Pre-Health Professions Tracks
So, you want to be a doctor? dentist? physical therapist? pharmacist? or other healthcare professional? Great! You can certainly become a competitive applicant at UNA and attend one of these professional schools. The Pre-Health Professions Tracks at UNA are designed to provide tools, support, resources and quality academic advising for students interested in careers in the health professions.
The Pre-Health Professions Advisor will assist undergraduates, alumni, and post-baccalaureate students by providing information about various healthcare careers and by helping students know what is required to become a competitive applicant for their health profession school.
The first thing you need to know is that you can major in any discipline and matriculate to a health professions school. However, most pre-health students at UNA choose to major in biology or chemistry. You need to choose a major that you like, that you will like spending many hours studying, and that gives you options should you decide not to attend health professions school.
All health professions schools evaluate candidates on their academic record, volunteer experiences, shadowing experiences, and scores on the appropriate standardized tests. Almost all health professions schools require that you earn your undergraduate degree before matriculating to their school. A student who earns a degree in less than four years may apply, but should be aware that understanding the human condition and developing good judgement require maturity and experience. Admissions committees may question the breadth of education, maturity, experience, and motivation of such an applicant and this may put that applicant at a disadvantage.
Each student's journey to be a competitive candidate is unique.
We have had students in medical school at:
- University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
- University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Auburn Campus, Auburn, AL
- East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine, Johnson City, TN
- Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pikeville, KY
- St. George's University of Medicine, True Blue, Grenada
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dothan, AL
- Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, MO
- West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
We have had students in dental schools at:
- University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Dentistry, Birmingham, AL
- University of Kentucky School of Dentistry, Lexington, KY
- University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, KY
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis TN
- Creighton University School of Dentistry, Omaha, NE
- Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, Davie, FL
We have had pharmacy students at:
- McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, Birmingham, AL
- Harrison College of Pharmacy, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
- Belmont University College of Pharmacy, Nashville, TN
- Union University College of Pharmacy, Jackson, TN
- Lipscomb College of Pharmacy, Nashville, TN
We have had veterinary medical students at:
- Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL
- Louisiana State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Baton Rouge, LA
- Mississippi State College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State, MS
- University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, Knoxville, TN
We have had optometry students at:
- Illinois College of Optometry, Chicago, IL
- University of Alabama Birmingham School of Optometry, Birmingham, AL
We have had physician assistant students at:
- Mississippi College, Clinton, MS
- University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
- University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL
We have occupational therapy students at:
- University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Your science and math classes will definitely prepare you for the academic rigors of a health professions school. The science courses you will take will be hard and challenging, but that is to be expected. This journey you are embarking on is a difficult one, and you will have to make some sacrifices along the way if you are serious about a career in the health professions.
Want to talk with the Pre-Health Professions Advisor? Schedule an appointment with Dr. Cottingham using his Calendy link: https://calendly.com/drcottinghamappointments.