Prehealth Curriculum
Advice For Incoming Prehealth Students
Many of the health professions have similar requirements. Please make sure to check each profession's curriculum requirements as some courses do vary in each prehealth discipline.
- Major in the field which interests you most, while showing good ability in the sciences.
- Develop your ability to read, write, and think.
- Critical thinking and clear communication skills are important.
- Explore the field of your interest; be sure you know the positive and negative aspects of being a health professional and about the future of your career choice.
- Pursue, in depth, extracurricular activities (see below) which interest you. Health professions schools like interesting people. Grades are important, but health professions schools consider more than academic performance alone.
- Grade trends are important; steady increase in GPA is far more desirable than a steady decrease. A less than spectacular year can and must be overcome.
- You will need letters of evaluation from instructors who know you and your work well. These come best from people with whom you have developed a relationship of shared interests, e.g., in academics or research. Get to know your instructors!
- Pursue an academic interest in depth, including opportunities for research. Research need not be in a laboratory. Explore non-traditional subjects through individualized courses.
- Selectively enjoy what Tulane has to offer. Make friends and participate in activities. Involve yourself with your interests. Keep alert to opportunities. Show leadership and initiative.
- Remember that your worth is not measured by your success in getting into a health professions school.
Your activity outside the classroom is valuable. One of the most impressive accolades you could earn from an admission’s committee is "well-rounded." Extracurricular involvement provides you with an outlet and a chance to show your individuality. Varied extracurricular opportunities exist for you at Tulane; none is inherently better than another. No one expects you to participate in all of them, and certainly no one expects you to be so involved that your GPA suffers. It is just as unwise to be overextended as it is to be under involved. At no time and under no circumstances are extracurricular activities a substitute for good grades. Students who become so involved in campus activities that their grades suffer are not likely to be admitted to medical school. Students who have good grades and participate in extracurricular activities will undoubtedly be admitted before those who do not have such outside interests. Become involved in the activities you genuinely enjoy and become a leader rather than just a member barely involved in many organizations.
Medical schools also like to see students who are active in community/volunteer work. The Community Action Council of Tulane University Students (CACTUS) provides for volunteer experiences in a variety of areas. Becoming a community volunteer is certainly a worthwhile and recommended venture.
The following Tulane organizations are popular with premedical students. Some of these are basically honorific; others require a more substantial commitment of time and energy.
Alpha Delta Epsilon Honorary Premedical Society
Campus Coalition for AIDS Prevention
Community Action Council of Tulane University Students
Blood Drive Volunteer
Hospital Volunteer
Mardi Gras Coalition
Peer Support Network
Departmental Societies
Externship Program through Alumni Affairs
Peer Health Network
Premedical Society
Student Government
Tulane Emergency Medical Service
Tulane Scholars Program
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