Overview
Virginia Borden Maier, Health Professions Advisor
Students attending St. John Fisher University may plan a program that will allow them to apply to any of the health-related professional schools in fields such as medicine, dentistry, optometry, physician assistant studies, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, chiropractic medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, athletic training, speech-language pathology, and public health. These schools actively seek students with strong science backgrounds who are liberally educated and have diverse interests and talents.
"Pre-health" is not a major at St. John Fisher University. The majority of pre-medical and other pre-health students are biology or chemistry majors, but students intending to enter the health professions may choose any academic major. Academic prerequisites vary among professional schools, but most programs require a minimum of:
- Two semesters of biology with labs
- Four to five semesters of chemistry (general, organic, and biochemistry) with labs
- Two semesters of physics with labs
- Two semesters of college English
Courses in psychology and sociology are strongly recommended, as are statistics, anatomy, and physiology. The range of excellent humanities and social science courses available at St. John Fisher University provides pre-health students with a well-rounded perspective on society and health.
Students interested in a career in the health professions are urged to make contact with the health professions advisor during their first year at Fisher so that they may receive guidance as they pursue their subsequent studies. The health professions advisor provides materials and advice to assist students in understanding all aspects of the preparation process, from choosing courses to preparing for pre-professional exams, selecting schools, preparing for the interview, and making decisions regarding acceptances and alternatives.
When it is time to apply to the various professional schools, the health professions advisor also assists students in the intense application process, and provides them with a composite evaluation letter when required by professional schools.