Many students who plan to enter the medical or health care field first earn bachelor's degrees in the liberal arts and sciences-in subjects such as Chemistry, Biology, Forensic Science or Physics. At C.W. Post, these degree programs prepare you to pass entrance exams such as the MCAT, and to gain admittance into medical and other professional schools.

Students who plan to enter the world of medicine receive academic and career counseling from faculty in C.W. Post's Pre-Health Professions Advisement Program. This program is designed to help students who want to gain admission to medical or osteopathy school, as well as those who want to undertake advanced studies in such fields as optometry, podiatry, chiropractic, veterinary care or physical or occupational therapy.

The Pre-Health Professions Committee Chair will counsel students as to courses which they should take to fulfill the requirements of the professional school they wish to attend. Committee members also advise students preparing for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test), DAT (Dental Admissions Test), or other examinations.

Participants are assigned a faculty advisor who provides personalized assistance in selecting a major and internship opportunities. Your advisor can also help you gain experience through volunteer work and provide you with information on medical or other post-graduate schools. Additionally, Pre-Health Professions faculty will support you in assembling letters of recommendation and other materials needed to complete graduate school applications.

Student File

After registering with the Pre-Health Professions Committee Chair, the student will be asked to complete a file which will be used to formulate an overall evaluation of his/her ability, personality and commitment. The student file will consist of an autobiography, academic appraisals from faculty members, interview evaluations, descriptions of volunteer work and other non-academic recommendations from employers, physicians, dentists, or others. The student's file forms the basis of the composite letter of recommendation to the professional schools. Most health professional schools prefer a composite letter to support the student's application.

Requirements for Professional Schools

A student who wishes to pursue a career in the health professions may choose any major, keeping in mind that the professional schools seek applicants with good liberal arts backgrounds. The professional schools require the following minimum science courses:        

1 year of General Biology (BIO 103,104)
1 year of General Chemistry (CHM 3,4)
1 year of Organic Chemistry (CHM 21,22)
1 year of General Physics (PHY 3,4 - for which Calculus (MTH 7,8) is a prerequisite)

Pre-Health Professional students should attempt to complete these requirements before the end of their junior year so that they are prepared to take the MCAT, DAT, etc., in April of their junior year and take advantage of some advanced science electives.

Professional School Admissions Tests

The admissions tests (MCAT, DAT, etc.) should be taken in April of the student's junior year. The application forms for these tests are available on-line at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Committee Letter of Recommendation

When the pre-health profession student has completed the requirements for the professional school, taken the professional school admission test, and completed his/her file, the sponsor, together with the chairman of the Pre-Health Professions committee will write a composite letter based on the contents of the student's file, which will be sent to those professional schools to which the student has applied.

Internships and Career Planning

C.W. Post's nationally recognized Professional Experience and Career Planning (PEP) office organizes internships that allow you to earn money while exploring the medical and health care fields. The PEP office holds career fairs and seminars to discuss the range of internships that are available to those in our Pre-Health Professions Programs. In the area of health care, typical opportunities include internships in a hospital, physician's office or clinic, and even the county medical examiner's office. These also result in hands-on experience and recommendations for professional school applications or future employment.

Clubs for Pre-Medical Students

C.W. Post offers a broad range of organizations that will allow you to build your professional network for the future. Students pursuing careers in medicine will be particularly interested in:

Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society - Student members engage in scientific research, present papers at national and local conferences and have access to the latest information in the biological field.

Aesculapius - This club for Pre-Health Professions students offers weekly meetings, lectures, seminars and networking events with prominent health care professionals to help you prepare for a future in the medical profession.

Contact Us
Dr. Joan Shields
Pre Medical Advisor
Department of Chemistry
C.W. Post Campus
Long Island University
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, New York 11548-1300
Phone: 516-299-2492