Introduction

In many health-related careers, advisement is within the province of a specific academic department. Premedical, predental and preveterinary training, however, require the interaction of a number of departments. Advisement of students in these programs at St. Lawrence is handled by the Health Careers Committee, which includes faculty in the humanities and social sciences as well as the natural sciences. This reflects St. Lawrence's belief that a liberal arts education is the most effective preparation for any career. Since it is common for pre-health career enthusiasts to major in Biology (although that is not a requirement as long as you fulfill the minimum requirements for your program -see below), it is STRONGLY ADVISED that you begin your science courses in your first year. For most students this means taking General Biology and General Chemistry. This will provide a much greater degree of flexibility in the event that you decide to study abroad or if you get closed out of some of your courses. Basically, if you are academically fit for medical school, you should be able to handle General Biology and General Chemistry as a first-year student. Do NOT take three science courses your first year.

Get a health career adviser at the beginning of your first year. Contact Dr. T. Budd or Dr. Hornung of the biology department to arrange for an adviser from biology or the health careers committee.

When you need them, AMCAS application packets for medical school, MCAT registration packets, forms to request Dental School applications (through AADSAS) and DAT registration are available in the Biology department office. Information on other health careers is posted on the bulletin board outside the department office.

What percentage of St. Lawrence students get into health professional schools?

This is a common question but it has a complex answer. We actually don't calculate this datum because giving a precise figure is often interpreted by students and parents as an implied guarantee. We can't get you into a health profession school, but we can advise you about how you can be successful in this endeavor. Even though one fourth to one fifth of each incoming class are health career enthusiasts, by the time of application and MCATs at the end of the junior year, this number is substantially smaller. About 10 -20 of our students apply to a professional school each year. Most of these are accepted, mainly because we are honest about advising students of their prospects for being accepted. Therefore, those who do apply are usually the best of our students. One unknown factor is the fact that many students apply to health schools after leaving St. Lawrence. These alumni are often difficult to track thus we don't have reliable figures to determine an accurate percentage. The long and short of it is that most of our students who apply to these schools get in at some point.

Pre-med at St. Lawrence

St. Lawrence offers a strong basic premedical curriculum which has enabled its graduates to gain admission to medical schools throughout the United States and Canada. Acceptance into a high-quality professional school depends upon extraordinary academic achievement, a high score on the Medical School Admissions Test (MCAT), outstanding faculty recommendations, and a successful personal interview. Medical schools also weigh he applicant's participation in extracurricular activities. It must be remembered that there are about two applicants for each opening in medical schools today. Therefore, the schools can afford to be highly selective. Admissions requirements for medical schools in the United States and Canada are summarized in Medical School Admissions Requirements published by the American Association of Medical Colleges. Medical schools at which St. Lawrence students have been accepted include Georgetown University, University of Vermont, University of Rochester, SUNY Medical Schools at Buffalo, Syracuse, Stony Brook and New York City, Cornell University, University of Cincinnati, University of Pennsylvania, Albany Medical School, New York University, Vanderbilt University, University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University.

Pre-dent at St. Lawrence

Each year new areas of dental service are created, and each year many St. Lawrence graduates apply for admission to dental schools. Criteria for acceptance are similar to those for medical school: outstanding scholastic achievement, strong recommendations, and successful interviews, as well as noteworthy performance on the Dental Admissions Test. The American Dental Education Association publishes an annual bulletin on admissions, titled Admissions Requirements of U.S. and Canadian Dental Schools. Predental students have entered Tufts University, Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Connecticut, Northwestern University, SUNY at Buffalo, New Jersey Dental School, Farleigh-Dickinson University and Boston University.

Pre-vet at St. Lawrence

Acceptance into a veterinary school is contingent on the same criteria listed above under pre-medical requirements except that the MCAT is not required. Most veterinary schools require biochemistry, and microbiology in addition to the requirements listed below for medical and dental schools. Students need to be aware that admission to veterinary school is significantly more competitive because there are few veterinary colleges and many applicants. More specific information is summarized in Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements in the US and Canada published by Betz Publishing Company, Bethesda, MD.

Related Health Career Possibilities

There are many attractive alternatives to medicine and dentistry within the health careers field. Hospital administration, physical therapy, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, podiatry, optometry, medical social work and medical technology are a few of the fields open to skilled, dedicated men and women. More and more undergraduates are choosing these rewarding and satisfying professions. There is much more information on health careers that can be accessed from the department Health Careers Page.

Curriculum

Preparation for the study of medicine and related health fields requires careful course selection beginning with the freshman year. Most professional schools require substantial study in these areas: biology, general and organic chemistry, physics, mathematics, and English.

The courses required by most medical and dental schools are:

• General Biology (Biology 101, 102)
• General Chemistry (Chemistry 103-104 or 105)
• Organic Chemistry (Chemistry 221-222)
• College Physics (Physics 103, 104, or 151, 152)
• Mathematics (Statistics and Calculus)
• English (two 200-level courses, one reading and one writing intensive)

In addition, a number of schools require or strongly recommend one or more of the following:

• Genetics (Biology 245 or 246)
• Developmental Biology (Biology 312)
• General Psychology (Psychology 100)

Pre-health students should also use their time at St. Lawrence to gain as much in-depth experience as possible in the humanities and social sciences. For further advice, consult the department of Biology or Chemistry or any member of the Health Careers Committee.

