College Catalog
Pre-Professional Programs

Students may choose to be considered pre-professional students, that is, they may pursue a course of study that fulfills the requirements of a professional school such as medical, dental, veterinary, or pharmacy, without actually seeking a degree from our college. Students may at any time declare their intent to complete a major program, in which case they are subject to the requirements of that program. Practically all pre-professional students who finish a degree program do so in biology, chemistry, or natural science.

It is wise for these students to allow for the possibility of finishing a degree after four years, since admission to a professional school is not assured and the competition is keen, especially for medical school.

Advisors can assist students in selecting courses to fulfill the professional school requirements and will also help students select a major, if that is their intent, or to choose an alternative objective if they are not admitted to the school of their choice. For more information on all science-based pre-professional programs, the chair of the Division of Natural Sciences should be consulted.

Pre-Dental: The admission requirements for dental schools are somewhat variable, so the student's program should be developed in consultation with a pre-dental advisor. Although most dental schools specify three years of undergraduate work as a minimum requirement, they generally give preference to students with four years of preparation, so it is advisable to pursue a disciplinary major program such as biology, chemistry, or natural science.

Admission requirements common to dental schools, specify at least three years of college work, including two semesters each of biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and recommended electives in science and non-science areas.

Adequate performance on the national Dental Aptitude Test, usually taken after the second or third year of undergraduate study, is also a requirement.

Pre-Dental Advisor: Dr. Deborah Anderson, Dr. Cynthia Ochsner

Pre-Medical: There are well over 100 medical schools in the United States and their admissions requirements vary slightly. Most will not consider applicants unless they are an undergraduate degree candidate, so it is advisable to participate in a disciplinary major program such as biology, chemistry, or natural science.

Admission requirements common to medical schools are at least three years of undergraduate study -- including two semesters each of biology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics with recommended electives in quantitative analysis, mathematics, and non-science areas. Currently, a B-plus average seems necessary for admission to a medical school.

Adequate performance in the national Medical Aptitude Test, usually taken during the third year of undergraduate study, is also a requirement.

Other health related careers can be entered with some undergraduate preparation at our college. These include such fields as optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, pharmacy, nursing, and many others. It is not possible to generalize concerning the requirements of all the professional schools involved but they require an emphasis in the basic sciences as well as liberal arts electives. The Division of Natural Sciences maintains an information center through which students can receive assistance and advice on career opportunities in the health field as well as other fields which depend on a science emphasis. The chairman of the division should be consulted.

Pre-Medical Advisor: Dr. Deborah Anderson, Dr. Cynthia Ochsner

Pre-Veterinary: With the opening of the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine there is now an opportunity for Wisconsin students to complete all the requirements for admission at our College. The program is basically the same as the Pre-Med explained above. Current information on other schools of Veterinary Medicine and application procedures is available through advisors in the Natural Sciences.

Pre-Veterinary Advisor: Dr. Deborah Anderson, Dr. Cynthia Ochsner

Pre-Law: Law schools require a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university but no specific fields of major study or particular courses are prescribed. The law relates to many aspects of human activity and law schools look for diversity in undergraduate courses that may present a highly desirable pre-law background. Students should obviously seek to develop a high degree of competence in reading and writing the English language, and to develop the skills of critical analysis and logical reasoning. Thus, courses in literature, composition, communication, mathematics, and logic offer obvious and useful preparation. In addition, applicants to law school should have a sound grounding in the economic, social and political institutions of the United States.

Given such a broad undergraduate background, students interested in law should feel free to choose a major program consistent with their interests, or to devise a personal major. Although the broad background mentioned above should be pursued, it is also highly advisable that a student obtain a mastery of some definite field, whatever that might be.

Students applying for law school should take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) no later than eight months before graduation. Applications can be obtained from Career Services.

Pre-Law Advisor: Sarah Griffiths

College Catalog Home Page · Registrar