Advisory Services for Students Interested in Preparing for the Health Professions
The Health Professions Advisory Committee (HPAC) exists to help interested students prepare for careers in health care. Unlike academic advisors assigned to all undergraduate students based upon major, this advisory group is supplemental and only available to those who seek their services. However, because professional schools usually expect applicants to include a letter from such advisory bodies, (when available at their universities), it is in the best interest of pre-health students to become well-acquainted with the HPAC and all that it has to offer. Students seeking a letter of evaluation must first request an HPAC interview; and those sessions are only scheduled after the interviewee has completed an information packet available in our office.
Pre-health studies encompass much more than medicine. The HPAC serves those interested in pursuing a career in medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, physician assistant, physical therapy, optometry or some other health care field. To receive regular pertinent announcements and to be eligible for scholarships and other services, students are invited to register with the HPAC each fall by visiting the Health Professions Advisory Office located in Ward Hall, Room 327/330.
Pre-health students should utilize the office of the HPAC for the following services and functions:
1. Updated information about requirements for entering professional programs, including prerequisite courses, admissions tests, other requirements (e.g. exposure to the health care field, service activities, leadership activities) & the application process.
2. Advice about choosing a health care profession and alternative health care career options when appropriate.
3. Workshops or other venues for preparation of the personal essay/goals statement for the professional school application
4. A credit course on “preparing to apply” (e.g., interviewing, MCAT/DAT, etc.).
5. Books and other resources in the conference room/study area (Ward 327) to help students prepare for admission to professional programs.
6. Assist student groups, such as the Pre-pharmacy Society and MED Club in their search for informative speakers and make them aware of visiting professional school recruiters.
7. Provide information to students about opportunities for clinical exposure; summer programs for professional school preparation; and opportunities for service activities.
8. Provide online information, updated annually, about health care careers and application requirements.
9. Interview those planning to apply to professional programs and write their committee letters of evaluation for the schools requesting them.
10. Work with Financial Aid to award all HPAC/Ward scholarships & fellowships.
Since the majority of Lipscomb’s pre-health students are pursuing medical school, the following is a recent sampling of medical schools that have accepted our students:
- Drexel University
- East Tennessee State University (Quillen College of Medicine)
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Indiana University
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lincoln Memorial University (DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine)
- Medical College of South Carolina
- Meharry College of Medicine
- St. Louis University
- Tufts University
- Tulane University
- University of Alabama-Birmingham
- University of Arkansas
- University of Central Florida
- University of Florida
- University of Kentucky
- University of Louisville
- University of South Alabama
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
- Wake Forest University
To learn more about preparing for any of the pre-health care professions, contact the HPAC office in Ward 327-330, or at 615-966- 7147 or 5701