Pre-Med Internship

Medical internships with the Canton-Potsdam Hospital or Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg are available providing there is sufficient individual student motivation. Students must be recommended by the coordinating faculty advisor (Dr. Budd Bewkes 129, Phone 5640). After meeting with the advisor, an application and appointment with the hospital's Director of Volunteer Services will be arranged. During this interview, the details and schedule of the internship will be determined. In brief the:

1. Volunteer must be recommended by faculty coordinator.

2. Volunteer must be scheduled to work one shift per week unless otherwise planned with the Nursing Office and Pre-med Committee during school attendance for classes.

3. Dress Code is to dress neatly (i.e. no jeans) and wear the white short lab coat provided by Hospital.

4. Meals will be free in the cafeteria only for the shift you work.

5. Duties are as determined during interview.

In addition, applicants must provide certain health data as prescribed by state law. This information will be provided through coordination with the University Health Center.

An evaluation will be done by hospital staff just prior to the expected time of terminating services. Evaluation will be reviewed with the student and a copy made for the student if they wish to have a copy.

Early Assurance Programs With Professional Schools

There are early assurance acceptance programs at the SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, and the SUNY at Buffalo Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine. These programs are designed to give acceptance to academically gifted students so that they may explorer academic opportunities that might otherwise coincide and conflict with the timing of the regular schedule of application. EAP applications are submitted at the end of the sophomore year and are coordinated through the health careers committee (HCC). The requirements for this application are generally similar.

Acceptance is not assured by simply completing the above steps. The quality of performance in each category will determine how well the applicant compares to all other EAP applicants from across the nation. There are also other requirements needed by all health career students. Students must identify their interest in the EAP application early on in their academic career at St. Lawrence. This is why it is important to get a health career adviser as early as possible.

A promising student can apply for acceptance to the SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine after their sophomore year upon recommendation by a faculty member. The student then interviews with both the Biology department's Health Careers Committee and with the Admissions Committee of the SUNY Buffalo School of Dental Medicine. If accepted, they are guaranteed matriculation in the school after their senior year at St. Lawrence. This allows the student to become more liberally educated (perhaps go abroad) and gives them four years rather than the normal three to complete requirements prior to taking the Dental Admissions Test.

The academic prerequisite for application to SUNY Health Sciences Center at Syracuse is the completion of two of the science courses generally demanded by medical schools, with highly satisfactory performance documented not only through course grades, but also through instructor evaluations. Successful applicants will be expected to carry a normal overall course load during the ensuing two years, completing the additional premedical requirements as a part of that study program. It is understood that acceptance carries a commitment to vigorously pursue intellectual depth in a field(s) of concentrated study.

It is expected that relatively few students will be interested in such a program, and will apply only after significant reflection and counseling. Applicants will be required to support an application with: 1) a statement of the dvantages seen for their personal participation in such a program; and 2) an outline of the educational goals and objectives for the remaining two college years, as well as a proposal for achieving them through specific academic and extracurricular activities.

The application and admission procedure will include: 1) announcement of the program to all premedical students in participating colleges at the beginning of the freshman and sophomore undergraduate years; 2) informal visits to participating medical schools in which students are interested will be arranged for prospective applicants by premedical advisors after consultation and discussion; 3) preliminary expression of intent to apply, followed by screening at the undergraduate level, to be completed by April 1st of the sophomore year; 4) information communication between colleges and medical schools about potential applicants; 5) formal application to be submitted to medical school by June 1st; 6) complete credentials and supporting documents to reach medical schools by July 1st; 7) medical school action on applications will be taken by August 1; 8) for successful applicants, the commitment of a place in the medical school two years later will carry a reciprocal commitment by the student to enroll at that school unless there were compelling reasons to change.

Continuation in the program will require: 1) satisfactory general academic progress that is consistent with past performance; and 2) evidence of progress toward achievement of individually specified goals.

A significant component of the program is the close coordination that will be required between and among the medical school, the student, and St. Lawrence University. It will include: 1) an informed undergraduate advisor who will meet at least once each academic term to discuss with individual students their progress, problems, attitudes, etc; 2) an informed medical school faculty member who will meet with each student at least once a year, and through whom possible elective work at the medical school might be arranged; 3) regular communication between undergraduate and medical school advisors of individual students; 4) periodic meetings, at least annually, of college and medical school representatives involved in program implementation to discuss progress, problems, necessary program modifications, and other important questions that affect the medical school/liberal arts college interface.

BS/MD-DDS combined-degree programs

St. Lawrence has a special program where students who are admitted to Upstate Medical University or the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine can bypass the undergraduate senior year (but must complete all pre-health requirements) and then be awarded the Bachelors degree upon graduation from the medical school. This option must be considered only with careful planning and consultation with a health career adviser.

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