Frequently Asked Questions
Careers in the Health Professions: Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does the Health Careers Advising Committee do?
A. The purpose of the committee is to help interested students and graduates learn about the various health-related professions, evaluate their career goals and, ultimately, gain admission to professional schools when appropriate.
The committee offers support, resources, and services including:
- advising meetings with members of the Health Careers Advisory Committee
- access to resources including books and weblinks
- communication through a health professions list serve
- assistance in obtaining:
- clinical experiences
- research experiences
- community service involvement
- assistance with the application process
- advice on preparing for the admissions tests
- reviewing personal statements
- writing the committee letter
- providing advice on interviewing
Q. How many students do you get into medical school?
A. None. Our students get themselves in! They are admitted to professional schools on the basis of their academic records, admissions test scores, life experiences, and personal traits.
Q. What percentage of applicants from Hampshire get in?
A. 100% of qualified applicants! This is a trick question, of course. Different schools use different denominators to determine this figure, generally to make the school look good. Many schools only support applicants who have a high likelihood of successfully matriculating at a medical school. We will write you the strongest letter we can based upon your academic record and personal achievements. We do this for every student who requests a committee letter. If you compare the total number of students who enter the school's first year class who wish to go to medical school to the number of students entering medical school after graduation, most schools have a dismal record. Hampshire would actually look quite amazing in this category, not because Hampshire is far better than all other schools, but because the number of students in our entering class who declare themselves to be "pre-med" is relatively low. Hampshire College actually graduates more students from the School of Natural Science than enter with an interest in science! Be wary of those schools that claim high success rates for "getting their students in!" What we can tell you, is that for those who utilize the HCAC, you will know the likelihood of success prior to application.
Q. Should I concentrate in The School of Natural Science?
A. Not necessarily. We believe it is better for the individual to concentrate in an area of interest. While many of those accepted to professional school in the health sciences do concentrate in one of the sciences, that is because they love science. There is an increasing number of successful applicants who come from other disciplines.
Q. What courses are required?
A. Almost all health professions schools require a year of English, which includes composition, and a year each of general biology, college-level mathematics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general physics; the science courses must include laboratories. Individual schools DO VARY, however, in their requirements. For example, there are medical schools that require one or even two semesters of calculus, and some that strongly recommend a semester of biochemistry. Some veterinary, optometry, and dentistry schools only require one semester of organic chemistry. You should talk with us about this.
Q. Do I get credit for high school courses?
A. Sometimes. Some professional schools grant you credit toward Advanced Placement (AP) courses, while others do not. You need not repeat any courses that would not challenge or excite you though. For example, if you have AP credit in biology, you could take an advanced biology course with a laboratory. This would fulfill the school's requirement, and you would enjoy the course.
Q. When should I talk with the pre-health advisor if I think I may be interested in a career in one of the health professions?
A. Come in during your first semester (or as soon as this interest strikes you) so you can receive some preliminary information to help you carefully consider this path. Get to know this faculty advisor; he or she is an important source of information and needs to know YOU to do the best possible job.
Q. I've been assigned a different academic advisor. Should I change and have the pre-health advisor be my academic advisor?
A. That is not necessary; a health careers advisor can work together with your academic advisor to support you.
Q. Hampshire doesn't give grades; will a medical school consider me?
A. Not to worry. We have a VERY good reputation with many medical schools; our graduates have attended the best medical schools in the country. We have worked hard, and continue to do so, getting the medical schools to know us. Of course, our best advertisements are the exceptional Hampshire grads who have excelled in their programs. If you thrive at Hampshire, not only are you likely to get into medical school, you will become an outstanding physician!
Q. Should I take classes at one of the other four colleges (Amherst College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts)?
A. Absolutely. While we take pride in the hands-on, experiential courses offered here at Hampshire College, we know the diversity and quality of courses offered in the Pioneer Valley are among the best in the country, and we encourage you to explore it fully. It may be wise to wait until your second semester to begin this, so you feel settled here and get to know the free bus system.
Q. Many professional schools require something called a "committee letter" rather than individual faculty evaluations. Is this available from Hampshire?
A. Yes. This is an important part of our service to you. We generally have your academic advisor, or faculty member whom you know the best, write the draft of this letter. This is submitted to the pre-health advisor for distribution to the committee for editing and completion of the final draft in consultation with the writer. The pre-health advisor will ensure it is brought to the central records office, where it will be sent upon your request to the professional school.
Q. Who is on the pre-health committee?
A. It is made up of faculty members at Hampshire and one general career advisor. This is a very experienced committee who have seen many graduates go on to successful careers in the health professions.
Q. Is it all right to take time off after graduation before applying to medical school?
A. Do it! It is not only all right, but is a wise choice for many students. We would suggest you spend this time working in the field, such as doing medically relevant research, working in a clinic or hospital, or traveling and participating in some aspect of medical care in those places you stay. This experience may help you more clearly define your goals, give you more life experience, and will demonstrate your commitment to the profession. The average age of students accepted to medical school in the United States is 25.
Q. May I take summer school courses to fulfill my science requirements?
A. Yes, you can, but we suggest you take as many of your requirements during the regular academic year as possible. Many professional schools, especially medical schools, want to assess your ability to do well in rigorous courses while handling a heavy course load. While one or two summer courses may be viewed as reasonable, particularly if you have many science courses on your transcript, admission deans are (perhaps mistakenly) often suspect of this strategy.
Q. What medical schools de-emphasize grades and competition by making the first two years pass-fail?
Creighton University School of Medicine; Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University; Loma Linda University; Mount Sinai, first 2 years; Stanford; SUNY at Stony Brook; State University of NY Health Sciences Center at Syracuse; University of Arkansas; University of Chicago Pritzer School of Medicine; University of Connecticut; Yale, New York University, first two years; University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; University of North Carolina Chapel Hill; University of Pittsburgh; University of Vermont; Washington University, first year. Various Canadian schools.
More Questions? Drop by Cole Science Center room 203 to make an appointment or click here to send a message to the Health Careers Advisory Committee Chair.
We thank the Amherst College Pre-med advising office, the NAAHP, and the NEAAHP for the generous sharing of information.