Pre-Health Advising

We believe students should become broadly educated in college, with some specialization in one of the areas of knowledge. ASU does not have a separate major for pre-medical students. This exposes you to an interdisciplinary and diverse academic foundation within a department, which enables you to both dive into your area of interest and explore alternative career choices. Because no major can include the prerequisites of every health professional school, our advisors are here to guide you in fulfilling the prerequisite requirements of your desired programs. 

Students admitted to health professional schools come from all undergraduate majors, so choose a major based on your interests. At ASU, most students have majored in biology, chemistry, psychology, physics and engineering (dive deeper into the common pre-health majors here). This is because our pre-health students tend to have interests in these areas, and because these degrees naturally include many prerequisites in their required coursework. However, it is not unusual for someone majoring in political science, English literature, sociology, or another non-science field to be accepted if they earn acceptable grades in the required undergraduate science coursework. To explore the degrees offered here at ASU, visit the undergraduate degree search.  

Pre-health advising appointments can be made both in person and via Zoom. Please click here to find out who your advisor is and how to make an appointment! 

If you are looking for where you can find general advising information/tips, you can self-enroll in the ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page. You do need to be a current student or an ASU alum to enroll. 

There are many pre-health organizations on campus, each with unique missions and benefits! Some organizations focus on professional development and networking for various student groups, such as Women in STEM at ASU, which strives to support, uplift, and prepare women in STEM disciplines, and Alpha Epsilon Delta, which builds a collaborative environment for students interested in healthcare fields. Others focus on health-related causes, such as ForkHPV, which aims to prevent cancers caused by HPV and connect science with the community at ASU and beyond. Check out Sun Devil Central to explore the many organizations offered at ASU. To help with your search, many pre-health clubs fall under the “health/wellness” and “academic/professional” categories. If you don’t see an organization that fits your interests or goals, you also have the option to develop your own student organization to fill gaps in our ASU community!

Getting to know your faculty is a great way to develop relationships that may yield excellent letters of recommendation in the future. As a general rule, aim to meet with your faculty during their office hours before the first exam in their class, and do so consistently afterward. Before meeting with your faculty, review their field of research and consider how their work may relate to course content and/or your academic or career goals. This information will help you prepare for an “informational interview.” During office hours, use this time to ask questions to understand course content and/or related topics that interest you and/or your faculty. This will help you perform well in the class, stand out as a student, and get to know your faculty. For more information about how to build your network on campus and beyond, take a look at the many Career Services resources!

Most health professions programs require between two and four letters of recommendation. When you have identified faculty you believe would write you a strong letter, reach out in person or via email. Consider asking for a letter soon after you finish a class since your work will be fresh in their mind, even if you plan on applying in a future cycle. Do not ask faculty at the beginning of the course to write a letter of recommendation. The faculty does not know you well enough to write a strong, positive letter of recommendation. 

If possible, ask during office hours. If that’s not feasible, send a polite and professional email. If you ask them in person, it is recommended to send a follow-up email with the information in written form. When initiating this conversation, ask clearly: “Would you feel comfortable writing me a strong, positive letter of recommendation for health professions school?” If they hesitate, it’s okay to thank them and ask someone else; a weak or generic letter does not help in the admissions process. 

If they agree to write you a strong, positive letter of recommendation, you can send them additional information, including, but not limited to, your resume, your personal statement (or a draft, if available), a few key traits or experiences you’d like them to highlight, the AAMC Guidelines for Letter Writers document, an offer to meet in person or via Zoom for any questions or to provide additional context. Note: It is not good practice to write a letter on behalf of a faculty member for them to sign unless the faculty member asks you to do so. You should give your letter writers ample time to write your letter (about 2-3 months), and aim to give your letter writers a deadline 2-3 weeks before you intend to submit the application. For more information about who you should ask to write your letter, general guidelines, and more, you can self-enroll in the ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page. You do need to be a current student or an ASU alum to enroll. 

Health professions advisors support current ASU students and alumni as they explore healthcare careers and prepare for professional school. Advisors help them understand how to fulfill and sequence health professional school prerequisites based on their academic plan and goals. They also encourage students to pursue meaningful clinical, service, and leadership experiences to better understand the profession and strengthen their applications. Through one-on-one conversations, workshops, and events, advisors guide future healthcare professionals through identifying their strengths and setting short- and long-term goals. Through our advising, students and alumni develop an understanding of the complexities of the application process, including but not limited to selecting schools, writing a personal statement, preparing for interviews, and requesting letters of recommendation, while encouraging self-reflection and readiness for a career in healthcare. 

