Pre-Med/Pre-Health students at SMU have multiple options for making individual connections with faculty and staff. Meeting with an academic or faculty advisor to plan class schedules is required. In addition, students are encouraged to schedule regular appointments with advisors to review progress toward goals. As pre-majors, students consult with professional staff dedicated to assisting students make successful transitions to SMU. Once a student has declared a major he or she will meet with faculty and/or staff within the school where the major is housed, e.g., business majors schedule appointments with Cox School of Business advisors.
Pre-Med/Pre-Health students can schedule appointments with Dr. Karen de Olivares (Ph.D.) to discuss preparation for applying to health professions schools – medical, dental, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant, podiatry, veterinary medicine and chiropractic medicine. Dr. de Olivares directs the Pre-Med/Pre-Health Program, chairing the Health Professions Recommendation Committee (HPRC). Students are encouraged to work closely with Dr. de Olivares when they begin the process of applying to health professions schools, usually in the junior year; however, competitive applicants start planning for admission during (or sometimes before) the first year of undergraduate study.
Although health professions schools share some common requirements, requisites do vary. The handbooks listed to the left contain specific information for pre-med, pre-dental, and pre-physical therapy students. Handbooks for other health professions will be added during the 2011/2012 academic years.
To schedule a meeting with the Pre-Med/Pre-Health advisor please stop by Dedman Life Sciences room 135 and sign up for a meeting.