders registry on the World Wide Web. Indiana University feels there is no place for such people in professional school, or even elementary education. As capabilities of the Web grow, it will become very imperative that applicants have a good record.