All students and alumni who are interested in healthcare professional programs with centralized applications! These programs include: allopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, physician assistant, podiatry, veterinary medicine, naturopathic medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, pathology assistant, anesthesiology assistant, medical dosimetrist, cardiovascular perfusion, and post-baccalaureate options.

While we advise students interested in combined MD-PhD programs, we do not advise those pursuing PhD programs solely, as their application process falls outside our expertise. Other health-related programs that fall outside our expertise include masters or doctoral programs without a centralized application, such as genetic counseling, public health, clinical psychology, and others. The Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation’s academic advising unit specializes in advising nursing career paths. 

Both clinical psychologists and psychiatrists work on preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental and behavioral disorders. However, these roles have different training and post-undergraduate educational paths, as well as different treatment expertise. 

Clinical psychologists earn a PhD or a PsyD in clinical psychology after their undergraduate and sometimes master's degrees. Their approach to treatment and prevention typically focuses on psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), but they are not able to prescribe medications. Because applications to PhD and PsyD programs are school-specific, we are not specialized to advise on this path. However, ASU faculty with experience in this field are an amazing resource for students to understand this process, so do not be afraid to reach out to faculty if you have questions about this path! Some faculty may be in the Department of Psychology (specifically Clinical Psychology Faculty) or School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology.

Psychiatrists are medically trained physicians who have completed 4 years of medical school (MD/DO), and have received field specific training during their 4-year medical residency. While they are trained in psychotherapy, they also specialize in medical/physiological treatment and have the ability to prescribe medications when needed. We are dedicated to supporting students in their path to programs with a centralized application, like MD and DO programs, so if you are interested in pursuing this path, please explore our website and self-enroll in the ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page to learn more. You do need to be a current student or an ASU alumni to enroll. 

Yes! ASU welcomes those who have decided to prepare for entry into a health professional school after completing a college degree. ASU offers all required "pre-health" sciences. Non-traditional pre-health students can also use ASU Pre-Health Advising services.

Health professional schools have minimum course requirements for admission that vary by school. Common requirements are: one year each (with labs) of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry and physics; mathematics (including some calculus); and a year of English. Beyond these minimum requirements, additional work in biological sciences or psychology is sometimes recommended. If you are not a science major, you will need to plan course schedules carefully and take these science courses as electives. Start these as early as possible because some requirements, like the chemistry sequence, may take at least two years to complete.

For more information about your field of interest, please visit our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page. You can self-enroll in the Canvas page, but you do need to be a current student or an ASU alum to enroll. For further guidance, please make an advising appointment with the advisor(s) assigned to your campus or college. 

Health professional schools are seeking students who will contribute to their community, excel throughout the program, perform well on licensing exams, and represent the school well throughout their careers. To meet these goals, schools review your application holistically, considering your academic performance (GPA and entrance exam scores), clinical, research, and community service experiences, and other experiences that make you unique. 

Overall, the two main questions that admissions committees ask when reviewing your application are: Can you handle the academic rigor of a health professional school, and are you able to articulate why you are dedicated to living the reality of being a healthcare professional? This means that to get into professional school, you must build your academic foundation and explore experiences that help you understand what your profession will be like and why you personally want to pursue it. 

Applications 

The Pre-Health Advising Office will assist you in the application process to professional schools. Below is a brief summary of the process; we also developed an ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page (you can self-enroll if you are a current student or recent ASU alum) to guide you through it. 

Personal Statement 

Your personal statement is a story that answers the question “Why do I want to be a [insert your desired health profession here]?” Your personal statement should bring your “why” to life through storytelling and make it memorable by providing a narrative that goes beyond the numbers and experiences.

Activity/Experience Boxes

Applications will ask for more information about the activities you have been involved in after high school. This section gives you the opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and demonstrate how your dedication to the field has been challenged and confirmed. This means that your experiences should not be done to “check off a box,” but rather to engage with your community, work on teams, explore your interests, learn from others, and develop as a future healthcare professional. 

