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Pre-Health

PRE-HEALTH PROFESSIONS CANDIDACY FOR UNDERGRADUATES

The Pre-Health Professions Advisory Committee (PHPAC) is available to assist students in preparing for admission to a graduate health profession program.  This includes medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy, veterinary, optometry, physical therapy, and other health-related fields.  Students considering a career in one of these fields should contact a member of the PHPAC as soon as possible upon admission to Manhattanville, to plan their schedules.  Students are strongly advised to take courses in preparation for admission to the particular graduate health profession program in the first semester of their study at Manhattanville. 

Standardized examinations are part of the admission process to many programs.  As an example, according to the 1999 edition of American Medical Colleges, which administers the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test):

The MCAT assesses mastery of basic concepts in biology, chemistry (general and organic), and physics; facility with scientific problem solving and critical thinking; and writing skills.  The skills and concepts tested by the MCAT are those identified by physicians and medical educators as prerequisite for the practice of medicine.  Medical school faculty hope that testing for these skills on the MCAT will encourage undergraduates with broad educational backgrounds to consider careers in the health professions and will stimulate premedical students to investigate a wide variety of course offerings outside the natural sciences.

The MCAT, DAT, or other entrance exam is usually taken at the end of the student's Junior year, with application to the graduate health professions program made in the fall of the Senior year (for admission in the fall immediately after graduation).  A student can major in any subject; Manhattanville does not offer a “Pre-Health” or “Pre-Med” major.  However, all pre-health courses must be completed in a timely manner so that the student is prepared to take the appropriate entrance exam by the end of his/her Junior year.  If a student is interested in the pre-health program and chooses to major in Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry, he/she must also complete a minor in another subject and any of the required pre-health courses not covered in the major or minor.  Students who wish to major in subjects other than Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry, may declare one of two health-related minors.  The Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Studies minor is for students interested in medical, dental, or veterinary school.  The Health Sciences minor is for students interested in other health-related programs. 

Pre-Health courses/minors

Pre-Medical/Pre-Dental Studies 

The courses listed above provide a minimal program of preparation for the entrance exams and for admission to the graduate programs.  Additional courses directly related to the chosen profession may also be needed for admission.  It is highly recommended that two or more of the courses listed above be taken in the first semester at Manhattanville.  The sequence in which these courses are taken should be discussed with a member of the PHPAC as early as possible in the academic career to ensure the best possible advice.

Admission to graduate programs in the health professions is highly selective.  To compete successfully for admission, students must maintain a minimum 3.25 cumulative G.P.A. and a 3.25 G.P.A. in the courses listed above while at Manhattanville.  Students should be aware that some professional schools require a G.P.A. higher than 3.25. 

Besides advising and consultation, the PHPAC provides an Official Committee Recommendation Letter (PHPAC Letter) upon a student’s request.  To request a PHPAC Letter, the student:

• should have successfully completed six semesters of college, at least two of which were at Manhattanville;
• should have a 3.25 G.P.A. as described above;
• must have completed at least one science course, preferably two or more, at Manhattanville College.  It is recommended that all core courses be completed at Manhattanville;
• must get approval from the PHPAC for core courses taken elsewhere;
• in the post-baccalaureate program, must complete at least half of the core courses at Manhattanville College; and
• must submit a complete PHPAC Letter Request Form and supply all of the requested information, including the appropriate standardized test results, by the 15th of June that precedes application deadlines.

Any student who is unable to meet these requirements should contact a member of the PHPAC as soon as possible to discuss his/her options.  Note that without the standardized test result, PHPAC may not have enough information to evaluate the student.  Therefore, for students taking the MCAT (or appropriate counterpart) in the late summer, PHPAC may not be able to begin deliberation until Mid-October, when the test result(s) becomes available.  This may result in the delay of the PHPAC letter.

Students should pick up the necessary forms from a PHPAC member or the Academic Advising Office before the end of the sixth semester.  Students who request a PHPAC Letter will be evaluated by the Committee and receive one of the following ratings:

1. Highly Recommended
2. Recommended
3. Recommended with Reservation
4. Not Recommended

The PHPAC will notify students who fall into categories 3 or 4 before any letters are sent to the professional schools.  This will allow the students to reevaluate their applications.

PHPAC members:  Annemarie Bettica (Biology), Darlene Gandolfi (Chemistry, Chair), Nada Halloway (English), Amy Learmonth (Psychology), Edward Schwartz (Mathematics), and Rodney Yoder (Physics)

OTHER SPECIAL PROGRAMS

• Dental Medicine
• Physical Therapy
• Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Health Program
• Speech-Language Pathology

 
email questions or comments to prehealth@mville.edu