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MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
College of Natural Science
Pre-Health Advising

FAQs

Below are answers to some questions frequently asked by pre-health students. Please visit the other sections of our website or speak with an advisor if you have additional questions.

 

Getting Started

At MSU, the term “pre-health” is used to describe undergraduate students who plan to apply to competitive graduate/professional programs in a human healthcare field. It is a career goal and is not a major or a minor. Specialized pre-health advising is offered for these students. Pre-Health Advisors at MSU primarily work with students interested in medicine, dentistry, physician assistant, optometry, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physical therapy.

As a new pre-health student at MSU, your first steps should be:

  • Add the pre-health tracking code to your student file by completing this form. The pre-health tracking code identifies you as a pre-health student and ensures you receive updates and event information from the Pre-Health Advising team. If you are a Human Biology major, you do not need to add the pre-health tracking code. 
  • Attend a Pre-Health Essentials session. These group advising sessions cover the basics on how to get started on the path to your health career including recommended prerequisite coursework, co-curricular activities, application timeline, and helpful campus resources. You can register to attend by visiting the Events & Programs section of our website.

 

Advising

Your pre-health advisor is assigned based on the first letter(s) of your last name. You can find your assigned advisor and their contact information on our Advising page. 

According to the current assignments:

  • A–Cn: Sam Zill
  • Co–G: Christine Nguyen-Koelzer
  • H–L: Holly Wright
  • M–P: Dorali Rebollo
  • Q–Tn: Raychel Meyer-Payne (currently on leave; please see any of the other 5 advisors) 
  • To–Z: Kate Thome

We recommend that you meet with your assigned pre-health advisor at least once a year.

You can schedule an individual 30-minute appointment with your pre-health advisor using MSU’s advising appointment system. Step-by-step instructions can be found here.

Pre-health advisors open appointment slots in two-week increments. Additional appointments are opened each Monday. 

 

Academics

Pre-health students can choose any major. Select a field of study you enjoy and where you feel motivated to succeed. You must ensure that you are completing the required courses for your professional programs regardless of your major. MSU does not offer a “pre-health” major.

Having an additional major or a minor does not automatically make your professional school application stronger. You should consider adding a second major or a minor only if it aligns with your interests, career goals, and academic plan, rather than solely to enhance your application. 

Policies vary by school and by course subject. We recommend checking policies on the admissions websites for the individual professional schools/programs where you want to apply. Students planning to apply to highly competitive programs should consider completing prerequisites at a four-year institution.

Most professional schools accept community college coursework, especially if it was taken early in your education or for financial or accessibility reasons. However, applicants are most competitive when upper-level science prerequisites (organic chemistry and any course at the 300 or 400 level) are completed at a four-year university. Strong performance in advanced science courses at a university can help demonstrate academic readiness.

Policies vary by school. Be sure to check the policies of the schools where you want to apply, as some have special rules related to repeating prerequisite courses.

The way that professional schools calculate your GPA related to repeats also varies. Most will use the grade from every attempt when calculating your GPA.

Yes. You can take summer classes by applying as a guest student at another accredited college or university (such as a community college) and transfer the credits back to MSU, provided the courses are approved for transfer. It's a good idea to discuss your plans with your assigned pre-health advisor. While many professional schools accept community college credits, some medical, dental, or other health professional programs may prefer that certain upper-level science prerequisites be completed at a four-year institution.

You can check course equivalencies here.

 

Co-Curricular Activities

Research is not required for admission to most professional schools, but whether it's expected depends on the field and the specific programs you're applying to.

If you're considering research:

  • Choose a project that genuinely interests you.
  • Aim to develop skills such as critical thinking, data analysis, and scientific communication.
  • Long-term involvement in a research lab is generally more meaningful than a brief experience.

The best way to determine what's expected is to review the mission and the admissions requirements for the professional schools you're interested in and discuss your plans with your pre-health advisor.                                  

 

Application Process

The application timeline varies by profession, but most applications open in the spring and summer months. The exact timing will depend upon your chosen profession. Most pre-health students apply about one year before they plan to begin their professional program.

A gap year refers to the amount of time taken between completing your college degree and starting a professional health program.  Gap years are becoming increasingly common. Students may use this time for enhancing their academic record, clinical work, participation in research, etc.