 
Letters of Recommendation

Most professional schools require two letters of recommendation. They are commonly requested from science and non-science faculty and from someone in your chosen health profession.

We encourage you to get to know your faculty so their letters can truly showcase who you are and how you can succeed as a professional school student. Since letters are the only aspect of your application that you do not write yourself, they offer admissions committees a more full picture of who you are. This is why it is important to know your letter writers, so they can add or reinforce what you have demonstrated in your application. 

Secondary Applications/Supplemental Essays 

Secondary applications (medical) and supplemental essays (PA, PT, OT, pharmacy, dental, etc.) have the same purpose: the essay prompts allow schools to assess your fit and interest related to their mission and community.

For medical schools, secondary applications are school-specific applications sent to you after your primary application has been reviewed. Since they are separate from the primary, they have their own essays and fees. For all other health professions, supplemental essays appear within the centralized application and are submitted at the same time as the primary. Not all schools have secondary applications or supplemental essays. 

Interviews 

Interview practices and policies vary among professional schools. Most schools require a personal interview in various formats, and some programs do not require an interview at all. To help you further understand this process, you can reference our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page (available for self-enrollment if you are a current student or an ASU alum) with information about interviews and the process. We also provide a one-on-one mock interview appointment to applicants who have received an interview invitation from a professional school. You are expected to come prepared and dressed as if this were your scheduled interview for professional school. It also allows pre-health advisors to give personalized feedback. 

No, but admission to health professional schools is competitive since there are always more applicants than seats available. A strong academic background, along with other attributes, is very important in the application process. The average GPA of medical and dental schools is approximately 3.50. For allied health professions, the average GPA varies by profession. Physical therapy (PT) and physician assistant (PA) programs have grown significantly in popularity in recent years. Interest in these careers is strong, so the programs are very competitive. While students should strive to do their best academically at all times, professional schools review applications holistically. This means that, in addition to GPA and entrance exam scores, many other factors, including your experiences and personal fit with the school, also play a role in admissions decisions. 

The entrance exam you will take depends on the health profession you are pursuing. You should be prepared to take any entrance exam within six months to a year before you plan to apply. To be ready for the MCAT and DAT, you will need to have knowledge of general chemistry, organic chemistry and general biology. For the MCAT, you will also need knowledge from general physics and biochemistry. However, to be better prepared for the MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT and GRE, it is highly recommended that you complete some additional upper-division biological science coursework. Arizona State University has partnered with The Princeton Review to offer you free and discounted entrance exam prep courses! For more information about preparing for entrance exams, visit our pathway page for your desired health profession, or our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page. You can self-enroll in the Canvas page, but you must be a current student or a recent ASU alum to enroll. If you would like more guidance, please make an advising appointment with the advisor(s) assigned to your campus or college. 

Just like prerequisites, expectations and requirements for experiences outside of class vary by school and profession. For example, PA schools often have patient care hours requirements which must be fulfilled to be considered for admissions, and most other programs have a preference for applicants who have clinical experience because it demonstrates understanding of and commitment to the field. The top three common experience categories applicants gain are 

• Clinical exposure including shadowing/observation, internships, and jobs in healthcare,
• Community service experiences for causes that are important to you (related or unrelated to healthcare), and
• Research if you are interested in a research-based career. 

• Other extracurricular activities include part-time and full-time jobs, student organizations, athletics, military service, and more.

   

Your experiences help admissions committees get to know you better and understand what is important to you, so we encourage you to gain experience in the areas that draw you to the healthcare field, as well as engage in activities that interest you in general. The experiences you choose to dedicate your time to can go beyond what is required for admission, and do not have to be related to healthcare. These experiences will not only allow you to develop an understanding of the realities of these fields and explore the various roles in healthcare, but they will also help you demonstrate and articulate why you are pursuing your healthcare profession. 

Yes, health professional school admission requirements vary by school and profession. For more information, visit our page for the profession you are pursuing, or self-enroll in our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page. You must be a current student or a recent ASU alum to enroll. On the Canvas page under your chosen health profession, you will find school databases where you can research admissions requirements for your programs of interest. 

