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=** Yeshiva University Pre-Health Wiki Website **=

= Welcome! = Congratulations! You decided to become a health care professional. While the path is not easy, the goal is achievable. It will take hard work and planning, but the YU [|Pre Health Team] is here to guide you through each step of the process. This team extends includes a team of peer mentors who are currently in the application cycle, specific assistance for international students, mock interview and resume reviewing with YU's Career Services and test counseling with the YU Counseling Center.

It's important to know that the Pre-Health office provides assistance for all health professional schools, including medical, dental, osteopathic, podiatric, physical therapy, etc. While most of the guidelines below apply to all tracks, specific information is included in Pre-Dental, Pre-Podiatry and Pre-Osteopathic Medicine. ‍

= Pre-Health Office = As a Yeshiva University student, your first stop should be the Pre-Health Office located in Room 111 in Furst Hall, directly opposite the elevators. The Pre-Health office is here to help, but you should take responsibility in keeping in touch and asking questions whenever necessary. It’s important to visit the office early in your YU career since there are many things to consider during your freshman and sophomore years such as volunteering and research opportunities which will help strengthen your eventual application. As you begin the application cycle, the Pre-Health Advisor writes an extensive recommendation letter on your behalf, called a committee letter, which is included with your application. It is important that you get to know your adviser so they can write you a strong letter based on real knowledge of who you are and what your strengths are. The Pre-Health office will also guide you through MCAT/DAT prep as well as the interview process.

= Pre-Health Listserve = All pre-health students should enroll in the listserv to receive the most up-to-date information on events, speakers, and clinical opportunities.‍

= Calendar = Make sure to check the Pre-Health Calendar for information about upcoming events throughout the year. = =

= Pre-Health Orientation = Each Fall the Pre-Health Offers offers two mandatory Orientations, one for underclassmen starting the pre-health track and one for juniors and seniors entering the application cycle. Both sessions include an extensive overview by the Pre-Health Advisor, including an informative Q+A session with the Pre-Health Mentors, upperclassmen who are currently applying to medical and dental schools. In addition, complete handbooks for each group are available in the Pre-Health Office. A video of the Fall 2013 session can be viewed at link.

= APPLYING TO HEALTH PROFESSION PROGRAMS =

Gaining acceptance to medical, dental or any allied health professional school is not easy. Admissions Committees' job is to weed out weak candidates. Remember that your competition is NOT other YU students, but the thousand other applicants from across the country.

However, good grades and test scores are **not enough**. In addition to excellent academic achievement, Admissions Committees want to see significant research, volunteering and extracurricular activities as outlined below.

Following the basic guidelines below can make you a more competitive applicant. Carefully planning out your undergraduate studies as early as possible will help you make a manageable schedule, and ensure that you will take all the courses you need and ensure you application won't be delayed.

= ‍Prerequisite Courses = While medical schools and dental schools accept students from all majors, most medical and dental schools have a set of core required courses that must be taken in order to be eligible to apply.

= ‍GPA = Your GPA helps admission committees determine if you have the ability to handle the difficult science curriculum of medical schools.

= ‍Standardized Tests = Another major component of the application is the MCAT (Medical College Acceptance Test) and DAT (Dental Admissions Test). Both tests offer an equal, standardized barometer to gauge a student's ability to not only learn and memorize information, but to think critically and apply their science knowledge to new situations.

= Admissions Statistics = The YU Pre-Health office has records of the average GPA and MCAT of YU Students who were accepted to and intend to attend medical schools (matriculating). The data can be found on our Admission Data 2002-2011 Admissions Data 2011 and Admission Data 2012 pages.

It is important to realize this data is only PART of the application process, and many other factors such as the interview, resume, research experience and many other factors play a large part in the application process.The Pre-Health Advisor is available to discuss your specific application and how these numbers relate to you. = ‍Research = Research experience is a crucial component for all pre-medical students to demonstrate your aptitude for science. Additionally reference letters from the leader of the research team can help the admissions committee determine leadership qualities, teamwork abilities, and overall work ethic.

(Note: Generally dental schools do not require research.)

= ‍Extra Curricular Activities = While grades and test scores are crucial, all health professional schools want to see applicants to are **well-rounded** and **involved in their communities.** Therefore, extracurricular activities are another vital part of the application. Schools look for experience with patient interaction by volunteering at local hospitals, leadership ability in on campus activities, as well as an applicant's ability to reach outside of their comfort level in various social and economic settings outside their normal social circles. Check our Beyond The Numbers page, as well as the extracurricular activities page for more information and opportunities.

= ‍Helpful Files and Links = Official YU Pre-Health Homepage []

A guide of the basics prepared by the YU Pre-Health Office

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