This office advises all CU Boulder students interested in a variety of careers in the health professions, regardless of major. Students receive individual appointments, workshops, mentorship, connections to faculty, e-mails, access to events and connections in student groups.
You are able to declare "pre-health" as an interest that is in addition to your major. For example, you can be an English major with a pre-med interest. It is important choose a major that you enjoy! Most professional schools do not have major requirements, but they do look at your GPA.
As long as medical school admissions requirements are met, you can choose any major. Working with your pre-health advisors will ensure you complete admissions requirements for any interest, no matter your major. Additionaly, many professional schools are interested in candidates with diverse interests and backgrounds.
Pre-health advisors help you craft a competitive application to professional schools. They help you stay on-track with relevant class requirements, evaluate your skills and experiences, and make tailored recommendations related to your career path. Academic advisors help students stay on-track to graduate, connect to your major department, and incorporate academic experiences and goals, like studying abroad, into your degree plan.
Admission trends into professional schools often change, and our pre-health advisors stay current on factors influencing your competitiveness. In the past, selections have been based on: GPA. Required entrance exam scores. Personal history and background. Knowledge of and involvement in the profession. Clinical experience. Motivation and dedication to field. Passion outside of the field in service to others. Interests and hobbies. Service. Extracurricular activities. Leadership, intellectual curiousity, and problem-solving skills. Opportunities taken to grow and challenge oneself. Letters of recommendation. A personal interview.
CU Boulder has a supportive network of local organizations and we work with students to connect them early in their academic careers. OPHA's pre-health advisors can help you learn which to explore and which often have more options for students looking to shadow or show their service to others through volunteering. They can also provide tips on how to use these experiences in your application to professional schools when you are ready to take that step.
Getting involved in research is a great way to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity, problem-solving skills, and show your interest in applying your knowledge from the classroom in a real-world experience. CU Boulder's faculty pages are typically helpful areas to start, as they often provide information about their labs and any openings available. OPHA's pre-health advisors can help you learn how to best approach faculty and what to expect.
Often, your application timing can make or break your chances of being offered an interview. Many schools function under a rolling admissions policy, which means they move quickly on fully complete applications. These schools operate under a set number of interview slots or seats to fill. At the beginning of the application process, they can consider more students, while those applying at the end are considered for the few remaining slots. The pre-health advisors can help you determine when to apply and how to do so that increases your likelihood of receiving an interview. Additionally, CU Boulder's
Volunteer Resource Center can also help you find meaningful volunteer positions.
