Pre-Health Pathways Overview
There are many components of the application process for graduate school in the health professions, some of which are covered on this page. You are responsible for researching the schools you plan to apply to in order to review specific requirements and resources.
If you are pursuing a pre-health pathway, you can use the following resources to support your preparation for graduate school:
- SJSU Graduate School Resources for the Health Professions
- General Information: Graduate School for the Health Professions
- Pre-Health Pathway Directory
- Pre-Professional Advising
| Graduate School Requirement | Resource Description |
|---|---|
| General Information |
Review the Career Center's Applying to Graduate School Guide for general information about graduate school, graduate degrees, application requirements, and more.
|
| Personal Statement |
The personal statement is your chance to show the admissions committee why you want to pursue your interested health profession. Your reason(s) should be clear to you and to the reader. Remember to be authentic and to write in your own voice. Start early and request feedback from different people.
Reach out to the SJSU Writing Center for writing support.
Get Support from the Writing Center
|
| Interviews |
Interviews usually begin in the Fall and continue into Spring, after your application(s) have been reviewed. It is your chance to show off your communication and interpersonal skills, and other qualities that are important for your future health profression
How can you prepare for medical school interviews?
|
General Information: Graduate School for the Health Professions
Extracurricular Experiences
To be a more competitive applicant, you should have health related experiences working with or being exposed to patients to demonstrate your committment to your chosen Pre-Health Pathway.
Extracurricular experiences can include:
- Volunteer, Internship, or Work Experience (Ex. hospital, clinic, pharmacy)
- Shadowing
- Research
- Student and Professional Organizations
These experiences should align with your passions, interests, and goals, showing schools who you are and what you genuinely care about.
Admissions Test
An admissions test is a required part of the admissions process for many of the health professions graduate schools. The admissions test will test your knowledge on topics relevant to your chosen health professions pathway.
As outlined by AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), you can use the following three questions to help you determine when to take the exam:
1. When do you want to attend graduate school?
- After graduating from SJSU or after taking a gap year(s)?
- Most students take their exam the year before they plan to attend
2. Have you studied enough and mastered the content covered in the exam?
- Prepare by completing the prerequisite coursework and practice exams
- Only take the exam when you feel ready. Keep in mind that schools can see all of your attempts.
3. If you do not receive the score that you want, can you retake the exam?
- Yes, but be strategic with retaking the exam
- There is a limit on how many times you can take the exam
When should you start studying and for how long?
Before creating your study plan, figure out how much time you are able to dedicate to studying. This will depend on what other commitments you have (ex. school, work, internship, family responsibilities, etc.).
It is recommended to start studying 3-6 months before your exam, depending on which exam you need to take
Letters of Recommendation (LOR)
Most schools require at least 3 letters of recommendation. Schools will usually request letters from specific people, such as science faculty, professionals in the field (ex. dentist, physician, pharmacist, etc.), or research mentors.
Ask people who know you well and would speak highly of you, so be sure to build strong relationships with your professors early on. Office hours are a great way to connect with your professors
It is important to give your recommenders enough time to write their letters of recommendation, so be sure to ask them no later than 2-3 months before you submit your application. Make sure to send reminders if necessary and a thank you note or email afterwards.
Pre-Health Pathway Directory
Review specific information related to:
Pre-Professional Advising
Pre-Medical, Pre-Pharmacy, Pre-Optometry, and Pre-Dental advising with Dr. Rosemary Hardin is only available to College of Science students.
Prepare for your appointment:
- Review the specifics related to the Pre-Health pathway you are pursuing
- Complete your own research about your interested Pre-Health pathway
- Research the graduate school(s) you are pursuing admissions for
College of Science students can email rosemary.hardin@sjsu.edu to request an appointment.
