Office of
Health Professions Advising

Some Pointers Along The Way

• Assess your skills and interests realistically. Ask yourself each semester if you like the courses you are taking and if you are comfortable with your career goals.
• If you are not sure about the health professions because you’ve never worked with patients (or animals and their owners), now is the time to find out. Volunteer in a health care setting. You can start by participating in the Health Careers Exploration Program (HCEP). Sign up with the Career Center.
• If you like science but just aren’t sure yet about medicine, continue taking core science courses so you will have an opportunity to apply later if you choose. Explore other careers, talk to professionals in other areas of health. Start to volunteer or shadow. Attend seminars provided by the Office of Health Professions Advising. Watch the calendar for announcements.
• Modern medicine is accomplished by a team of professionals that includes nurses, physician assistants, nurse coordinators, clinical social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurse midwives, optometrists, nutritionists, clinical pharmacists, etc. Check out these fields. You may find them well-suited to your personal and professional goals.
• If you have strong interests in non-science areas, explore them.
• If you aren’t happy with your science courses or doing poorly in them, then think about scheduling a semester or a year with no science courses. Are you happier? There is no rush or set timetable for applying to medical school or other health professions programs. Take your time and be sure of what you want.
• Consider working for a year or two after graduation before making a decision about medical school or other programs.
• Visit the Career Center for career counseling; consider taking a career inventory with one of the CAPS staff.
• Don’t be afraid to change your mind.