If you have a question about whether a specific course fulfills a prerequisite requirement for a specific school, we recommend contacting that school's admissions office. When inquiring about a course, include the course subject and number (example BIO 182), course title (General biology II), a description of the course and its content, and the prerequisites (general biology I instead of BIO 181). If you have the syllabus available, that could also help with their determination. If you are still seeking support after researching the schools you are interested in, please make an appointment with the advisor(s) assigned to your campus or college. We are here to help you navigate this process! 

You will apply 12 to 15 months before you plan to start professional school. To start in the fall after spring graduation, apply the summer after your junior year. Most programs accept applications from early summer through the fall, but you should verify each school's admission deadline. Most professions accept applications on a rolling basis. In these cases, we strongly recommend you submit your applications early, ideally within the first six weeks of the application opening, regardless of the deadline.

Withdrawals (W) will not affect your GPA, but failing grades (Ds and Es) will, even if ASU or other colleges and universities have a great repeat policy. So, a W will always look better than a failing grade; however, context matters! One or two withdrawals throughout your degree will likely not impact your application. However, you may want to provide context to the admissions committees if you have a full semester of withdrawals or a significant number of them throughout your undergraduate degree. A pattern of withdrawals over multiple semesters may also concern admissions committees, and it is recommended to make an appointment with the advisor(s) assigned to your campus or college to discuss how to approach this on your application.

While undergraduate institutions have replacement policies, professional schools calculate GPA differently, and they use all grades for repeated classes to calculate your GPA on the application. That being said, context and patterns matter - they tell a story to admissions committees. An upward progression without sacrificing course loads (two hard science or math courses and at least 15-17 credit hours) or the difficulty of the courses taken tells admissions committees that even if you have struggled in a course, you are able to overcome those challenges and continue to succeed academically. This means that one bad term will not completely destroy your chances for admission, especially if you demonstrate an upward trend.

If you are concerned about your academic performance and how it may impact your future application to professional school, you can self-enroll in our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page (you must be a current student or a recent ASU alum) or make an appointment with the advisor(s) assigned to your campus or college.

• Allopathic Medicine is practiced by those with the M.D. degree. Physicians treat human health and disease, encompassing the entire body.
• Osteopathic Medicine also treats the entire body. These physicians with the D.O. degree have a slightly different philosophy from the M.D., with greater focus on the musculoskeletal system and holistic approaches to patient care.
• Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct profession of primary health care physicians whose practitioners make conventional disease diagnoses, and are more oriented toward prevention, education and promotion of optimal health and wellness rather than just treatment of disease.
• Dentistry specializes in treatment of problems of the teeth and oral cavity. While practice is limited to that region of the body, dentists may prescribe systemic drugs and use surgical methods. They obtain a D.D.S. or D.M.D. degree.
• Chiropractic Medicine focuses on diagnosing and treating conditions related to the spine, nervous system and musculoskeletal system. Doctors of Chiropractic (D.C.) emphasize manual adjustment and other conservative treatments to restore function and support the body’s natural ability to heal. 
• Podiatric Medicine deals with problems of the foot and lower leg. The D.P.M. degree is received after a four-year program in a college of podiatric medicine. Like dentists, podiatrists may prescribe drugs and perform surgery for problems of the region that they are licensed to treat.
• Optometry specializes in vision problems, with treatment through prescription lenses, eye exercises and behavioral and other non-medical methods. Optometrists refer patients who need medical or surgical treatment to a physician. The O.D. degree is awarded after four years of study at a school of optometry.
• Physical Therapy focuses on restoring and enhancing movement and physical function. Physical therapists (D.P.T.) use exercise, manual therapy, and other interventions to improve mobility, reduce pain, and support recovery from injury or illness. They work across a variety of healthcare settings to promote independence and prevent further disability.
• Occupational Therapy enables people to participate fully in daily activities across the lifespan. Practitioners hold either a doctoral (O.T.D.) or master’s (M.S./M.A.) degree in Occupational Therapy and focus on helping individuals adapt to physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges. They design personalized strategies to support function and independence at home, work, and in the community.

If you are an Arizona resident, we recommend applying to any professional school in Arizona that offers the program you want. Your best chances are with your state schools. Arizona also has agreements with other states that allow students to apply to those programs for reduced tuition. For further information on such programs, please visit the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Website. 

