Pre-Health Advising
Week of Welcome (WOW) Event: Pre-Health Advising Orientation
A welcome and orientation for new pre-health students interested in attending graduate school for the clinical health professions after UTampa graduation. Meet the Pre-Health Professions Committee, pre-health advisor, and UTampa pre-health student leaders.
When: Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at 10 a.m.
Where: Register for the Zoom. This event will be recorded and can be provided upon request.
Pre-health 101: Rx to Success Workshops
This workshop is the first step in getting involved with UT pre-health resources.
We discuss pre-requisite classes, majors, involvement on campus and in the medical field, admission tests, and the graduate school application timeline.
After attending a workshop, we can schedule an appointment to meet one-on-one and review your path to graduate school. You will also be invited to our second workshop, the Pre-Health E-Portfolio.
Please check back in early February for Spring 2025 dates.
Join us on Canvas
Current UT students, self-enroll in the Pre-Health Professions Advising Canvas page.
The University of Tampa has a strong science curriculum that prepares students for success in professional school. With small laboratory and class sizes, students learn directly from faculty who are experts in their respective fields. The nearly one-on-one environment fosters an opportunity for greater depth of knowledge and enables students to succeed in the following careers:
Resources
Current UT students, please indicate your pre-professional path by filling out our pre-professional interest form. While pre-health is not a major, declaring your interest will allow us to send you specific information on your intended field. Once you complete the form, you will be invited to any current workshops.
Health Professions Graduate School Fair
Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, 12–3 p.m.
Vaughn Center, 9th Floor
Join us for our Health Professions Graduate School Fair. You can learn about the different health fields and the admissions requirements for these graduate programs. Business casual dress is recommended. The Academic Success Center and the Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance host the annual health fair.
Health Professions Graduate School Fair Etiquette Document: Students, learn how to prepare for the fair.
Around 60 health professional graduate schools are expected to attend:
| Registered Schools as of Dec. 13, 2024: | Participating programs include: |
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Competitive applicants to health-related professional schools usually possess the following record:
- High overall and science-specific (biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics) GPA
- High score on standardized entrance exam
- Extensive record of relevant extracurricular activities: student organizations, volunteering, and/or community service
- Working in clinical or research settings, direct patient care and/or shadowing
- Demonstrated leadership activities
Majors:
Students who intend to pursue graduate professional degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, physician assistant, pharmacy or chiropractic medicine usually major in biology, biochemistry, chemistry or allied health with a concentration in medical sciences.
Students who wish to pursue graduate degrees in the allied health fields of physical therapy or occupational therapy can major in allied health with a concentration in physical therapy sciences or occupational therapy sciences.
These majors at UT provide excellent preparation to succeed in these professional programs and help the student fulfill many prerequisites necessary to apply to graduate programs in the health professions.
The biology major is housed in the Department of Biology, and the biochemistry and chemistry majors are housed in the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics. The allied health majors are housed in the Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance.
Students interested in nursing should visit the Department of Nursing.
Other degrees can also prepare students for health professions; thus, students are encouraged to major in the field where they excel and should consult the pre-health professions advisor about course work.
Required Courses:
The following courses are typical requirements of many professional schools in the health sciences.
It is important to note:
- each health profession (e.g. medicine vs. pharmacy) and each school (e.g. University of Florida vs. University of Central Florida) differs in its academic requirements for admissions
- not all classes listed below are required for every student
- not all the classes listed below are a comprehensive list as other classes may be required
- It is imperative for students to check admission requirements for each school of interest!
Ideally, students should complete these core courses before the start of their junior year by taking course loads of about 15-18 credit hours per semester. Summer school may be necessary. Students should realize that certain professional schools may not recognize credits earned from AP or IB exams or community colleges, especially if higher-level coursework in that discipline was not taken at a four-year college or university.
| Biology w/ labs BIO 198 Gen Bio I(1) BIO 199 Gen Bio II(2) | Chemistry w/ labs CHE 152 Gen. Chem. I(1) CHE 154 Gen. Chem. II(2) CHE 232 Organic Chem. I(1) CHE 234 Organic Chem. II(2) CHE 320 or CHE 317 Biochemistry |
| Physics w/labs PHY 200/205 Gen. Phys. I (1)(with or without calc.) PHY 201/206 Gen. Phys. II (2)(with or without calc.) | Mathematics MAT 260 Calc. I(1) |
| Anatomy and Physiology w/labs (needed for most physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy schools) HSC 230 Human Anatomy and Physiology I(1) HSC 231 Human Anatomy and Physiology II(2) |
Most math and science classes have prerequisites. In addition, many courses are only offered during one term of the academic year. If students have a major outside of biology or chemistry, they may want to consult with a faculty member in one of those departments for advice in scheduling math and science courses.
View UT's Catalog for degree requirements.
Jackie Mikulski
Coordinator of Pre-Professional Programs
Academic Success Center
Office: Technology Building
Email: jmikulski@ut.edu
Pre-professional advising has a dedicated program coordinator to help students prepare for professional school in the health sciences and who would like to see all pre-health students early on to ensure they are on the path to success. Current University of Tampa students, please complete the pre-professional interest form and email jmikulski@ut.edu to inquire about your next steps within the pre-health advising program. Please include your UT student ID number in the email.
