Prospective & Incoming Students

As a CU Boulder Student...

The Office of Pre-Health Advising can help you on your path to a healthcare career with services including:

Individual pre-health advising for all students, regardless of major
Assistance exploring and identifying pre-health career options
Engagement in a community of pre-health peers
Group advising, workshops, and educational programs
Course selection for professional school
Comprehensive, tailored assistance with your future application to professional school

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Incoming and Prospective Fall 2023 Class Support and Outreach

I'm starting at CU in Fall 2023. How can I get support from OPHA?

We're excited to meet with you and learn more about your interest in the healthcare fields! We'll be at a number of Admissions events throughout the Spring semester and as it nears the start of the Fall 2023 semester, OPHA will also be offering webinars for students to become better acquainted with our office and share key information that pre-health students should know when getting started at CU Boulder. Once it gets closer to Summer, we'll advertise our webinars on this website.

Can I drop in to chat with someone?

OPHA would love to chat with you! We're not always able to accomodate drop ins, but if you're interested in talking to an OPHA representative, please email prehealth@colorado.edu.

Where else can I find you?

OPHA often attends various admissions events designed for prospective students. Thenext upcoming events we will be at are:

Admitted Buff Days:
- Friday, February 10th
- Monday, February 20th
- Friday, February 24th
- Friday, March 3rd
- Friday, March 10th
- Monday, March 20th
- Monday, April 3rd
- Friday, April 7th
- Monday, April 17th
- Saturday, April 22nd
- Thursday, April 27th
In-State Student Celebrarion - Saturday, April 22nd

Throughout the spring semester, there are many prospective student sessions and OPHA would love to see you at one of them!

Before CU Boulder

If you're in high school, considering a career in healthcare, there are things you can do right now to help you prepare.

Volunteer in a healthcare setting

Gain experience in healthcare settings to learn moe about your interest in the field and whether it is the right fit for you.

Shadow a healthcare professional

What better way to learn more about healthcare than to see it in action! Shadow your local physician, pharmacist, or dentist to see first-hand what it is like to practice in that profession.

Take challenging coursework

Healthcare fields require many courses, especially in science. College courses are advanced and sometimes, taking challenging coursework in high school can set you up for success in college as they provide you with ample space to practice your time management, note-taking, and study skills.

Become a leader in your community

Begin to build your identity as a leader and engage in ways that can help and/or serve others, especially those who are in need.

FAQs

I am not a current CU Boulder student. Can I still be advised by OPHA?

This office provides pre-health advising services for current CU Boulder students and recent alumni interested in a variety of careers in the health professions, regardless of major. If you are a prospective or admitted first-year student, we are excited to start working with you once you confirm and matriculate to CU Boulder. OPHA participates in a number of Admissions programs and events and hope to see you at some of those! One of our most popular is Admitted Stduents Day held annually in April. You are also welcome to email prehealth@colorado.edu to ask specific questions or schedule a time to meet outside of an Admissions session or program.

Is there a preferred major for being a pre-health student?

Health professional schools seek students with diverse interests and backgrounds. There is no one "right major" out there for a pre-health student. We encourage you to think about your interests and apply them to your choice in major. You can work with OPHA no matter your major, even if you are undecided. Some majors at CU Boulder require courses that health professional programs also require. This leads some students to choose one of these majors. However, depending on time and financial constraints, you can major in any area of interest! One way to diversify your coursework and pursue academic interests outside your major is to consider minors and certificates.

What does it mean to declare pre-health?

At CU Boulder, when you declare pre-health, you're stating that you are interested in purusing a career in healthcare and want to work with OPHA. Think of it as indicating your pre-health interest that accompanies your major. For example, you might be an IPHY major with a pre-health interest. Once you complete the orientation steps with our office, you can then get a pre-health desgination added to your student account, which is visible by other student success professionals, such as your academic advisor.

What's the difference between pre-health advising and academic advising?

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.

How does CU Boulder and OPHA support pre-health students?

Students may engage with OPHA as a first year student. We help you decide which future career may be best for you and how to meet the academic and other requirements for medical and other health professional schools. You can engage in one on one advising with a pre-health advisor whenever you'd like over your semester. We offer also offer group advising, "What I Should Know" sessions, workshops and more. Admission trends into professional schools often change, and our pre-health advisors stay current on factors influencing your competitiveness. As you begin to get closer to your application, you can engage in interview workshops, practice interviews, writing workshops, and even have your personal statement and application itself reviewed. OHPA also hosts representatives from different health professions programs to visit with students about the admissions process and their schools.

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