ASU also has partnerships with health professional programs; you can learn more about career-specific programs on our individual health professions pages. Schools in other states will give preference to their own state's residents if they are a publicly funded institution. Private schools do not consider residency in admissions decisions because they do not receive state taxes to support the school. Points to consider when choosing schools to apply to: financial resources, academic qualifications and self-confidence in the merit of the application. If you are applying to public schools in states of which you are not a resident, consider their out-of-state admissions statistics, as well as your connection to the area. To further understand how to craft your school list, if you are a current ASU student or a recent alum, you can self-enroll in our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page.

We urge you to explore the wide variety of careers available. Many students are unsuccessful in applying to professional schools the first time. This makes it important to understand what the process looks like and to be aware of your options, including reapplication and adjusting your career path. The Pre-Health Advising Office maintains information on various careers in most health professions and different health-related graduate programs for you to consider if you want to explore a variety of career paths.

Yes! You can enter several health careers with a bachelor's degree. These include nursing, clinical laboratory sciences, respiratory therapy and clinical exercise science. For more information on these careers, please follow the links above.

In short, some programs allow it, but admissions committees generally prefer applicants with bachelor's degrees. It is not uncommon for pharmacy schools to accept applicants with 90 credits and prerequisites; still, most applicants apply with a bachelor's degree. You should research the schools you are interested in and contact the school’s admissions office for more information or to ask questions. 

This is your career path, so you are in the driver’s seat! Over 75% of successful applicants take one gap year or more, so it is very common. Many reasons to take a gap year include gaining experience, strengthening your academic profile, allowing time for the application process, and meeting personal needs. Overall, taking a gap year is your decision, and we are here to help you understand what this may look like for you! Please make an appointment with your pre-health advisor to discuss your options. 

We have a plethora of resources for you to access online– please explore other pages on our pre-health advising website and, if you are a current ASU student or alumni, self-enroll in our ASU Pre-Health Advising Canvas page. If you are feeling unsure or are looking for more information/answers, the best sources of information are advisors: we're here to help you find answers to your questions.  

If you are unable to find the answer on this website and you believe your question can be answered quickly and easily, then it is acceptable to email your advisor(s) assigned to your campus or college. When emailing an advisor, you should use your Arizona State University e-mail address.

It's not a good idea to email an advisor with questions that require lengthy answers or that should be discussed in a one-on-one appointment. Here are some examples of topics that are appropriate and not appropriate for email:

Some topics/questions that are appropriate for email:

• Can you tell me what office is responsible for ... ?
• What websites do you recommend for ... ?
• I've decided to major in xyz. Should I make an appointment to discuss it with you?
  • You do not need to discuss a change of major with pre-health advising. You can major in anything and apply to a health professional school. Work with your academic advisor to fit prerequisite courses into your academic plan. 
  • If the major you are changing into contains less prerequisites, we can discuss which courses to prioritize and sequencing. Contact your academic advisor to fit these into your academic plan. 
• I just got an interview invite! How do I schedule a mock interview? 
  • For New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences and the College of Health Solutions, please use the scheduling link and if you do not see availability, please email [email protected]. 
  • For students on the Tempe and Polytechnic campuses and associated ASU Online majors, please use our Mock Interview Request Form. Within two business days of filling out the form, an advisor will email you with the confirmed day and time of the mock interview. 

Some topics/questions that are not appropriate for email:

• What should I take next semester?
  • This question is best suited for your academic advisor!
• Do you think I should drop my Math 210 class?

  • This may require further discussion! For questions about your degree progress, contact your academic advisor. If your question is regarding how this decision will impact your professional school application, see "How will a withdrawal impact my future application to professional school?"

     If you are looking for further support, please make a pre-health appointment!

• Are you free tomorrow between 3:30 p.m. and 4 p.m.? Call me.
  • All of our availability is provided on the appointment system for your assigned pre-health advisor. Appointments are added often and students commonly cancel, so continue to check the system if you do not see availability.
  • If you receive an interview invite, and the availability in the system does not work, please email us at [email protected]!
• I have no idea what I want to major in. Help!
  • Please see question "What major should I choose?" above.
• I'm thinking about withdrawing. Where do I get a form?
  • Contact your academic advisor!
• I need to change my schedule. Please get back to me right away!
  • Contact your academic advisor!
• I'm sorry I can't make it to my appointment tomorrow. I'll reschedule it soon.
  • Please cancel the appointment in the scheduling system and reschedule.