For academic advising questions regarding your major, please speak with your faculty or academic advisor.
The University’s Pre-Health Professions Committee (PHPC) is composed of biology, chemistry, biochemistry and physics faculty, and offers advising and guidance for students interested in pursuing a career in the health professions.
Students attending The University of Tampa who intend to pursue professional doctoral studies in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry and podiatry are strongly encouraged to request a letter of recommendation from the PHPC referred to as a "committee letter."
- Requests are due to Padmanabhan Mahadevan by March 1 of the year you are applying.
- Please note the PHPC does not typically write letters for students with BCPM GPAs below 3.2.
- Students with a BCPM GPA below 3.2 are urged to contact the co-chairmen of the PHPC for advising.
- Committee Letter Request Form*
*Please visit the Pre-Health Professions Committee website for comprehensive information on the PHPC.
75% have been accepted to one or more U.S. medical programs.
Since 2011, 75% of UT graduates with a degree in the natural and health sciences who earned a 3.6 GPA in science and math classes and scored a 505 or higher on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)**As of 2018, the average score for matriculants to U.S. medical schools is a 509 as reported by the Association of American Medical Colleges. have been accepted to at least one U.S. medical program. These students also exhibited exceptional experience in the health field and had leadership experience on campus. The foundation for their success was gained through the hands-on educational experience and personalized attention afforded through The University of Tampa.
*As of 2022, the average score for matriculants to U.S. medical schools is a 509 as reported by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Below is a list of schools attended by University of Tampa alumni in recent years:
- American University of the Caribbean
- A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine
- Charles University
- Drexel University
- Florida Atlantic University
- Florida International University
- Florida State University
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
- Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Lock Haven University
- Marshall University
- New York University
- Nova Southeastern University (Optometry)
- Ross University (Veterinary Medicine)
- San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
- Tufts University
- Tufts University (Veterinary Medicine)
- University of Alabama
- University of Albany
- University of Central Florida COM
- University of Chicago-Pritzker
- University of Cincinnati
- University of Florida
- University of Florida (Pharmacy)
- University of Florida (Veterinary Medicine)
- University of Kentucky
- University of Miami
- University of Pennsylvania (Dentistry)
- University of South Florida (Physical Therapy)
- University of Toledo College of Medicine
- University of Vermont
- University of Texas-Galveston
- USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
- Wake Forest University
- Washington State University (Veterinary Medicine)
Career Services
The Office of Career Services can also assist in internship preparation and has many helpful resources available with advice on how to get an internship, a student internship guide, and internship frequently asked questions, along with many other useful tools.
Tampa General Hospital
The University of Tampa has partnered with nephrologists and hepatologists at Tampa General Hospital to provide a unique experience for some of our top pre-medical students. UT undergraduates have participated in this summer internship program where the students participate in retrospective research studies with the physicians, shadow the physicians and participate in a series of lectures on medically important topics. The program occurs during the summer, but many interns continue to work with these physicians on their projects during subsequent school years. In addition, students have completed internships with local physicians, dentists, and veterinarians in the Tampa Bay area.
Read more: Summer Surgeries, Research Boost Confidence of UT’s Pre-Med Students
Allied Health majors
Allied Health majors intern with public and private corporate and health organizations. More information on allied health internships can be found through the Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance.
Alpha Epsilon Delta
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
MEDLIFE UT
PAWS
PEACE Volunteer Center
Pre-Physician Assistant Association
Public Health Student Association
Roots of Wisdom
Skull and Bones
Spartan First Response
Student Physical and Occupational Therapy Society (SPOTS)
Women in Medicine
LECOM, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and The University of Tampa have established an Early Acceptance Program (EAP) that grants qualified students a provisional early acceptance to LECOM’s School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine, School of Podiatric Medicine, or College of Osteopathic Medicine, located in Bradenton, FL or Erie, PA. High school seniors and current UT students in their freshman or sophomore year can apply to the EAP; most importantly, students must be enrolled at UT as full-time students for at least two consecutive years immediately preceding enrollment at LECOM. An SAT or ACT score taken before high school graduation is required.
Applications to EAP are done through LECOM and are separate from UT's Admissions application.
EAP information and admission requirements can be found on the LECOM EAP website. You can submit an inquiry to LECOM on their website, the first step of the process through the LECOM Portal.
The University of Tampa and LECOM have the following EAP tracks:
- 4+4 track for College of Osteopathic Medicine (Erie, PA; Greensburg, PA; or in Bradenton, FL)
- Students may be exempt from taking the MCAT if they meet the SAT/ACT and GPA requirements)
- 4+4 track for Pharmacy School (Bradenton, FL)
- 4+3 accelerated track for Pharmacy School (Erie, PA)
- 4+4 track for Dental School (Bradenton, FL)
- 4+4 track for Podiatric Medicine (Erie, PA)
Please contact Jackie Mikulski with any questions at jmikulski@ut.edu.
