Pre-health/Health Professions Student Resources
The Pre-Health/Health Professions advising staff is here to support you as you navigate completing your undergraduate degree and apply to healthcare professional schools.
Be sure to meet with your advisor regularly in addition to utilizing campus resources available to all UNC Bears.
Application Review
Many professional schools use holistic review strategies — by examining students capabilities in a balanced manner, including experiences, attributes and academic metrics.
As you prepare for professional school consider your qualifications in all areas.
Clinical Experience
- Shadow a medical professional
- Volunteer at a hospital, doctor's office and/or hospice care
- Become a certified nursing assistant (CNA)
- Become an emergency medical technician (EMT)
- Work as a medical scribe
- Work as a phlebotomist
International Experience
Become involved in medical mission trips or other international opportunities to combine travel and medical experience. The AAMC has issued guidelines for international experiences.
- Medical Missions: Provide medical relief in developing nations
Community Service
Display your desire to help others and give back to your community.
- Become an interpreter
- Volunteer as a sports coach
- Tutor at a local school
Research Experience
- Speak with UNC faculty about participating in their research projects
- Join the McNair Scholars Program: you must be a first generation student, income eligibile or a member of a underrepresented population on campus.
Leadership Skills
You'll need strong leadership skills and ability to work in a team no matter your profession.
Letters of Recommendation
The number of letters vary from school-to-school but we suggest submitting 3-5.
When asking for letters choose someone who knows you such as faculty, supervisors and mentors who can attest to your qualifications.
Asking for letters
Ask for letters early and be specific about what you need. Give recommender a copy of your resume and personal statement to give information about your experiences and why you've choosen this career.
If your applying to medical school use the AAMC guidelines for letter writers to help your recommender know what to include.
Grade Point Average
Professional school look at all college level courses you have completed to calculate your grade point average (GPA). This includes transfer credits and certification processes.
Most professional schools do not do grade forgiveness or replacement. Instead they average the grades for the two completed courses. Do not retake a course just to improve your GPA. Retake a course if you did not understand the information presented.
Science GPA
Your science GPA (or BCPM) is the cumulative GPA of biology, chemistry, physics and math courses to determine your science abilities.
Personal Statements
The applications for healthcare careers require a personal statement. This is an opportunity be your own advocate and share who you are beyond test scores and GPA.
Pick a focus
Think about life events that impacted you and who you became. Make connections between all aspects of your life that paved your path to medicine.
Themes should flow and unite the ideas you're sharing. Explain how this theme was shaped by your experiences and how it drives your passion for medicine instead of listing your activities in chronological order.
Avoid themes that are negative, express "I am a victim" or that you haven't considered other careers along your way to where you are now.
Writing Tips
- Start early
- Edit often
- Be confident
- Be engaging
- Share new information
- Create smooth transitions
- Highlight your strengths
- Share why you're right for the field
Interviews
Interviews allow programs to better understand who you are. They gain a sense of your motivation, experience and professionalism among other skills to ensure you're prepared to excel in their program.
UNC Resources
Choosing Schools
There are many factors to consider while choosing which schools to apply to.
