What should I major in if I am on the health sciences track?
There is no specific major for health sciences students. We recommend that a student chooses a major that supports her/his interests as long as the prerequisites for medical school admission are also met. Students may choose one of Austin College’s developed majors or in some cases a student may design a non-traditional or interdisciplinary major.
How many applicants from Austin College are accepted to medical school each year?
Between 20-30 Austin College applicants are accepted to medical school each year and another 20-30 are accepted to other graduate level health professions programs. Admission to medical school is highly competitive and students who are accepted have performed at a high level academically and done well on the MCAT. About 90% of Austin College applicants who are at or above the average GPA and MCAT of the national pool of applicants are accepted to medical school each year. These students have also demonstrated an understanding of the medical profession through shadowing and volunteer experiences and have shown a commitment to service.
“Should I study abroad?”
International learning can be an important, enriching experience, and it’s certainly possible to study abroad while preparing for professional school. It’s important to begin planning early, so that a semester abroad doesn’t interfere with your prerequisite courses (which have to be taken domestically), entrance exam preparation, or interviews. We can help you decide what semester is best, and work with the Study Abroad office to identify appropriate programs. It’s also possible to study abroad during JanTerm—recent courses have gone to England, Japan, Greece, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Italy, Nepal, and Panama.
“What classes should I take?”
Prerequisite courses vary between professions, and between programs in a given profession—but the introductory Biology and Inorganic Chemistry sequences (Bio115 & 116, Chem111 & 112) are universally required. All students interested in pursuing a health care career should take those courses in their first year. Students are encouraged to meet with a pre-health advisor during their first year to identify the prerequisites for their chosen path and develop a plan for their sophomore and junior years.