Below is a general timetable for success. Further details are in the Juniata College Health Professions Moodle Page (for current students only) and are covered in annual all-class meetings, announcements, and through our weekly newsletter.
We encourage all students to fully express themselves and take advantage of the benefits of a Liberal Arts education and the experiential learning opportunities provided by Juniata. Health Professions graduate programs look for students with a wide range of diverse experiences, a demonstration of a dedication to the service of others, and the ability to be reflective in their motivations towards healthcare. Student are encouraged to work with their Health Professions Advisor(s) to help them craft their story throughout their time at Juniata and to find activities and involvements that are both meaningful and impactful.
First Year
- Explore academic interests: take classes your high school didn't offer
- Attend PreHealth Boot Camp offered by the Health Professions Office
- Think about the things you want to explore and accomplish in college. Don't sacrifice those things to your interest in "being a pre-health" student
- Strive to do well academically: join study groups, foster relationships with faculty through office hours, utilize campus resources (i.e. Learning Center, Career Center, etc.)
- Improve your time management and study skills
- Develop co-curricular interests. Join student clubs where you feel supported.
- Join the Health Professions Organization (HPO) and attend meetings and events
- Attend events related to your interests or take you out of your comfort zone
- Meet with a Health Professions Advisor to introduce yourself and discuss you academic and career interests
- Start gaining a realistic understanding of the healthcare world and its diversity
- Read some medically related books
- Surf through Explore Health Careers website
- Stay current on health care topics in the new
- Draft your resume and ask Career Services for their review. Your resume should include academic, employment, and activities information
- Explore and apply for summer volunteering/research/work opportunities
Summer after First Year
- Gain concrete understanding of your career interests: volunteer in a health care facility, shadow health professionals in your potential career area(s), pursue research in a hospital or academic medical setting
- Continue to update your resume to include recent experiences
Second Year
- Continue to explore academic interests
- Carefully review your career plans in consultation with your health professions advisor and make adjustments or consider alternatives if necessary
- Continue involvement within the campus community and outside volunteer opportunities
- Meet with your Health Professions Advisor to talk about your summer activities and make sure you are still on track academically and with your career development
- Start researching schools and programs, noting specific program requirements or pre-requisites
- Expand volunteer experiences
- Make contacts with professors/supervisors to build relationships for future reference letters
Third and Fourth Year
- Attend the Application Workshop to prepare for the upcoming application cycle
- Take HP 270: Health Careers Seminar the Fall semester before you plan to apply to professional school
- Assess your GPA and reality of attaining your goals
- Familiarize yourself with the application process for your field
- Continue with clinical and volunteer experiences
- Ensure pre-requisite courses are planned or met
- If you are planning a gap year, explore options for your Gap Year experience
Year of Application
(Most applications open 1 year prior to matriculation)
- Meet with your Health Professions Advisor to discuss application plans and timeline
- Attend Application Boot Camp in January
- Complete the Health Professions Application for Committee Interview/Letter
- Available after Application Boot Camp
- Participate in Committee Interview process to receive feedback on your candidacy
- Seriously investigate schools to which you may want to apply and be certain that you
will have completed (or will be close to completing) all prerequisite courses prior
to application
- Attend Open Houses and Virtual Information Sessions for professional schools
- Network with Admissions Representatives at professional schools to learn about programs
- Assess your financial status and learn about financial aid options for professional
school
- Pay off any credit card debts.
- Save money for applications and interviewing.
- Create a study plan for your standardized exam. Be realistic in planning.
- Continue Community Service and Clinical activites throughout the year
After Professional School Application
- Complete Secondary Applications in a timely manner
- general recommendation is 3-4 weeks after receipt
- Prepare for interviews if you applied to professional school over the past summer.
- Mock Interviews are available through the Health Professions Office and Career Services
- Provide the Health Professions Office with contact information for after graduation
- Keep our office updated on your acceptance status
Additional Notes
- Whenever there is an option, take prerequisite courses for a grade, not P/NP.
- Most schools require a grade of C or better in prerequisite courses. If you do not meet this requirement, plan to retake the course as soon as you can
- If you plan to study abroad, take all prerequisite courses at Juniata. Courses taken abroad cannot fulfill prerequisite requirement for US professional schools
- Your performance in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses will be calculated on your application as your "Science GPA or BCPM GPA"