The CCSU Pre-health Advisory Committee

Introduction

The Pre-health Professions Program at CCSU is an advising and support system for undergraduates and post-baccalaureate students preparing for careers in the health sciences. Students interested in health careers such as allopathic or osteopathic medicine, dentistry, podiatry, optometry, naturopathy or veterinary medicine, will benefit from reading the information at this site but should also identify themselves to the Program coordinator, Dr. Peter Osei. The Pre-health Professions Advisory Committee (Pre-PAC), chaired by Dr. Neil Glagovich, exists to advocate for students seeking entrance to professional schools. Premed, pre-med, prevet, pre-vet

The Health Professions Program Coordinator

The Program coordinator is a faculty member who serves as a secondary advisor concerning pre-professional school curriculum for both undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students. Currently, Dr. Peter Osei in the Department of Biology is the coordinator. You need to meet with Dr. Osei or another member of the Pre-health Committee at least once every semester beginning in your freshman year to discuss your professional goals, academic progress and suggested courses for the upcoming semester. Please see Dr. Osei or another member of the Pre-health Committee before you meet with your regular academic advisor. You can contact Dr. Osei by e-mail (oseip@ccsu.edu) or phone at (860) 832-2657; other Committee members can be contacted at the links below.

The Pre-health Professions Advisory Committee

• Dr. Neil Glagovich (Chemistry and Biochemistry, Committee Chair)
• Dr. Peter Osei (Biology, Program coordinator)
• Dr. Michael Davis (Biomolecular Sciences, Post-Baccalaureate Program Advisor)
• Dr. Mark Jackson (Biology)
• Dr. Kathy Martin (Biomolecular Sciences)
• Dr. Ruth Rollin (Biology)
• Dr. Nimmi Sharma

Committee Administrative Link (BB Vista Webpage)

Committee Announcements (Updated April 10, 2007)

• Admissions Program at UConn Health Center

  This message is from Jan Figueroa at the UConn Health Center:

  "On April 14th, our department is sponsoring the Bridge to the Future Science Mentoring Program Conference. I would like to know if you could assist me in getting the word out about the conference by distributing the attached flyer to your students. I'm exhausting every possible avenue to reach the students.
  The workshops will include the following:

  • Admissions Workshop:
    • Presentations from the Research, Graduate and Public Health Departments
    • Medical School Requirements
    • Dental School Requirements
    • Financial Aid
    • Medical and Dental School Breakout Sessions:
      • How to write a personal statement
      • Application Process
      • Mock Interviews
      • Mock Admissions
  • Student Panel Workshop: 'Road to Success' Personal Student Anecdotes
  Students are asked to respond to me by April 5th whether they will or will not be attending. Of course, they can also attend even if they do not decide to participate, as late as the morning of the conference."
  Posted April 10, 2007

• Are You Planning to Apply to Medical, Dental, or Veterinary School? Or a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner Program?

  The Pre-Health Committee interviews candidates in April, to provide you with a university letter of reference and to assist you in the application process. We will need, in electronic form (MS Word or WordPerfect or PDF ONLY):

  • Resume
  • Personal Statement
  • Three letters of reference from professors (not members of this committee), employers, or volunteer supervisors who know you well

  These documents will be submitted to Dr. Watson, by email at watsonc@ccsu.edu. Please sign up for interviews on the form outside Room 344. Interviews will be held April 23, 24 and 25, with a variety of times available throughout those days. Additional times may be available on May 7 and 8. Please email your time preference to Dr. Watson. Interviews will take approximately 30 minutes.
  Posted April 10, 2007

• New Biochemistry Program at CCSU

  An undergraduate degree program in Biochemistry was recently accredited and licensed here at CCSU. It is an Interdisciplinary Program offered by the Departments of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, and includes courses and other features that make it an attractive and appropriate option for students preparing for careers in health professions. Further information is available from the online program description or the Chairs of Chemistry (Tom Burkholder, burkholder@ccsu.edu, 832-2683) or Biomolecular Sciences (Jim Mulrooney, mulrooneyj@ccsu.edu, 832-2660).
  Posted July 8, 2005

Getting Yourself Ready for Postgraduate Health Profession Education

The Pre-health Professions Advisory Committee recommends that you attend to each of the following, in roughly the order listed:

• What profession are you interested in? Begin to explore and consider your options with links to various organizations connected with the health field. This page also addresses the question, "But can I really get into medical school?"
• What courses should you take while here at CCSU? If you are currently an undergrad student, you can view a recommended list of courses and a sample four-year schedule.
• You may already have a bachelor's degree in a field other than chemistry or biology, and want an abbreviated non-degree program that will prepare you for admission to professional school. Look at the Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program in Pre-health Studies.
• Extracurricular activities can be very useful, letting you learn directly about different health-related options and demonstrating to professional schools that you are serious about your career choice.
• Depending on the career path you choose, you may have to take a standardized entrance exam. Some information is provided on these common exams.
• Application and admission to many professional schools includes an interview, and the Pre-health Professions Advisory Committee provides a preliminary interview to prepare students for this stage. There is information on scheduling, and preparing for, an interview with the Pre-health Professions Advisory Committee.

Kelly Shanley has recently navigated this path, and has advice for those applying to vet school.

Website Administrator Michael Davis