We're proud of the health pre-professional students at Earlham. These young women and men are looking toward careers in various aspects of the health sciences: in professions that range from audiology, to medicine, to dentistry, and to specialized areas of veterinary science; in fact more than 175 different career paths!

These pre-professional students major in any academic discipline, from art to psychology, with almost every academic field represented. Some students will major in a science, such as physics, geology, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, or math, but the choice is really the student's choice as there is no "correct" major for these career paths. Earlham students interested in health careers study on campus in Richmond and at our off-campus study locations around the globe, including Kenya, Galapagos, Southwestern U.S, Ecuador, Bahamas, London, Oak Ridge National Lab, The University of Aberdeen, and numerous other sites.

On the Earlham campus students learn in a liberal arts environment where they are exposed to the intellectual contents and methodologies of the social and physical sciences, languages, religion and philosophy, fine arts, humanities, and sports and physical fitness. Academics at Earlham are rigorous and challenging, and students have learned that much can be accomplished by cooperative learning within this community of scholars, where students and faculty learn together.

These broadly trained individuals with cooperative learning skills are the kinds of persons that the professional schools are looking for in their successful applicants. The health career path is a challenging one, and Earlham, through its counseling and supportive services, works with students in meeting their career goals. We are glad that you are interested in this path of study. Let us help you reach that goal.

The following four year plan incorporates the minimum admission requirements of all American medical, dental and veterinary schools. It is also a suitable guide to coursework for most other health sciences pre-professional programs. This may be helpful as you plan your four year program of study at Earlham in the major of your choice. THERE IS NO CORRECT MAJOR FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN HEALTH CAREERS!

There is a good deal of flexibility here, but one should strive to complete the biology, chemistry, physics, and math minimum requirements prior to the MCAT, DAT, or GRE exams in the spring of the Junior year. Please discuss this program of study with your advisor and DO talk with Michael Deibel, Chief Health Careers Advisor or William Harvey, Advisor-Consultant as EARLY AS POSSIBLE in your academic career. Early planning promotes flexibility and makes exciting academic programs possible!

Students applying to medical, dental, or veterinary schools are required to have completed two full years of chemistry with labs, one full year of physics with labs, calculus, and one year plus of biology. Questions concerning this schedule should be directed to Michael Deibel, William Harvey, Peter Blair, or Jeff Justus, who constitute the Health Careers Advisory Committee. First year students who are looking toward health careers should contact Michael Deibel or William Harvey as soon as possible.

The following timetable is for students planning on matriculating into MEDICAL SCHOOL in the Fall of 2010. For those going directly to medical school after graduating from Earlham, this would be those students entering the JUNIOR YEAR in the Fall of 2008. As you can see, you must start applying to medical school more than a year before you intend to start.

Fall Semester, 2008:

Obtain a packet of materials from the Health Professions and Chemistry Secretary, Terry Shipley, in the Chemistry Department Office, or download and copy the committee application in your choice of .pdf format (requires Acrobat) or Word Document format. Please return this typed and completed application to Terry Shipley, Health Advisory Secretary in Stanley Hall 243. If you use this electronic download, please e-mail deibemi@earlham.edu or billh@earlham.edu so that we can know that your application is in progress.

Fall, 2008 or Spring 2009:

Register for spring MCAT, OAT, DAT, or GRE. Information, including helpful hints on preparation for the MCAT may be found at the MCAT website. If you will be taking the August MCAT, register for it before you leave school for the summer, or at least pick up the form. Below is a link for the dates for the MCAT:

MCAT DATES

The OAT, DAT and GRE are offered at flexible times (see specific sites above for details).

Spring semester, 2009: (January - April):

Schedule interview appointment with Michael Deibel or William Harvey.
Request three faculty letters of recommendation to be sent to the Health Professions secretary by April 15. Emphasize the importance of this date to your referees.
Enroll in MCAT or other appropriate test prep program or begin self-study program.

March, 2009

Mandatory meeting for applicants to all health schools in the coming summer.

Late Spring or early Summer, 2009:

Take the MCAT or appropriate tests.

April 15, 2009:

Deadline for submitting one-page personal statement, faculty letters and completed HCAC committee application materials to Terry Shipley, Health Professions Secretary. Also submit your summer address, telephone number, and, yes, your social security number. (Is nothing sacred?)

May 1, 2009:

Deadline for submitting list of health schools to Terry Shipley (may be supplemented as needed later).

May, 2009:

AMCAS applications may be downloaded from the AAMC. Other common application services (CAS) may be downloaded from other sources, i.e. AACOMAS from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, etc. CAS may be initiated in early June.

June (1st week) 2009:

First day AMCAS will accept applications. More than 80% of all U.S. AMCAS applications are submitted by June 30, Make sure yours is one of them!

June - August, 2009:

Complete non-AMCAS applications and secondary applications for AMCAS schools. Be aware of individual deadlines, but don't wait until just before these deadlines! Your chances are improved by completing your applications well in advance of the deadlines, and definitely before the end of August.

September, 2009:

Meeting with Michael Deibel or William Harvey of those who have applied to discuss the interview process.

From then on: Interviews and acceptances!
Good luck !!