Pre-Health at Simmons
What does it mean to be Pre-Health at Simmons?
Includes students interested in going onto graduate-level professional schools in the following areas:
Medical (MD, DO, Podiatry, Optometry)
Dental
Veterinary Medicine
Physician Assistant
Occupational Therapy
And more!
It is not a major, just a track, so you will have to choose a major to pursue while at Simmons. There are certain pre-requisites in order to apply to these graduate programs and prepare for admission tests.
Why a health career?
Do you care about helping people or animals, fascinated with science, anatomy, the body, teeth, want to make a difference in the world, have first hand experience, interested in diverse populations, have a personal doctor as role model, etc.
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If any of this describes you, you might want to consider a career in the health fields!
Is Pre-Health right for me?
It will take rigorous science courses, which may include early-morning or late-night labs, or multiple labs in one semester, many hours studying, and typically takes 11-16 years to complete your medical education. Make sure to think about your future career. It will take student loan repayments, relocation costs, board exam costs, licensure fees, continuing education, malpractice insurance, and personal factors.
Give yourself time to explore!
Talk to your academic advisor, faculty members, and Career Education Center (CEC) counselors. Discuss honestly with friends, family, and peers. Explore the many professions:
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Nurse Practitioner
Physician Assistant
Speech-language pathologist
Physical or Occupational Therapist
Mental Health Counselor or Social Worker
Lab Researcher
Ph.D.
Something completely non-science/health related!
Resources at Simmons
Pre-Health Advisors
Pre-Health & Major Liaison Groups
Chemistry & Physics Liaison
Biology Liaison
Neuroscience & Psychology Liaison
and more!
Pre-Health Student Academic Mentors (SAMs)
Other professors, staff, & department chairs
Career Education Center (CEC)
Tutoring & Writing Centers
Center for Community Engagement (Scott/Ross Center)
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*Contact info and links in the Contact Us page
Resources Outside of Simmons
Local hospitals and research facilities
Boston Children's Hospital
Brigham & Women's Hospital
Beth Israel Hospital
and a lot more!
Local medical schools admissions - fairs, open houses
Webinars
Social media
@AAMCPreMed
@AdannathePA
@MedicalSchoolHQ
and a lot more!
Family and friends
Online Resources
MD Allopathic Schools: AAMC: Association of American Medical Colleges (Aspiring Doctors)
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DO: AACOM: American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
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Dental: ADEA: American Dental Education Association and ASDA: American Student Dental Association
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Podiatry: AACPM: American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine
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Veterinary: APVMA: The American Pre-Veterinary Medical Association and AVMA: American Veterinary Medical Association and AAVMC: Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
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Optometry: ASCO: Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry
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Professional School Websites
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The Student Doctor Network:
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Explore Health Careers:
Take Planning Seriously for Testing
Simmons Pre-Health students consistently say they wish they had been more prepared for these tests. Simmons students tend to do well on the Social/Behavioral section. Start studying early and take it seriously. AAMC recommends 300-350 hours of studying for the MCAT. Make a study plan and timeline. Typically 3-6 months of serious study time is needed. Do not want to learn and lose. Take the test usually by the end of April of your junior year (senior year if you are taking a gap year) so you can get your scores back before you submit your applications.
Test Prep Resources
Standardized test prep tab on the Pre-Health Moodle
Exam Resources tab on this website!
Pre-Health Resource Library supplied graciously by Sara Purisky
Committee Letter Process
*For medical and dental schools (not PA or Vet).
A committee letter is one document that includes information from all of your letters of recommendation that gets sent to medical/dental schools. To request a committee letter, follow the Committee Letter Process in the Spring before you plan to submit application. The process includes:
Self-assessment
Personal statement draft
Interview with the Pre-Health Committee
Submission of all of your letters of recommendation to advising@simmons.edu
How will I know if I'm ready?
Meet with your advisers, faculty, and mentors.
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Keep track using the Pre-Health Self-Assessment posted on the Pre-Health Advising website and on the Pre-Health Moodle which will also be a requirement for Pre-Med and Pre-Dent students requesting a committee letter.
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AAMC Core Competencies - applicable to all tracks!
Do I want to take a growth year?
It's more common than you'd think! The average age starting medical school is 24 and 74% of Simmons students who matriculated to medical school took at least one growth year. Work on being the most well rounded student to be the strongest applicant. You can strengthen your GPA with extra and/or high-level coursework (include senior year coursework!), study, volunteer, participate in medical experiences/shadowing/research, and/or work in a paid research or clinical setting. Make money and pay down debt and take time for reflection and rejuvenation.
You can do this!
You are amazing.
You are smart.
You are a good person and want to help people or animals.
