I. INTRODUCTION

The selection of careers related to health should be based on: (1) reading books and articles describing the nature, requirements and opportunities in a broad spectrum of fields; (2) talking with professionals; (3) personal experience (volunteer or employee) in a health related facility; (4) assessment of one's intellectual capabilities and personality compatibilities for various careers through self-examination and/or psychological tests administered by a testing center; and (5) one's academic record and success in completing preprofessional course requirements.

The many health related careers require a diversity of academic preparation and professional school training. This manual concentrates on providing information relating to a selected group of professions for which students must complete some preprofessional college or university work. For these professions, students spend from three to four years at a university taking course prerequisites for admission to a particular professional school program. After admission, the student spends from three to four years in a professional curriculum. After passing state and/or national registry, licensure or board examinations, the successful student becomes certified, licensed and/or registered to practice the profession. Some fields, such as medicine, require an additional residency or intern training program of one to eight years before independently practicing the specialty.

Admission into professional schools is competitive, the intensity of which varies with the particular profession. The entire academic record, from the first course attempted in college to the last, is usually considered in the selection process. A serious, disciplined approach to the preprofessional program reflects a growing maturity and intellectual competence. Admission is usually based on the following: (1) academic record, such as the overall and science grade point averages; (2) scores on professional school admission tests; (3) evaluation by the Preprofessional Advisory Committee; (4) communication skills as shown in the written application; and (5) a personal interview with an admissions officer or committee at the invitation of the professional school. Preprofessional students are urged to maintain contact with the preprofessional advisors. The preprofessional advisor provides academic advice and is a source of professional school admission requirements, application materials, and information about alternate health careers.

This handbook has been developed for Lamar University preprofessional students preparing for careers in the health professions. The purpose of the booklet is not to convince anyone to enter one of these professions because most readers already have a deep personal interest and commitment in a professional career. It does provide information which will not only act as a guide in planning preprofessional work and the application to professional school, but also suggests a timetable for maximizing the chances for acceptance to the professional school of choice. Lamar preprofessional students have established an outstanding record of acceptance to dental and medical schools. The national acceptance rate for medical applicants is about 50%. Lamar students have been accepted at a 73% rate for many years. National dental school acceptance rates have been about 55% while Lamar's acceptance rate was 91%.

The most important academic contacts in a preprofessional career will be the academic advisor(s), faculty members who make up the Preprofessional Advisory Committee. Academic advisement can be obtained from your assigned preprofessional advisor, who will write the recommendation letter. Application forms for the professional examinations are located in Chemistry Building, Room 217, as well as most application forms for professional schools. (See "Professional School Application Checklist" in this handbook for more information on the Preprofessional Advisory Committee.) Preprofessional Bulletin Boards at two locations are used to post important dates for preprofessional students. One is located just outside Room 101, Chemistry Building, and the other just outside Room 101 of Hayes Biology Building. Delta Omicron Chi (DOC's), a preprofessional club at Lamar since 1982, has as its goal mutual help among the preprofessional students. Special programs, meetings and speakers are among the activities of this group. Membership is open to any preprofessional student.